As a result to requests I post the lyrics to Bhaktavatsale Devi here. They are of course very approximate. Writing Malayalam with roman letters and without proper transliteration codes is only indicative of the correct pronunciation. Anyhow as Amma says, if the child does not know how to intone “mother” correctly, it does not mean that she will not respond. Singing along with a recording of Amma singing this song is good way to familiarize oneself with the song.

Bhaktavatsale Devi Ambike Manohari
Bhakta janartti tirppan shaktayayimevum devi –

O Devi, O Ambika, Beauty Personified, O Thou Who art
Affectionate towards devotees, may Thou dwell here in order to
End the sufferings of devotees!

Matavayatum niye tatanayatum niye
Matula bhratakkalum gurunathayum niye

Thou alone hast become the Mother, Father, Uncle, Elders and Guru

Ennall ikkanunna sarvvayum niyanennu
Ennute guru arul cheytatorttirunnu nyan

Not only that… I have sat listening to my Guru who says that
Thou art, in fact, everything that is seen

Ni tanne sarvvasvam en dinata tirppan shakta
Ni tanne ellattilum naraya verayatum

Thou art everything, powerful enough to end my misery, the tap root of all

Ni tanne sarva bhutanathayayi nilkkunnaval
Ni tanne sarvasvavum kattu raksikkunnolum

Thou standest as the Ruler of all beings, Thou art everything
and its protector as well

Visvasichevam bhaktya stutichu bhajikkunnen
Visvaika nathe ninne kanuvan asikkunnen

Believing this, I am praising Thee with devotion, O Goddess of the Universe,
I desire to see Thee

Etra nalayi ninne kanuvan asichu nyan
Ittiri neram polum tettate bhakikkunnen

Since how many days have I been desiring to see Thee? I Am praising Thee without losing even a moment

Ennil nin entenkilum tettukal sambhavicho
Ennute dukham tirkkan ishtam illayi kayalo?

Did some mistake happen on my part or is it that Thou hast no mind to end my sorrow?

Ennakakkambu ventu vennirakatte enno
Onnume ariyate sambhrantayakunnu nyan

Or perhaps Thou wishest that my inner self get burnt to ash.
I am getting confused…I know nothing

Dinarayi mevunnore santvanappetuttimum
Dinavatsala yallo niyamme mahamaye

O Mother, The Great Illusion, art Thou compassionate to the afflicted,
consoling those who dwell in misery?

Ammaykku makkal ellam tulyam ennulla satyam
Ulpuvil darichatu mithyayayi bhavikkyumo

Will the truth which I keep in my heart, that all the children are equal to the Mother, become false?

Nyan onnapekshichitum enne ni trikkan parttu
Dinata tirppan alpam karunyamritattinayi

In order to end my misery, I will request a little of the nectar of Thy grace pouring from the glance of thy holy eyes

Nin mukham kani kanan ninnati kalil vinu
Janma saphalyattinayi varatte yacichitum

I will fall at Thy feet in order to see Thy gracious face and beg for the boon of the fulfillment of life

Nin arikattu vannu vinu kenapekshikkum
Enne ni upekshichal ennute gatiyentu?

Coming near, I will beg of Thee, what will be my fate if I am forsaken?

Dinarekkattitunna nin tirumizhikkale
Kanumarakename manasakkannil sada

O Protectress of the afflicted, I must see thee in the eye of my mind always

Ajnanakkuriruttil pettuzhalunnor enne
Vijnana dipam katti kattu rakshikkename

Showing the lamp of knowledge, save me
who is groping in the darkness of ingorance

Sarvasvarupe devi sarva mangale ninne
Sarvada kanikanan kattu rakshikkename

O Devi, Who art everything, the all-enchantress, save me
so that I can see Thee always

En manakkannil ninne kanikandanandippan
Nirmala bhaktya nityam ninnute namam oti

I Worshipped Thee with pure devotion by singing Thy Name always in order to gain Thy blissful sight in my mind’s eyes

Kanmasha nasiniyam ninneyum bhajichu nyan
Immahitalam tannil nalennikkazhiyunnu

Worshipping with pure devotion Thee who art the destroyer of sin,
I may enjoy the sight of Thee in my mind’s eye

Torate nityamoti aradhana cheyyuvan
Karyunya mundakane ambike bhagavati

Ambika, Bhagavati, be compassionate so that, always worshipping Thee,
I may enjoy the sight of Thee

Kannunnatellam ninte komala rupamayi-
kanuvanulla bhagyam tarane narayani

O Narayani, bless me with good luck to see everything as thy own form

cheyunna karmam ellam satkarmamayittiran
i ezhaykkekitane karunya piyusham ni

Deign to give the nectar of Thy Grace that all of my actions may become virtuous

ennute karnnagalil kelppatu sarvam ninte
dhanya namangalayikkittirkkane kartyayani

O Katyayani, let whatever I hear become Thy blessed Names

ennute bandhukkalayi ninnute bhaktanmare
ennarikattu nityam kanumaraketaname

May I see thy devotees always near me as my relatives

en duritangal ellam enne vitta kaluvan
nintiru namamritam aushadham ayitane

May the nectar of Thy Holy Name be as medicine
to cure of all my miseries

trippadaseva cheyyan enikku varameki
ammayam ninmarukil enneyum cherttitane

Granting me the boon of serving Thy Holy Feet, O Mother, keep me near Thee

trippada patmangale sevichu vanitunna
tvadbhakta samuhattil cherkkane karunyabdhe

O Ocean of Mercy, let me join the group of Thy devotees
who live serving Thy Holy Lotus Feet

adinathayam devi trailokyanathe ente
atanka shantikkyayi nyanita vanangunnen!

O Primal Being, O Devi, Goddess of the three worlds, where must I go to get relief from my misery?

Vishwanath
11 sep 2006