Complete · ~5 min chant
Sharada Bhujanga Prayatashtakam
शारदाभुजङ्गप्रयाताष्टकम्
Śāradābhujaṅgaprayātāṣṭakam
Eight verses in bhujangaprayata metre to Goddess Sharada of Sringeri, each closing with praise of the Mother.
8 verses · About 5 min · Goddess Sharada
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Sharada Bhujanga Prayatashtakam is a hymn attributed to Sri Adi Shankaracharya in praise of Goddess Sharada, the presiding deity of learning at Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Composed in the flowing bhujangaprayata metre, each verse closes with *bhaje śāradāmbām ajasraṃ madambām*.
More about this stotra
The verses describe Sharada's compassionate glances, jnana mudra, vina, akshamala, and the grace she bestows on devotees and sages. It is especially cherished at Sringeri and among students of Vedanta.
At a glance
- Deity
- Goddess Sharada
- Verses
- 8 verses
- Chant time
- About 5 minutes
- Attribution
- Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
- Sanskrit source
- sanskritdocuments.org · All sources
Verse overview
- 1
The goddess as vessel of nectar and refuge of grace images knowledge as the fullness that feeds the soul; when the mind turns to the mother of learning, it…
- 2
Compassion in the glance and jnana-mudra in the hand unite heart and insight; the arts and scriptures she masters are not ornaments on ignorance but…
- 3
Protector of devotees alone and lover of sacred song, she holds the rosary of syllables that count toward the Self; learning becomes worship when sound and…
- 4
She bends Vani and the wielder of the thunderbolt because true knowledge humbles every lesser power; speech slow as churned nectar teaches that wisdom ripens…
- 5
Peaceful and inconceivable, meditated on since before creation, she is the eternal ground of all knowing; the sage's remembrance of her predating the world…
- 6
Riding every noble vehicle, she shows knowledge taking form through countless modes without being bound to any; the one goddess on Mahanavami reveals that the…
- 7
Bee on the mind's lotus and fire of splendour, she draws thought from distraction into luminous focus; when praise becomes song and dance, devotion discovers…
- 8
Worshipped by the lotus-born creator and radiant with gentle smile, she is the light before which even cosmic origination bows; the soft radiance on her face…
All verses
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Common questions
- When do people recite Sharada Bhujanga Prayatashtakam?
- Sharada hymns suit study seasons and worship of learning at Sringeri and related lineages. This edition presents 8 verses and takes about 5 minutes to chant.
- What is the opening focus of Sharada Bhujanga Prayatashtakam?
- The goddess as vessel of nectar and refuge of grace images knowledge as the fullness that feeds the soul; when the mind turns to the mother of learning, it drinks the sweetness that dissolves the thirst of ignorance. Read verse 1 in Study mode for the full editorial note beside the Sanskrit.
- Which hymns pair well with Sharada Bhujanga Prayatashtakam?
- On this site, related reading includes Tripura Sundaryashtakam, and Kanakadhara Stotram. Open those hubs for their own Sanskrit, English meaning, and study notes.