The Madhurāṣṭakam (), also spelt as Madhurashtakam, is a Sanskrit ashtakam in devotion of

Krishna Krishna (; Sanskrit language, Sanskrit: कृष्ण, ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme God (Hinduism), Supreme God in his own right. He is the god of protection, c ...

, composed by the

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

Bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...

saint

Vallabha Vallabha, also known as Vallabhācārya or Vallabha Dīkṣita (May 7, 1478 – July 7, 1530 CE), was the founder of the Krishna, Kr̥ṣṇa-centered Pushtimarg, Puṣṭimārga sect of Vaishnavism, and propounded the philosophy of Shuddhadvait ...

. Vallabha was a

Telugu Telugu may refer to: * Telugu language, a major Dravidian language of South India ** Telugu literature, is the body of works written in the Telugu language. * Telugu people, an ethno-linguistic group of India * Telugu script, used to write the Tel ...

Brahmin who propagated Pushtimarg, which emphasizes on the unconditional ''

bhakti ''Bhakti'' (; Pali: ''bhatti'') is a term common in Indian religions which means attachment, fondness for, devotion to, trust, homage, worship, piety, faith, or love.See Monier-Williams, ''Sanskrit Dictionary'', 1899. In Indian religions, it ...

'' and '' seva'' of Krishna. According to legend, when Krishna himself appeared in front of Vallabha, on the midnight of Shravana Shukla Ekadashi, the philosopher composed the Madhurashtakam in praise of the deity. He created many other literary pieces including the Vyasa Sutra Bhashya, Jaimini Sutra Bhasya, Bhagavata Subodhini Tika, Pushti Pravala Maryada, and Siddhanta Rahasya, in Sanskrit. The devotional hymn "Madhurāṣṭakam" of Vallabha was created to lead the devotee in

Pustimarga The Puṣṭimārga, also known as Pushtimarg (Path of Nourishing or Flourishing) or Vallabha Sampradāya, is a Hindu Vaiṣṇava saṁpradāya. It was established in the early 16th century by Vallabha (1479–1530) and further developed by his ...

, the Path of Grace, which involves a constant love-filled devotion to Krishna by various acts of homage, such as singing (''

kirtana Sikh ''kirta''n with Indian harmoniums and '' Kenya.html" ;"title="tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya">tabla'' drums (a common and popular pairing), in Kenya (1960s) ''Kirtana'' (; ), also rendered as ''Kiirtan'', ''Kirt ...

''), remembering (''smarana''), conceptualising and beholding ('' darshana'') a beatific image of the deity and offering of services (''seva''). According to this philosophy, these acts enable the devotee to enter into the divine presence of Krishna and to experience the deity's real essence (svarupa) which are in fact, succinctly laid down by the Madhurāṣṭakam. Madhurāṣṭakam is regarded play an instrumental role in the realisation of the deity.

Genre

' The term '' aṣṭakam'' is derived from the Sanskrit word , meaning "eight". An ''aṣṭakam'' is made up of eight stanzas. ''Aṣṭakam'' belong to the genre of lyric poetry, which tends to be short, extremely melodic, and contemplative. It reflects and portrays the poet's own feelings, states of mind, and perceptions about the theme or character in the ''aṣṭakam''.

Context

The thought behind the composition in 'Bhakti mixed with Love', being a typical frame of devotion and dedication in the

Bhakti movement The Bhakti movement was a significant religious movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society by adopting the method of Bhakti, devotion to achieve salvation. Originating in Tamilakam during 6t ...

. In the loved bhakti frame, the devotee falls in love with the almighty and to the devotee, all the attributes and actions of God appears sweet, as those appear to a lover. The Madhurāṣṭakam deals with the qualities and deeds of Krishna, all of which have been conceptualized as being dipped in

madhu Madhu (Sanskrit: ) is a word used in several Indo-Aryan languages meaning ''honey'' or ''sweet''. It is ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European language, Proto-Indo-European wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/médʰu, ''*médʰu'', whenc ...

, meaning honey or nectar. In the eyes of the devotee, everything that pertains to the deity is sweet and graceful, he being the adhipati (sovereign) of all sweetness. The body of the Madhurāṣṭakam includes many qualities, attributes and motifs associated with Krishna, including the venu flute, cows, the

Yamuna river The Yamuna (; ) is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in List of major rivers of India, India. Originating from the Yamunotri Glacier at a height of about on the southwestern slopes of B ...

gopi Gopi (, ) or Gopika in Hinduism are commonly referred to the group of milkmaids of Braj. They are regarded as the consorts and devotees of Krishna and are venerated for their unconditional love and devotion (''Bhakti'') to him as described i ...

s, and Krishna's lila. These symbols and motifs related to the life and deeds of Krishna have been labelled as 'sweet' in the astakam.

Text

See

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

for details of pronunciation. {, class="wikitable" !

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Brahmic family, Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that ...

