Prayers

Lord Ramacandra’s Nrisimha Panchamrtia

(These prayers are from the 47th chapter of the Harivamsa Purana which narrates the story of Lord Ramacandra’s visit to the holy place of Ahobalam to see the Deity of Nrisimha, where Lord Nrisimha appeared and saved His devotee Prahlada.)

ahobalam narasimham gatva ramah pratapavan

namaskutya sri nrisimham astaushit kamala patim

The glorious Rama once visited Ahobala where He saw the Deity of Lord Nrisimha. He offered His obeisances to Lord Kamalapati (husband of the Goddess of Fortune) and prayed as follows.

(1)

Govinda Keshava Janardana Vasudeva

vishvesha-vishva madhusudana vishvarupa
shri padmanabha purushottama pushkaraksha
narayanachyuta nrisimho namo namaste

O Govinda, Keshava, Janardana, Vasudeva, Vishvesha (the controller of the universe), Vishva, Madhusudana, Vishvarupa, Sri Padmanabha, Purushottama, Pushkaraksha, Narayana, Achyuta. O Lord Narasimha I offer my respectful obeisances unto You again and again.

(2)

Devah Samastah Khalu Gopi Mukhyaha

gandharva vidyadhara kinnarash cha
yat pada-mulam satatam namanti
tam narasimham sharanam gato shmi

I have taken shelter of Lord Nrisimha unto whose lotus feet demigods, prominent yogis, gandharvas, vidyadharas and kinnaras are constantly offering their obeisances.

(3)

Vedan Samastan Khalu Shastragarbhan

vidyam balam kirtimatim cha lakshmim
yasya prasadat purusha labhante
tam narasimham sharanam gato shmi

I have taken shelter of Lord Nrisimha by whose mercy people receive all the Vedas, the essence of all scriptures, knowledge, strength, reputation and wealth.

(4)

Brahma Shivas Tvam Purushottamash Cha

narayano ‘shau marutam patish cha
chandrarka vayvagni marud-ganash cha
tvam eva tam tvam shatatam nato’shmi

You are Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and the best person Lord Narayana. You are the master of the Marutas and You are the sun, the moon, air and the fire as well as the Marut-ganas. I offer my obeisances unto You.

(5)

Snapne’pi Nitya Jagatam Ashesam

srashta cha hanta vibhura prabheyaha
trata tvam eka strividho vibinnaha
tam tvam nrisimham satatam nato’smi

I offer my obeisances unto Lord Nrisimha who is the creator, the maintainer and the destroyer of the entire universe. Although You perform all of these three acts simultaneously, You are completely beyond these activities. You are the all-pervading, unlimited supreme spirit.

Iti stutva raghushreshthaha
pujayamasa tam harim
pushpa vrishtih papatashu
tasya devasya murdhani

Praying this way, the best of the Raghus, Lord Ramacandra worshipped Lord Hari. At that time the demigods showered a rain of flowers on the head of Lord Nrisimhadeva.

raghavena kutam stotram
panchamrita manuktamam
pathanti ye dvijavaraha
tesham svargastu shashvataha

This is the best of prayers, called pancamrita or five nectars compiled by Lord Rama Himself. One who reads this will be liberated eternally.