फलाश पुष्पसङ्काशं तारकाग्रह मस्तकम्
About this stotra
Ketu is the shadowy south lunar node in Vedic astrology, representing the headless body of the demon after Vishnu severed him during the churning of the cosmic ocean. Associated with spiritual liberation, detachment, past-life karma, and mystical knowledge, Ketu is considered a planet of enlightenment that brings both challenges and deep spiritual insights.
This five-verse hymn praises Ketu by describing his appearance and seeking his protection. He is shown as having the color of Palasha flowers (reddish-orange), with a fierce and terrible form. The stotra describes his smoky color, flag-like shape, two arms holding boons and ornaments, adorned with cat's eye gems including a crown, and having a vulture-like face. He is called the 'last planet' with a great head, enemy of the Sun, and ruler of Pushya nakshatra. The verses ask for his protection of different body parts - the eyes, throat, neck, and shoulders. Devotees bow to this flag-shaped lord of planets who wears multi-colored garments, seeking his grace and protection from harmful effects while honoring his role in the cosmic order.
फलाश पुष्पसङ्काशं तारकाग्रह मस्तकम् ।
रौद्रं रौद्रात्मकं घोरं तं केतुं प्रणमाम्यहम् ॥ 1 ॥
phalāśa puṣpasaṅkāśaṃ tārakāgraha mastakam ।
raudraṃ raudrātmakaṃ ghōraṃ taṃ kētuṃ praṇamāmyaham ॥ 1 ॥
I bow to Ketu, who resembles the blossom of the palāśa tree, the head among the shadow-planet grahas, fierce, of fierce nature, terrible. (1)
धूम्र वर्णां ध्वजाकारं द्विभुजं वरदाङ्गदम् ।
वैढूर्याभरणं चैव वैढूर्यमकुटं फणिम् ॥ 2 ॥
dhūmra varṇāṃ dhvajākāraṃ dvibhujaṃ varadāṅgadam ।
vaiḍhūryābharaṇaṃ chaiva vaiḍhūryamakuṭaṃ phaṇim ॥ 2 ॥
Of smoky colour, of flag-like form, two-armed, with boon-bestowing gesture, wearing vaidūrya (cat's-eye) gem ornaments, with a vaidūrya crown, a serpent — (2)
अन्त्यग्रहो महाशीर्षि सूर्यारिः पुष्पवर्ग्रही ।
गृध्रानन गतं नित्यं ध्यायेत् सर्वफलास्तये ॥ 3 ॥
antyagrahō mahāśīrṣi sūryāriḥ puṣpavargrahī ।
gṛdhrānana gataṃ nityaṃ dhyāyēt sarvaphalāstayē ॥ 3 ॥
The last among the planets, of great head, enemy of the Sun, seizer of flower-offerings; one should always meditate on him who rides a vulture, for the fulfilment of all fruits. (3)
पातुनेत्र पिङ्गलाक्षः श्रुतिमे रक्तलोचनः ।
पातुकण्ठं चमे केतुः स्कन्दौ पातुग्रहाधिपः ॥ 4 ॥
pātunētra piṅgaḻākṣaḥ śrutimē raktalōchanaḥ ।
pātukaṇṭhaṃ chamē kētuḥ skandau pātugrahādhipaḥ ॥ 4 ॥
May the tawny-eyed one protect my eyes; may the red-eyed one protect my ears; may Ketu protect my throat; may the lord of planets protect my shoulders. (4)
प्रणमामि सदादेवं ध्वजाकारं ग्रहेश्वरम् ।
चित्राम्बरधरं देवं तं केतुं प्रणमाम्यहम् ॥ 5 ॥
praṇamāmi sadādēvaṃ dhvajākāraṃ grahēśvaram ।
chitrāmbaradharaṃ dēvaṃ taṃ kētuṃ praṇamāmyaham ॥ 5 ॥
I always bow to the divine one of flag-like form, lord of all planets; I bow to that divine Ketu wearing many-coloured, variegated robes. (5)