?DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA?-PART 1 :
AN INTRODUCTION ? Anbil Ramaswamy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT IS AVATARA?
We have heard of ?Aarohanam? and ?Avarohanam? in music. The former means the cadence moving from a low pitch up to a high one; the latter means the cadence coming down from a high pitch to a low one. ?Avataara? means the Lord who is in the highest realms of Paramapadam chooses to come ?down to earth?. This descent is called ?Avataara?.
WHO TAKES THESE ?AVTAARAS? AND WHO DOES NOT?
It is Sriman Narayana who is the ?Bhagavan? and none else. Stories of the so called Avataras by lesser deities may be found in Raajasa Puraanas which are less authentic while Taamasa Puraanas are not authentic at all (e.g.) the stories of ?Pittukku Mann Sumanthathu? and ?Sutta pazham, Sudaatha Pazham? etc. episodes are not vouched by any Saatvika Puraanas and hence should be dismissed as imaginative.
WHO IS THIS BHAGAVAN??
Bhagavan has been defined as one who possesses all the six essential qualities of Jnaana (Knowledge), Sakti (Power), Veerya (Valor), Tejas (Brilliance), Bala (Strength) and Aiswarya (Lordship). Ahirbudnya Siva himself says that it is only Sriman Narayana who possesses all these six qualities.
WHY SHOULD BHAGAVAN TAKE ?AVTAARAS??
Lord Krishna has made it clear in Bhagavad Gita
? Yadhaa yadhaa hi Dharmasya Glaanir bhavathi Bhaaratha/
Abhyuthaanam Adharmasya Tad Aatmaanam srujaamyaham//"
Whenever there is a decline in the natural order of the Universe, whenever there is a rise in evil beyond certain limits, I manifest myself? and
?Paritranaaya Saadhoonaam Vinaasaaya cha Dushkritaam/
Dharma Samsthapanaarthaayaya Sambhavami yugE yugE//"
?To protect the virtuous, to destroy evil and to establish ?Dharma?
I recreate myself in every Yuga?.
CAN HE NOT DO ALL THESE BY REMAINING IN HIS NITYA VIBHOOTHI?
WHY SHOULD HE TAKE THE TROUBLE OF ?COMING DOWN? TO US?
He can do all these without coming down. But, it is to give us the reassurance that He is with the Sadhus by being in their physical proximity that He takes these Avataaras.
The concept of Avataara is a distinguishing feature of Hinduism that is not present in any other religion. God's will is supreme. So, whenever He wants, He can take an Avataara. But, the most important of them all are known as ?Dasa Avataara? ? the 10 Main Avataaras. He can appear in this world as a concrete person and appear to be in flesh and blood though His body is Suddhasatva. and every such manifestation is called an Avatara
He `touches down' earth so that we can `take off' to his high heavens.
He `demotes' himself to our level so as to `promote' us to his level.
He `descends' leaving his high pedestal to help us leave our mundane existence and ?ascend' unto him.
He ?steps down' so that we may ?step up'.
He humbles himself to teach us realize how humble we really are.
He manifests himself in `ridiculous' forms like fish, tortoise, boar, half-lion, dwarf etc to appeal to our `ridiculous perceptions' and help us `sublimate' our lives
"The Impersonal Absolute God, descends as it were to the level of our mundane universe and makes his presence felt. The perfect God takes on, it seems, an imperfection in itself to appear as a living being in order to take us imperfect beings on the onward path to perfection. So, whenever an event takes place (as when the son of God appeared on Earth), the people of that time who had the beatific experience of God's proximate presence worshipped Him as God incarnate. These Avataars are the closest approximation to the divinity for us, who cannot see him in ourselves"1
(1: Dr.V.Krishnamoorthi, Retd. Professor,Pilani)
He ?lowers? himself in order to ?lift? us up;
He ?stoops? to our level so that we might ?clasp? his hands.
He ?debases? himself in an attempt to ?ennoble? us.
He enters ?our homes? to make us feel 'at home.' with him
He ?condescends? to make us feel ?worthy? of him.
HOW MANY TIMES HAS HE TAKEN ?AVATAARAS??
?Avtaaraa: asankhyeyah? ? Avataaras are countless. There is a saying that the Lord Himself has not kept a tab on the number of Avataaras He had taken! Down from the Vedas to Puraanas, as many as 100 + Avataaras have been identified but only 10 as the main Avataaras.
WHY NO AVATAARAS SO FAR IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT IN THIS YUGA IS SAID TO BE WORST?
For this, we have to look at the length of Yuga reckoning.
Kali Yuga 432,000 human years
Dwaapara Yuga (Dwa =two) 2 times Kali = 864,000
Treta Yuga (Tre= three) 3 times kali = 1296,000
Krita Yuga (Kri= 4 ) 4times Kaliyuga = 1728,000
Total 4320.000 or 4.32 million
= 1 Mahayuga
So, there are-
4 Avataaras in Krita (Matsya, Koorma, Varaaha and Nrisimha)
3 Avataaras in Treta Yuga (Vaamana, Parasuraama and Sri Rama)
2 Avataaras in Dwaapara yuga (Balaraama and Krishna)
1 Avataara in Kaliyuga (the apocalyptic Kalki, yet to be)
DO THE AVATARAS HAVE ANY BEARING TO THE MODERN THEORY OF EVOLUTION?
We cannot say so exactly. But in a way, we may derive a parallel:
First, the creatures that live solely in water (Matsya);
Then, those that can live in both water and land (amphibian) (Koorma);
Then, those that live solely on land (Varaaha);
Then Half-lion and Half-man - a stage between Homo sapiens and animals (Tiryaks) (Nara + Simha);
Then, Homo sapiens with short stature (Vaamana);
Then, the rough and tough and not so civilized human (Parasurama, Rama with the axe)
Then, the Perfect example of Civilized human (Sri Rama, Rama with the bow)
Then, one with occupational (say, Agricultural) skills (Balarama, Rama with the plough)
Then, Superhuman (Sri Krsihna)
Then, the apocalyptic (Kalki)
WHAT DOES THE LORD GAIN BY THESE AVATAARAS?
The only gain is that He enjoys the fun making this earth - His fun place. If you take the entire cosmos, Vedas say that Paramapadam known as Vaikuntam or ?Nitya Vibhuthi? is 3/4ths and this Universe ?Leela Vibhuthi? is the balance of 1/4th.
WHAT IS THIS ?LEELA VIBHUTHI??
This is Lord?s playground.
Kambar says:
?ulagam yaavaiyum,thaan ulavaakalum, Nilai peruthalum, neekalum
neengala alagilaa vilaiyattudaiyaan avn padam saran naangale?
Bhagavad Ramanuja in his invocatory slokam of his Sri Bashyam says-
? Akhila bhuvana janma sthema Pankhaadhi leele? (Leele means in play)
IS THERE ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN ASHTAKSHARAM AND ITS RELATION TO 10 AVATAARAS?
Pranavam has 3 letters a., u. and ma = 3
Na+ra+ya+na+ya = 5
Na+ma: = 2
Total =10
WHY 13 SLOKAS FOR 10 AVATAARAS?
Azhwars and Avataaras
Abinava Dasa avataaram = 10
Andal + Madhurakavi + Amudanaar = 3
Total = 13
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Matsya Avataram
DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA?- PART 3 MATSYA AVATAARAM ? (Anbil Ramaswamy)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
?nirmagna sruthi jaala maargaNa dasaa dathakshaNair veekshaNai:
antha: thanvadhiva aravinda gahanaan oudanvatheenaam apaam /
nishprathyooha tharanga ringaNa mitha: prathyooDa paatha: chaDaa
Dola AarOha sadOhaLam bhagavatha: maatsyam vapu: paathu na: //? 2
MEANING:
?The Lord dived into the ocean in the form of a fish searched with His lotus eyes, rapidly viewing on all directions creating an illusion of lotus flowers blossoming everywhere - all in search of the Vedas that had been stolen by an Asura. The ebb and flow of the waves of the Ocean seemed to be a swinging cradle that soothed and almost lulled Him into a comfortable reverie. May this Lord of ?Matsya Avataara? protect us?
BACKGROUND STORY:
It will be noticed that Swami Desika does not dwell at length on the story behind the scene in His drama. In some cases, he gives just a hint and in others he leaves it to the imagination of the readers. For the information of those not familiar with the story part, we give the background for a better appreciation of the Avatara Rahasyam and Swami Desika?s composition.
STORY OF MATSYA AVATAARAM
At the end of one of the Kalpas, after a day's strenuous work, as nightfall was approaching Brahma felt sleepy. As his eyelids closed and his mouth opened involuntarily for a yawn the Vedas slipped out of his mouth without his noticing. But a demon by name Hayagriva did not fail to notice this and hurried to devour the Vedas. Sri Vishnu who is all pervading and omniscient observed this and decided to retrieve the Vedas and restore them to Brahma to enable him to go ahead with his work of creation during the next Kalpa (day break).
While Sri Vishnu could have wrested the Vedas from the demon by his sheer will-power (Sankalpa), he chose to wait for performing a two-in-one feat of conferring his blessings on a Bhakta, SATYAVRATA by name while destroying the demon. As the deluge (Pralaya) was near at hand, he decided to descend `down to earth' in the form of a `fish' to accomplish both the tasks.
Satya Vrata was a great and good King. Once he went to the river KRITAMALA for offering water (Argya) during Sandya vandana. A small fish came into his hands as he cupped his palms to lift water. He dropped it back in the water. But every time he lifted water the fish was sure to get into his hands. The King left it in a tub but it grew so fast that the tub could not hold it. The king transferred into a well, pond, lake, river and finally the sea as it overgrew so rapidly that none of them could contain it. Satyavrata was amazed, when the fish revealed himself as Lord VISHNU. When the Lord asked the king what he wanted, he did not desire anything for himself. He did not even want Moksha. All that he sought was that even during the impending Pralaya, he should be instrumental in saving the life of worthy souls from destruction.
The fish told him that on the 7th day from then a great deluge (Mahapralaya) would take place when a severe tornado would rip through the Universe and destroy it. But, if Satyavrata could muster herbs, seeds and a pick of beings he wanted for the next Kalpa and keep ready, the fish would send a spacious boat in which all of them as also the Saptarishis (7 sages) would be accommodated and saved. The fish advised that Vasuki, the serpent should be brought and used as a rope for fastening the boat to the horns of the fish. Satyavrata did exactly as advised by the fish and the entire crew was saved. As the boat sailed throughout the night of Brahma, Lord Vishnu taught Satyavrata and the Saptarishis what is known as ?Matsya Purana.?. Thus, Vishnu saved true devotees from destruction and endowed them with divine knowledge. During the 7 day waiting period the Lord in his gigantic fish form sought after the demon Hayagriva, killed him in a straight fight and retrieved the Vedas.
Thus, He accomplished the three tasks of saving the righteous, destroying the demon and retrieving Vedas for establishing Dharma. This SATYAVRATA later became the Manu during Chakshusha Manvantara.
