Apītakucāmbā Stavaḥ | Śrī Appayya Dīkṣita | Tuned & Rendered by Gayathri Girish

Apītakucāmbā Stavaḥ, composed by Śrī Appayya Dīkṣita, set to tune and rendered by Kalaimamani Smt Gayathri Girish

Raagas Lavangi, Neelambari, Chandrakauns and Durga

This divine hymn was written by Śrī Appayya Dīkṣita when he visited Tiruvannamalai. It is said that he was suffering from a severe viral infection, and when he sang this in front of the Goddess, he was cured of his ailment instantly. Thus, this Stotra is widely known to bring good health to the one who recites it. While analysing the meanings of this Stotra for this project, I was moved by the utter devotion with which this divine plea was made to the Goddess.

With regard to Sri Sriram Venkatakrishnan’s recent blog post on the same, and on receiving a few requests from rasikas Sri Suresh Chandrasekharan, Sri Subramaniam Krishnan, Smt Geeta Natarajan, Smt Lalitha Raman and Sri Narayan Kumar to tune and render this Stotra, I make this humble offering at the lotus feet of Goddess Apītakucāmbā of Aruṇācala. Let us all chant this Stotra together and sincerely pray to Her for universal well-being.

Here are the verses in Samskrutam and English along with translations, for your convenience:

आनन्दसिन्धुलहरीममृतांशुमौले-
रासेविनाममृत-निर्मित-वर्तिमक्ष्णोः ।
आनन्दवल्लिविततेरमृतार्द्रगुच्छं
अंब स्मराम्यहमपीतकुचे वपुस्ते ॥ १॥

Oh, Mother! Apītakuca! I contemplate on Your form, which is like a creeper of flowers drenched in nectar, and like waves in the ocean of Bliss to the Lord, who has the Amṛta-flowing moon on His crown. You shower nectar with Your eyes upon Your devotees. ॥ 1॥


निर्निद्र-कोकनद-कोमलकान्तमंब-
नित्यं सुधानिकरवर्षि पदं त्वदीयम् ।
मूर्छाकरज्वररुजा मम तापितस्य
मूर्ध्नि क्षणं सकृदपीतकुचे निधेहि ॥ २॥

Oh, Mother! At least for some time, place Your foot which has the softness and beauty of a bloomed red lotus and which always rains showers of Amṛta, on my head which has been heated up by fever. ॥ 2॥


शीतांशुकोटि सुषमाशिशिरैः कटाक्षैः
अव्याजभूतकरुणारसपूरपूर्णैः ।
कर्पूरधूलिमिव दिक्षु समाकिरद्भिः
अंब क्षणं स्नपय मामरुणाद्रिमान्ये ॥ ३॥

You, who are worshipped at Aruṇādri! Shower Your glance upon me at least for some time, which is as cool as the rays of a crore moons, which is filled with the flow of Your compassion and which feels like camphor powder sprinkled in all directions. ॥ 3॥


आविर्भव क्षणमपीतकुचे पुरस्तात्
अंब ज्वरेण महता मम तापितस्य ।
येन त्वदङ्घ्रिरुचिजाल-सुधाप्रवाहे
मग्नस्तदैव तनुतापममुं त्यजेयम् ॥ ४॥

Oh, Mother! For a short while, please appear before me, who is scorching with fever. When You do so, I will immerse in the Amṛta flowing from Your feet and get cured. ॥ 4॥


नानाविधैर्नलिन-जातलिपिप्रकॢप्तैः
आनीतमूर्छमधिकं क्षुभितैर्ज्वराद्यैः ।
आश्वासय क्षणमपीतकुचे कराग्र-
क्रीडाकनत्कनकहल्लकसौरभेण ॥ ५॥

Lord Brahmā has ordained that I must undergo fainting spells due to this fever. Oh, Apītakuca! By the fragrance of the beautiful golden lotus held playfully in Your hand, please give me solace for a moment. ॥ 5॥


कण्ठे विषं विषमुचो भुजगाः कपर्दे
पार्श्वे च भूतपतयः प्रमथाश्च भीमाः ।
शोणीचलेशमुपसृत्य भजेत को वा
न स्यात्तवांब सविधे यदि सन्निधानम् ॥ ६ ॥

Your Lord has poison in His throat, has poison-spitting snakes in His hair, and has the dreadful pramathas who are bhūtapatis by his side. If You are not present beside him, how can one even approach him? ॥ 6॥


शक्तिर्जगज्जननपालन-भञ्जनेषु
भोगेषु दिव्यमहिषी तरुणेन्दुमौलेः ।
सिद्धिः करप्रणयिनी तव सन्निधानं
यन्नासि तस्य तदपीतकुचे न जाने ॥७॥

In the creation, preservation, and destruction of the Universe, You are the Śakti to He who bears the moon, and You are His divine consort. Your presence is the siddhi readily at hand. Oh, Apītakuca! What is He without You? ॥ 7॥


त्वं साक्षिणी प्रलयभैरवताण्डवानां
त्वं शेषिणी सहरिधातृ चराचराणाम् ।
त्वं मोचिनी सकलसंसृतिजालकानां
त्वां ब्रह्मसंविदमपीतकुचे नमामि ॥ ८॥

You witness the terrible dance during pralaya. Only You remain after Brahmā, Viṣṇu and others, You liberate all from the shackles of samsara. Oh, Apītakuca, I bow to You, the personification of Brahma samvit (Supreme Consciousness). ॥ 8॥