om namo bhagavate vasudevaya
-------------------------------------------------------------
yogo yogavidaamneta pradhaanapurusheswarah
naarasimhavapu sreemaan kesavah purushothamah
योगो योगविदामनेता प्रधानपुरुशेस्वर:
नारसिम्हवपु श्रीमान केशवः पुरुषोथम:
యోగో యోగవిదాం నేతా ప్రధానపురుషేశ్వరః
నారసిమ్హవపు శ్రీమాన్ కేశవః పురుషోత్తమః
-------------------------------------------------------------
This sloka no. 3 of VSNS comprises 7 names of Lord Vishnu from nama no. 18 to nama no. 24. They are listed below:
18. yogah (योगः) (యోగః)
19. yogavidaamneta (योगविदामनेता) (యోగవిదాం నేతా)
20. pradhaanapurusheswarah (प्रधानपुरुशेस्वर:) (ప్రధానపురుషేశ్వరః)
21. naarasimhavapuh (नारसिम्हवपु:) (నారసిమ్హవపుః)
22. sreemaan (श्रीमान) (శ్రీమాన్)
23. kesavah ( केशवः) (కేశవః)
24. purushothamah ( पुरुषोथम:) (పురుషోత్తమః)
The meanings of the above namas are presented below:
nama no. 18. yogah (योगः) (యోగః)
om yogaaya namah (ओं योगाय नमः) (ఓం యోగాయ నమః)
The word 'yogah' means 'saadhana' meaning 'practice', the path, the vehicle. The name 'yogah' of Lord Vishnu thus suggests that He is also the 'means' to all those who believe in Him and surrender unto Him to attain mukti. He is the only 'means' for all the people seeking mukti and happiness.
nama no. 19. yogavidaamneta (योगविदामनेता) (యోగవిదాం నేతా)
om yogavidaam netre namah (ओं योगविदाम नेत्रे नमः) (ఓం యోగవిదాం నేత్రే నమః)
While the earlier described name 'yogah' revealed that He is the 'means' for all the people who lost track but took to him, this name 'yogavidaamneta' confirms that He is also the one who has to bless those who attempt to attain moksha after practicing bhakti yoga through all of their efforts and good deeds. The word 'neta' means 'leader.' Like the Head of a family, He leads them from the front right from the beginning till they attain moksha without allowing any obstacles or hindrances to their practice of bhakti.
Thus for everyone and anyone who wants to reach the other shores of the ocean of samsara, Srihari is the only means of worship.
nama no. 20. pradhaanapurusheswarah (प्रधानपुरुशेस्वर:) (ప్రధానపురుషేశ్వరః)
om pradhaanapurusheswaraaya namah (ओं प्रधानापुरुषेस्वराया नमः) (ఓం ప్రధానపురుషేశ్వరాయ నమః)
The words 'pradhaana' and 'purusha' mean the 'nature and 'the person' controlled by that nature, respectively.The name 'pradhaanapurusheswarah' means that He is the Eeswara for both, and thus refers to the one who dictates both of them. In other words, it also means that Lord Vishnu is the one who liberates His devotees from the bonds of 'nature' and 'relationships.'
nama no. 21. naarasimhavapuh (नारसिम्हवपु:) (నారసింహవపుః)
om naarasimhavapushe namah (ओं नारसिम्हवपुषे नमः) (ఓం నారసింహవపుషే నమః)
This name reveals that 'He' is the one who solves the problems and celars the obstacles faced by His devotees. It also means that He is the one who quelled the fears of His devotee Prahlada and appeared in the unique form of 'nara-simha' as soon as Prahlada prayed for His protection.
This 'narasimha' avatara is more amazing than the other avataras including that of matsya and kurma. There are 2 reasons for this. Firstly, Hiranyakasyap obtained a boon that he be not killed by any one living in the world. Hence, he would not have been killed if Lord Vishnu had taken any form other than that of narasimha. That's why He came with a form that had the head of a lion and the body of a human. Hiranyakasyam had also obtained another boon that he be not killed by any weapon. That's why Lord 'nara-simha' used his nails to kill Hiranyakasyap.
Secondly, this nara-simha avatara clearly reveals the nature of god's existence in everything, and that was demonstrated when He came out of a pillar as soon as His devotee Prahlada prayed for it.
nama no. 22. sreemaan (श्रीमान) (శ్రీమాన్)
om sreemate namah (ओं श्रीमते नमः) (ఓం శ్రీమతే నమః)
Though the lord appears in a peculiar form as 'nara-simha' the divine body of the lord is very beautiful. The name 'sreemaan' here refers to the one who has the most beautiful roopa.
Thus, the 'nara-simha' avatara is the most wonderful of all and that is not found anywhere else at any other time. It is very special. Despite the simha-akara, the form of a lion that terrifies the enemies, the Lord appears very pleasing and benevolent to all of His devotees. No one gets scared to worship Him in that form. Rather He appears very beautiful, benign, and pleasing that one would like to worship Him more and more.
nama no. 23. kesavah ( केशवः) (కేశవః)
om kesavaaya namah (ओं केशवाय नमः) (ఓం కేశవాయ నమః)
This name 'kesavah' refers to the beauty of the hair of the lord Vishnu that reinforces the godliness and beauty of the lord as described in the earlier 2 namas no. 21 & 22. His hair is long, shiny, and black with curls demonstrating its richness and adding to the beauty of the lord's face.
nama no. 24. purushothamah ( पुरुषोथम:) (పురుషోత్తమః)
om purushothamaaya namah (ओं पुरुषोथमाय नमः) (ఓం పురుషోత్తమాయ నమః)
Looking at the last 3 names as described in the nama nos. 21, 22 & 23, one might suspect that the lord's roopa is similar to that of ordinary mortals. To quell such doubts and explain that He is different, this name 'purushothama' is immediately presented.
The name purushothama has 4 parts in it: purusha - ut - (tara) - tama. Having the ability to move, 'man' is different from the immobile objects of the 'nature'. That way, the man (purusha), with the power of knowledge gifted to him, is at a higher plane. Among men, those who are blessed with the knowledge of god are referred to as 'ut' and are at a higher plane than those without that. Then, the blessed souls who are devoid of the bondage of material world and are at the abode of lord in vaikuntha are 'tara' at a still higher plane. And above all of them is the lord 'tama' who is all-independent. Thus 'purushothama' reveals that the lord is the best and the highest of all.
om namo bhagavate vasudevaya!
No comments:
Post a Comment