Swami Sri Vedanta Desika calls this Avatar as `ICHA MEENA' in his Dasavatara Stotra to indicate that the Lord took the form of a fish by his desire (Icha or Sankalpa)
COMMENTS:
1. Swami Desika makes no mention about this story. Since Leela rasam is the main focus, SD highlights the salient Rasa anubhavam. Here it is ?Ichaa?- desire. What is His desire? Taking the form of a huge fish swimming in the waters of the ocean.
2. Nirmagna Sruti jaala = Vedas that were submerged under the waters
3. Maargana dasaa= in the act of searching
4. Datta kshanai Veekshanai = casts His magic spell through His glances. The ebb and flow of the waters during the forceful swimming of the fish serves as a swing for the Lord!
5. In His hurry to search for the Vedas, His glimpses wandered hither and thither swiftly. So, like a rotating fireball that seems to be everywhere, his lotus eyes were also seen everywhere.
6. Unlike in the picture drawn by Raja Ravi Varma with a half-fish and half- human, the figure depicted by SD shows the figure as a behemoth fish precisely as it is seen in the Archaamurthis in the Dasavatara Sannidhi in Srirangam.
7. A subtle dig at the Lord can also be seen in this description. SD seems to suggest that whatever form the Lord might take, the unique specialty of His (Pundarika aksha) lotus eyes could not be camouflaged! In Stotra Ratnam, the Acharya describes ?Matsya kamala lochanam?, SD goes a step further to say that when His glances wherever they fell created the appearance of bunches of lotus flowers in full bloom.
8. Why this phenomenon? Because the Lord moved so fast, His eyes directed in all directions so swiftly that the underwater seemed to be all lotus flowers.
9. As fish is believed to nourish its little ones by its sheer glance and therefore, known never to bat its eyelids - the MATSYA Lord would save His devotees by his mere glance. The dirt that gets accumulated in beings who languish in the ocean of SAMSARA - is cleansed by MATSYA Lord?s very glance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Courtesy: Kalakshepams heard while in India under Mahamahopadhyaya Paiyambadi Setlur V. Srivatsankachar Swami and his book "Dasavataara Stotram" published by "Sri Vaishnava Sri Paadam Kainkaryam Sabha" , Mylapore, Chennai in 1989.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
?nirmagna sruthi jaala maargaNa dasaa dathakshaNair veekshaNai:
antha: thanvadhiva aravinda gahanaan oudanvatheenaam apaam /
nishprathyooha tharanga ringaNa mitha: prathyooDa paatha: chaDaa
Dola AarOha sadOhaLam bhagavatha: maatsyam vapu: paathu na: //? 2
MEANING:
?The Lord dived into the ocean in the form of a fish searched with His lotus eyes, rapidly viewing on all directions creating an illusion of lotus flowers blossoming everywhere - all in search of the Vedas that had been stolen by an Asura. The ebb and flow of the waves of the Ocean seemed to be a swinging cradle that soothed and almost lulled Him into a comfortable reverie. May this Lord of ?Matsya Avataara? protect us?
BACKGROUND STORY:
It will be noticed that Swami Desika does not dwell at length on the story behind the scene in His drama. In some cases, he gives just a hint and in others he leaves it to the imagination of the readers. For the information of those not familiar with the story part, we give the background for a better appreciation of the Avatara Rahasyam and Swami Desika?s composition.
STORY OF MATSYA AVATAARAM
At the end of one of the Kalpas, after a day's strenuous work, as nightfall was approaching Brahma felt sleepy. As his eyelids closed and his mouth opened involuntarily for a yawn the Vedas slipped out of his mouth without his noticing. But a demon by name Hayagriva did not fail to notice this and hurried to devour the Vedas. Sri Vishnu who is all pervading and omniscient observed this and decided to retrieve the Vedas and restore them to Brahma to enable him to go ahead with his work of creation during the next Kalpa (day break).
While Sri Vishnu could have wrested the Vedas from the demon by his sheer will-power (Sankalpa), he chose to wait for performing a two-in-one feat of conferring his blessings on a Bhakta, SATYAVRATA by name while destroying the demon. As the deluge (Pralaya) was near at hand, he decided to descend `down to earth' in the form of a `fish' to accomplish both the tasks.
Satya Vrata was a great and good King. Once he went to the river KRITAMALA for offering water (Argya) during Sandya vandana. A small fish came into his hands as he cupped his palms to lift water. He dropped it back in the water. But every time he lifted water the fish was sure to get into his hands. The King left it in a tub but it grew so fast that the tub could not hold it. The king transferred into a well, pond, lake, river and finally the sea as it overgrew so rapidly that none of them could contain it. Satyavrata was amazed, when the fish revealed himself as Lord VISHNU. When the Lord asked the king what he wanted, he did not desire anything for himself. He did not even want Moksha. All that he sought was that even during the impending Pralaya, he should be instrumental in saving the life of worthy souls from destruction.
The fish told him that on the 7th day from then a great deluge (Mahapralaya) would take place when a severe tornado would rip through the Universe and destroy it. But, if Satyavrata could muster herbs, seeds and a pick of beings he wanted for the next Kalpa and keep ready, the fish would send a spacious boat in which all of them as also the Saptarishis (7 sages) would be accommodated and saved. The fish advised that Vasuki, the serpent should be brought and used as a rope for fastening the boat to the horns of the fish. Satyavrata did exactly as advised by the fish and the entire crew was saved. As the boat sailed throughout the night of Brahma, Lord Vishnu taught Satyavrata and the Saptarishis what is known as ?Matsya Purana.?. Thus, Vishnu saved true devotees from destruction and endowed them with divine knowledge. During the 7 day waiting period the Lord in his gigantic fish form sought after the demon Hayagriva, killed him in a straight fight and retrieved the Vedas.
Thus, He accomplished the three tasks of saving the righteous, destroying the demon and retrieving Vedas for establishing Dharma. This SATYAVRATA later became the Manu during Chakshusha Manvantara.
Swami Sri Vedanta Desika calls this Avatar as `ICHA MEENA' in his Dasavatara Stotra to indicate that the Lord took the form of a fish by his desire (Icha or Sankalpa)
COMMENTS:
1. Swami Desika makes no mention about this story. Since Leela rasam is the main focus, SD highlights the salient Rasa anubhavam. Here it is ?Ichaa?- desire. What is His desire? Taking the form of a huge fish swimming in the waters of the ocean.
2. Nirmagna Sruti jaala = Vedas that were submerged under the waters
3. Maargana dasaa= in the act of searching
4. Datta kshanai Veekshanai = casts His magic spell through His glances. The ebb and flow of the waters during the forceful swimming of the fish serves as a swing for the Lord!
5. In His hurry to search for the Vedas, His glimpses wandered hither and thither swiftly. So, like a rotating fireball that seems to be everywhere, his lotus eyes were also seen everywhere.
6. Unlike in the picture drawn by Raja Ravi Varma with a half-fish and half- human, the figure depicted by SD shows the figure as a behemoth fish precisely as it is seen in the Archaamurthis in the Dasavatara Sannidhi in Srirangam.
7. A subtle dig at the Lord can also be seen in this description. SD seems to suggest that whatever form the Lord might take, the unique specialty of His (Pundarika aksha) lotus eyes could not be camouflaged! In Stotra Ratnam, the Acharya describes ?Matsya kamala lochanam?, SD goes a step further to say that when His glances wherever they fell created the appearance of bunches of lotus flowers in full bloom.
8. Why this phenomenon? Because the Lord moved so fast, His eyes directed in all directions so swiftly that the underwater seemed to be all lotus flowers.
9. As fish is believed to nourish its little ones by its sheer glance and therefore, known never to bat its eyelids - the MATSYA Lord would save His devotees by his mere glance. The dirt that gets accumulated in beings who languish in the ocean of SAMSARA - is cleansed by MATSYA Lord?s very glance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Courtesy: Kalakshepams heard while in India under Mahamahopadhyaya Paiyambadi Setlur V. Srivatsankachar Swami and his book "Dasavataara Stotram" published by "Sri Vaishnava Sri Paadam Kainkaryam Sabha" , Mylapore, Chennai in 1989.
Matsya Avataram
DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA?- PART 3 MATSYA AVATAARAM ? (Anbil Ramaswamy)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
?nirmagna sruthi jaala maargaNa dasaa dathakshaNair veekshaNai:
antha: thanvadhiva aravinda gahanaan oudanvatheenaam apaam /
nishprathyooha tharanga ringaNa mitha: prathyooDa paatha: chaDaa
Dola AarOha sadOhaLam bhagavatha: maatsyam vapu: paathu na: //? 2
MEANING:
?The Lord dived into the ocean in the form of a fish searched with His lotus eyes, rapidly viewing on all directions creating an illusion of lotus flowers blossoming everywhere - all in search of the Vedas that had been stolen by an Asura. The ebb and flow of the waves of the Ocean seemed to be a swinging cradle that soothed and almost lulled Him into a comfortable reverie. May this Lord of ?Matsya Avataara? protect us?
BACKGROUND STORY:
It will be noticed that Swami Desika does not dwell at length on the story behind the scene in His drama. In some cases, he gives just a hint and in others he leaves it to the imagination of the readers. For the information of those not familiar with the story part, we give the background for a better appreciation of the Avatara Rahasyam and Swami Desika?s composition.
STORY OF MATSYA AVATAARAM
At the end of one of the Kalpas, after a day's strenuous work, as nightfall was approaching Brahma felt sleepy. As his eyelids closed and his mouth opened involuntarily for a yawn the Vedas slipped out of his mouth without his noticing. But a demon by name Hayagriva did not fail to notice this and hurried to devour the Vedas. Sri Vishnu who is all pervading and omniscient observed this and decided to retrieve the Vedas and restore them to Brahma to enable him to go ahead with his work of creation during the next Kalpa (day break).
While Sri Vishnu could have wrested the Vedas from the demon by his sheer will-power (Sankalpa), he chose to wait for performing a two-in-one feat of conferring his blessings on a Bhakta, SATYAVRATA by name while destroying the demon. As the deluge (Pralaya) was near at hand, he decided to descend `down to earth' in the form of a `fish' to accomplish both the tasks.
Satya Vrata was a great and good King. Once he went to the river KRITAMALA for offering water (Argya) during Sandya vandana. A small fish came into his hands as he cupped his palms to lift water. He dropped it back in the water. But every time he lifted water the fish was sure to get into his hands. The King left it in a tub but it grew so fast that the tub could not hold it. The king transferred into a well, pond, lake, river and finally the sea as it overgrew so rapidly that none of them could contain it. Satyavrata was amazed, when the fish revealed himself as Lord VISHNU. When the Lord asked the king what he wanted, he did not desire anything for himself. He did not even want Moksha. All that he sought was that even during the impending Pralaya, he should be instrumental in saving the life of worthy souls from destruction.
