Prayers to Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi

alam te nirapekshaya

purna-kama namo 'stu te

mahavibhuti-pataye

namah sakala-siddhaye

"My dear Lord, You are full in all opulences, but I do not beg You for opulence. I simply offer my
respectful obeisances unto You. You are the husband and master of Lakshmidevi, the goddess of
fortune, who has all opulences. Therefore, You are the master of all mystic yoga. I simply offer
my obeisances unto You." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.19.4)

yatha tvam kripaya bhutya

tejasa mahimaujasa

jushta isa gunaih sarvais

tato 'si bhagavan prabhuhu

"O my Lord, because You are endowed with causeless mercy, all opulences, all prowess and all
glories, strength and transcendental qualities, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the
master of everyone." (Bhag. 6.19.5)

vishnu-patni maha-maye

mahapurusha-lakshane

priyetha me maha-bhage

loka-matar namo 'stu te

"O wife of Lord Vishnu, O internal energy of Lord Vishnu, you are as good as Lord Vishnu Himself,
for you have all of His qualities and opulences. O goddess of fortune, please be kind to me. O
mother of the entire world, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you." (Bhag. 6.19.6)

om namo bhagavate maha-purushaya mahanubhavaya

mahavibhuti-pataye saha maha-vibhutibhir balim upaharamita

"My Lord Vishnu, full in six opulences, You are the best of all enjoyers and the most powerful. O
husband of mother Lakshmi, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, who are accompanied by
many associates, such as Vishvaksena. I offer all the paraphernalia for worshiping You." (Bhag.
6.19.7)

yuvam tu vishvasya vibhu

jagatah karanam param

iyam hi prakritih suksma

maya-shaktir duratyaya

"My Lord Vishnu and mother Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, you are the proprietors of the entire
creation. Indeed, you are the cause of the creation. Mother Lakshmi is extremely difficult to
understand because she is so powerful that the jurisdiction of her power is difficult to overcome.
Mother Lakshmi is represented in the material world as the external energy, but actually she is
always the internal energy of the Lord." (Bhag. 6.19.11)
tasya adhishvarah sakshat

tvam eva purushah paraha

tvam sarva-yajna ijyeyam

kriyeyam phala-bhug bhavan

"My Lord, You are the master of energy, and therefore You are the Supreme Person. You are
sacrifice [yajna] personified. Lakshmi, the embodiment of spiritual activities, is the original form
of worship offered unto You, whereas You are the enjoyer of all sacrifices." (Bhag. 6.19.12)

guna-vyaktir iyam devi

vyanjako guna-bhug bhavan

tvam hi sarva-shariry atma

shrih sharirendriyashayaha
"Mother Lakshmi, who is here, is the reservoir of all spiritual qualities, whereas You manifest and
enjoy all these qualities. Indeed, You are actually the enjoyer of everything. You live as the
Supersoul of all living entities, and the goddess of fortune is the form of their bodies, senses and
minds. She also has a holy name and form, whereas You are the support of all such names and
forms and the cause for their manifestation." (Bhag. 6.19.13)

yatha yuvam tri-lokasya

varadau parameshthinau

tatha ma uttamashloka

santu satya mahashishaha

"You are both the supreme rulers and benedictors of the three worlds. Therefore, my Lord,
Uttamashloka, may my ambitions be fulfilled by Your grace." (Bhag. 6.19.14)
Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

Swami Jaya Jagadish Hare

Bhakti Jano Ke Sankat

Das Jano Ke Sankat

Shana Mai Dhoora Kare

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Mighty Lord of the whole Universe

