Madhurastakam

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Indian philosophy
Medieval philosophy
Name
Madhura Astakam
Birth 1479
School/tradition Hindu philosophy, Shuddhadvaita, Pushtimarg, Vedanta


"Madhurastakam" (Madhura Astakam) (Sanskrit:मधुराष्टकम्) is a beautiful Sanskrit composition in devotion of Lord Sri Krishna, composed by the great Hindu Bhakti philosopher-poet Sripad Vallabha Acharya. Sripad Vallabhacharya, had flourished under the patronage of the Great Vijaya Nagar King Sri Krishnadevarya in the late fifteenth century Andhra State and had created many other literary pieces like the Vyasa Sutra Bhashya, Jaimini Sutra Bhasya, Bhagavata Tika Subodhini, Pushti Pravala Maryada and Siddhanta Rahasya in Sanskrit.

The devotional hymn "Madhurastakam" of Sri Vallabhacarya is created to lead the devotee in Pusti Marga i.e. the Path of Grace, which involves a constant love-soaked devotion to Lord Sri Krishna by various acts of homage, such as singing (kirtana), remembering (smarana), conceptualizing and beholding (darshana) a beatific image of the deity upon singing of the Madhura Astakam, and offering of services (seva). These acts enable the devotee to enter into the divine presence of Sri Krishna and to experience the Lord’s real essence (svarupa) which are in fact, succintly laid down by the Madhura Astakam. Hence, Madhura Astakam plays an instrumental role in the realisation of the Lord.


Contents

[edit] Form:

The term "Astakam" is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Astak', meaning "Eight". The form of the composition is that of 'Astakam' i.e. eight stanzas make the piece.

[edit] Poetry Genre of the Astakam:

An Astakam belong to the genre of lyric poetry, which tends to be short, exteremely melodic, and contemplative. It reflects and portrays the poet's own feelings, states of mind, and perceptions about the theme or character in the Astakam.

[edit] Context of Madhura Astakam:

The madhur astakam means ‘sweetness astakam’. This astakam is composed in devotion and contemplation of Lord Sri Krishna. Lord Krishna has been visualized as the embodiment of sweetness and grace; and also the source of all sweet qualities.

The thought behind the composition in ‘Bhakti mixed with Love’, being a typical frame of devotion and dedication in the Bhakti cult. In the loved bhakti frame, the devotee falls in love with the almighty and to the devotee, all the attributes and actions of the Lord God appears sweet, as those appear to a lover.

The “Madhura Astakam” deals with the qualities and deeds of Lord Sri Krishna, all of which have been conceptualized as been dipped in ‘madhu’ i.e. Sanskrti word for honey or nectar. In the eyes of the devotee, lover poet, everything that pertain to Lord Sri Krishna is sweet and graceful, he being the adhipati (Lord and Godhead) of all sweetness.

The body of the Madhur astakam takes a bird’s eye-view of all qualities, attributes and motifs associated with Lord Sri Krishna, like the Venu (Flute), Gavo (Cows), Yamuna (Yamuna river), Gopis (Cow-herd girls of Gopa, who were deeply in love woth the Lord) etc. All symbols and motifs related to the life and deeds of Lord Sri Krishna have been labeled as ‘sweet’ in the astakam. A recital of the astakam, therefore, takes the devotee around all possible deeds (Charita – Character) of the Lord.


[edit] Text of the Madhura Astakam dedicated to Lord Sri Krishna:

Stanza No. 1
Adharam madhuram, vadanam madhuram,
 nayanam madhuram, hasitam madhuram,
 hridayam madhuram, gamanam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) lips are sweet, (His) face is sweet,
(His) eyes are sweet, (His) smile is sweet,
(His) heart is sweet, (His) gait (walk) is sweet,
Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


Stanza No. 2
Vachanam madhuram, charitam madhuram,
 vasanam madhuram, valitam madhuram,
 chalitam madhuram, bhramitam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) words are sweet, (His) character and deeds are sweet,
(His) dress (garment) is sweet, (His) posture is sweet,
(His) movements are sweet, (His) wandering is sweet,
Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


Stanza No. 3
venur madhuro renur madhurah
 panir madhurah padau madhurau
 nrityam madhuram, shakhyam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) flute-playing is sweet, (His) foot-dust is sweet,
(His) hands are sweet, (His) feet are sweet,
(His) dancing is sweet, (His) friendship (company) is sweet,
Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


Stanza No. 4
Gitam madhuram, pitam madhuram,
 bhuktam madhuram, suptam madhuram,
 rupam madhuram, tilakam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) song is sweet, (His) drinking is sweet,
(His) eating is sweet, (His) sleeping is sweet,
(His) beautiful form is sweet, (His) Tilaka (Sandalwood paste mark on the forehead) is sweet,
Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


Stanza No. 5
Karanam madhuram, taranam madhuram,
 haranam madhuram, ramanam madhuram,
 vamitam madhuram, shamitam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) deeds are sweet, (His) conquest (liberating) is sweet,
(His) stealing is sweet, (His) love-sports are sweet,
(His) oblations (offerings) are sweet, (His) countenance is sweet,
Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


Stanza No. 6
Gunja madhura, mala madhura
 yamuna madhura, vici madhura
 salilam madhuram, kamalam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) gunja-berry necklace is sweet, (His) flower garland is sweet,
Yamuna river is sweet, and sweet are Yamuna’s rippling waves,
Her water is sweet, and sweet are the lotus flowers also,
Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


Stanza No. 7
Gopi madhura, lila madhura
 yuktam madhuram, muktam madhuram,
 dhristam madhuram, shistam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) gopis (cowherd girl of Gopa) are sweet, (His) frolockings are sweet,
(His) union (meeting) is sweet, (His) deliverance is sweet,
(His) sidelong glances are sweet, (His) etiquette is sweet,
Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


Stanza No. 8
Gopa madhura, gavo madhura
 yastir madhura, shristhir madhura
 dalitam madhuram, phalitam madhuram,
 madhur adhipate(r) akhilam madhuram,

Meaning:
(His) gopas (cowherd friends) are sweet, (His) cows are sweet, (His) cane (herding-stick) is sweet, (His) creation is sweet, (His) victory is sweet, (His) accomplishment (fruition) is sweet, Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness.


[edit] Madhura Astakam in Popular Culture:

Madhura Astakam has been a very popular devotional song. Great singers like the classical legend M.S. Subbhalaxmi, semi-classical singer Yesudas K.J. etc have given classical, semi-classical renditions of the song. M.S SubhaLakshmi, has sung the hymn in raga Mishra Khamaj. In the Odissi dance tradition, Madhura Atkam comprises an elegant and intoxicating theme for dance drama.

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