The fish told him that on the 7th day from then a great deluge (Mahapralaya) would take place when a severe tornado would rip through the Universe and destroy it. But, if Satyavrata could muster herbs, seeds and a pick of beings he wanted for the next Kalpa and keep ready, the fish would send a spacious boat in which all of them as also the Saptarishis (7 sages) would be accommodated and saved. The fish advised that Vasuki, the serpent should be brought and used as a rope for fastening the boat to the horns of the fish. Satyavrata did exactly as advised by the fish and the entire crew was saved. As the boat sailed throughout the night of Brahma, Lord Vishnu taught Satyavrata and the Saptarishis what is known as ?Matsya Purana.?. Thus, Vishnu saved true devotees from destruction and endowed them with divine knowledge. During the 7 day waiting period the Lord in his gigantic fish form sought after the demon Hayagriva, killed him in a straight fight and retrieved the Vedas.
Thus, He accomplished the three tasks of saving the righteous, destroying the demon and retrieving Vedas for establishing Dharma. This SATYAVRATA later became the Manu during Chakshusha Manvantara.
Swami Sri Vedanta Desika calls this Avatar as `ICHA MEENA' in his Dasavatara Stotra to indicate that the Lord took the form of a fish by his desire (Icha or Sankalpa)
COMMENTS:
1. Swami Desika makes no mention about this story. Since Leela rasam is the main focus, SD highlights the salient Rasa anubhavam. Here it is ?Ichaa?- desire. What is His desire? Taking the form of a huge fish swimming in the waters of the ocean.
2. Nirmagna Sruti jaala = Vedas that were submerged under the waters
3. Maargana dasaa= in the act of searching
4. Datta kshanai Veekshanai = casts His magic spell through His glances. The ebb and flow of the waters during the forceful swimming of the fish serves as a swing for the Lord!
5. In His hurry to search for the Vedas, His glimpses wandered hither and thither swiftly. So, like a rotating fireball that seems to be everywhere, his lotus eyes were also seen everywhere.
6. Unlike in the picture drawn by Raja Ravi Varma with a half-fish and half- human, the figure depicted by SD shows the figure as a behemoth fish precisely as it is seen in the Archaamurthis in the Dasavatara Sannidhi in Srirangam.
7. A subtle dig at the Lord can also be seen in this description. SD seems to suggest that whatever form the Lord might take, the unique specialty of His (Pundarika aksha) lotus eyes could not be camouflaged! In Stotra Ratnam, the Acharya describes ?Matsya kamala lochanam?, SD goes a step further to say that when His glances wherever they fell created the appearance of bunches of lotus flowers in full bloom.
8. Why this phenomenon? Because the Lord moved so fast, His eyes directed in all directions so swiftly that the underwater seemed to be all lotus flowers.
9. As fish is believed to nourish its little ones by its sheer glance and therefore, known never to bat its eyelids - the MATSYA Lord would save His devotees by his mere glance. The dirt that gets accumulated in beings who languish in the ocean of SAMSARA - is cleansed by MATSYA Lord?s very glance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Courtesy: Kalakshepams heard while in India under Mahamahopadhyaya Paiyambadi Setlur V. Srivatsankachar Swami and his book "Dasavataara Stotram" published by "Sri Vaishnava Sri Paadam Kainkaryam Sabha" , Mylapore, Chennai in 1989.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
?nirmagna sruthi jaala maargaNa dasaa dathakshaNair veekshaNai:
antha: thanvadhiva aravinda gahanaan oudanvatheenaam apaam /
nishprathyooha tharanga ringaNa mitha: prathyooDa paatha: chaDaa
Dola AarOha sadOhaLam bhagavatha: maatsyam vapu: paathu na: //? 2
MEANING:
?The Lord dived into the ocean in the form of a fish searched with His lotus eyes, rapidly viewing on all directions creating an illusion of lotus flowers blossoming everywhere - all in search of the Vedas that had been stolen by an Asura. The ebb and flow of the waves of the Ocean seemed to be a swinging cradle that soothed and almost lulled Him into a comfortable reverie. May this Lord of ?Matsya Avataara? protect us?
BACKGROUND STORY:
It will be noticed that Swami Desika does not dwell at length on the story behind the scene in His drama. In some cases, he gives just a hint and in others he leaves it to the imagination of the readers. For the information of those not familiar with the story part, we give the background for a better appreciation of the Avatara Rahasyam and Swami Desika?s composition.
STORY OF MATSYA AVATAARAM
At the end of one of the Kalpas, after a day's strenuous work, as nightfall was approaching Brahma felt sleepy. As his eyelids closed and his mouth opened involuntarily for a yawn the Vedas slipped out of his mouth without his noticing. But a demon by name Hayagriva did not fail to notice this and hurried to devour the Vedas. Sri Vishnu who is all pervading and omniscient observed this and decided to retrieve the Vedas and restore them to Brahma to enable him to go ahead with his work of creation during the next Kalpa (day break).
While Sri Vishnu could have wrested the Vedas from the demon by his sheer will-power (Sankalpa), he chose to wait for performing a two-in-one feat of conferring his blessings on a Bhakta, SATYAVRATA by name while destroying the demon. As the deluge (Pralaya) was near at hand, he decided to descend `down to earth' in the form of a `fish' to accomplish both the tasks.
Satya Vrata was a great and good King. Once he went to the river KRITAMALA for offering water (Argya) during Sandya vandana. A small fish came into his hands as he cupped his palms to lift water. He dropped it back in the water. But every time he lifted water the fish was sure to get into his hands. The King left it in a tub but it grew so fast that the tub could not hold it. The king transferred into a well, pond, lake, river and finally the sea as it overgrew so rapidly that none of them could contain it. Satyavrata was amazed, when the fish revealed himself as Lord VISHNU. When the Lord asked the king what he wanted, he did not desire anything for himself. He did not even want Moksha. All that he sought was that even during the impending Pralaya, he should be instrumental in saving the life of worthy souls from destruction.
The fish told him that on the 7th day from then a great deluge (Mahapralaya) would take place when a severe tornado would rip through the Universe and destroy it. But, if Satyavrata could muster herbs, seeds and a pick of beings he wanted for the next Kalpa and keep ready, the fish would send a spacious boat in which all of them as also the Saptarishis (7 sages) would be accommodated and saved. The fish advised that Vasuki, the serpent should be brought and used as a rope for fastening the boat to the horns of the fish. Satyavrata did exactly as advised by the fish and the entire crew was saved. As the boat sailed throughout the night of Brahma, Lord Vishnu taught Satyavrata and the Saptarishis what is known as ?Matsya Purana.?. Thus, Vishnu saved true devotees from destruction and endowed them with divine knowledge. During the 7 day waiting period the Lord in his gigantic fish form sought after the demon Hayagriva, killed him in a straight fight and retrieved the Vedas.
Thus, He accomplished the three tasks of saving the righteous, destroying the demon and retrieving Vedas for establishing Dharma. This SATYAVRATA later became the Manu during Chakshusha Manvantara.
Swami Sri Vedanta Desika calls this Avatar as `ICHA MEENA' in his Dasavatara Stotra to indicate that the Lord took the form of a fish by his desire (Icha or Sankalpa)
COMMENTS:
1. Swami Desika makes no mention about this story. Since Leela rasam is the main focus, SD highlights the salient Rasa anubhavam. Here it is ?Ichaa?- desire. What is His desire? Taking the form of a huge fish swimming in the waters of the ocean.
2. Nirmagna Sruti jaala = Vedas that were submerged under the waters
3. Maargana dasaa= in the act of searching
4. Datta kshanai Veekshanai = casts His magic spell through His glances. The ebb and flow of the waters during the forceful swimming of the fish serves as a swing for the Lord!
5. In His hurry to search for the Vedas, His glimpses wandered hither and thither swiftly. So, like a rotating fireball that seems to be everywhere, his lotus eyes were also seen everywhere.
6. Unlike in the picture drawn by Raja Ravi Varma with a half-fish and half- human, the figure depicted by SD shows the figure as a behemoth fish precisely as it is seen in the Archaamurthis in the Dasavatara Sannidhi in Srirangam.
7. A subtle dig at the Lord can also be seen in this description. SD seems to suggest that whatever form the Lord might take, the unique specialty of His (Pundarika aksha) lotus eyes could not be camouflaged! In Stotra Ratnam, the Acharya describes ?Matsya kamala lochanam?, SD goes a step further to say that when His glances wherever they fell created the appearance of bunches of lotus flowers in full bloom.
8. Why this phenomenon? Because the Lord moved so fast, His eyes directed in all directions so swiftly that the underwater seemed to be all lotus flowers.
9. As fish is believed to nourish its little ones by its sheer glance and therefore, known never to bat its eyelids - the MATSYA Lord would save His devotees by his mere glance. The dirt that gets accumulated in beings who languish in the ocean of SAMSARA - is cleansed by MATSYA Lord?s very glance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Courtesy: Kalakshepams heard while in India under Mahamahopadhyaya Paiyambadi Setlur V. Srivatsankachar Swami and his book "Dasavataara Stotram" published by "Sri Vaishnava Sri Paadam Kainkaryam Sabha" , Mylapore, Chennai in 1989.
Matsya Avataram
DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA?- PART 3 MATSYA AVATAARAM ? (Anbil Ramaswamy)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
?nirmagna sruthi jaala maargaNa dasaa dathakshaNair veekshaNai:
antha: thanvadhiva aravinda gahanaan oudanvatheenaam apaam /
nishprathyooha tharanga ringaNa mitha: prathyooDa paatha: chaDaa
Dola AarOha sadOhaLam bhagavatha: maatsyam vapu: paathu na: //? 2
MEANING:
?The Lord dived into the ocean in the form of a fish searched with His lotus eyes, rapidly viewing on all directions creating an illusion of lotus flowers blossoming everywhere - all in search of the Vedas that had been stolen by an Asura. The ebb and flow of the waves of the Ocean seemed to be a swinging cradle that soothed and almost lulled Him into a comfortable reverie. May this Lord of ?Matsya Avataara? protect us?
BACKGROUND STORY:
It will be noticed that Swami Desika does not dwell at length on the story behind the scene in His drama. In some cases, he gives just a hint and in others he leaves it to the imagination of the readers. For the information of those not familiar with the story part, we give the background for a better appreciation of the Avatara Rahasyam and Swami Desika?s composition.
STORY OF MATSYA AVATAARAM
At the end of one of the Kalpas, after a day's strenuous work, as nightfall was approaching Brahma felt sleepy. As his eyelids closed and his mouth opened involuntarily for a yawn the Vedas slipped out of his mouth without his noticing. But a demon by name Hayagriva did not fail to notice this and hurried to devour the Vedas. Sri Vishnu who is all pervading and omniscient observed this and decided to retrieve the Vedas and restore them to Brahma to enable him to go ahead with his work of creation during the next Kalpa (day break).
While Sri Vishnu could have wrested the Vedas from the demon by his sheer will-power (Sankalpa), he chose to wait for performing a two-in-one feat of conferring his blessings on a Bhakta, SATYAVRATA by name while destroying the demon. As the deluge (Pralaya) was near at hand, he decided to descend `down to earth' in the form of a `fish' to accomplish both the tasks.
