Shikshashtakam - Sung by S Aishwarya and S Saundarya

© & ℗ 2024 V.Shrinivasan - Grandson of Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi and Managing Trustee of "Suswaralakshmi Foundation for Classical Music and Performing Arts”
On the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami (2024) the Divine Duet sisters S Aishwarya and S Saundarya (Great Granddaughters of Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi and Granddaughters of Dr Radha Viswanathan) are truly blessed to present "Shikshastakam” which is a 16th century composition of the legendary Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534)
This song was sung by Smt M S Subbulakshmi and Dr Radha Viswanathan in 1980 as part of the Balaji Pancharatnamala and set to music by Kadayanallur Sri S Venkataraman in Ragamalika (Garland of three Ragas) vis Puriya Dhanashri, Desh and Todi (Shubha Pantuvarali). Keys and Arrangements for this video are to the credit of Harish Abhinav. Sound recording and mastering was done at Prabhath Studios Bengaluru and cinematography is to the credit of Punith Gowda.
The video was filmed at the famous ISKCON Temple, Vaikuntha Hill, Bengaluru and we are indeed deeply grateful to ISKCON for having given us permission.
The eight verses of Shikshastakam clearly reveal Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission and the translation is as follows.
(1) ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamritasvadanam sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krishna-sankirtanam
Glory to the sri-krishna-sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious.
(2) namnam akari bahudha nija-sarva-saktis tatrarpita niyamitah smarane na kalah etadrisi tava kripa bhagavan mamapi durdaivam idrisam ihajani nanuragah
O my Lord, Your holy name alone can render all benediction to living beings, and thus You have hundreds and millions of names, like Krishna and Govinda. In these transcendental names You have invested all Your transcendental energies. There are not even hard and fast rules for chanting these names. O my Lord, out of kindness You enable us to easily approach You by Your holy names, but I am so unfortunate that I have no attraction for them.
(3) trinad api sunicena taror api sahishnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
(4) na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki tvayi
O almighty Lord, I have no desire to accumulate wealth, nor do I desire beautiful women, nor do I want any number of followers. I only want Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.
(5) ayi nanda-tanuja kinkaram patitam mam vishame bhavambudhau kripaya tava pada-pankaja- sthita-dhuli-sadrisam vicintaya
O son of Maharaja Nanda [Krishna], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.
6) nayanam galad-asru-dharaya vadanam gadgada-ruddhaya gira pulakair nicitam vapuh kada tava-nama-grahane bhavishyati
O my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of love flowing constantly when I chant Your holy name? When will my voice choke up, and when will the hairs of my body stand on end at the recitation of Your name?
(7) yugayitam nimeshena cakshusha pravrishayitam sunyayitam jagat sarvam govinda-virahena me
O Govinda! Feeling Your separation, I am considering a moment to be like twelve years or more. Tears are flowing from my eyes like torrents of rain, and I am feeling all vacant in the world in Your absence.
(8) aslishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah
I know no one but Krishna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.

[@Saipallavi.g.nagesh]

Dear sisters your voice is heart touching and melodious . Am always waiting for your video's . I will practice some songs from your video's . Your videos are inspiration and proud for me . keep uploading more and more videos. Thank you so much dear sisters 🙏🏻💐 🦚🪈 Happy krishna janmashtami festival to you and your family🪈🦚

[@chandrashekharpote3398]

M S SUBBA LAXMI JI A GREAT DIVINE , VERY VERY GREAT SINGER , BLESSED BY GOD .

[@nagendrabhatnagar]

बहुत सुन्दर व भक्ति से ओत प्रोत प्रस्तुति। दोनो बहनों का बहुत बहुत साधुवाद। 🕉️🙏 जय श्री कृष्ण 🙏🕉️

[@DurgaRao-th7bp]

Very Wei sung. Haribol

[@capt.jacksparrow2319]

Huge fan of Subbulakshmi Amma garu and after watching you both sing ..it's really heart touching and Divine .Do you take offline classes ..please reply.I stay in Hyderabad..will be waiting for your reply..This is for my little daughter...