! English Translation , - , ॥ मधुराष्टकम् ॥, , madhurāṣṭakam , , , Eight Stanzas on Sweetness , - , ''वल्लभ आचार्य'', , ''vallabha ācārya'', , ''Vallabha Acharya'' , - , , , , , , - , अधरं मधुरं, , adharaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) lips are sweet , - , वदनं मधुरं, , vadanaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) face is sweet , - , नयनं मधुरं, , nayanaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) eyes are sweet , - , हसितं मधुरम् ‌।, , hasitaṃ madhuram, , (His) smile is sweet , - , हृदयं मधुरं, , hṛdayaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) heart is sweet , - , गमनं मधुरं, , gamanaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) gait (walk) is sweet , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ‌॥ १ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (1), , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness , - , , , , , , - , वचनं मधुरं, , vacanaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) words are sweet , - , चरितं मधुरं, , caritaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) character and deeds are sweet , - , वसनं मधुरं, , vasanaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) dress (garment) is sweet , - , वलितं मधुरम्‌ ।, , valitaṃ madhuram, , (His) posture is sweet , - , चलितं मधुरं, , calitaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) movements are sweet , - , भ्रमितं मधुरं, , bhramitaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) wandering is sweet , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌ ॥ २ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (2), , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness , - , , , , , , - , वेणुर्मधुरो, , veṇurmadhuro, , (His) flute-playing is sweet , - , रेणुर्मधुरः, , reṇurmadhuraḥ, , (His) foot-dust is sweet , - , पाणिर्मधुरः, , pāṇirmadhuraḥ, , (His) hands are sweet , - , पादौ मधुरौ ।, , pādau madhurau, , (His) feet are sweet , - , नृत्यं मधुरं, , nṛtyaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) dancing is sweet , - , सख्यं मधुरं, , sakhyaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) friendship (company) is sweet , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌ ॥ ३ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (3), , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness , - , , , , , , - , गीतं मधुरं, , gītaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) song is sweet , - , पीतं मधुरं, , pītaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) drinking is sweet , - , भुक्तं मधुरं, , bhuktaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) eating is sweet , - , सुप्तं मधुरम्‌ ।, , suptaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) sleeping is sweet , - , रूपं मधुरं, , rūpaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) beautiful form is sweet , - , तिलकं मधुरं, , tilakaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) Tilaka (Sandalwood paste mark on the forehead) is sweet , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ‌॥ ४ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (4), , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness , - , , , , , , - , करणं मधुरं, , karaṇaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) deeds are sweet , - , तरणं मधुरं, , taraṇaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) conquest (liberating) is sweet , - , हरणं मधुरं, , haraṇaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) stealing is sweet , - , रमणं मधुरम् ‌।, , ramaṇaṃ madhuram, , (His) love-sports are sweet , - , वमितं मधुरं, , vamitaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) oblations (offerings) are sweet , - , शमितं मधुरं, , śamitaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) countenance is sweet , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌ ॥ ५ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (5), , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness , - , , , , , , - , गुञ्जा मधुरा, , guñjā madhurā, , (His) gunja-berry necklace is sweet , - , माला मधुरा, , mālā madhurā, , (His) flower garland is sweet , - , यमुना मधुरा, , yamunā madhurā, , Yamuna river is sweet , - , वीची मधुरा ।, , vīcī madhurā, , and sweet are Yamuna's rippling waves or wind blowing there is sweet , - , सलिलं मधुरं, , salilaṃ madhuraṃ, , Her water is sweet , - , कमलं मधुरं, , kamalaṃ madhuraṃ, , and sweet are the lotus flowers also , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ‌॥ ६ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (6), , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness , - , , , , , , - , गोपी मधुरा, , gopī madhurā, , (His) gopis (damsels of Vraja) are sweet , - , लीला मधुरा, , līlā madhurā, , (His) frolickings are sweet , - , युक्तं मधुरं, , yuktaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) union (meeting)/Strategy is sweet , - , मुक्तं मधुरम् ‌।, , muktaṃ madhuram, , (His) deliverance is sweet , - , दृष्टं मधुरं, , dṛṣṭaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) sidelong glances/Bad people/Enemies are sweet , - , शिष्टं मधुरं, , śiṣṭaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) etiquette/punishment is sweet , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम् ‌॥ ७ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (7), , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness , - , , , , , , - , गोपा मधुरा, , gopā madhurā, , (His) gopas (cowherd friends) are sweet , - , गावो मधुरा, , gāvo madhurā, , (His) cows are sweet , - , यष्टिर्मधुरा, , yaṣṭirmadhurā, , (His) cane (herding-stick) is sweet , - , सृष्टिर्मधुरा ।, , sṛṣṭirmadhurā , , (His) creation is sweet , - , दलितं मधुरं, , dalitaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) destruction is sweet , - , फलितं मधुरं, , phalitaṃ madhuraṃ, , (His) accomplishment (fruition) is sweet , - , मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌ ॥ ८ ॥, , madhurādhipaterakhilaṃ madhuram (8) , , Everything is sweet about the Lord of Sweetness

In popular culture

Madhurāṣṭakam has been a very popular devotional song. Renowned singers, including the classical legend

M. S. Subbulakshmi Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi (16 September 1916 – 11 December 2004) was an Indian Carnatic singer. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour and also the first Indian musici ...

and semi-classical singer

K. J. Yesudas Kattassery Joseph Yesudas ( /jeːʃud̪aːs/; born 10 January 1940) is an Indian playback singer and musician who sings Indian classical, devotional and film songs. He is widely considered one of the greatest singers in the history of Indian m ...

have given classical and semi-classical renditions of the song. In the

Odissi ''Odissi'' (''ଓଡ଼ିଶୀ'') also referred to as ''Orissi'' in old literature, oldest surviving classical dance of India, is a major ancient Indian classical dance that originated in the Hindu temple, temples of Odisha – an eastern ...

dance tradition, the Madhurāṣṭakam comprises an elegant and intoxicating theme for dance drama.

References

External links