SHRI SHA'RIKA AS'TUTI

Shri Sha’rika Asthapan is an ancient and the holiest of the holy shrine of Kashmir situated in the periphery of Srinagar. It’s the abode of Jagatamba Sharika Bagwati also known as Maha-Tripursundari or Raja-Rajeshuri. The eighteen armed Goddess is considered the presiding deity of Srinagar city. The Goddess Sharika is represented by a self-made Srichakra also called Mahashriyantra, which consists of circular mystic impressions and triangular patterns with a dot (bindhu) at the Centre. The holy Srichakra is engraved on a vertical holy rock (Shila) located at the middle of western face of Hari Parbat. Shri-Yantra is the most auspicious, most powerful Yantra worshipped for attaining all worldly desires. The saints and spiritually elevated persons devote themselves to it and achieve liberation from the cares of the world. The shrine called ‘Chakrishwar’ can be approached by a flight of one hundred and eight chiseled stones. The number one hundred and eight has a mystical significance in Hindu mythology.
The following As’tuti (devotional poetry), penned by a Kashmir Saint and a fervent devotee of Maa Sha’rika Swami Krishna Joo Kaar in Persian Language is very popular among the devotees of the goddess. For the interest of the readers and the devotees of Maa Sha’rika the verses are translated into English.
Awal Tu’yee, Aa’khir Tuyee; Zaa’hir Tu’yee, Baa’tin Tu’yee;
Haa’zir Tu’yee, Na’zir Tuyee--- Shree Shari’kaa Devi Na’mah.
You’re the beginning, you’re the end. You’re the manifested, you’re the un-manifested. You’re the omnipresent and you’re the veiled ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Dee’vi Jagat Maa’ta Tu’yee; Shiv Shak’ti Gur Data;
Maa’ta Tu’yee, Bra’ta Tu’yee--- Shree Shari’kaa Deevi Na’mah.
You’re the mother goddess of the universe. You’re both Shiva and Shakti and satisfier of all benedictions. You’re both mother and brother to me --- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Ha’jat Rawa’yay Aal’may; Shah-E-Jahane Ak’rami;
Ka’yim Muqame Day’mi--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
You’re the fulfiller of all wishes for the whole world. You’re the greatest of the great ruler of the world. Your kingdom is eternal ------- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
A’az Har Sae Karan Bar’tari; Dar’har Du-Aalam Sar’vari;
Har Farq An’dhar Af’sari--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
You’re beyond the three Gunas --- Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, the three fundamental human attributes. You’re far superior to whatever is good in these two worlds (Aakash and the Earth). You enjoy the most superior authority in both these worlds ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Seem-O-Zar’o Bahar’e Du’ree; Lo’laye Lae’le Gow’hary;
Ze’be Do-Aa’lam An’wari--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
You’re the ocean of gold, silver and diamond. You’re the storehouse of the choice of the choicest jewels. You’re the source of all beauty of the two worlds ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Sa’ham-O-Gazan’far Waha’nat; Shiv Ji Hast Zier’e Aasanat;
Laal-O-Jawahir Dama’nat ---- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The lion and the bullock, both are your vehicles to ride on. Lord Shiva is stationed under your sitting mat. The lower edge of you garment is fitted with most precious jewels ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Tuu Char’dah Ratan’e Garaa’n; Tuu Nau’nidaan’e Be’kara’n;
Tuu Kaan’e Gow’her Dar A’maa’n--- Shree Shari’kaa Deevi Na’mah.
You’re the forty times precious jewel. You’re the matchless source of all superior knowledge. You’re the basic source of all the choicest technology and knowledge ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Shak’ti Tu Kud’rat Shud Ayaa’n; Tahat’e Tu Bhakt’e Jaa’vidaan;
Tahat’e Tu Ursh’e Laa’makaan--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
It was only with your power that the whole nature came into existence. All the greatest of the great eternal devotees of the Lord are under you subjugation. The whole universal activities act under your orders ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Naag’e Trilok’e Tir’th Jaa’t; Sarchashma’ye Aab’e Hayaat;
Aa’bash Baqa’yey Kayi’naat--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
Your spring, the Chakhrishur, is the choice of the choicest pilgrimage of your devotees. It’s the ultimate source of all life giving nectar (Amrita). The water of this spring is the preserver of all life in the whole universe ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Khaak’e Dhar’at Kahal Ba’sar; Sang’e Samee’rat Khisht’e Zar;
Bar Haal’e Mis’keenam Ni’gar--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The dust of your doorstep is the Surma (the black powder applied to the eyes for beauty) for the eyes of your devotees. The step stone at your door is made of pure gold. The wretched condition of this your devotee wishes your one single kind gaze ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Nuur’e Jahan’e Sunda’rey; Taa’band’e Maher’e An’warey;
Mah’e Firo’zaa’n Akh’tari--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The beauty of your face is the source of all universal light. Its shine is the eternal sun. It’s also the source of the super shine of the moon --- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Chakhri’shura’t Haa’jat Ra’waa; Saaz’o Ga’daa Raa Paad’shah;
Wah’wah Ch’e Lakhsh’mi Thap’naa--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The Chakrishwar tirtha is the fulfiller of all wishes of the devotees. It has the capacity to make a king out of a beggar. What a great seat of Maa Lakhshmi! --- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Rogan Chirag’e Pam’puri; Sin’door Kha’say La’huri;
Cheh’rat Ku’nam Zar’do Zar’ey--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
I collected the best available ghee (clarified butter) of Pampore (which has the reputation of having the flavour of saffron as the cows there feed on the grass growing around the saffron fields) for your Ratten Dweepa. I got the Sindoor best of its kind from Lahore and after mixing it with the Pampore ghee painted your face in full golden yellow ------ I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Dar Bar’gaa’hat Roz’u Sh’ab; Narad Muneshwar Baa A’dab;
Dar’baan’e Dar’gaahat Talab--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
The omnipresent Lord Narad Munishwar is present there day and night with full devotion. He performs the duties of a gate-keeper most diligently at your sanctum sanctorum ---- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Gul Aaz Sar’e Khud May Ku’nam; Brinj Aaz Dil-O-Jaan Aar’panam;
Puza’ye Tuu Khwa’ham Kunam--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
Instead of a flower I offer my own head to you. Instead of the grains of rice (Aragh) I offer my heart and soul for your worship. I want to perform your suitable worship ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Ma’an Aari’zoyam Be Nawaa; Uf’tada’am Bay Dast-U-Paa;
Das’tam Bi’geer Aaz Tuu Dayaa--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’’vi Na’mah.
I’ve become the embodiment of immense desire for your single glimpse (Dharshana). I’m deprived of all my limbs and have crippled with the desire. Now I wish you hold my hand out of pity on my condition and lift me up ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Ma’an Aa’z Tu Naa’dey Chaa’kre Ma’an; Gya’naa Ja’paa Ma’alaye Ma’an;
Praan Aa’z Tu Pranaayam’e Ma’an--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’vi Na’mah.
Your Naadi-Chakra is the force of my life. The repetition of your sacred name (Japa) is my rosary. The movement of my breath in your sacred devotion is my Pranayama ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!
Shri Isht Deevi Shari’ka; Dass’e Tu Ah’qar Krishna Kaar;
Goyad To’taa Jo’yad A’tta--- Shree Shari’kaa Dee’’vi Na’mah.
I call upon you, my Isht Deevi Maa Shari’ka. It’s your servant, the lowest of the low--- Krishna Kaar. I’ve done your Astuti and wish your benevolence ----- I offer my salutations to thee, Mother Sharika!