All Your devotees' agonies

All Your devotees' sorrows

Instantly You banish

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Jo dhyave phal paave

Dhukh vinashe manka

Swami dhukh vinashe manka

Sukha sampati Ghar aave

Sukha sampati Ghar aave

Kashht mite tanka

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

He who's immersed in devotion

He reaps the fruits of Your love

Lord, he reaps the fruits of Your love

Floating in a cloud of comforts

Floating in a cloud of comforts

Free from all the worldly problems

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Mata pita tum mere

Sharan padun mai kis ki

Swami sharan padum mai kis ki

Tum bina aur na doojaa

Tum bina aur na doojaa

Asha karun mai kis ki

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

You art Mother and Father

At Your feet I seek eternal truth

Lord, at Your feet I seek eternal truth

There's none other than You, Lord

There's none other than You, Lord

Guardian of all our hopes

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Tum pooran Paramatma

Tum Antaryaami

Swami Tum Antaryaami

Para brahma Parameshwara

Para brahma Parameshwara

Tum saba ke Swami

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

You art Godly perfection

Omnipotent Master of all

Lord, omnipotent Master of all

My destiny's in Your Hand

My destiny's in Your Hand

Supreme Soul of all Creation

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Tum karuna ke saagar

Tum palan karta

Swami Tum palan karata

Mai murakh phal Khami

Mai sevak tum swaami

Kripa karo bharata

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

You art an ocean of mercy

Gracious protector of all

Lord, gracious protector of all

I'm Your humble devotee

I'm Your humble devotee

Grant me Your divine grace

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Tum ho ek agochar

Sab ke prana pati

Swami sab ke prana pati

Kis vidhi miloon dayamaya

Kisi vidhi miloon dayamaya

Tum ko mai kumati

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

You are beyond all perception

Formless and yet multiform

Lord, formless and yet multiform

Grant me a glimpse of Yourself

Grant me a glimpse of Yourself

Guide me along the path to You

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Deena bandhu dukh hartaa

Tum rakshak mere

Swami tum rakshak mere

Apane hast uthao

Apane hast uthao

Dwar khada mai tere

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

Friend of the helpless and feeble

Benevolent saviour of all

Lord, benevolent saviour of all

Offer me Your hand of compassion

Offer me Your hand of compassion

I seek refuge at Your feet

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Vishaya vikar mithao

Paap haro deva

Swami paap haro deva

Shraddha bhakti badhao

Shraddha bhakti badhao

Santan ki seva

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

Surmounting the earthly desires

Free from the sins of this life

Lord, free from the sins of this life

Undivided faith and devotion

Undivided faith and devotion

In eternal service unto You

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Tan man dhan sab kuch hai tera

Swami sab kuch hai tera

Tera tujh ko arpan

Tera tujh ko arpan

Kya laage mera

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

My body, mind and wealth are all Yours

Lord, everything is Yours

Lord, nothing is mine

It is Yours, I am returning to You

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

Swami Jaya Jagadish Hare

Bhakta janon ke sankat

Bhakta janon ke sankat

Kshan me door kare

Om Jaya Jagadish Hare

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Mighty Lord of the whole Universe

All Your devotees' agonies

All Your devotees' sorrows

Instantly you banish

Oh Lord of the whole Universe

Narayana Suktam

(Sahasra Sirsham Devam)

m sahasrara deva vivka vivaambhuva,

viva nryaa devamakara parama padam.

This universe is the Eternal Being (of Narayana), the imperishable, the supreme, the goal, multi-
headed and multi-eyed (i.e., omnipresent and omniscient), the resplendent, the source of
delight for the whole universe.

vivata paramam nitya viva nryaag harim,

vivameveda puruastadvivamupajvati.
This universe is the Supreme Being (Purusha) alone; hence, it subsists on That, the Eternal which
transcends it (in every way)the Omnipresent Absolute which destroys all sins.

pati vivasytmevarag vatag ivamacyutam,

nryaa mahjeya vivtmna paryaam.

The protector of the universe, the Lord of all souls (or Lord over Self), the perpetual, the
auspicious, the indestructible, the Goal of all creation, the Supreme object worthy of being
known, the Soul of all beings, the Refuge unfailing (is He).

nryaa para brahma tattva nryaa para,

nryaa paro jyotirtm nryaa para.

nryaa paro dhyt dhynam nryaa para.

The Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute; Narayana is the Supreme Reality; Narayana is the
Supreme Light; Narayana is the Supreme Self; Narayana is the Supreme Meditator; Narayana is
the Supreme Meditation.

yacca kicijjagatsarva dyate ryatepi v,

antarbahica tatsarva vypya nryaa sthita.

Whatever all this universe is, seen or heard ofpervading all this, from inside and outside alike,
stands supreme the Eternal Divine Being (Narayana).

anantamavyaya kavig samudrenta vivaambhuvam,

padmakoapratkag hdaya cpyadhomukham.

He is the Limitless, Imperishable, Omniscient, residing in the ocean of the heart, the Cause of the
happiness of the universe, the Supreme End of all striving, (manifesting Himself) in the ether of
the heart which is comparable to an inverted bud of the lotus flower.

adho niay vitasynte nbhymupari tihati,

jvlamlkula bhti vivasyyatana mahat.

Below the Adams apple, at a distance of a span, and above the navel (i.e., the heart which is the
relative seat of the manifestation of Pure Consciousness in the human being), effulges the Great
Abode of the universe, as if adorned with garlands of flames.

santatag ilbhistu lambatykoasannibham,

tasynte suirag skma tasmin sarva pratihitam.

