12 July 2011

Padmanabha Shatakam of Swathi thirunal

Padmanabha Shatakam:

Padmanabha Satakam is a beautiful devotional poem in Sanskrit directly addressed to Lord Padmanabha, the presiding deity of the kingdom, by Maharaja Swathi Tirunal of Travancore. The significant contribution of the Maharaja to the world of Carnatic music is well-known.

In Padmanabha Satakam , the poet follows the style of Narayaneeyam composed by another great Sanskrit scholar and poet, Meppathur Narayana Bhattathiri. Bhattathiri has condensed Srimad Bhagavatam in 1000  slokas of unsurpassed poetic beauty and depth of devotion. Padmanabha Satakam is a more
condensed version of Srimad Bhagavatam (or, we can say, of Narayeneeyam) in 100 slokas of great poetic merit where the poet has poured out his heart to his favourite deity Lord Padmanabha.

The poem is divided into 10 Daskas containing 10 slokas each. A brief synopsis of the contents of the Dasaka in a couplet or two which are also included in the text.