Achyuta Shataka

The ''Achyuta Shataka'' () is a Prakrit hymn written by the Hindu philosopher Vedanta Desika. Comprising 100 verses, the ''Achyuta Shataka'' extols Krishna, an avatar of the deity Vishnu. The hymn is composed in the arya metre. It is regarded to have been inspired by the '' Tiruvaymoli'' of Nammalvar.

Etymology

'' Achyuta'' is an epithet of Krishna and Vishnu, literally meaning, "the infallible one", and '' shataka'' means "hundred", referring to a genre of literature containing one hundred verses.

Description

Vedanta Desika is regarded to have composed the ''Achyuta Shataka'' when he visited the Devanathaswamy temple located at Tiruvahindrapuram, addressing it to the deity. He is regarded to employ the theme of ''nāyikā-bhāva'' in the hymn, the mysticism of a heroine, owing to the prevailing dramatic convention of heroines speaking in Prakrit in Sanskrit dramas. In the verses of this work, the poet asks Krishna to accept him as he would accept a bride.

Hymn

In the first hymn of the work, the poet extols Krishna:

{{Blockquote, text=Bow down before Acyuta,
the Lord of Gods,
Lord of Truth to his servants,
inextinguishable radiance,
dark cool tamāla tree
on the banks of the Garuda River:
a king of elephants
who wanders the slopes of Medicine Hill
in the town
of the Serpent King
, title=''Achyuta Shataka'', source=Verse 1

See also

* ''Mukundamala''
* '' Madhurashtaka''
* '' Gita Govinda''

References

Prakrit literature
Vaishnava texts
Prakrit poetry
Hindu poetry
Hindu literature