Praṇāma Mantras

ajñāna timirān dhasya

jñānāñjana śalākayā |

cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena

tasmai śrī gurave namaḥ ||

My salutations to that reverential Teacher, who opened my eyes, by applying the divine collyrium of Self-knowledge in my eyes, which had been blinded by the cataract of ignorance.

he kṛṣṇa karuṇā sindhu

dīna bandhu jagat pate |

gopeśa gopikā kānta

rādhā kānta namo ‘stute ||

O Krishna, You are the Ocean of Compassion, friend of the distressed, and the Lord of the Universe. You are the friend of gopas and gopis and Radharani’s dearest, I salute you.

tapta-kāñcana gaurāṅgī

rādhe vṛndāvaneśvarī |

vṛṣabhānu sute devī

praṇamāmi harī priye ||

I offer my respects to Radharani, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrindavan. You are the daughter of King Vrishbhanu, and You are very dear to Lord Krishna.

yā kundendu tuṣāra hāra dhavalā yā

śubhra-vastrāvṛtā

yā vīṇā vara daṇḍa maṇḍita-karā yā śveta padmāsanā |

yā brahmācyuta śaṅkara prabhṛtibhir-

devaiḥ sadā vanditā

sā māṁ pātu sarasvatī bhagavatī

buddhi pradām śārade || (2)

May the Goddess Saraswati protect me. She is fair like the jasmine-colored Moon, and Her pure white garland is like frosty dew drops. She is adorned in radiant white attire, and on Her beautiful arm rests the veena; Her throne is a white lotus. She is surrounded and respected by Brahmā, Vishnu and Shiva. Please remove my weariness, sluggishness and ignorance.

vāñchā-kalpatarūbhyaś ca

kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca |

patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo

vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ ||

I offer my respectful obeisances unto all the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord. They can fulfil the desires of everyone, just like the Kalpataru, the wish-fulfilling tree, and they are full of compassion for everyone, even for the fallen souls.