श्री गुरुपादुका पञ्चक स्तोत्रम् - - ब्रह्मश्री साधु श्रीनिवास शास्त्रि

पूज्य श्री साधु श्रीनिवास शास्री 

This melodious hymn “श्री गुरुपादुका पञ्चकं” is daily chanted by us that has been handed down in our tradition.  Before sitting for meditation, we chant this hymn to invoke the grace of our गुरु मण्डलं.  This hymn was composed by Brahmasri Sadhu Srinivasa Sastry Garu (lovingly called as Guruji), who was son-in-law of Brahmasri Gollapinni Mallikarjuna Sastry Garu of Alukuru village.  Both were great siddha purushAs who attained highest pinnacle in the path of rAja yoga.  There is an interesting incident in the life of Sri.Sadhu Srinivasa Sastry Garu that details how this great hymn came about.  Once, Guruji set out for pilgrimage to Ganagapuram to seek the grace of Sri.Narasimha Saraswathi. There Guruji performed dattatreya upasana for 7 days.  On the last day, Guruji had a vision of Sri.Narasimha Saraswathi with holy staff (दण्ड), sacred water pot (कमण्डल​) wearing ochre robes (काषाय वस्त्रं) and the entire body besmeared with holy ashes (भस्मं). His Holiness was wearing holy sandals (पादुका).  At the divine sight of Sri. Narasimha Saraswathi and His holy sandals, this pentad in the form of गुरुपादुका पञ्चकं gushed forth extempore from the holy lips of Guruji extolling the greatness of the holy sandals of the spiritual preceptor.  He also received spiritual instructions from His Holiness Sri. Narasimha Saraswathi. Given below is the hymn in devanaagari script with English translation.

श्री गुरुपादुका पञ्चक स्तोत्रम् - ब्रह्मश्री साधु श्रीनिवास शास्त्रि

नमश्शिवाभ्यां अतिसुन्दराभ्यां

अनन्तकल्याणगुणास्पदाभ्यां ।

अजादिबृन्दारक वन्दिताभ्यां

नमो नमः श्रीगुरुपादुकाभ्याम् ॥ (1)

Auspicious, extremely beatific, having myriad of desirable attributes, Sri Guru Padukas are venerated by Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara and the rest of the retinue. To such padukas are my prostrations again and again.

सनातनाभ्यां सुमनोहराभ्यां

नमज्ज्नेहामरभूरुहाभ्यां ।

त्रयीसती सूनृतवाङ्नुताभ्यां

नमो नमः श्रीगुरुपादुकाभ्याम् ॥ (2)

Endearing to the devotees, the immortal Padukas are seated in their hearts like the tree of wish-fulfillment. They are truthfully theme-sung by the Vedic Mother. To such Padukas are my prostrations again and again.

गुणाधिकाभ्यां गुरुदर्शकाभ्यां

अघौघ तामिश्ररविप्रभाभ्यां ।

प्रमोदलीला सुमशोभिताभ्यां

नमो नमः श्रीगुरुपादुकाभ्याम् ॥ (3)

Beyond attributes, resembling luminosity of sun, the Padukas destroy our cumulative sins. Their floral beauty or celestial grandeur dazzles us in a divine play. To such Padukas are my prostrations again and again.

सिताभ्रकाश्मीरजपुष्पसार

सुलेपिताभ्यां सुमनोर्चिताभ्यां ।

मुनीन्द्रहृत्सारस भानुमद्भ्यां

नमो नमः श्रीगुरुपादुकाभ्याम् ॥ (4)

Bright as the white camphor and bathed in the floral essence of Kashmiri Saffron flower, the Padukas are revered by the pure-hearted (or divine hearts). The Padukas like to dwell in the lotus-hearts of the renowned sages, like the Sun, as they are pure and divine.  To such Padukas are my prostrations again and again.

अनाद्यविद्या हरणेक्षमाभ्यां

अहं ममोन्मत्त गजांकुशाभ्यां ।

गळ्त्सुधासौरभ संतताभ्यां

नमो नमः श्रीगुरुपादुकाभ्याम् ॥ (5)

Destroyer of the endless ignorance and subdues two mighty elephants called “I-ness” (ahamkAra) and “My-ness” (mamakAra). The Padukas fill the devotees’ hearts with lingering fragrance of the ambrosial shower. To such Padukas are my prostrations again and again.

पादुकापन्चकस्तोत्रं श्रीनिवास मुखोद्गतं ।

पठ्तां इष्टफलदं भूयादीशमुदे शिवम् ॥

This pentad that extols the sacred and holy sandals of the satguru, gushed forth from the lips of Sri. Srinivasa.  Whoever chants this pentad and contemplates on the meaning, their wishes would be fulfilled.  Not only the wishes but also helps in getting all that is auspicious as well as the grace of Almighty.