#248 The Meaning of Bhavani Ashtakam (devotional verses to Devi)

‘Bhavani’ is a beautiful name for the one who bestows life, Devi herself. Ashtakam means eight. And so Bhavani Ashtakam are a set of eight devotional verses attributed to Jagadguru, Adi Shankaracharya.

It expresses a devotee’s longing for the Goddess. The devotee expresses her surrender and acknowledges the power and grace of Goddess Bhavani.

The refrain or the line repeated in every verse is tvam gatih – gatih is movement, goal, refuge. Here it means  tvam eka bhavani – you alone are my refuge.

 The first verse expresses the temporary nature of our close relationships 

न तातो न माता न बन्धुर्न दाता
न पुत्रो न पुत्री न भृत्यो न भर्ता ।
न जाया न विद्या न वृत्तिर्ममैव
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥१॥
Na Taato Na Maataa Na Bandhur-Na Daataa
Na Putro Na Putrii Na Bhrtyo Na Bhartaa |
Na Jaayaa Na Vidyaa Na Vrttir-Mama-Iva
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||1||

Neither the Father, nor the Mother; Neither the Relation and Friend, nor the Donor,
Neither the Son, nor the Daughter; Neither the Servant, nor the Husband,
Neither the Wife, nor the (worldly) Knowledge; Neither my Profession, (are what I can seek refuge in)
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

As a devotee I am not finding fault with her parents or friends or children. I just recognise that I am no longer seeking complete refuge in these temporary relationships.

I release the burden of unconditionality from these conditional relationships.

I have the viveka, objectivity that at best these close relationships are only for this lifetime – from a few months to one’s lifetime of 80 years. How does that compare with a lasting relationship of lifetime after lifetime with Mother Goddess herself who blesses me, the jiva with life? You are the one who sustains all my relationships, Bhavani. You alone are my refuge.

भवाब्धावपारे महादुःखभीरु
पपात प्रकामी प्रलोभी प्रमत्तः ।
कुसंसारपाशप्रबद्धः सदाहं
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥२॥
Bhavaabdhaav-Apaare Mahaa-Duhkha-Bhiiru
Papaata Prakaamii Pralobhii Pramattah |
Ku-Samsaara-Paasha-Prabaddhah Sada-[A]ham
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||2||

In this endless ocean of becoming, I am full of Sorrow and very much Afraid,
I am filled with excessive binding desires, greed and indifference.
Always Tied in the bondage of this samsara – the cycle of becoming 

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Generally, we look upon a productive day as the one where our desires were fulfilled or we inched closer to fulfilling our desires. Our desires, binding as they are, rest on the faulty conclusion that I am not enough, I do not have enough.

And so verse no.2 does not justify or explain why we do what we do. Instead it is an objective look that I am helplessly bound. I want to be free and you alone are my refuge.

न जानामि दानं न च ध्यानयोगं
न जानामि तन्त्रं न च स्तोत्रमन्त्रम् ।
न जानामि पूजां न च न्यासयोगं
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥३॥
Na Jaanaami Daanam Na Ca Dhyaana-Yogam
Na Jaanaami Tantram Na Ca Stotra-Mantram |
Na Jaanaami Puujaam Na Ca Nyaasa-Yogam
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||3||

Neither do I know how to give, nor how to meditate.

Neither do I know the practice of tantra, nor to chant mantras nor stotrams- hymns.

Neither do I know how to do puja nor the invocation of deities in upaasana yoga, meditation centred on Devi
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

न जानामि पुण्यं न जानामि तीर्थ
न जानामि मुक्तिं लयं वा कदाचित् ।
न जानामि भक्तिं व्रतं वापि मातर्गतिस्त्वं
गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥४॥
Na Jaanaami Punnyam Na Jaanaami Tiirtha
Na Jaanaami Muktim Layam Vaa Kadaacit |
Na Jaanaami Bhaktim Vratam Vaapi Maatar-Gatis-Tvam
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||4||

I do not know how to perform good deeds, punyam nor about going to teerthas, sacred places of pilgrimage,
I do not know the way to Liberation nor how to go into absorption.