Satya Vrata was a great and good King. Once he went to the river KRITAMALA for offering water (Argya) during Sandya vandana. A small fish came into his hands as he cupped his palms to lift water. He dropped it back in the water. But every time he lifted water the fish was sure to get into his hands. The King left it in a tub but it grew so fast that the tub could not hold it. The king transferred into a well, pond, lake, river and finally the sea as it overgrew so rapidly that none of them could contain it. Satyavrata was amazed, when the fish revealed himself as Lord VISHNU. When the Lord asked the king what he wanted, he did not desire anything for himself. He did not even want Moksha. All that he sought was that even during the impending Pralaya, he should be instrumental in saving the life of worthy souls from destruction.
The fish told him that on the 7th day from then a great deluge (Mahapralaya) would take place when a severe tornado would rip through the Universe and destroy it. But, if Satyavrata could muster herbs, seeds and a pick of beings he wanted for the next Kalpa and keep ready, the fish would send a spacious boat in which all of them as also the Saptarishis (7 sages) would be accommodated and saved. The fish advised that Vasuki, the serpent should be brought and used as a rope for fastening the boat to the horns of the fish. Satyavrata did exactly as advised by the fish and the entire crew was saved. As the boat sailed throughout the night of Brahma, Lord Vishnu taught Satyavrata and the Saptarishis what is known as ?Matsya Purana.?. Thus, Vishnu saved true devotees from destruction and endowed them with divine knowledge. During the 7 day waiting period the Lord in his gigantic fish form sought after the demon Hayagriva, killed him in a straight fight and retrieved the Vedas.
Thus, He accomplished the three tasks of saving the righteous, destroying the demon and retrieving Vedas for establishing Dharma. This SATYAVRATA later became the Manu during Chakshusha Manvantara.
Swami Sri Vedanta Desika calls this Avatar as `ICHA MEENA' in his Dasavatara Stotra to indicate that the Lord took the form of a fish by his desire (Icha or Sankalpa)
COMMENTS:
1. Swami Desika makes no mention about this story. Since Leela rasam is the main focus, SD highlights the salient Rasa anubhavam. Here it is ?Ichaa?- desire. What is His desire? Taking the form of a huge fish swimming in the waters of the ocean.
2. Nirmagna Sruti jaala = Vedas that were submerged under the waters
3. Maargana dasaa= in the act of searching
4. Datta kshanai Veekshanai = casts His magic spell through His glances. The ebb and flow of the waters during the forceful swimming of the fish serves as a swing for the Lord!
5. In His hurry to search for the Vedas, His glimpses wandered hither and thither swiftly. So, like a rotating fireball that seems to be everywhere, his lotus eyes were also seen everywhere.
6. Unlike in the picture drawn by Raja Ravi Varma with a half-fish and half- human, the figure depicted by SD shows the figure as a behemoth fish precisely as it is seen in the Archaamurthis in the Dasavatara Sannidhi in Srirangam.
7. A subtle dig at the Lord can also be seen in this description. SD seems to suggest that whatever form the Lord might take, the unique specialty of His (Pundarika aksha) lotus eyes could not be camouflaged! In Stotra Ratnam, the Acharya describes ?Matsya kamala lochanam?, SD goes a step further to say that when His glances wherever they fell created the appearance of bunches of lotus flowers in full bloom.
8. Why this phenomenon? Because the Lord moved so fast, His eyes directed in all directions so swiftly that the underwater seemed to be all lotus flowers.
9. As fish is believed to nourish its little ones by its sheer glance and therefore, known never to bat its eyelids - the MATSYA Lord would save His devotees by his mere glance. The dirt that gets accumulated in beings who languish in the ocean of SAMSARA - is cleansed by MATSYA Lord?s very glance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Courtesy: Kalakshepams heard while in India under Mahamahopadhyaya Paiyambadi Setlur V. Srivatsankachar Swami and his book "Dasavataara Stotram" published by "Sri Vaishnava Sri Paadam Kainkaryam Sabha" , Mylapore, Chennai in 1989.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
?nirmagna sruthi jaala maargaNa dasaa dathakshaNair veekshaNai:
antha: thanvadhiva aravinda gahanaan oudanvatheenaam apaam /
nishprathyooha tharanga ringaNa mitha: prathyooDa paatha: chaDaa
Dola AarOha sadOhaLam bhagavatha: maatsyam vapu: paathu na: //? 2
MEANING:
?The Lord dived into the ocean in the form of a fish searched with His lotus eyes, rapidly viewing on all directions creating an illusion of lotus flowers blossoming everywhere - all in search of the Vedas that had been stolen by an Asura. The ebb and flow of the waves of the Ocean seemed to be a swinging cradle that soothed and almost lulled Him into a comfortable reverie. May this Lord of ?Matsya Avataara? protect us?
BACKGROUND STORY:
It will be noticed that Swami Desika does not dwell at length on the story behind the scene in His drama. In some cases, he gives just a hint and in others he leaves it to the imagination of the readers. For the information of those not familiar with the story part, we give the background for a better appreciation of the Avatara Rahasyam and Swami Desika?s composition.
STORY OF MATSYA AVATAARAM
At the end of one of the Kalpas, after a day's strenuous work, as nightfall was approaching Brahma felt sleepy. As his eyelids closed and his mouth opened involuntarily for a yawn the Vedas slipped out of his mouth without his noticing. But a demon by name Hayagriva did not fail to notice this and hurried to devour the Vedas. Sri Vishnu who is all pervading and omniscient observed this and decided to retrieve the Vedas and restore them to Brahma to enable him to go ahead with his work of creation during the next Kalpa (day break).
While Sri Vishnu could have wrested the Vedas from the demon by his sheer will-power (Sankalpa), he chose to wait for performing a two-in-one feat of conferring his blessings on a Bhakta, SATYAVRATA by name while destroying the demon. As the deluge (Pralaya) was near at hand, he decided to descend `down to earth' in the form of a `fish' to accomplish both the tasks.
Satya Vrata was a great and good King. Once he went to the river KRITAMALA for offering water (Argya) during Sandya vandana. A small fish came into his hands as he cupped his palms to lift water. He dropped it back in the water. But every time he lifted water the fish was sure to get into his hands. The King left it in a tub but it grew so fast that the tub could not hold it. The king transferred into a well, pond, lake, river and finally the sea as it overgrew so rapidly that none of them could contain it. Satyavrata was amazed, when the fish revealed himself as Lord VISHNU. When the Lord asked the king what he wanted, he did not desire anything for himself. He did not even want Moksha. All that he sought was that even during the impending Pralaya, he should be instrumental in saving the life of worthy souls from destruction.
The fish told him that on the 7th day from then a great deluge (Mahapralaya) would take place when a severe tornado would rip through the Universe and destroy it. But, if Satyavrata could muster herbs, seeds and a pick of beings he wanted for the next Kalpa and keep ready, the fish would send a spacious boat in which all of them as also the Saptarishis (7 sages) would be accommodated and saved. The fish advised that Vasuki, the serpent should be brought and used as a rope for fastening the boat to the horns of the fish. Satyavrata did exactly as advised by the fish and the entire crew was saved. As the boat sailed throughout the night of Brahma, Lord Vishnu taught Satyavrata and the Saptarishis what is known as ?Matsya Purana.?. Thus, Vishnu saved true devotees from destruction and endowed them with divine knowledge. During the 7 day waiting period the Lord in his gigantic fish form sought after the demon Hayagriva, killed him in a straight fight and retrieved the Vedas.
Thus, He accomplished the three tasks of saving the righteous, destroying the demon and retrieving Vedas for establishing Dharma. This SATYAVRATA later became the Manu during Chakshusha Manvantara.
Swami Sri Vedanta Desika calls this Avatar as `ICHA MEENA' in his Dasavatara Stotra to indicate that the Lord took the form of a fish by his desire (Icha or Sankalpa)
COMMENTS:
1. Swami Desika makes no mention about this story. Since Leela rasam is the main focus, SD highlights the salient Rasa anubhavam. Here it is ?Ichaa?- desire. What is His desire? Taking the form of a huge fish swimming in the waters of the ocean.
2. Nirmagna Sruti jaala = Vedas that were submerged under the waters
3. Maargana dasaa= in the act of searching
4. Datta kshanai Veekshanai = casts His magic spell through His glances. The ebb and flow of the waters during the forceful swimming of the fish serves as a swing for the Lord!
5. In His hurry to search for the Vedas, His glimpses wandered hither and thither swiftly. So, like a rotating fireball that seems to be everywhere, his lotus eyes were also seen everywhere.
6. Unlike in the picture drawn by Raja Ravi Varma with a half-fish and half- human, the figure depicted by SD shows the figure as a behemoth fish precisely as it is seen in the Archaamurthis in the Dasavatara Sannidhi in Srirangam.
7. A subtle dig at the Lord can also be seen in this description. SD seems to suggest that whatever form the Lord might take, the unique specialty of His (Pundarika aksha) lotus eyes could not be camouflaged! In Stotra Ratnam, the Acharya describes ?Matsya kamala lochanam?, SD goes a step further to say that when His glances wherever they fell created the appearance of bunches of lotus flowers in full bloom.
8. Why this phenomenon? Because the Lord moved so fast, His eyes directed in all directions so swiftly that the underwater seemed to be all lotus flowers.
9. As fish is believed to nourish its little ones by its sheer glance and therefore, known never to bat its eyelids - the MATSYA Lord would save His devotees by his mere glance. The dirt that gets accumulated in beings who languish in the ocean of SAMSARA - is cleansed by MATSYA Lord?s very glance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------Courtesy: Kalakshepams heard while in India under Mahamahopadhyaya Paiyambadi Setlur V. Srivatsankachar Swami and his book "Dasavataara Stotram" published by "Sri Vaishnava Sri Paadam Kainkaryam Sabha" , Mylapore, Chennai in 1989.
Koorma Avataram
DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA?-
PART 4 KOORMA AVATAARAM (Tortoise) ? Anbil Ramaswamy
KOORMA AVATARAM (Tortoise)
THE STORY:
By the grace of God, the Devas were living happily and were resplendent with glory. Once sage Durvaasa went to the abode of Sri Vishnu and offered obeisance to Sri Vishnu and Sri Mahalakshmi (Consort of Sri Vishnu). He got a garland of Sri Mahalakshmi from a Vidhyadhara damsel. Earlier, the divine mother was pleased with performance of the damsel on Yazh, (a stringed musical instrument like harp) and had gifted the garland to her.
While returning, Sage Durvasa passed through the Indraloka where Indra, Lord of Devas was coming in a procession mounted on his elephant. Durvasa offered the garland to Indra. Indra did not receive it with due respect but plucked it with the Ankusa (a goad used to spur the elephant) and placed it on the head of the elephant which promptly threw it down and trampled upon it. The sage got angry at the callous behavior of Indra and instantly cursed him and the Devas that all their glory and splendor would be lost and they would become emaciated and shorn of their power. Even as the sage turned his back, his curse started operating and the Devaloka lost its luster.
Indra went to Brahma who led the Devas to Sri Vishnu, the protector. Lord Vishnu advised that they could reclaim their lost glory and strength only if they drank the nectar of immortality which could be got only by churning the milky ocean. But, how could they do it?
