Saturday, May 9, 2015

SLOKA NO. 8. of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stotram

om namo bhagavate vaasudevaaya.
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eeSaanah praaNadah praaNo jyeShthah Sreshthah prajaapatih I
hiraNyagarbho bhugarbho maadhavo madhusudanah II
ईशानः प्राणदः प्राणो ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः प्रजापतिः I
हिरण्यगर्भो भूगर्भो माधवो मधुसूदनः II
ఈశానః ప్రాణదః ప్రాణో జ్యేష్థః శ్రేష్థః ప్రజాపతిః  I
హిరణ్యగర్భో భుగర్భో మాధవో మధుసూదనః II
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This 8th sloka of VSNS has 10 names of lord Vishnu presented in it. They are listed below: 

65) eeSaanah (ईशानः) (ఈశానః)
66) praaNadah (प्राणदः) (ప్రాణదః)  
67) praaNah (प्राणः) (ప్రాణః)
68) jyeShthah (ज्येष्ठः) (జ్యేష్థః)
69) Sreshthah (श्रेष्ठः) (శ్రేష్థః)
70)  prajaapatih (प्रजापतिः) (ప్రజాపతిః)
71) hiraNyagarbhah (हिरण्यगर्भः) (హిరణ్యగర్భః)
72) bhugarbhah (भूगर्भः) (భుగర్భః)
73) maadhavah (माधवः) (మాధవః)
74) madhusudanah (मधुसूदनः) (మధుసూదనః)

Their meanings are presented below:

nama no. 65) eeSaanah (ईशानः) (ఈశానః)
om eeSaanaaya namah (ओं ईशानाय नमः) (ఓం ఈశానాయ నమః)
All the beings except God belong to 3 different types: the bound, the liberated, the eternal. While, the bound are the ones that have the nature of doubts of wisdom, the liberated are those who first had such doubts but with the grace of god obtained the freedom of complete wisdom. And, the eternal are the ones never knowing such doubts, possess a great character of complete wisdom at all times. This nama 'eeSaanah' says that the paramatma Lord Vishnu is different from all of the above.

'eeSaana' means the ability to establish a system of this should be like this, and that should be like this, etc. EeSaana is the ability to dictate that. Only Lord Vishnu has that strength, and no one else.

Whether it is the brahma, shiva or all the devatas or even the ordinary mortals, all of them gain the paths of elevation or depravation as per their good or bad deeds. But, only Lord Vishnu, irrespective of His deeds, does not get affected. He is above all.

nama no. 66) praaNadah (प्राणदः) (ప్రాణదః)
om praaNadaaya namah (ओं प्राणदाय नमः) (ఓం ప్రాణదాయ నమః)
'praaNada' means the one who gives not only the energy of life but also the strength to see Him and perform various prayers that give the utmost happiness. Thus, this nama 'praaNada' compliments the meaning of the earlier nama ' eeSaana' in suggesting that Lord Vishnu blesses us by giving us the strength and its associated fruits.

nama no. 67) praaNah (प्राणः) (ప్రాణః)
om praaNaaya namah (ओं प्राणाय नमः) (ఓం ప్రాణాయ నమః)
As stated, the earlier naama 'praaNada' meant 'energy' of life, and that Lord Vishnu gives that strength to His devotees to see Him and offer their prayers. Now, this nama 'praaNah' proves directly that paramatma himself is the source of 'life', the praaNa.

praaNana = breathing

Lord Vishnu gives us not only the means of living but the very life itself.

nama no. 68) jyeShthah (ज्येष्ठः) (జ్యేష్థః)
om jyeaShthaaya namah (ओं ज्येष्ठाय नमः) (ఓం జ్యేష్థాయ నమః)
The word 'praSaSta' means something that can the most highly praised. And 'jyeShtha' means the one who can be the highest praised. Since Lord Vishnu is the controlled of the adobe that has such prosperity that doesn't diminish even a bit despite being enjoyed by Him and the innumerable number of the devatas, the eternal, He is worthy of the highest praise.