I do not know Bhakti, loving devotion nor the religious austerities.

Nevertheless Oh Mother, You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

Now it is confession time!

कुकर्मी कुसङ्गी कुबुद्धिः कुदासः
कुलाचारहीनः कदाचारलीनः ।
कुदृष्टिः कुवाक्यप्रबन्धः सदाहं
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥५॥
Ku-Karmii Ku-Sanggii Ku-Buddhih Kudaasah
Kula-[Aa]caara-Hiinah Kadaacaara-Liinah |
Ku-Drshtih Ku-Vaakya-Prabandhah Sada-[A]ham
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||5||

I have performed bad karma, associated with bad company,

dwelled on bad thoughts of harming or punishing people and been a bad servant.

Bad is not aligning with Dharma.

I belong to a family that has a lot of paapa. I am immersed in acts of paapa and bad conduct.
I did not perform my traditional duties,  engaged in bad conducts,
My eyes have reflected wrong vision, my speech has always been not helpful,
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

This verse is not a verse of self-condemnation but a verse of honesty. As they say, a person living in a glass house should not throw stones at others, knowing how fragile he himself is. Far too often we are focused on how others have wronged us. This verse focuses on the fact that we have swerved away from Dharma far too often and need to get off the high seat of self righteousness that we perch ourselves on.   

प्रजेशं रमेशं महेशं सुरेशं
दिनेशं निशीथेश्वरं वा कदाचित् ।
न जानामि चान्यत् सदाहं शरण्ये
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥६॥
Prajesham Ramesham Mahesham Suresham
Dinesham Nishitheshvaram Vaa Kadaacit |
Na Jaanaami Caanyat Sada-[A]ham Sharannye
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||6||

Neither do I know about the Lord of Creation (Brahma) nor

the Lord of Ramaa (Goddess Lakshmi) (Vishnu), 

Neither do I know about the the Great Lord (Shiva), nor

the Lord of the Devas (Indra),

Neither do I know about the Lord of the Day (Surya) nor 

the Lord of the Night (Chandra),
Neither do I know any other gods,

Oh Goddess to whom I bow always

You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

विवादे विषादे प्रमादे प्रवासे
जले चानले पर्वते शत्रुमध्ये ।
अरण्ये शरण्ये सदा मां प्रपाहि
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥७॥
Vivaade Vissaade Pramaade Pravaase
Jale Ca-[A]nale Parvate Shatru-Madhye |
Arannye Sharannye Sadaa Maam Prapaahi
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||7||

While I am in a heated argument

While I am immersed in sorrow or indifference,

While I am suffering an accident

Or travelling in a far away land

While I am in water or fire,

in Mountains or amidst Enemies,
While I am in the Forest, I always bow before you
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

अनाथो दरिद्रो जरारोगयुक्तो
महाक्षीणदीनः सदा जाड्यवक्त्रः ।
विपत्तौ प्रविष्टः प्रनष्टः सदाहं
गतिस्त्वं गतिस्त्वं त्वमेका भवानि ॥८॥
Anaatho Daridro Jaraa-Roga-Yukto
Mahaa-Kssiinna-Diinah Sadaa Jaaddya-Vaktrah |
Vipattau Pravissttah Pranassttah Sadaaham
Gatis-Tvam Gatis-Tvam Tvam-Ekaa Bhavaani ||8||

While being an orphan and poor,

While being afflicted by Old Age and Disease,
While being very weak and helpless,

While being always in a pititable state,

While being always surrounded by problems and

and lost in dangers.
You are my Refuge, You Alone are my Refuge, Oh Mother Bhavani.

In these verses of surrender, there is much relief and liberation from the burden of problems. In seeking refuge, there is an experience of peace and contentment and a dropping of resistance. One experiences catharsis and light heartedness. 

One drops the limited concept of the self and opens up to the deep, abiding presence of Devi.

Om Shantih Shantih Shantih