Lord Vishnu suggested that they lift mount Mandara and place it in
mid-ocean as a churn dashery using Vasuki, the serpent as a rope for turning it. But, weak as they were, Devas could not even think of lifting the mountain. Lord suggested that they make truce with the Asuras and enlist their support in a joint venture!. But, he also warned that the Devas should not desire any of the things emerging from the ocean even if the Asuras forcibly took them. They should not rest until the nectar appeared and he himself would ensure that the Asuras did not snatch it.
Brahma returned to his Satyaloka and Indra set forth to the Capital of Asuras for peace talks. The Asuras were pleased and agreed to participate in the joint endeavor of lifting the mountain and churning.
As they tried to lift, the burden of the mountain was too much and many on both sides got crushed. Lord Vishnu mounted the mountain on the back of `Garuda' his carrier, who flew to the seashore and safely deposited the mountain right at the center of the ocean. Vasuki was wound round Mandara. The Asuras out of ego would not settle for the tail side. So, they took charge of the head side of Vasuki, while the Devas had to make do with the tail side.
As the churning began, the mountain wobbled as it had nothing to support and began to sink. Immediately, Lord Vishnu took the form of a giant sized tortoise, plunged into the ocean and emerged out with the mountain on his back.
They churned now with ease. The first thing to appear was the deadly poison called Halahala or Kalakuta (black poison) representing the impurities of the ocean. The poison was so potent as to blind the eyes and affect breathing. Responding to the prayer of the Devas and Asuras, Lord Siva drank the poison. Parvati, his consort stopped the poison from descending down the throat. Hence, Siva is also called NEELAKANTA (Blue-throated). Then emerged SURABHI (the cow), VAARUNI (wine), KARPAKAM / PARIJATHAM (a tree), APSARAS (nymphs) CHANDRA (moon), SRI (Mahalakshmi), UCHAISRAVAS (the white sonorous steed ), AIRAVATHAM'
(Indra's elephant).
Finally, Lord DANVANTARI (the divine physician) who is none other than another incarnation of Lord Vishnu appeared with a golden pitcher with AMRUTHA (the nectar of immortality) - an elixir of life that can prolong life indefinitely. (It is also believed to have the properties that can change any base metal into gold) Both the Devas and Asuras were excited and a fight royal ensued.
Lord Vishnu now took the form of a beautiful damsel, enticed the Asuras to give up their fight and entrust to her the task of distributing of nectar among them all, on condition that none would question her action. Both sides agreed to the condition. The Mohini (bewitching damsel) started distributing first to the row where Devas had seated. The Asuras waited for their turn. But, by the time she completed serving the row occupied by the Devas, there was not a drop of nectar left in the pitcher.
Then, Mohini appeared as Lord Vishnu, mounted on his Garuda and flew to his abode. The Asuras, disappointed as they were charged on the Devas. But, the rejuvenated Devas easily vanquished the emaciated Asuras and regained their lost power and glory and the asuras were driven to Patala loka.
It will be seen that Lord Vishnu did everything. He advised them how to get nectar, how to enlist support of their sworn enemies. He arranged to the lift the mountain. He deliberately allowed the asuras to be on the head-side of Vasuki which spouted poison and killed a number of asuras. He held the mountain on his back to enable the churning. He took the form of Danvantri and emerged with the pitcher of nectar. He again appeared as Mohini to ensure Devas and deprive Asuras of a share in the nectar. Without all this help, none of these could have happened and Devas would have been languishing from the effects of the curse of Durvasa forever.
Sri Swami Desikan while describing this Avatara says "Vihara Katchapa" meaning that Lord did all this in sport assuming the form of a tortoise. He says that when the mountain moved during the churning, it looked as if it gently scratched the back of the tortoise and relieved it of its itching and in the relief so secured, the Lord actually felt sleepy. He imagines that as the waves of the ocean rose and fell, it looked as if it were a swinging 'waterbed' on which the Lord enjoyed the swing.
Thirumangai Azhwar calls him a `GIRIDHARAN' meaning one who bore the mountain in anticipation of a similar feat the Lord was to exhibit in a subsequent Avatar as Krishna when he lifted the Govardhana Giri with his little finger
COMMENTS:
1. Adrinaa: This means ?mountain. This is the only reference to the story, nothing else.
2. In 12th Sloka, SD refers to ?Vihara Kachchapa? = Sportily donned the form of tortoise.
3. Parasya Koorma vapushO = He roamed as the primordial tortoise (Aadhi Sri Koormam). ?Parasaya? also refers to His ?Parama purusha tvam?
4. Bhuvanatrayeem avyaasu: = SD indirectly alludes to the story of the world having been protected when Siva is said to have drunk the poison. Did Siva really drink the poison?
Sruthi says ?Vayurasmaa upaamanyath pinishta smaa kunannamaa kesee vishasya PatrEna yad RudrEna pibath sa:? meaning that it is the Lord who drank the poison making Siva a vessel to hold it (vishasya PatrEna yad RudrEna pibath sa:)
5. ViharatE = "plays" - is in the present tense indicating that this Avatara is till not yet over.
6. Kanduuyanai: = means creating an itching sensation. When the mountain on His back like a churn dashery rotated during the churning, when the Devas and Asuras pulled it like in the rope pulling game, what could we expect except excruciating sense of itch for the Lord. But, what actually happened? He felt it so soothing that He was almost lulled into sleep!. SD goes further to say that during this ?falling asleep? stage, he breathed so heavily that the waves of the milky ocean rose and fell as if it was gently swinging Him along with Piraatti and felt agreeably comfortable!
7. Does the Lord really sleep? He is a ?Nitya Prabuddha?- ever awake and vigilant. In Yadhavabhyudayam SD makes a reference to this ?Sleep- awake? situation in his own inimitable style where he suggests that the Lord was in deep meditation on how to distribute the nectar to the Devas while depriving the evil asuras, though the churning was a joint endeavor!
8. Sriya Sahaiy Eva = SD not only reaffirms the inseparable-ness of the divine couple but according to Acharyas? Vyakhyanams, all these efforts of the Lord in
- Suggesting to the Devas about the Churning of the milky ocean
- Suggesting making peace with the Asuras as a military strategy to secure their cooperation,
- Arranging to bring the Mantara mountain,
- Bearing it on His back to stop its wobbling,
- Advising Devas to hold on to the tail end of the deadly serpent, Vaasuki,
- Appearing as Dhanvantari with the Pot of nectar
- Assuming the guise of Mohini for distributing nectar to the Devas -
All were done only with a view to secure for Himself the nectarine Mahalakshmi(amudhinum iniya penn amudai adaiya ivvalavu paaDu?)
PART 4 KOORMA AVATAARAM (Tortoise) ? Anbil Ramaswamy
KOORMA AVATARAM (Tortoise)
THE STORY:
By the grace of God, the Devas were living happily and were resplendent with glory. Once sage Durvaasa went to the abode of Sri Vishnu and offered obeisance to Sri Vishnu and Sri Mahalakshmi (Consort of Sri Vishnu). He got a garland of Sri Mahalakshmi from a Vidhyadhara damsel. Earlier, the divine mother was pleased with performance of the damsel on Yazh, (a stringed musical instrument like harp) and had gifted the garland to her.
While returning, Sage Durvasa passed through the Indraloka where Indra, Lord of Devas was coming in a procession mounted on his elephant. Durvasa offered the garland to Indra. Indra did not receive it with due respect but plucked it with the Ankusa (a goad used to spur the elephant) and placed it on the head of the elephant which promptly threw it down and trampled upon it. The sage got angry at the callous behavior of Indra and instantly cursed him and the Devas that all their glory and splendor would be lost and they would become emaciated and shorn of their power. Even as the sage turned his back, his curse started operating and the Devaloka lost its luster.
Indra went to Brahma who led the Devas to Sri Vishnu, the protector. Lord Vishnu advised that they could reclaim their lost glory and strength only if they drank the nectar of immortality which could be got only by churning the milky ocean. But, how could they do it?
Lord Vishnu suggested that they lift mount Mandara and place it in
mid-ocean as a churn dashery using Vasuki, the serpent as a rope for turning it. But, weak as they were, Devas could not even think of lifting the mountain. Lord suggested that they make truce with the Asuras and enlist their support in a joint venture!. But, he also warned that the Devas should not desire any of the things emerging from the ocean even if the Asuras forcibly took them. They should not rest until the nectar appeared and he himself would ensure that the Asuras did not snatch it.
Brahma returned to his Satyaloka and Indra set forth to the Capital of Asuras for peace talks. The Asuras were pleased and agreed to participate in the joint endeavor of lifting the mountain and churning.
As they tried to lift, the burden of the mountain was too much and many on both sides got crushed. Lord Vishnu mounted the mountain on the back of `Garuda' his carrier, who flew to the seashore and safely deposited the mountain right at the center of the ocean. Vasuki was wound round Mandara. The Asuras out of ego would not settle for the tail side. So, they took charge of the head side of Vasuki, while the Devas had to make do with the tail side.
As the churning began, the mountain wobbled as it had nothing to support and began to sink. Immediately, Lord Vishnu took the form of a giant sized tortoise, plunged into the ocean and emerged out with the mountain on his back.
They churned now with ease. The first thing to appear was the deadly poison called Halahala or Kalakuta (black poison) representing the impurities of the ocean. The poison was so potent as to blind the eyes and affect breathing. Responding to the prayer of the Devas and Asuras, Lord Siva drank the poison. Parvati, his consort stopped the poison from descending down the throat. Hence, Siva is also called NEELAKANTA (Blue-throated). Then emerged SURABHI (the cow), VAARUNI (wine), KARPAKAM / PARIJATHAM (a tree), APSARAS (nymphs) CHANDRA (moon), SRI (Mahalakshmi), UCHAISRAVAS (the white sonorous steed ), AIRAVATHAM'
(Indra's elephant).
Finally, Lord DANVANTARI (the divine physician) who is none other than another incarnation of Lord Vishnu appeared with a golden pitcher with AMRUTHA (the nectar of immortality) - an elixir of life that can prolong life indefinitely. (It is also believed to have the properties that can change any base metal into gold) Both the Devas and Asuras were excited and a fight royal ensued.
Lord Vishnu now took the form of a beautiful damsel, enticed the Asuras to give up their fight and entrust to her the task of distributing of nectar among them all, on condition that none would question her action. Both sides agreed to the condition. The Mohini (bewitching damsel) started distributing first to the row where Devas had seated. The Asuras waited for their turn. But, by the time she completed serving the row occupied by the Devas, there was not a drop of nectar left in the pitcher.
Then, Mohini appeared as Lord Vishnu, mounted on his Garuda and flew to his abode. The Asuras, disappointed as they were charged on the Devas. But, the rejuvenated Devas easily vanquished the emaciated Asuras and regained their lost power and glory and the asuras were driven to Patala loka.
It will be seen that Lord Vishnu did everything. He advised them how to get nectar, how to enlist support of their sworn enemies. He arranged to the lift the mountain. He deliberately allowed the asuras to be on the head-side of Vasuki which spouted poison and killed a number of asuras. He held the mountain on his back to enable the churning. He took the form of Danvantri and emerged with the pitcher of nectar. He again appeared as Mohini to ensure Devas and deprive Asuras of a share in the nectar. Without all this help, none of these could have happened and Devas would have been languishing from the effects of the curse of Durvasa forever.
Sri Swami Desikan while describing this Avatara says "Vihara Katchapa" meaning that Lord did all this in sport assuming the form of a tortoise. He says that when the mountain moved during the churning, it looked as if it gently scratched the back of the tortoise and relieved it of its itching and in the relief so secured, the Lord actually felt sleepy. He imagines that as the waves of the ocean rose and fell, it looked as if it were a swinging 'waterbed' on which the Lord enjoyed the swing.
Thirumangai Azhwar calls him a `GIRIDHARAN' meaning one who bore the mountain in anticipation of a similar feat the Lord was to exhibit in a subsequent Avatar as Krishna when he lifted the Govardhana Giri with his little finger
COMMENTS:
1. Adrinaa: This means ?mountain. This is the only reference to the story, nothing else.
2. In 12th Sloka, SD refers to ?Vihara Kachchapa? = Sportily donned the form of tortoise.
3. Parasya Koorma vapushO = He roamed as the primordial tortoise (Aadhi Sri Koormam). ?Parasaya? also refers to His ?Parama purusha tvam?
4. Bhuvanatrayeem avyaasu: = SD indirectly alludes to the story of the world having been protected when Siva is said to have drunk the poison. Did Siva really drink the poison?
Sruthi says ?Vayurasmaa upaamanyath pinishta smaa kunannamaa kesee vishasya PatrEna yad RudrEna pibath sa:? meaning that it is the Lord who drank the poison making Siva a vessel to hold it (vishasya PatrEna yad RudrEna pibath sa:)
5. ViharatE = "plays" - is in the present tense indicating that this Avatara is till not yet over.
6. Kanduuyanai: = means creating an itching sensation. When the mountain on His back like a churn dashery rotated during the churning, when the Devas and Asuras pulled it like in the rope pulling game, what could we expect except excruciating sense of itch for the Lord. But, what actually happened? He felt it so soothing that He was almost lulled into sleep!. SD goes further to say that during this ?falling asleep? stage, he breathed so heavily that the waves of the milky ocean rose and fell as if it was gently swinging Him along with Piraatti and felt agreeably comfortable!
7. Does the Lord really sleep? He is a ?Nitya Prabuddha?- ever awake and vigilant. In Yadhavabhyudayam SD makes a reference to this ?Sleep- awake? situation in his own inimitable style where he suggests that the Lord was in deep meditation on how to distribute the nectar to the Devas while depriving the evil asuras, though the churning was a joint endeavor!
8. Sriya Sahaiy Eva = SD not only reaffirms the inseparable-ness of the divine couple but according to Acharyas? Vyakhyanams, all these efforts of the Lord in
- Suggesting to the Devas about the Churning of the milky ocean
- Suggesting making peace with the Asuras as a military strategy to secure their cooperation,
- Arranging to bring the Mantara mountain,
- Bearing it on His back to stop its wobbling,
- Advising Devas to hold on to the tail end of the deadly serpent, Vaasuki,
- Appearing as Dhanvantari with the Pot of nectar
- Assuming the guise of Mohini for distributing nectar to the Devas -
All were done only with a view to secure for Himself the nectarine Mahalakshmi(amudhinum iniya penn amudai adaiya ivvalavu paaDu?)
Varaha Avataram
DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA?- PART 5 VARAAHA AVATAARAM (Wild Boar) ? Anbil Ramaswamy
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gOpaayEth anisam jaganthi kuhanaa pOthree pavithree kritha
brahmANDa: praLayOrmi gOsha gurubhir gONaaravai: gurguraih: /
yath dhamshtra ankura kOTi ghaaTa ghaTanaa nishkampa nitya sthithi:
brahma sthambham asoudasou bhagavathee mushEva visvambharaa // 4
MEANING:
?At the time of the great deluge, mother earth was wholly drowned under the waters. The Lord took the form of a huge wild boar and diving deep under the waters salvaged Her. At that time, He exhaled so heavily making a roaring sound that purified the three worlds. The boar bore Mother earth who bears the entire universe firmly on His horn as if She was a tuber root stuck in it?.
STORY:
VARSHA AVATAR (Wild Boar)
The Maanasa putras of Brahma viz. Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanaatana and Sanatkumara ? visited the abode of SRI NARYANA. At the seventh entrance, the gate keepers, Jaya and Vijaya stopped them even though they had the right to meet with the Lord without prior appointment. Enraged at this, the RISHIS cursed them to be born in the world. The Lord appeared and approved of the curse but since they were repentant, modified the fiat by offering them to be born on three occasions as demons to be killed by himself in his three future Avatars after which they could re-enter the Kingdom of god.
It is these Jaya and Vijaya who were born as Hinanya-aksha (Golden eyed) and Hiranya kasipu (Golden dressed) during the period of Varaaha and Nrisimha Avatars respectively; Ravana and Kumbakarna during Rama Avatar and Sisupala and Dantavaktra during Krishna Avatar and were killed by Lord Vishnu in the respective Avatars after which they ascended the Kingdom of God.
In the first case, they were born to the sage KASYAPA and his wife THITHI. It is believed that the disposition of progenies would be determined by the time the parents united for procreation purposes. And, they were born with demoniac traits as the couple united at an inauspicious time. The two demons developed a hostile attitude towards Lord Vishnu and when sage NARADA narrated a prognosis of the next Avatar of NRISIMHA, they vowed to hide the earth under Patala so that they could prevent the manifestation of the Lord on earth. They set about to conquer the Devas with their newfound power and started tormenting virtuous souls.
The Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu, the protector and preserver of the Universe. He assured them that he would do the needful.
Brahma was meditating on the Lord, when a tiny boar emerged from one of his nostrils. Even as Brahma wondered what it was, the boar grew in size and became as big as a huge mountain with a roar that reverberated through the universe, it took a mighty leap into the air and plunged down into the ocean and reached the fathomless Patala where mother earth (Bhumi Devi) was kept concealed by the demons. Digging his tusk, the boar lifted Bhumidevi and held her secure in its horn.
Hiranyaksha was itching for a fight and when he confronted VARUNA, the latter pleaded inability to give a fight and suggested that he call Lord Vishnu who alone would be match for the demon. Hiranyaksha learned from Sage NARADA that Lord Vishnu had taken the form of a boar and was seeking to salvage mother earth from the hideout. Immediately, he rushed to charge the boar and hurled insults on the boar.
The boar, however, ignored all the taunts as it measured the earth with one foot, in this Avatar, The Lord held the entire earth in His horn says POIGAI ALWAR. THIRUMAZHISAI ALWAR calls the MAHAVARAHA MURTHY as GNANAPIRAN. Other Alwars described him as BHUVARAHAN as the Lord lifted BHU DEVI and ADHIVARAHAN since He is the primordial Iswara. It is believed that this Avatar took place at the time of deluge ending the Padma kalpa. ANDAL praised the Lord since out of his love for BHUMIDEVI, he did not mind plunging into dirt and slime in order to retrieve her. To save devotees, he will not hesitate to take even the lowliest of forms and the form of the boar came only next to those of fish and tortoise. The same horn which tore apart the demon, also held gently the mother earth.
Sri Swami Desikan in his Dasavatara stotra extols this avatar as `MAHA POTRIN' referring to the gigantic size of the boar.
COMMENTS:
1. During the saving, Lord advised Bhudevi, which is known as ?Varaaha Puraana?
2. Andal is none other than this Bhudevi reincarnated.
3. Tip of His single horn ? ?Eka Sringhee Varaahas Tvam? says Ramayana.
4. Anisam: ?without night? i.e. always, while in sleep and while awake. (Cf Sadaa pasyanthi Sooraya:) In the previous verse, the Lord is shown as being lulled into sleep. Here, He is shown as fully awake all through! Anisam can also be taken as Paramapadam where it is always bright (athi raatram uthamam ahar bhavathi)
5. Varaaha is NOT a country pig as popularly believed but a huge wild boar like a rhinoceros
6. Nish kampa nitya sthithi = Holding the ever revolving, ever rotating earth firm and steady. The modern scientific concept of earth rotating is brought out here.
7. Viswam bharaa = Bhu devi bore the massive earth; the Lord bore her. Can we imagine the mammoth form of the Lord? It is said the Meru mountain looked like dirt at the feet of the boar.
8. How did mother earth look like? Mustheva = Like a small piece of root (Korai kizhangu)
9. SD describes Him as ?Mahaa potrin? ? Gigantic. Mahatvam is also a leela!
10. GONa aravair gurgurai: = The roar of the boar was verily the Varaaha Charama Slokam that is the ultimate promise of the Lord to the fallen souls!
11. Pavithree kritha Brahmaanda: = The sound issuing forth from the boar is said to be more forceful than the tornado at the time of deluge reverberating through all directions purifying the entire space.
12. Varaaha is also known as ?Jnaana moorthi?- the source of knowledge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
gOpaayEth anisam jaganthi kuhanaa pOthree pavithree kritha
brahmANDa: praLayOrmi gOsha gurubhir gONaaravai: gurguraih: /
yath dhamshtra ankura kOTi ghaaTa ghaTanaa nishkampa nitya sthithi:
brahma sthambham asoudasou bhagavathee mushEva visvambharaa // 4
MEANING:
?At the time of the great deluge, mother earth was wholly drowned under the waters. The Lord took the form of a huge wild boar and diving deep under the waters salvaged Her. At that time, He exhaled so heavily making a roaring sound that purified the three worlds. The boar bore Mother earth who bears the entire universe firmly on His horn as if She was a tuber root stuck in it?.
STORY:
VARSHA AVATAR (Wild Boar)
The Maanasa putras of Brahma viz. Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanaatana and Sanatkumara ? visited the abode of SRI NARYANA. At the seventh entrance, the gate keepers, Jaya and Vijaya stopped them even though they had the right to meet with the Lord without prior appointment. Enraged at this, the RISHIS cursed them to be born in the world. The Lord appeared and approved of the curse but since they were repentant, modified the fiat by offering them to be born on three occasions as demons to be killed by himself in his three future Avatars after which they could re-enter the Kingdom of god.
It is these Jaya and Vijaya who were born as Hinanya-aksha (Golden eyed) and Hiranya kasipu (Golden dressed) during the period of Varaaha and Nrisimha Avatars respectively; Ravana and Kumbakarna during Rama Avatar and Sisupala and Dantavaktra during Krishna Avatar and were killed by Lord Vishnu in the respective Avatars after which they ascended the Kingdom of God.