Also, 'jyeShtha' means the eldest. Since He has been in existence even before the brahma and other devatas, He can be called 'jyeShtha' as He is the eldest by age.

nama no. 69) Sreshthah (श्रेष्ठः) (శ్రేష్థః)
om Sreashthaaya namah (ओं श्रेष्ठाय नमः) (ఓం శ్రేష్థాయ నమః)
As Lord Vishnu is sought by the eternal - the devatas- with love and praised by them through prayers, He is 'Sreshtha.'

It is quite natural that when a special thing endowed with good qualities of beauty, taste, and fragrance is enjoyed, it leads to happiness and a lot of love, and with that love comes the unrestrained praise for it. Then, is it required to be told what would be the level of happiness that is enjoyed when Lord Vishnu, the highest with the best character, beauty, and divinity is praised? 

Thus, the essence of the nama 'Sreshtha' is that He is the one who is praised in Sri Vaikuntha by the devatas eternally.

nama no. 70) prajaapatih (प्रजापतिः) (ప్రజాపతిః)
om prajaapatayea namah (ओं प्रजापतये नमः) (ఓం ప్రజాపతయే నమః)
This nama 'prajapatih' is the answer to questions such as, "Who are those praising Him? What is their relationship with Him?"

Here 'prajaa' does not mean the ordinary people. It refers to the devatas who are at a higher state than the  ordinary people - the bonded as well as the liberated. The devatas, the eternal dwelling in Sree Vaikuntha without having any relationship with the nature unlike the other two categories of the bonded living in the world and the liberated who attained moksha are called 'prajaa' as they are at a higher plane than the latter. As Lord vishnu is theri pati (their lord) worshipped by them everyday, He is called 'prajaapatih.'

nama no. 71) hiraNyagarbhah (हिरण्यगर्भः) (హిరణ్యగర్భః)
om hiraNyagarbhaaya namah (ओं हिरण्यगर्भाय नमः) (ఓం హిరణ్యగర్భాయ నమః)
This nama 'hiranyagarbhah' explains that Lord Vishnu resides in such an abode that is fitting to His might and splendor. The word 'hiranya' reveals that such a divine place is eternal devoid of any sins and evil thoughts, pure, serene and shining like gold.

The word 'hiranya' means auspicious, beautiful. The is the ultimate place. Since Lord Vishnu resides in such a divine place (garbhah) called 'hiranya,' He is called 'hiranyagarbha.' 

nama no. 72) bhugarbhah (भूगर्भः) (భుగర్భః)
om bhugarbhaaya namah (ओं भूगर्भाय नमः) (ఓం భుగర్భాయ నమః)
The namas "bhugarbhah" means that Lord Vishnu is the one who has 'Bhudevi," who is described in the vedas with the names of 'Hree" "Kshamaa" etc, as His wife.

Bhudevi is called 'garbhah' as she is preserved and protected by the paramatma like his womb. That could be seen during the varaahavataara when the lord brings her up on his tusks safely from the depths of the ocean.

nama no. 73) maadhavah (माधवः) (మాధవః)
om maadhavaaya namah (ओं माधवाय नमः) (ఓం మాధవాయ నమః)
maayaaha=of Lakshmi; dhavaha=husband; meaning 'sreepati,' husband of Lakshmi - 'lakshmipati'

Thus this nama 'madhava' of Lord Vishnu gives the meaning 'husband of Lakshmi.'  This status of 'husband of Lakshmi' is the first trait that describes the externality of the god. Those who worship her, the wife of Lord Vishnu and the all-powerful goddess, they will have their wishes fulfilled.

nama no. 74) madhusudanah (मधुसूदनः) (మధుసూదనః)
om madhusuudanaaya namah (ओं मधुसूदनाय नमः) (ఓం మధుసూదనాయ నమః)
madhoh + sudanah = madhusudanah; 
One who killed the demon by name, 'Madhu'

There is another meaning to this nama 'madhususdanah.' 'Madhu' means senses, and Lord Vishnu is called 'madhusudana' as He controls the senses of all the devatas in such a way that they are all directed towards Him.

With such a capability, the god is an enormous influencer. As this nama 'madhusudana' reveals, there is no one who could control His impact or trespass His influence.

om namo naaraayanaaya!



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