Surrounded on all sides by nerve-currents (or arteries), the lotus-bud of the heart is suspended
in an inverted position. In it is a subtle space (a narrow aperture, the sushumna-nadi), and
therein is to be found the Substratum of all things.

tasya madhye mahanagnirvivrcirvivatomukha,

sograbhug vibhajan tihan hramajara kavi.

In that space within the heart resides the Great Flaming Fire, undecaying, all-knowing, with
tongues spread out in all directions, with faces turned everywhere, consuming all food
presented before it, and assimilating it into itself.

tiryagrdhvamaday ramayastasya santat,

santpayati sva dehamptatalamastakam,

tasya madhye vahniikh ayordhv vyavasthita.

His rays, spreading all round, sideways as well as above and below, warm up the whole body
from head to foot. In the centre of That (Flame) abides the Tongue of Fire as the topmost among
all subtle things.

nlatoyadamadhyasthd vidyullekheva bhsvar,

nvrakavattanv pt bhsvatyapam.

Brilliant like a streak of lightning set in the midst of the blue rain-bearing clouds, slender like the
awn of a paddy grain, yellow (like gold) in color, in subtlety comparable to the minute atom, (this
Tongue of Fire) glows splendid.

tasy ikhy madhye paramtm vyavasthita,

sa brahma sa iva sa hari sendra sokara parama svar.

In the middle of that Flame, the Supreme Self dwells. This (Self) is Brahma (the Creator), Siva
(the Destroyer), Hari (the Protector), Indra (the Ruler), the Imperishable, the Absolute, the
Autonomous Being.

tag satya para brahma purua kapigalam,

rdhvareta virpka vivarpya vai namo nama.

Prostrations again and again to the Omni-formed Being, the Truth, the Law, the Supreme
Absolute, the Purusha of blue-decked yellow hue, the Centralized-force Power, the All-seeing
One.

m nryaya vidmahe vsudevya dhmahi,

tanno viu pracodayt.

We commune ourselves with Narayana, and meditate on Vaasudeva; May that Vishnu direct us
(to the Great Goal).

nti nti nti.

Om. May there be Peace, Peace, Peace.

Goddess Lakshmis mantra to Her Husband Lord Hrishikesh

o hr hr hr

o namo bhagavate hkeya

sarva-gua-vieair

vilakittmane ktn

cittn cetas vie

cdhipataye oaa-kalya

cchando-mayynna-mayymta-
mayya sarva-mayya

sahase ojase balya kntya

kmya namas te ubhayatra bhyt

omO Lord; hrm hrm hrmthe seeds of the mantra, chanted for a successful result; omO
Lord; namarespectful obeisances; bhagavateunto the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead; hkeyaunto Hkea, the Lord of the senses; sarva-guawith all
transcendental qualities; vieaiwith all varieties; vilakitaparticularly observed; tmane
unto the soul of all living entities; ktnmof all kinds of activity; cittnmof all kinds of
knowledge; cetasmof the functions of the mind, such as determination and mental effort;
viemof their respective objects; caand; adhipatayeunto the master; oaa-kalya
whose parts are the sixteen original ingredients of creation (namely the five objects of the
senses and the eleven senses, including the mind); chanda-mayyaunto the enjoyer of all
ritualistic ceremonies; anna-mayyawho maintains all living entities by supplying the
necessities of life; amta-mayyawho awards eternal life; sarva-mayyawho is all-pervading;
sahasethe powerful; ojasewho supplies strength to the senses; balyawho supplies
strength to the body; kntyathe supreme husband or master of all living entities; kmya
who supplies all necessities for the devotees; namarespectful obeisances; teunto You;
ubhayatraalways (during both day and night, or both in this life and the next); bhytmay
there be all good fortune.

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hkea,
the controller of all my senses and the origin of everything. As the supreme master of all bodily,
mental and intellectual activities, He is the only enjoyer of their results. The five sense objects
and eleven senses, including the mind, are His partial manifestations. He supplies all the
necessities of life, which are His energy and thus non-different from Him, and He is the cause of
everyones bodily and mental prowess, which is also non-different from Him. Indeed, He is the
husband and provider of necessities for all living entities. The purpose of all the Vedas is to
worship Him. Therefore let us all offer Him our respectful obeisances. May He always be
favorable toward us in this life and the next. (Shrimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.18)

horizontal rule

Narayana Suktam (Sahasra Sirshan Devum)

m sahasrara deva vivka vivaambhuva,

viva nryaa devamakara parama padam.

This universe is the Eternal Being (Narayana), the imperishable, the supreme, the goal, multi-
headed and multi-eyed (i.e., omnipresent and omniscient), the resplendent, the source of
delight for the whole universe.

