Mukundamala Explained
| Religion: | Hinduism |
| Author: | Kulasekhara Alvar |
| Language: | Sanskrit |
| Caption: | Navaneeta Krishna, 19th century Thanjavur painting. |
| Mukundamala |
| Verses: | 40 |
The Mukundamala [1] is a Sanskrit hymn composed by the Hindu poet-saint Kulasekhara,[2] [3] seventh of the twelve Alvars of the Sri Vaishnava tradition.[4] Comprising 40 verses, the hymn is addressed to the deity Krishna.
Description
Scholars identify Kulasekhara as one of the earliest Chera/Kulasekhara rulers of Kodungallur (Mahodaya Pura) in modern-day Kerala.[2] [4] The hymns of the Mukundamala ask Mukunda, another name for Krishna, to give the unworthy author freedom from samsara. It describes the misery of the soul trapped in this world and exhorts that Krishna is the only means of salvation. The exploits of the deity are also described in the work. The hymn was completed at the Ranganathaswamy Temple of Srirangam.[5]
Hymns
The first hymn of the Mukundamala extols Vishnu's various attributes:[6]
The second hymn of the work directly addresses Vishnu's incarnation of Krishna:[7]
See also
References
- Book: Srivastava . Dr Vishnulok Bihari . Dictionary of Indology . Srivastava . Vishnulok Bihari . 2009 . Pustak Mahal . 978-81-223-1084-9 . 297 . en.
- Noburu Karashima (ed.), A Concise History of South India: Issues and Interpretations. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2014. 143.
- Book: Devadevan, Manu V. . The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India . 2020-12-03 . Cambridge University Press . 978-1-108-49457-1 . 230 . en.
- Narayanan, M. G. S. Perumāḷs of Kerala. Thrissur (Kerala): CosmoBooks, 2013. 65-66, 95-96, 383-5, 436.
- Book: Vemsani, Lavanya . Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names . 2016-06-13 . ABC-CLIO . 978-1-61069-211-3 . 156 . en.
- Book: Makarand Joshi . Mukunda Mala Of Sri Kulashekhar Alwar Sanskrit English By Satya Murthi Iyengar 1987 . 2.
- Book: Makarand Joshi . Mukunda Mala Of Sri Kulashekhar Alwar Sanskrit English By Satya Murthi Iyengar 1987 . 5.
External links
- Mukundamala of Sri Kulashekhara Alvar Sanskrit-English by Satya Murthi Iyengar
- Mukundalamala Stotra - Swami Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada
