Page 61 - Hinduism

and immense mercy pities his condition and redeems him from his career of sins. They reveal the bhakti or devotion of the devotee and his earnest desire for union with God. The number of these devotional hymns is very large and only a few important and early ones can be mentioned here to serve as examples. The stotras by Śankarācārya are significant as they are composed by a philosopher who held that Brahman was formless and attributeless. The Stotraratna of Yamunācārya comprises 65 stanzas and embodies high philosophical truths. The Gadyatraya of Rāmānuja is an equally important triplex. In the first he seeks the mercy and protection (Śaranāgati) of God. In the second he prays to Śrīranganātha of Śrīrangam. In the third he prays to God to accept himself. The Mukundamāla of Kulaśekhara Ālvār is another famous hymn of forty stanzas. The importance of bhakti or devotion and the mercy of God are clearly brought out in this hymn. Śrīguṇaratnakośa is another important hymn of 61 stanzas. Then there are poems praising several arcāvatāras like, Śrīrangarājastava, Sri Varadarājastava, etc. The Nāmāvalis may also be mentioned here as they help us to meditate upon God by repeating His various names.
The devotional songs of Tyāgarāja in praise of Rāma deserve special mention. The songs of Annamācāryulu on Sri Veṅkateśvara are full of high devotional fervour.
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