[@educaremeenavolu430]

Very divineful singing by both of you

[@akhtabbashasheikh5893]

LOVELIEST BEAUTIES WITH PERFECTION

[@praveenreddy9312]

Many thanks for sharing this music video. Your efforts are great and wonderful voice 🙏

[@veeramanihariharan9389]

Really blessed. Divine singing. God bless you both🎉

[@soorajks2774]

🙏🙏🙏 OM NAMO NARAYANAYA

[@ravichandran-jn5gu]

Great recitation.God bless. Hare Krishna 🙏 🙏

[@meeravasudevan1748]

🙏🙏🙏

[@saatviksathyanarayanan2558]

Your heartfelt performance is beautiful. God bless you, Aishwarya and Soundarya. 🙏🙏

[@bamamoorthy8690]

Your great grandmother has blessed you no doubt. Very nice . 🇨🇦

[@ushadorai6467]

Melodious rendition by both

[@plbhat03]

Very beautifully sung.

[@santoshyellapragada6003]

Hare Krishna outstanding rendition

[@VASAVISISTERS]

Always v good rendition 👌👌🌹🌹

[@subhasunderkumar2950]

Beautiful..such a soulful rendering

[@kasn811]

Arpudam. Wonderful bgm. Bhakti element is so natural 😊

[@chadalawadaanuradha8173]

Hare Krishna 🙏Krishna blessings too both of you

[@srikanthhn5138]

Melodiously Matching Keyboard levels like musical river...

[@srikanthhn5138]

😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏

[@emiliepiguet8324]

Wonderful 💖

[@bani5105]

U both are beautiful....U bring the connection of God with your voice like your Pattiamma. GBU

[@aneeshdhiman]

Thank you very much, it’s composed by Caitnya Mahaprabhu

[@asalgundi]

One of the rare compositions and as always beautiful rendition.

[@reddyvenkatesh7094]

God.grace.always.live.that.is.need.ever.munites.live.ever.

[@radhamurali201]

Beautiful rendition sisters ❤️ Hare Krishna

[@srikanthhn5138]

MS KANDAMMAAAs, VERY VERY VERY MELODIOUS... Very Very Very Melodious Continuous Voices , Even during Minute Voice Levels---MS KANDAMMAAAs... MS AMMAAAs Golden blessings You Both Are...

[@srikanthhn5138]

😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏

[@srikanthhn5138]

Dhanyosmi...

[@seecharu]

So melodious voice. God bless you both

[@balakrishnank.r.7188]

Very well rendered. God bless you both

[@kjagadish6900]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🕉️🕉️🕉️🕉️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍జై శ్రీ మాన్ నారాయణ 🕉️🕉️🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@sedimbijayalakshminarasimh9231]

Beautifully presented Music Magicians.

[@raghavendra579]

Your talents are immeasurable...you both are cultural ambassadors of our Great country !

[@srikanthhn5138]

MS KANDAMMAAAs, Earphones definitely proove the Pleasant Golden voices of You Both..., Beautiful Musical performances...

[@srikanthhn5138]

😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏

[@katragaddasirisha-d6k]

I'm completely awestruck by your God gifted voice, may you both render many more songs❤

[@tejasjumbo6495]

very auspicious mam 🙏

[@laxmi2419]

Very melodious and pleasent 🙏

[@sankarsubramanian3114]

Wonderful. Soul melting

[@bajibabu761]

Nice rendition ! Namo vēnkatēsāya

[@gayathrims4019]

V nice singing with devotion.🎉

[@sekharsrinam]

You are beautiful

[@reddyvenkatesh7094]

Thanks.ever.ever.i.saw.lord.shiva.yourself...thanks.o.m.n.ever.that.is.ultimatie.ever.live..always.truth.is.always.live

[@badarinathkadaba3463]

Excellent tendition both well Syncronistion

[@ranjithachander1203]

Namaste akka 🙏 Very nicely sung Thank you for this on the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami. Perfect for the occasion ❤

[@seanbellfort2298]

🕉️🇮🇳🕉️ Excellent 🙏

[@krishnamoorthy2639]

Thanks. Never heard this before. Hare Krishna Guruvayurappa Narayana

[@jdoreswamy]

feels like MS amma reborn dual as these bless grand daughters.

[@jhanavkant3038]

It wasl expected

[@gourimudaliar940]

🙏🙏🙏🙏