Padmāvatī’s Vishṇu Dhyāna Stotra
This is a stotra of sixteen ślokas that meditates on the whole form of Bhagavān Śrī Hari, from the lotus feet up to the crown. Bhagavān Śiva taught it to Padmāvatī. She told it to Kalki’s divine Śuka (parrot) in Siṃhala Dvīpa. It is found in the Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāṃśa, chapter 7.
The stotra is a dhyāna (meditation) on each limb in turn, called aṅga-dhyāna. Padmāvatī also tells the full pūjā that comes before the dhyāna. The Kalki Purāṇa says that this teaching destroys even the gravest pāpa (sin), including the killing of cows (go-hatyā) and of brāhmaṇas (brahma-hatyā). It gives puṇya (merit), long life, fame, the worlds of svarga and the four purushārthas.
The setting
At Siṃhala Dvīpa, the svayaṃvara (the choosing of a husband) of Padmāvatī ended in an unexpected way. Every king who had come was turned into a woman by Bhagavān Śiva’s vara (a boon). Padmāvatī sat in grief and meditated on Śrī Hari.
Kalki’s divine Śuka came to her as Kalki’s messenger and comforted her. He asked her: “Tell me the method of Śrī Hari’s worship that Bhagavān Śiva taught you.”
Padmāvatī began with this word: “This teaching destroys all pāpa, even the killing of cows and brāhmaṇas. Whoever hears it, speaks it or practises it becomes free of all pāpa. I tell it to you as Bhagavān Śiva taught me.”
The pūjā before the dhyāna
Padmāvatī described the steps that come before the dhyāna:
- Rise at the auspicious hour, bathe and do the daily nitya-karmas.
- Wash the hands and feet, do ācamana (sipping water) and sit on an āsana (seat) facing east.
- Hold the mind still and steady.
- Do aṅga-nyāsa and kara-nyāsa (placing mantras on the limbs and on the hands).
- Do bhūta-śuddhi (purification of the elements).
- Offer arghya (an offering of water).
- Do the Keśava-kīrtyādi nyāsa, to become one with Bhagavān Keśava in meditation.
- Invite Bhagavān Keśava into the lotus of the heart.
- Offer pādya (water for the feet), arghya (the water offering), ācamanīya (water for sipping), snāna (a bath), vastra (cloth) and ābharaṇa (ornaments).
- Meditate on Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa from the feet to the crown with the great mantra:
Oṃ namo Nārāyaṇāya svāhā
The sixteen-śloka dhyāna
The sixteen ślokas are a step-by-step meditation on the divine form of Bhagavān Hari.
The lotus feet (ślokas 1 and 2)
“I take refuge at the lotus feet of Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa. The yogis who have gained yoga-siddhi (the power of yoga) contemplate them for ever. Tulasī grows at those feet, and bhaktas serve them as bees drink honey. The feet of Śrī Hari are marked by raised, bright red toe-nails. They are bathed in Gaṅgā water. Lakshmīdevī stays around them as their shelter. Each foot is adorned with three golden rings (anklets). I take those feet as my shelter.”
The calves (śloka 3)
“I contemplate the calves of Śrī Hari. They are the colour of a blue gem set in the throat of Garuḍa. Their nails are red like Garuḍa’s beak. They shine with great beauty.”
The knees (śloka 4)
“I contemplate the knees of Śrī Hari. The cloth that flows from his shoulders touches them. Garuḍa sings the Sāmaveda, and this gives Śrī Hari a wonderful radiance.”
The waist (śloka 5)
“I contemplate the waist of Śrī Hari. He is the refuge of Brahmā, Yama and Kāma. He is girt with many-coloured, richly worked silk and adorned with many jewels. He is mounted on Garuḍa.”
The navel (śloka 6)
“I contemplate the navel of Śrī Hari. It is round and has three lines. The lotus that is the birth-seat of Brahmā arose from it. Fine, soft hair surrounds the navel. From this navel arose the aṇḍakosha (the cosmic egg) of the whole creation.”
The chest (śloka 7)
“I contemplate the chest of Śrī Hari. It is marked with the kuṅkuma of Lakshmīdevī’s breasts. It shines with the light of the Kaustubha gem. It bears the Śrīvatsa mark and is adorned with sandal paste and the vanamālā (garland of forest flowers). This chest is the home of Lakshmī.”
The right hands (śloka 8)
“I contemplate the right hands of Śrī Hari. They are of beautiful form and adorned with bracelets and ornaments. They bear the gadā and the cakra. They are strong and can slay terrible asuras without effort.”
The left hands (śloka 9)
“I contemplate the left hands of Śrī Hari. They bear the padma and the śaṅkha. They are long like elephant trunks and adorned with ornaments. Their fingers are red at the tips, and they reach down to the knees. They delight Lakshmīdevī. They are the very hands that slew the asura Mura.”
The throat (śloka 10)
“I contemplate the throat of Śrī Hari. It is adorned with three lines like a conch-shell and encircled by the vanamālā. From it come out, like a branch, the great mantras that give moksha (liberation). They are the highest fruits of consciousness.”
The face (śloka 11)
“I contemplate the lotus face of Śrī Hari. It glows red like a lotus. His teeth are bright white and his lips are crimson. It shines with a beauty no words can tell. From it flow gentle words like amṛta (the drink of immortality).”
The nose (śloka 12)
“I contemplate the nose of Śrī Hari. It is shaped like a tender leaf-shoot and framed by curved brows. It holds the power of creation, keeping and dissolution, the three works of the cosmos. It gives a festival of joy to the eye of Kāmadeva. It lights the heart of Lakshmīdevī.”
The ears (śloka 13)
“I contemplate the ears of Śrī Hari. They are adorned with makara-kuṇḍalas (crocodile-shaped earrings) that shine in all directions and into the sky. Gently swaying, curling dark locks frame them.”
The forehead (śloka 14)
“I contemplate the forehead of Śrī Hari. It bears a tilaka painted with fragrant sandal paste mixed with gorocanā. This mark captures and binds the hearts of all noble women. The forehead is crowned with a kirīṭa (crown) set with jewels.”
The hair (śloka 15)
“I contemplate in the lotus of my heart the hair of Śrī Hari. It is dark and wavy like rain-clouds and adorned with fragrant flowers. It brings pride and delight to Lakshmīdevī. It curves slightly.”
The whole form (śloka 16)
“I take refuge in Śrī Hari. He is dark like rain-clouds. He shines like crores of suns and moons. His brows are like a rainbow. His eyes are wonderful, like lotus petals. He wears flashing yellow silk, bright as lightning. He is anādi (without beginning) and eternal.”
Padmāvatī’s own prayer
After the dhyāna Padmāvatī added a prayer of her own, in the mood of surrender:
“O Vāsudeva, I am a wretch. I do not know the Vedic path. My body is full of countless faults and pāpa, and of the three sorrows (tāpatraya). Desire and delusion have made me their slave. I have neglected your highest service, and so I have fallen into many kinds of suffering. Please protect this small creature with the kind sideways glance of your grace.”
The phalaśruti
“Whoever offers these sixteen ślokas as sixteen flowers to Bhagavān Vishṇu, worshipping, meditating, contemplating and bowing with full devotion, becomes pure, reaches moksha and knows the bliss of Brahman (brahma-saukhya). Bhagavān Śiva gave this stotra to Padmāvatī.”
The one who recites it gains:
- puṇya, spiritual merit
- āyushya, long life
- kīrti, fame
- svarga, the worlds of svarga
- the four purushārthas: dharma, artha, kāma and moksha
Sources
- Kalki Purāṇa, Prathamāṃśa, chapter 7