Shri Hari Vayustuthi Purascharane

Useful Links: Hari Vayustuthi in Sanskrit and Kanada

Shri Hari Vayusttuthi Purascharane is a unique ritual where we pray to Lord Hari and his sishya (student/devotee) Vayu Devaru, in the form of Lord Hanuman with Madhu abhisheka (ritual bath with honey) while chanting Shri Hari Vayusttuthi.

Shri Hari Vayusttuthi is a popular stuthi (poetic composition) among Madhawa Brahmins. Shri Hari Vayustuthi was composed in praise of the 12th-century saint Shri Madhwachara, by his shishya (student) Shri Trivikrama Panditacharya. Shri Madhwacharya is an ahamsa (form/incarnation) of Vayu Devaru himself and the founder of the Dvaita School (school of duality philosophy).

History of Shri Hari Vayustuthi

Shri Madhawacharya performed puja to Udupi Krishna every day. It was customary for Shri Thrivikrama Panditacharya to recite the Dvadasha Stotra while Srhimad Acharya performed naivedya (the ceremonial offering of food) behind closed doors. The ringing of bells indicated the end of naivedya. Legend has it that one day Shri Thrivikrama Panditacharya did not hear the bells for a long time. Curious, he peeked through the door. To his amazement, he found Shrimad Acharya performing puja to Lord Rama as Hanuman, to Lord Krishna as Bheemasena, and to Lord Veda Vyasa as Madhawacharya. Overcome with bhakti (devotion), he composed Vayu Stuthi, a poetic exposition of the virtues of Madhawacharya in 41 concise paragraphs.

When Shri Thrivikrama Panditacharya presented his work to his guru (teacher), Shrimad Acharya immediately composed Narasihma Nakha Stuthi — a short 2 paragraph composition that erudite’s the power of Narashima Awatara of Lord Hari, and the power just in his Nakha (nails). Symbolically, Shrimad Acharya indicates that any quality any of us posses is only by the anugraha of Shree Hari.

It is common to start chanting of Shri Hari Vayu Stuthi with Narashima Nakha Stuthi and end with again chanting the Narashima Nakha Stuthi.

Structure of Shri Hari Vayustuthi

As mentioned above, Shri Hari Vayu Stuthi explains the power of Vayu Devaru in 41 concise paragraphs. Each paragraph brings its benefits as described below.

1. Vak siddhi (power of speech)
2. Jnana siddhi (good thinking & education)
3. Remedy for diseases
4. Mantra siddhi
5. Parakrama siddhi (valour)
6. Friendship
7. Freedom from bondage
8. Relief from mental distress
9. Happiness from women
10. Happiness from children
11. Victory over enemies
12. Overcome sorrow
13. Remove poverty
14. Gain respect
15. Hari bhakti siddhi (grace of God)
16. Moksha
17. Gain manly vigor
18. Improve power of medicines
19. Physical strength
20. Victory over enemies
21. Fulfills ones desires
22. For clearing obstacles
23. Victory in a dispute
24. For a job
25. Vak siddhi
26. Guru bhakti
27. Success in undertakings
28. Clearance from false allegations
29. Improve influence
30. Win over opponents during debates
31. Dishearten enemies
32. Protection from untimely death
33. Charming personality
34. Increase all-round skills
35. For name and fame
36. Develop detachment
37. Recover losses
38. Earn money
39. Santaana siddhi (get children)
40. Fulfillment of desires
41. Detachment

About Punrascharane Ritual

Purascharane literally means repeat chanting. Shri Hari Vayu Stuthi, Purascharane is a unique ritual because after chanting the 41 slokas from sloka #1 — sloka #41, we also repeat the chanting backwards by starting with sloka #41. This ritual is performed in the morning, before consuming food. Customarily this is also accompanied with madhu (honey) abhisheka to an idol of Hanuman — the first amsa of Vayu Devaru.

There are many ways to perform this ritual. One of the ways is as follows:

First, finish your nithya anusthanas (daily rituals) such as Sandhyavandane and Saligrama puja (or your customary puja)

Then, pick the Shri Hari Vayu Stuthi sloka that corresponds to whatever it is you are praying for. This is called the Abheestha Sloka. For example, let us say you are praying for Jana Siddhi (good thinking and to excel in education), Sloka #2 is the Abheestha Sloka.

Next start with Narasihma Nakha Stuthi, and chant up to the Abheestha Sloka. In our example, that is Sloka #2.

Now, chant the Abheestha Sloka (Sloka #2) 41 times or 108 times as convenient.

Then, continue with the rest of the Shri Hari Vayu Stuthi slokas, in our example Slokas #3 — #41.

Chant Narashima Nakah Stuthi.

Now, repeat Narashima Nakah Stuthi, and chant Shri Hari Vayu Stuthi backward — from slokas #41 — #1

Finish with Narashima Nakah Stuthi.

Finally, you can wash the idol, perform Shudhodaka Abhisheka, give teertha from Saligrama Puja to Hanuman, perform Neivedya , and do Managala Aarathi.

The Madhu with which you performed abhisheka is the prasada for this ritual. You can store this madhu and consume it in small quantities every day.

When performed with shraddha (dedication) and bhakthi (devotion), this ritual brings us Paripoorna Anugraha (full blessings) of Lord Hari himself, through Vayu Devaru.

Hari Vayu Stuthi Punuscharane at SVKV — Seattle

Shree Venkatakrishna Vrundhavana performs Shree Hari Vayustusthi Purascharane on important occassions. One such occassion is Madhwa Navami, the day Shri Madhwacharya disappeared from Udupi for Badri Ashrama of Veda Vyasa Devaru.

Sarvam Shree Krishnathpranamasthu