Suprabhatam

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Suprabhatam (Sanskrit: सुप्रभातम्, romanized: Suprabhātam, lit. 'auspicious dawn') is a Sanskrit prayer of the Suprabhātakāvya genre. It is a collection of hymns or verses recited early morning to awaken the deity in Hinduism. The metre chosen for a Suprabhātam poem is usually Vasantatilaka.

The most well-known Suprabhātam work is the Veṅkaṭeśvarasuprabhātam recited to awaken the deity Venkateswara. A rendition of the poem by renowned Carnatic vocalist M. S. Subbulakshmi is extremely popular which is played daily in many homes and temples (especially Tirumala Tirupati) in the wee hours of morning.

History

The genre of Suprabhātakāvya traces its origin to a single verse (1.23.2) in the Bālakāṇḍa of Vālmīki's Rāmāyaṇa, where Viśvāmitra calls out to Rāma to wake up.

O Rāma, the noble son of Kausalyā! The Sandhyā of the East commences. O! best of men (Purushottama)! Wake up, the daily duties have to be performed.

The Veṅkaṭeśvarasuprabhātam begins with this very verse.

Suprabhatam Works

The Veṅkaṭeśa Suprabhātam is by far the most popular and iconic work composed in the Suprabhātam format.

There are many other lesser-known Suprabhātam works apart from the Veṅkaṭeśasuprabhātam. Some of these are -

Śrī Vighneśvara Suprabhātam. A Suprabhātam composition eulogizing Gaṇeśa.
Śrī Siddhivināyaka Suprabhātam. A work praising Siddhivināyaka. Composed by M. Ramakrishna Bhat, retired professor of Benares Hindu University.
Śrī Kāśīviśvanātha Suprabhātam. A Suprabhātam dedicated to Kāśī Viśvanātha.
Śrīsītārāma Suprabhātam. A Suprabhāta poem eulogizing Sītā and Rāma. Composed by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya.
Kāmākshi Suprabhātam; A unique composition by Sri Lakshmī Kāntha Sharma, dedicated to Goddess Kāmākshi at Kanchipuram
Vedavyasa Suprabhatam written by Sudhindra Thirtha (Kashi Math) of Kashi Math samsthan.
Sri Guruvayoorappa Suprabhatam by P Leela
Śrī Veṅkaṭeśa Suprabhatham in Malayalam by S Balakrishnan Karippara Dharmooth
Śrī Lakshmī Suprabhātam by Anuradha Paudwal
Śrī Durgā Suprabhātam by N.S. Praskah and Gopika Poornima

Śrī Venkaṭeśa Suprabhātam

The Veṅkaṭeśvarasuprabhātam was composed sometime between 1420 and 1432 CE by Prativādibhayaṅkaram Śrī Annan (also known as Hastigirinathar Anna, and P B Annan). The poet was a disciple of Swami Manavala Mamuni, who was himself a disciple of Ramanuja.

The Venkaṭeśvara Suprabhātam consists of four sections: Suprabhātam, Śrī Venkaṭeśvara Stotram, Prapatti, and Mangalāśāsanam.

References

↑ www.wisdomlib.org (2017-10-06). "Suprabhata, Suprabhātā, Su-prabhata: 14 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
↑ Hawley, John Stratton; Narayanan, Vasudha (2006-12-04). The Life of Hinduism. University of California Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-520-24914-1.
↑ Narayanan, Vasudha; Nammaaolvaar (1994). The Vernacular Veda: Revelation, Recitation, and Ritual. Univ of South Carolina Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-87249-965-2.
1 2 3 Rambhadracharya 2009, pp. ka-kha
↑ Shri Venkateshwara Suprabhatam, retrieved May 7, 2011, The Youtube video has had approximately 3.5 million views.
↑ "StotramNet". StotramNet. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
↑ Murthy, K. M. K.; Rao, Desiraju Hanumanta (September 2009), Valmiki Ramayana - Book I:Bala Kanda - Book Of Youth - Chapter 23, retrieved May 7, 2011
1 2 Sanskrit Documents in audio format, retrieved May 7, 2011
↑ Kashi Vishwanath Suprabhatam by M S Subbulakshmi, retrieved May 7, 2011
↑ "Shri Kamakshi Suprabhatam". sanskritdocuments.org. Retrieved 2025-01-16.
↑ Balaji, Anand (February 27, 2004), "Venkatesha Suprabhatam" Translations, retrieved May 7, 2011
↑ B.V.L., Narayanarow (March 31, 1999), Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams, retrieved October 2, 2022
1 2 Parthasarathy, Venkatesh (November 2, 2020), Venkatesa Suprabhatam: The Story of India's Most Popular Prayer, Westland Publications Private Limited, ISBN 9789389648638, retrieved October 2, 2022
↑ "Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam Lyrics in English with Meaning | Lord Balaji Slokas and Mantras". Temples In India Info - Slokas, Mantras, Temples, Tourist Places. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
↑ Komaragiri, Narrenaditya (2016-04-23). "Nine Interesting Facts About Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam". Tirumalesa. Retrieved 2021-05-22.

Printed sources

Rambhadracharya, Svami (January 14, 2009), Śrīsītārāmasuprabhātam (in Sanskrit), Chitrakuta, Uttar Pradesh, India: Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Vikalang Vishvavidyalaya

External links

[1] www.wisdomlib.org (2017-10-06). "Suprabhata, Suprabhātā, Su-prabhata: 14 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-11-24.

[2] Hawley, John Stratton; Narayanan, Vasudha (2006-12-04). The Life of Hinduism. University of California Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-520-24914-1.

[3] Narayanan, Vasudha; Nammaaolvaar (1994). The Vernacular Veda: Revelation, Recitation, and Ritual. Univ of South Carolina Press. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-87249-965-2.

[ssrs-4] 1 2 3 Rambhadracharya 2009, pp. ka-kha

[5] Shri Venkateshwara Suprabhatam, retrieved May 7, 2011, The Youtube video has had approximately 3.5 million views.

[6] "StotramNet". StotramNet. Retrieved 18 November 2025.

[7] Murthy, K. M. K.; Rao, Desiraju Hanumanta (September 2009), Valmiki Ramayana - Book I:Bala Kanda - Book Of Youth - Chapter 23, retrieved May 7, 2011

[sd-8] 1 2 Sanskrit Documents in audio format, retrieved May 7, 2011

[9] Kashi Vishwanath Suprabhatam by M S Subbulakshmi, retrieved May 7, 2011

[10] "Shri Kamakshi Suprabhatam". sanskritdocuments.org. Retrieved 2025-01-16.

[11] Balaji, Anand (February 27, 2004), "Venkatesha Suprabhatam" Translations, retrieved May 7, 2011

[BVLN-12] B.V.L., Narayanarow (March 31, 1999), Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams, retrieved October 2, 2022

[vp-13] 1 2 Parthasarathy, Venkatesh (November 2, 2020), Venkatesa Suprabhatam: The Story of India's Most Popular Prayer, Westland Publications Private Limited, ISBN 9789389648638, retrieved October 2, 2022

[14] "Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam Lyrics in English with Meaning | Lord Balaji Slokas and Mantras". Temples In India Info - Slokas, Mantras, Temples, Tourist Places. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2021-05-22.

[15] Komaragiri, Narrenaditya (2016-04-23). "Nine Interesting Facts About Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatam". Tirumalesa. Retrieved 2021-05-22.