In the first case, they were born to the sage KASYAPA and his wife THITHI. It is believed that the disposition of progenies would be determined by the time the parents united for procreation purposes. And, they were born with demoniac traits as the couple united at an inauspicious time. The two demons developed a hostile attitude towards Lord Vishnu and when sage NARADA narrated a prognosis of the next Avatar of NRISIMHA, they vowed to hide the earth under Patala so that they could prevent the manifestation of the Lord on earth. They set about to conquer the Devas with their newfound power and started tormenting virtuous souls.
The Devas pleaded with Lord Vishnu, the protector and preserver of the Universe. He assured them that he would do the needful.
Brahma was meditating on the Lord, when a tiny boar emerged from one of his nostrils. Even as Brahma wondered what it was, the boar grew in size and became as big as a huge mountain with a roar that reverberated through the universe, it took a mighty leap into the air and plunged down into the ocean and reached the fathomless Patala where mother earth (Bhumi Devi) was kept concealed by the demons. Digging his tusk, the boar lifted Bhumidevi and held her secure in its horn.
Hiranyaksha was itching for a fight and when he confronted VARUNA, the latter pleaded inability to give a fight and suggested that he call Lord Vishnu who alone would be match for the demon. Hiranyaksha learned from Sage NARADA that Lord Vishnu had taken the form of a boar and was seeking to salvage mother earth from the hideout. Immediately, he rushed to charge the boar and hurled insults on the boar.
The boar, however, ignored all the taunts as it measured the earth with one foot, in this Avatar, The Lord held the entire earth in His horn says POIGAI ALWAR. THIRUMAZHISAI ALWAR calls the MAHAVARAHA MURTHY as GNANAPIRAN. Other Alwars described him as BHUVARAHAN as the Lord lifted BHU DEVI and ADHIVARAHAN since He is the primordial Iswara. It is believed that this Avatar took place at the time of deluge ending the Padma kalpa. ANDAL praised the Lord since out of his love for BHUMIDEVI, he did not mind plunging into dirt and slime in order to retrieve her. To save devotees, he will not hesitate to take even the lowliest of forms and the form of the boar came only next to those of fish and tortoise. The same horn which tore apart the demon, also held gently the mother earth.
Sri Swami Desikan in his Dasavatara stotra extols this avatar as `MAHA POTRIN' referring to the gigantic size of the boar.
COMMENTS:
1. During the saving, Lord advised Bhudevi, which is known as ?Varaaha Puraana?
2. Andal is none other than this Bhudevi reincarnated.
3. Tip of His single horn ? ?Eka Sringhee Varaahas Tvam? says Ramayana.
4. Anisam: ?without night? i.e. always, while in sleep and while awake. (Cf Sadaa pasyanthi Sooraya:) In the previous verse, the Lord is shown as being lulled into sleep. Here, He is shown as fully awake all through! Anisam can also be taken as Paramapadam where it is always bright (athi raatram uthamam ahar bhavathi)
5. Varaaha is NOT a country pig as popularly believed but a huge wild boar like a rhinoceros
6. Nish kampa nitya sthithi = Holding the ever revolving, ever rotating earth firm and steady. The modern scientific concept of earth rotating is brought out here.
7. Viswam bharaa = Bhu devi bore the massive earth; the Lord bore her. Can we imagine the mammoth form of the Lord? It is said the Meru mountain looked like dirt at the feet of the boar.
8. How did mother earth look like? Mustheva = Like a small piece of root (Korai kizhangu)
9. SD describes Him as ?Mahaa potrin? ? Gigantic. Mahatvam is also a leela!
10. GONa aravair gurgurai: = The roar of the boar was verily the Varaaha Charama Slokam that is the ultimate promise of the Lord to the fallen souls!
11. Pavithree kritha Brahmaanda: = The sound issuing forth from the boar is said to be more forceful than the tornado at the time of deluge reverberating through all directions purifying the entire space.
12. Varaaha is also known as ?Jnaana moorthi?- the source of knowledge.
Narasimha Avataram
DASAAVATAARA STOTRAM OF SWAMI DESIKA?- PART 6: NRISIMHA AVATARAM (Half-Lion, Half Human)
? Anbil Ramaswamy
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Slokam 5
prathyaadishTa puraathana praharaNa graama: kshaNam paaNijai:
avyaath threeNi jaganthi akunTa mahimaa vaikunTa kaNTeerava:/
yath praadur bhavanaath avandhya jaTaraa yaadrichikaath vEdasaam
yaa kaachith sahasaa mahaasura griha sthooNaa pithamahi abhooth//
Meaning
"The King of VaikunTam Himself came down in the form of Lion-king. Discarding the antiquated conventional weapons, He converted His own nails as the weapon. He appeared in some pillar in the palace of the great Asura and rid it of its sterlity by delivering Him, thus transforming it as the Paternal Grandmother of Brahmas! May that Lord Nrisimha protect all the three worlds"
THE BACKGROUND STORY
NARASIMHA AVATAR (Man-Lion)
On learning of the death of his brother at the hands of Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakasipu vowed to kill Bhagavan and his devotees (Bhaagavatas) who were engaged in a Yaga. With this end in view, he did penance propitiating Brahma and got several boons. That he should not be killed by any created thing, on earth or sky, at night or day, inside or outside, by man or beast, celestial beings or Asuras, by any poisonous beings alive or dead or by any weapons. He became invincible and commenced tormenting all good people.
When he was busy doing penance, Indra took away Hiranyakasipu's wife, who was pregnant. Sage NARADA stopped him and proceeded to explain to her the glory of MAHAVISHNU. The fetus growing in the womb listened to the discourse of Sage NARADA and became an incorrigible Bhakta of Sri VISHNU.
On return from penance with all the boons he got from BRAHMA, Hrianyakasipu proclaimed that he was himself God and nobody should pay obeisance to VISHNU. When the baby was born to Hrianyakasipu, he was named PRAHLADA meaning one that is supremely happy. When he came of age, PRAHLADA was sent to the Gurukula of his preceptor SUKRACHARYA. Sukracharya tried to inculcate the new syllabus of adoring Hrianyakasipu as God. However hard he tried, Sukracharya could not divert the attention of PRAHLADA from his attachment to VISHNU.
Having failed in his efforts, Sukracharya complained to Hrianyakasipu who became angry with his son, roared and threatened him. But, nothing would move PRAHLADA from his devotion and determination to worship Lord Vishnu. When asked where from he got the courage to defy, the son replied he got the strength from the All-powerful VISHNU.
- He ordered PRAHLADA to be cut asunder but only the weapon used got broken.
- He had him cast away into the ocean but the Lord of the ocean brought him unaffected.
- He was hurled from top of a mountain but the boy was saved by the gentle hands of Lord Vishnu.
- He let snakes bite Prahlada but the Lord who reclines on Adisesha saved the boy.
- He ordered elephants to trample him and
- He ordered the boy to be burnt by fire.
But, Prahlada emerged unscathed every time.
Hrianyakasipu became exasperated. Enraged, Hrianyakasipu vowed to kill Vishnu and then Prahlada. He asked Prahlada where Vishnu was and showed a pillar that was in his palace and asked if Vishnu was in it. Prahlada replied in the affirmative and asked him to say where He was NOT!
Hrianyakasipu kicked the pillar with a bang. With a resounding crash the pillar cracked and, Lord Vishnu emerged from it in the form of half-lion half- man to substantiate the words of Prahlada. On seeing a creature that was neither human nor animal, Hrianyakasipu realized that it could be none other than Lord Vishnu himself. Almost instantly NRISIMHA seized him and crushed him in a close embrace but he slipped through his hands, and charged him with a sword.
By that time, dusk had arrived which was neither day nor night, NRISIMHA carried the Asura to the doorstep where under the arch of the doorway he sat laying the Asura on his lap. Thus, it was neither earth nor sky, neither inside nor outside. NRISIMHA tore Hrianyakasipu to death with his claws. Claw is not a weapon, one that was neither alive nor dead.
Periyazhwar explains why he embraced Hrianyakasipu before killing him saying that he was searching whether there was at least an iota of compassion towards his son. Since he did not find any, he decided to kill the Asura.
Sri Swami Vedanta Desika while referring to this AVATARA says, that the pillar in the ASURA'S palace had the luck which other pillars elsewhere in the world did not enjoy because it was from there Bhagavan emerged thus ending her sterility. He jocularly remarks that by this, the pillar had become the grandmother of BRAHMA thus: Brahma is known to be ?Pithaamaha? Grandfather. Vishnu is his father. By giving birth to Vishnu, the pillar had become Brahma's grandmother. He calls this Avatar "YADRUCHA HARE" meaning that the Lord appeared instantly and no preparations were made by him for his incarnation.
That the Lord exhibited both his wrath and grace all at the same time is very well brought out in the Sloka 'Satapatala Bheeshane' in Swami Sri Vedanta Desika's Kamasika Ashtakam. When asked how it was possible that the two incompatible emotions could be perceived in the same personality all at once, Emperumanar is reported to have replied that the lioness even when pouncing on its prey, the elephant, would continue to breast feed with love its calf.
COMMENTS:
1. Kshanam = In a trice, Suddenly. Nrisimha Emerged unexpectedly from the pillar
2. Paanijai: = Fingernails; They grow on the hands (paaNI+ja) and can be clipped without hurt. So, they are both alive and dead at the same time since Hrianyakasipu wanted NOT to be killed by anything living or dead!
3. Prathyaadishta Praharana graama: = Discarding the old routine weapons like disc, mace etc. known as Panchaayudham, Shodasaayudham etc. because the Lord had to deal with Hrianyakasipu without offending any of the contrary boons Hrianyakasipu had obtained from Siva.
4. Akunta mahimaa = One of immeasurable glory cf Andal?s ?Kurai onrum illatha Govindaa?.
5. Threeni Jaganthi avyaath = It is such a one who can protect the 3 worlds.
6. Vaikunta Kanteerava: = can mean both the Lion residing in Vaikuntam or the Lion called Vaikuntan. Since Hrianyakasipu wanted NOT to be killed by human or animal, the Lord took the Half-lion, Half-human form, which cannot be deemed as either human or beast!
7. Sahasaa = Immediately and with supersonic speed
8. Avantya Jataraa = The pillar was relieved of barrenness (Maladu) And, what happened?
9. Mahaasura Gruha Sthoonaa Piathaamahi abhooth = Swami Desika?s imagination runs riot when he humorously says that the pillar in the great Asura?s palace gave birth to the Lord thereby becoming the Grandmother for Brahma! Brahma is known as Grandsire (Pithaamaha); Lord Narayana is the father, having created Brahma; the pillar gave birth to Narayana in the form of Nrisimha and automatically became the grandmother to the grandsire himself!
10. Of all the leelas of the Lord, the most wonderful is that of Nrisimha. It is described as ?Athiadbutham? more wonderful than that of Kishnaavatara described only as ?adbutham?. He had to devise a stratagem appropriate in form, time, location, and place, mode etc. without transgressing the opposite conditions Hrianyakasipu had demanded and was granted in the form of boons.
11. In 12th Sloka, Swami Desika calls the lord ?yadruchchaa Hareh? This can mean that He took the form never seen or heard of before and that He took everyone by surprise including Hrianyakasipu, Brahma and Prahlada by suddenly appearing from a stone pillar! This is also another aspect of Leela.