Note:With this verse commences a famous hymn of the Vedic group, stating the characters of
the Absolute in its manifestation as this creation.

vivata paramam nitya viva nryaag harim,

vivameveda puruastadvivamupajvati.

This universe is the Supreme Being (Purusha) alone; hence, it subsists on That, the Eternal which
transcends it (in every way)the Omnipresent Absolute which destroys all sins.
pati vivasytmevarag vatag ivamacyutam,

nryaa mahjeya vivtmna paryaam.

The protector of the universe, the Lord of all souls (or Lord over Self), the perpetual, the
auspicious, the indestructible, the Goal of all creation, the Supreme object worthy of being
known, the Soul of all beings, the Refuge unfailing (is He).

nryaa para brahma tattva nryaa para,

nryaa paro jyotirtm nryaa para.

nryaa paro dhyt dhynam nryaa para.

The Lord Narayana is the Supreme Absolute; Narayana is the Supreme Reality; Narayana is the
Supreme Light; Narayana is the Supreme Self; Narayana is the Supreme Meditator; Narayana is
the Supreme Meditation.

yacca kicijjagatsarva dyate ryatepi v,

antarbahica tatsarva vypya nryaa sthita.

Whatever all this universe is, seen or heard ofpervading all this, from inside and outside alike,
stands supreme the Eternal Divine Being (Narayana).

anantamavyaya kavig samudrenta vivaambhuvam,

padmakoapratkag hdaya cpyadhomukham.

He is the Limitless, Imperishable, Omniscient, residing in the ocean of the heart, the Cause of the
happiness of the universe, the Supreme End of all striving, (manifesting Himself) in the ether of
the heart which is comparable to an inverted bud of the lotus flower.
adho niay vitasynte nbhymupari tihati,

jvlamlkula bhti vivasyyatana mahat.

Below the Adams apple, at a distance of a span, and above the navel (i.e., the heart which is the
relative seat of the manifestation of Pure Consciousness in the human being), effulges the Great
Abode of the universe, as if adorned with garlands of flames.

santatag ilbhistu lambatykoasannibham,

tasynte suirag skma tasmin sarva pratihitam.

Surrounded on all sides by nerve-currents (or arteries), the lotus-bud of the heart is suspended
in an inverted position. In it is a subtle space (a narrow aperture, the sushumna-nadi), and
therein is to be found the Substratum of all things.

tasya madhye mahanagnirvivrcirvivatomukha,

sograbhug vibhajan tihan hramajara kavi.

In that space within the heart resides the Great Flaming Fire, undecaying, all-knowing, with
tongues spread out in all directions, with faces turned everywhere, consuming all food
presented before it, and assimilating it into itself.

tiryagrdhvamaday ramayastasya santat,

santpayati sva dehamptatalamastakam,

tasya madhye vahniikh ayordhv vyavasthita.

His rays, spreading all round, sideways as well as above and below, warm up the whole body
from head to foot. In the centre of That (Flame) abides the Tongue of Fire as the topmost among
all subtle things.
Note:Due to the attachments and entanglement of the jiva in worldly enjoyment and
suffering, the Consciousness is enshrouded in potential as well as expressed objectivity; hence, it
appears like a tiny streak of flame within the dark clouds of ignorance. But when the jiva rises
above worldliness, the Consciousness is realised as the Infinite.

nlatoyadamadhyasthd vidyullekheva bhsvar,

nvrakavattanv pt bhsvatyapam.

Brilliant like a streak of lightning set in the midst of the blue rain-bearing clouds, slender like the
awn of a paddy grain, yellow (like gold) in colour, in subtlety comparable to the minute atom,
(this Tongue of Fire) glows splendid.

tasy ikhy madhye paramtm vyavasthita,

sa brahma sa iva sa hari sendra sokara parama svar.

In the middle of that Flame, the Supreme Self dwells. This (Self) is Brahma (the Creator), Siva
(the Destroyer), Hari (the Protector), Indra (the Ruler), the Imperishable, the Absolute, the
Autonomous Being.

tag satya para brahma purua kapigalam,

rdhvareta virpka vivarpya vai namo nama.

Prostrations again and again to the Omni-formed Being, the Truth, the Law, the Supreme
Absolute, the Purusha of blue-decked yellow hue, the Centralised-force Power, the All-seeing
One.

m nryaya vidmahe vsudevya dhmahi,

tanno viu pracodayt.

We commune ourselves with Narayana, and meditate on Vaasudeva; May that Vishnu direct us
(to the Great Goal).

nti nti nti.

Om. May there be Peace, Peace, Peace.

[These prayers are available at www.stephen-knapp.com]