Sri Shyamala Dandakam
shree shyaamalaa dand'akam'
dhyaanam –
maanikyaveenaamupalaalayanteem'
madaalasaam' manjulavaagvilaasaam |
maahendraneeladyutikomalaangeem'
maatangakanyaam' manasaa smaraami || 1 ||
chaturbhuje chandrakal'aavatam'se
kuchonnate kunkumaraaga shone |
pund'rekshupaashaankushapushpabaana-
-haste namaste jagadekamaatah' || 2 ||
maataa marakatashyaamaa maatangee madashaalinee |
kuryaatkat'aaksham' kal'yaanee kadambavanavaasinee || 3 ||
jaya maatangatanaye jaya neelotpaladyute |
jaya sangeetarasike jaya leelaashukapriye || 4 ||
dand'akam –
jaya janani sudhaa samudraantarudyan manidveepa sam'rood'ha bilvaat'aveemadhyakalpadrumaakalpa kaadambakaantaara vaasapriye kri'ttivaasah'priye sarvalokapriye |
saadaraarabdha sangeeta sambhaavanaa sambhramaalola neepasragaabaddhachoolee sanaathatrike saanumatputrike | shekhareebhoota sheetaam'shurekhaa mayookhaavalee baddha susnigdha neelaalakashrenishri'ngaarite lokasambhaavite | kaamaleelaa dhanuh'sannibha bhroolataapushpa sandoha sandeha kri'llochane vaaksudhaasechane | chaaru gorochanaa panka kelee lalaamaabhiraame suraame rame | prollasadvaalikaa mauktikashrenikaa chandrikaa mand'alodbhaasi laavanyagand'asthala nyastakastoorikaapatrarekhaa samudbhoota saurabhya sambhraanta bhri'ngaanganaa geetasaandreebhavanmandra tantreesvare susvare bhaasvare | vallakee vaadana prakriyaa lola taaleedalaabaddhataat'anka bhooshaavisheshaanvite siddhasammaanite | divya haalaamadodvela helaalasachchakshuraandolana shreesamaakshipta karnaika neelotpale pooritaashesha lokaabhivaanchhaa phale shreephale | sveda bindoollasatphaala laavanya nishyanda sandoha sandehakri'nnaasikaa mauktike sarvavishvaatmike kaalike | mugdha mandasmitodaara vaktrasphuratpooga taamboolakarpoora khand'otkare jnyaanamudraakare sarvasampatkare padmabhaasvatkare | kundapushpadyuti snigdha dantaavalee nirmalaalola kallola sammelana smerashonaadhare chaaruveenaadhare pakvabimbaadhare |
sulalita navayauvanaarambha chandrodayodvela laavanya dugdhaarnavaavirbhavatkambubibboka bhri'tkandhare satkalaamandire manthare | divyaratnaprabhaa bandhurachchhanna haaraadibhooshaa samudyotamaanaanavadyaam'shu shobhe shubhe | ratnakeyoora rashmichchhat'aa pallavaprollasaddorlataa raajite yogibhih' poojite | vishvadingmand'alavyaapi maanikyatejah' sphuratkankanaalankri'te vibhramaalankri'te saadhakaih' satkri'te | vaasaraarambha velaa samujjri'mbhamaanaaravinda pratidvandvipaanidvaye santatodyaddaye advaye | divya ratnormikaadeedhiti stomasandhyaayamaanaangulee pallavodyannakhendu prabhaamand'ale sannataakhand'ale chitprabhaamand'ale prollasatkund'ale | taarakaaraajineekaasha haaraavalismera chaarustanaabhoga bhaaraanamanmadhyavalleevalichchheda veecheesamullaasa sandarshitaakaara saundarya ratnaakare vallakeebhri'tkare kinkara shreekare | hemakumbhopamottunga vakshoja bhaaraavanamre trilokaavanamre | lasadvri'tta gambheera naabhee sarasteera shaivaala shankaakara shyaama romaavaleebhooshane manju sambhaashane | chaaru shinjatkat'ee sootra nirbhartsitaananga leelaa dhanuh' shinjineed'ambare divyaratnaambare |
padmaraagollasanmekhalaa bhaasvara shroni shobhaa jita svarnabhoobhri'ttale chandrikaasheetale |
vikasita nava kim'shukaataamra divyaam'shukachchhanna chaaroorushobhaa paraabhootasindoora shonaayamaanendra maatanga hastaargale vaibhavaanargale shyaamale | komala snigdha neelopalotpaaditaananga tooneera shankaakarodaara janghaalate chaaruleelaagate | namra dikpaala seemantinee kuntala snigdha neela prabhaa punja sanjaata doorvaankuraashanka saaranga sam'yoga rinkhannakhendoojjvale projjvale nirmale | prahva devesha lakshmeesha bhootesha toyesha vaaneesha keenaasha daityesha yakshesha vaayvagnikot'eera maanikya sanghri'sht'a baalaatapoddaama laakshaarasaarunya taarunya lakshmeegri'heetaanghri padme supadme ume |
