shamee vriksha stuthi

ಶಮೀ ಶಮಯತೇ ಪಾಪಂ ಶಮೀ ಶತೃ ವಿನಾಶಿನೀಂ ।
ಅರ್ಜುನಸ್ಯ ಧನುರ್ಧಾರಿ ರಾಮಸ್ಯ ಪ್ರಿಯದರ್ಶಿನಿ ।।

Shamee ShamayathE paapam, shamee shatru vinaashineem |
Arjunasya dhanurdhaari raamasya priyadarshini ||

I met the priest at the temple earlier this morning. We had a casual talk exchanging Vijayadashami / dasara greetings and he asked if I knew the Shamee vriksha (tree) stuthi and the significance of praying shamee tree on Vijayadashami day. Further, explained the significance as in following stories.

It is said that the Pandavas in Dwaparayuga had placed their weapons on this tree before going on exile (agnyaatha vaasa). Upon arriving back after a year in exile, and while going on digvijay war that was fought against Kauravas, the Pandavas prayed the tree, recollected their weapons and went ahead to fight the war , and eventually won the war.

Sri Rama in Tretaayuga, prayed the shami tree before going on war with Ravana, and won the war, and got his wife Sita-matha back from lankadheesh.

Essentially, the Victory of the Good over Evil, Knowledge over Ignorance, Dharma over Adharma. Such dharmic Victory can be attained by praying the Shamee tree on the Dasara day. So before starting off any project, following this prayer, remember about Sriram and SriKrishna, and head out with executing the project would yield good results.

It is also said that effects of all the sins for the entire year can be reduced by praying this stuti on Vijayadashami day.

Even today, the Mysore dasara procession starts off to the Banni (shami) tree , perform pooja and then head out on the city procession. Mysore Dasara procession has been a traditional for ages, held in the city of Mysore.

So repeat again,

ಶಮೀ ಶಮಯತೇ ಪಾಪಂ ಶಮೀ ಶತೃ ವಿನಾಶಿನೀಂ ।
ಅರ್ಜುನಸ್ಯ ಧನುರ್ಧಾರಿ ರಾಮಸ್ಯ ಪ್ರಿಯದರ್ಶಿನಿ ।।

Shamee ShamayathE paapam, shamee shatru vinaashineem |
Arjunasya dhanurdhaari raamasya priyadarshini ||

 

4 nitya prarthane – ganga stuthi

this is usually recited during the hindu rituals to invoke water from all the sacred rivers across India.  (Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswathi, narmada, sindhu, and Kaveri)

ಗಂಗೇ ಚ ಯಮುನೇ ಚೈವ ಗೋದಾವರೀ ಸರಸ್ವತೀ   |
ನರ್ಮದೇ ಸಿಂಧು ಕಾವೇರಿ ಜಲೇಸ್ಮಿನ್ ಸನ್ನಿಧಿಂ ಕುರು  ||

English transliteration

gange cha yamune chaiva godaavari saraswathi |
narmade siMdhu kaavEri jalEsmin sannidhiM kuru ||

i have also heard this being used for abhishekam and even for self while taking shower.

3 Nitya prarthane – guru stuthi

further along with the guru and guru parampara, guru stuthi in order to attain the knowledge that we learn is as important as learning aspect. Guru is also often considered a vehicle or a media for our accomplishments.

there goes one of the guru stuthi shlokas:

ಗುರುಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಗುರುವಿಷ್ಣು: ಗುರು ದೇವೋ ಮಹೇಶ್ವರ:  |
ಗುರುಸ್ಸಾಕ್ಷಾತ್ ಪರಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ತಸ್ಮೈ ಶ್ರೀ ಗುರುವೇ ನಮ:  ||

english transliteration –

gurubrahma guru viShNuhu guru dEvO mahEshwaraha |
guru saakshaath para brahma thasmai shree guruvE namaha ||

2 nitya prarthane – Saraswathi shloka

As with ganapathi, there is also another shloka kids are usually thought before they start their studies is to pray goddess Maha Saraswathi for the successful education. Saraswathi is also considered a goddess of knowledge (vidya). wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saraswathi

and the shloka goes :

ಸರಸ್ವತೀ ನಮಸ್ತುಭ್ಯಂ ವರದೇ ಕಾಮರೂಪಿಣೀ  |
ವಿದ್ಯಾರಂಭಂ ಕರಿಷ್ಯಾಮಿ ಸಿದ್ದಿರ್ಭವತು ಮೇ ಸದಾ ||

english transliteration:

saraswathi namastubhyaM varadE kaamaroopiNi
vidyaaraMbhaM kariShyaami siddir Bhavathu mE sadaa ||

nitya prarthane – shloka

ಯಾವುದೊಂದು ಕೆಲಸ ಕಾರ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ ಮಾಡುವ ಮುಂಚೆ ಗಣಪತಿಯ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥನೆ ಮಾಡುವುದು ವಾಡಿಕೆ. ಗಣಪತಿ ವಿಘ್ನ  ವಿನಾಶಕನೆಂದು ಖ್ಯಾತಿ ಪಡೆದು, ಸಕಲ ಇಷ್ತಾರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನೂ ಸಿದ್ದಿಸುವನೆಂದು ನಂಬಿಕೆ.

ವಕ್ರತುಂಡ ಮಹಾಕಾಯ ಸೂರ್ಯಕೋಟಿ ಸಮಪ್ರಭ
ನಿರ್ವಿಘ್ಹ್ನಂ ಕುರು ಮೆ ದೇವ ಸರ್ವ ಕಾರ್ಯೇಷು ಸರ್ವದ ||

English translation for this shloka that is recited before starting off any new task or education or business, praising lord Ganesh – gaNadipati pooja or Mantra.

vakratuMDa mahaakaaya soorya kOti samaprabha |
nirviGnam kuru me dEva sarva kaaryEshu sarvada ||