12. Vedasaam: Brahmas: The word is in plural to indicate that there were several Brahmas from time immemorial. A story in Upanishads describe Brahma as a worm living inside the fruit of a fig tree imagining that the entire world was within the fruit it lived in, not knowing that there were numerous other Brahma worms inside the millions of fruits on the mother tree! There is also a Slokam that says that it may be possible to count the number of sands on the banks of the Ganges or the tiny drops when torrential rains lash but it is not possible to count the number of Brahmas who were born and disappeared!
Gangaayaa: sikathaa: dhaaraa thathaa varshathi vaasave /
Sakhyaa ganayithum lokE na vyatheethaa: pitaamahaah //
13. It used to be said that the Lord appeared to make the words of His devotee true. When Prahlada said that the Lord WAS in the pillar, He actually WAS there to prove him true. ?Nija Brithya Baashitham? Who is the true Brithya here? Not only Prahlada but Siva also because He had to be true to every single faulty boon Siva granted to Hrianyakasipu!
14. Another episode, which some people project is, the story in which Siva is shown as taking a queerer form than Nrisimha as Sarbeswara and killing Nrisimha. This is a concocted story found in an unreliable Tamasic Sthala Purana. Exploding the myth behind this, it is said that ?Saraba? perished like a firefly (?salabaha?) falling into a burning flame that was Nrisimha! ?Sarabaha SalabhaayatE?. Note the alliteration!
15. Swami Desika variously describes Nrisimha as ?Adbutha Kesari? (wonderful lion) ?kaamaasikaa kesari? ( who became a lion of His own choice), ?KapaTa Kesari? (deceitful lion) ,?kelee narasimham? (Playful), ?Vishama vilochana? ( One who displays at the same time opposite emotions of anger at Hrianyakasipu and compassion at Prahlada) like a lion which even while pouncing ferociously on its prey continues to breast- feed her cub)
? Anbil Ramaswamy
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Slokam 5
prathyaadishTa puraathana praharaNa graama: kshaNam paaNijai:
avyaath threeNi jaganthi akunTa mahimaa vaikunTa kaNTeerava:/
yath praadur bhavanaath avandhya jaTaraa yaadrichikaath vEdasaam
yaa kaachith sahasaa mahaasura griha sthooNaa pithamahi abhooth//
Meaning
"The King of VaikunTam Himself came down in the form of Lion-king. Discarding the antiquated conventional weapons, He converted His own nails as the weapon. He appeared in some pillar in the palace of the great Asura and rid it of its sterlity by delivering Him, thus transforming it as the Paternal Grandmother of Brahmas! May that Lord Nrisimha protect all the three worlds"
THE BACKGROUND STORY
NARASIMHA AVATAR (Man-Lion)
On learning of the death of his brother at the hands of Lord Vishnu, Hiranyakasipu vowed to kill Bhagavan and his devotees (Bhaagavatas) who were engaged in a Yaga. With this end in view, he did penance propitiating Brahma and got several boons. That he should not be killed by any created thing, on earth or sky, at night or day, inside or outside, by man or beast, celestial beings or Asuras, by any poisonous beings alive or dead or by any weapons. He became invincible and commenced tormenting all good people.
When he was busy doing penance, Indra took away Hiranyakasipu's wife, who was pregnant. Sage NARADA stopped him and proceeded to explain to her the glory of MAHAVISHNU. The fetus growing in the womb listened to the discourse of Sage NARADA and became an incorrigible Bhakta of Sri VISHNU.
On return from penance with all the boons he got from BRAHMA, Hrianyakasipu proclaimed that he was himself God and nobody should pay obeisance to VISHNU. When the baby was born to Hrianyakasipu, he was named PRAHLADA meaning one that is supremely happy. When he came of age, PRAHLADA was sent to the Gurukula of his preceptor SUKRACHARYA. Sukracharya tried to inculcate the new syllabus of adoring Hrianyakasipu as God. However hard he tried, Sukracharya could not divert the attention of PRAHLADA from his attachment to VISHNU.
Having failed in his efforts, Sukracharya complained to Hrianyakasipu who became angry with his son, roared and threatened him. But, nothing would move PRAHLADA from his devotion and determination to worship Lord Vishnu. When asked where from he got the courage to defy, the son replied he got the strength from the All-powerful VISHNU.
- He ordered PRAHLADA to be cut asunder but only the weapon used got broken.
- He had him cast away into the ocean but the Lord of the ocean brought him unaffected.
- He was hurled from top of a mountain but the boy was saved by the gentle hands of Lord Vishnu.
- He let snakes bite Prahlada but the Lord who reclines on Adisesha saved the boy.
- He ordered elephants to trample him and
- He ordered the boy to be burnt by fire.
But, Prahlada emerged unscathed every time.
Hrianyakasipu became exasperated. Enraged, Hrianyakasipu vowed to kill Vishnu and then Prahlada. He asked Prahlada where Vishnu was and showed a pillar that was in his palace and asked if Vishnu was in it. Prahlada replied in the affirmative and asked him to say where He was NOT!
Hrianyakasipu kicked the pillar with a bang. With a resounding crash the pillar cracked and, Lord Vishnu emerged from it in the form of half-lion half- man to substantiate the words of Prahlada. On seeing a creature that was neither human nor animal, Hrianyakasipu realized that it could be none other than Lord Vishnu himself. Almost instantly NRISIMHA seized him and crushed him in a close embrace but he slipped through his hands, and charged him with a sword.
By that time, dusk had arrived which was neither day nor night, NRISIMHA carried the Asura to the doorstep where under the arch of the doorway he sat laying the Asura on his lap. Thus, it was neither earth nor sky, neither inside nor outside. NRISIMHA tore Hrianyakasipu to death with his claws. Claw is not a weapon, one that was neither alive nor dead.
Periyazhwar explains why he embraced Hrianyakasipu before killing him saying that he was searching whether there was at least an iota of compassion towards his son. Since he did not find any, he decided to kill the Asura.
Sri Swami Vedanta Desika while referring to this AVATARA says, that the pillar in the ASURA'S palace had the luck which other pillars elsewhere in the world did not enjoy because it was from there Bhagavan emerged thus ending her sterility. He jocularly remarks that by this, the pillar had become the grandmother of BRAHMA thus: Brahma is known to be ?Pithaamaha? Grandfather. Vishnu is his father. By giving birth to Vishnu, the pillar had become Brahma's grandmother. He calls this Avatar "YADRUCHA HARE" meaning that the Lord appeared instantly and no preparations were made by him for his incarnation.
That the Lord exhibited both his wrath and grace all at the same time is very well brought out in the Sloka 'Satapatala Bheeshane' in Swami Sri Vedanta Desika's Kamasika Ashtakam. When asked how it was possible that the two incompatible emotions could be perceived in the same personality all at once, Emperumanar is reported to have replied that the lioness even when pouncing on its prey, the elephant, would continue to breast feed with love its calf.
COMMENTS:
1. Kshanam = In a trice, Suddenly. Nrisimha Emerged unexpectedly from the pillar
2. Paanijai: = Fingernails; They grow on the hands (paaNI+ja) and can be clipped without hurt. So, they are both alive and dead at the same time since Hrianyakasipu wanted NOT to be killed by anything living or dead!
3. Prathyaadishta Praharana graama: = Discarding the old routine weapons like disc, mace etc. known as Panchaayudham, Shodasaayudham etc. because the Lord had to deal with Hrianyakasipu without offending any of the contrary boons Hrianyakasipu had obtained from Siva.
4. Akunta mahimaa = One of immeasurable glory cf Andal?s ?Kurai onrum illatha Govindaa?.
5. Threeni Jaganthi avyaath = It is such a one who can protect the 3 worlds.
6. Vaikunta Kanteerava: = can mean both the Lion residing in Vaikuntam or the Lion called Vaikuntan. Since Hrianyakasipu wanted NOT to be killed by human or animal, the Lord took the Half-lion, Half-human form, which cannot be deemed as either human or beast!
7. Sahasaa = Immediately and with supersonic speed
8. Avantya Jataraa = The pillar was relieved of barrenness (Maladu) And, what happened?
9. Mahaasura Gruha Sthoonaa Piathaamahi abhooth = Swami Desika?s imagination runs riot when he humorously says that the pillar in the great Asura?s palace gave birth to the Lord thereby becoming the Grandmother for Brahma! Brahma is known as Grandsire (Pithaamaha); Lord Narayana is the father, having created Brahma; the pillar gave birth to Narayana in the form of Nrisimha and automatically became the grandmother to the grandsire himself!
10. Of all the leelas of the Lord, the most wonderful is that of Nrisimha. It is described as ?Athiadbutham? more wonderful than that of Kishnaavatara described only as ?adbutham?. He had to devise a stratagem appropriate in form, time, location, and place, mode etc. without transgressing the opposite conditions Hrianyakasipu had demanded and was granted in the form of boons.
11. In 12th Sloka, Swami Desika calls the lord ?yadruchchaa Hareh? This can mean that He took the form never seen or heard of before and that He took everyone by surprise including Hrianyakasipu, Brahma and Prahlada by suddenly appearing from a stone pillar! This is also another aspect of Leela.
12. Vedasaam: Brahmas: The word is in plural to indicate that there were several Brahmas from time immemorial. A story in Upanishads describe Brahma as a worm living inside the fruit of a fig tree imagining that the entire world was within the fruit it lived in, not knowing that there were numerous other Brahma worms inside the millions of fruits on the mother tree! There is also a Slokam that says that it may be possible to count the number of sands on the banks of the Ganges or the tiny drops when torrential rains lash but it is not possible to count the number of Brahmas who were born and disappeared!
Gangaayaa: sikathaa: dhaaraa thathaa varshathi vaasave /
Sakhyaa ganayithum lokE na vyatheethaa: pitaamahaah //
13. It used to be said that the Lord appeared to make the words of His devotee true. When Prahlada said that the Lord WAS in the pillar, He actually WAS there to prove him true. ?Nija Brithya Baashitham? Who is the true Brithya here? Not only Prahlada but Siva also because He had to be true to every single faulty boon Siva granted to Hrianyakasipu!
14. Another episode, which some people project is, the story in which Siva is shown as taking a queerer form than Nrisimha as Sarbeswara and killing Nrisimha. This is a concocted story found in an unreliable Tamasic Sthala Purana. Exploding the myth behind this, it is said that ?Saraba? perished like a firefly (?salabaha?) falling into a burning flame that was Nrisimha! ?Sarabaha SalabhaayatE?. Note the alliteration!
15. Swami Desika variously describes Nrisimha as ?Adbutha Kesari? (wonderful lion) ?kaamaasikaa kesari? ( who became a lion of His own choice), ?KapaTa Kesari? (deceitful lion) ,?kelee narasimham? (Playful), ?Vishama vilochana? ( One who displays at the same time opposite emotions of anger at Hrianyakasipu and compassion at Prahlada) like a lion which even while pouncing ferociously on its prey continues to breast- feed her cub)
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