Venkatesa Suprabhatam

O Rama, son of fortunate Kaushalya, the eastern twilight (dawn) is breaking

Arise, O lion among men, the daily morning rituals need to be performed.

These stirring lines begin the Venkatesa Suprabhatam, a beloved prayer that is an indispensable part of the morning routine in most south Indian homes and temples.

An appeal to the lord to arise and save the world, the Venkatesa Suprabhatam is the first of four recitations that are sung together every morning at the Venkateswara temple in Tirumala, Tirupati. Prativadi Bhayankaram Anna, who composed this prayer in the fifteenth century, was a saint, poet and an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. However, its ubiquity in modern-day India is largely due to M.S. Subbulakshmi’s unforgettable rendition.

This book not only provides a translation of the prayer, but is a journey through its verses. It delves into the history of its composition and the circumstances of Prativadi Bhayankaram Anna, as well as the author’s own relationship with the prayer. A compelling examination of a cultural phenomenon, Venkatesa Suprabhatam: The Story of a Beloved Indian Prayer is a must-read.