suruchira navaratna peet'hasthite susthite | ratnapadmaasane ratnasim'haasane shankhapadmadvayopaashrite | tatra vighnesha durgaa vat'u kshetrapaalairyute | mattamaatanga kanyaasamoohaanvite manjulaa menakaadyanganaa maanite bhairavairasht'abhirvesht'ite | devi vaamaadibhih' shaktibhih' sevite | dhaatrilakshmyaadi shaktyasht'akaih' sam'yute | maatri'kaamand'alairmand'ite | yaksha gandharva siddhaanganaa mand'alairarchite | panchabaanaatmike | panchabaanena ratyaa cha sambhaavite | preetibhaajaa vasantena chaanandite | bhaktibhaajaam' param' shreyase kalpase | yoginaam' maanase dyotase | chhandasaamojasaa bhraajase | geetavidyaa vinodaatitri'shnena kri'shnena sampoojyase | bhaktimachchetasaa vedhasaa stooyase | vishvahri'dyena vaadyena vidyaadharairgeeyase |
shravanaharana dakshinakvaanayaa veenayaa kinnarairgeeyase | yaksha gandharva siddhaanganaa mand'alairarchyase | sarvasaubhaagyavaanchhaavateebhirvadhoobhih' suraanaam' samaaraadhyase | sarvavidyaavisheshaatmakam' chaat'ugaathaasamuchchaaranam' kant'hamoolollasadvarnaraajitrayam' komalashyaamalodaarapakshadvayam' tund'ashobhaatidooreebhavatkim'shukam' tam' shukam' laalayantee parikreed'ase | paanipadmadvayenaakshamaalaamapi sphaat'ikeem' jnyaanasaaraatmakam' pustakam' chaankusham' paashamaabibhratee yena sanchintyase tasya vaktraantaraat gadyapadyaatmikaa bhaaratee nissaret | yena vaa yaavakaabhaakri'tirbhaavyase tasya vashyaa bhavanti striyah' poorushaah' | yena vaa shaatakumbhadyutirbhaavyase so'pi lakshmeesahasraih' parikreed'ate | kim' na siddhyedvapuh' shyaamalam' komalam' chandrachood'aanvitam' taavakam' dhyaayatah' | tasya leelaasaro vaaridhih', tasya keleevanam' nandanam', tasya bhadraasanam' bhootalam', tasya geerdevataa kinkaree, tasya chaajnyaakaree shreeh' svayam | sarvateerthaatmike, sarvamantraatmike, sarvatantraatmike, sarvayantraatmike, sarvapeet'haatmike, sarvatattvaatmike, sarvashaktyaatmike, sarvavidyaatmike, sarvayogaatmike, sarvanaadaatmike, sarvashabdaatmike, sarvavishvaatmike, sarvadeekshaatmike, sarvasarvaatmike, sarvage, paahi maam' paahi maam' paahi maam', devi tubhyam' namo, devi tubhyam' namo, devi tubhyam' namah' ||
iti shreekaal'idaasa kri'ta shree shyaamalaa dand'akam |
Meaning
The Śrī Śyāmala Daṇḍakam, composed by the great poet Kālidāsa, is one of the most magnificent hymns dedicated to Goddess Shyamala (also known as Matangi or Vagdevata) — the divine embodiment of music, speech, and wisdom.
The hymn opens with a meditation (Dhyānam) visualizing the Goddess as seated gracefully, playing a jeweled Veena, her body glowing with sapphire-like radiance, eyes flowing with compassion, and adorned with the crescent moon.
In the Daṇḍakam, she is described as residing in the jeweled isle of Manidvipa, amidst wish-fulfilling trees and celestial gardens. Her entire being vibrates with melody, rhythm, and poetic charm. Her glance showers grace upon devotees, granting eloquence, insight, and divine inspiration.
Kalidasa paints her as the totality of sound, mantra, tantra, and knowledge — the life force behind music, poetry, and sacred speech. The final invocation repeatedly pleads “Pāhi mām, Devi tubhyaṁ namo,” symbolizing complete surrender at her lotus feet.
Those who recite this hymn with devotion gain mastery of words, artistic brilliance, musical excellence, and spiritual fulfillment. It is considered the crown jewel among hymns invoking divine feminine eloquence and grace.
Summary:
Shyamala Daṇḍakam is not merely a praise — it’s a musical river of devotion. It transforms sound into surrender, and poetry into prayer. Goddess Shyamala, the consort of Shiva and the daughter of Matanga, governs the realm of art, learning, and gentle power. Her remembrance awakens inner melody and grace.
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