Gālava’s Stotra to Vishṇu
This is the stotra (hymn of praise) that Gālava Maharshi offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu at the Dharma Pushkariṇī in the Setu-kshetra. He sang it after ten thousand years of tapas (austerity), when Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared before him. It is found in the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 3.
The stotra praises Vishṇu as the holder of the conch, the cakra and the mace. It calls him eternal, pure and of the nature of saccidānanda (being, knowledge and bliss), and the trimūrti-svarūpa who rules creation, keeping and dissolution. It calls him the one beyond all name and form, and the supreme Nārāyaṇa who rests on Ādiśesha.
The setting
Gālava, a devoted worshipper of Vishṇu, practised ten thousand years of hard tapas at the Dharma Pushkariṇī on Gandhamādana mountain in the Setu-kshetra. Three times a day he worshipped the śālagrāma form of Vishṇu. He stayed deep in dhyāna (meditation), with his senses under control and his conduct pure.
Bhagavān Vishṇu was pleased with this tapas. He appeared directly before Gālava. He had four arms and bore the conch, the cakra and the mace. He wore yellow cloth and had the Śrīvatsa mark on his chest. Gālava was filled with joy and deep bhakti and offered this stotra.
The stotra
Gālava offered it to Bhagavān Vishṇu at the Dharma Pushkariṇī.
- Namaskāra to the Deva of all devas, the bearer of the conch, the cakra and the mace.
- Namaskāra to the Eternal (nitya), to the Pure (śuddha), to the one whose own form is saccidānanda.
- Namaskāra to you who take away the ārti (pain) of your devotees. Namaskāra to you who are the very form of havya and kavya (the offerings to the devas and to the pitṛs). Namaskāra to you who are the trimūrti-svarūpa. Namaskāra to you who are the cause of sṛshṭi, sthiti and saṃhāra (creation, keeping and dissolution).
- Namaskāra to you who are the master of all devas. Namaskāra to you who dwell in the special sacred place. Namaskāra to you who are the creator, the Lakshmīpati. Namaskāra to you whose eyes are the sun and the moon. Namaskāra to you who are worshipped by Brahmā and all the devas.
- Namaskāra to you who are beyond all name, jāti and distinction. Namaskāra to you who are free from all doshas (faults). Namaskāra to you who ward off all fear of saṃsāra. Namaskāra to you who destroy the daityas.
- Namaskāra to you who are to be known through the Vedānta. Namaskāra to the Īśa of Ramā (Lakshmī), to the dweller in Vaikuṇṭha, to the father of Vidhātā, to the remover of the suffering of the good. Namaskāra to Nārāyaṇa, who has measureless valour.
- Namaskāra to you who carry the Śārṅga bow and rest on the couch of Ādiśesha. Again and again, namaskāra.
Bhagavān Vishṇu’s answer
The sound of the stotra was pleasing to the ear (śruti-sukha). Hearing it, Bhagavān Vishṇu, the four-armed bearer of the conch, the cakra and the mace, was very pleased. He held Gālava in all four arms and said, “O Gālava! I am greatly delighted by your tapas, your stotra and your namaskāras. I have come to give you a vara.”
Gālava answered that the darśana (sight of Bhagavān Vishṇu) was itself the highest vara, one that even Śiva, Brahmā and the Vedas could not give. He asked only for steady nishkāma bhakti (devotion with no wish for reward) at the lotus feet of Vishṇu.
Bhagavān Vishṇu gave this. He also promised Gālava that when his earthly body ended he would reach Vishṇu’s own svarūpa (form). He told Gālava to go on with his tapas at the Dharma Pushkariṇī. He promised that whenever danger came, his cakra would be sent at once to guard him.
Sources
- Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Setu Māhātmya, Chapter 3