Wednesday, March 19, 2014

VISHNU SAHASRANAMA - PART 2

SLOKA 1

vishvam Vishnur vashatkaro
bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhu
bhuta-krit bhuta-bhrtbhavo
bhutatma  bhuta-bhavanah


Nama 1: vishvam -  a) Universe or Cause of Universe
                                 b) One who is full in all respects.
2: Vishnu -  a) One who fills everything, is inside every sensitive and non-sensitive being.
                    b) One who surrounds everything.
3: vashatkara  -  One who controls and directs (not merely saturates).
4: bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhu - The Master of all things past, future, and present. Nirukti - trikAla vartinAm seshi - The Lord of all things                                                               that exist in the past, present, and future.
5: bhuta-krit - The creator of all beings.
6 : bhuta-bhrt - The supporter of all things. Bhutani bibharti iti bhuta-bhrt - One who supports all.
7: bhavah - He who exists with all the glory. He who exists always, independent of anything else.
8: bhutatma - The AtmA or soul of all beings - sarvesham bhutanam atma
9: bhuta-bhavanah - One who nourishes and nurtures all beings that He created.


SLOKA 2

Putatma Paramathma ChaMukthanam 
Parama Gathihi
Avya Yahpurusha Sakshi
Kshetrajnah Ksharo Évacha


10: Putatma -  The Pure Self - One who is undamaged by the effects of karma - good or bad. Puta Atma yasya sa putatma - One who has the pure Atma is pUtAtmA.
11: paramatma - The Supreme Soul - for whom there is no other guiding or superior soul
12: muktanam parama gatih - One who is the ultimate goal for all muktas or Released or Liberated Souls.
13: avyayah -  a) One who does not send back anyone who has reached Him (to the cycle of birth and rebirth).
     b) Eternal
14: purushah - a) One who grants on the Muktas the enjoyment of the Paradise of Himself in plenty.- puru sanoti iti purushah.
           b) One who is reclining in this body - puri sete iti purushah.
           c) One who existed before anything else existed - purA AsIt iti purushah.
           d) One who completes and fulfills existence everywhere - pUrayati iti purushah
15: sakshi - One who directly witnesses everything .as it is. , The All-Knower, The Omniscient 
16:kshetrajnah - One who knows, and can lead, the muktas to the exact place where the muktas will get their desirable Supreme Delight.
17: akshara - One whose greatness never diminishes over time in spite of being enjoyed by the muktas constantly. na ksharati iti aksharah .


SLOKA 3

Yogoh Yoga Vitham Nétha
 Prdhãna Purusheshwaraha
Narasimha Vapuh Shriman
 Keshava Purushothamaha 

 

18. yogah - One Who alone is the definite and unobstructed means to rescue. The word yoga is derived from the word yujyate which means "with whose help the goal is attained".
19.  yogavitam neta - One who leads those who practice yoga until they reach their Goal.
20.  pradhana purusha Isvarah - One who is the Lord of Primordial Matter as well as the Jivas.
21.  narasimha vapuh - One who possesses a body of man and lion combined. 
22.  sriman - One with a lovely form.
23.  kesavah - One with lovely locks of hair.
24.  purushottamah - The Supreme amongst the purushas (i.e., individual souls).


SLOKA 4

Sarvah Sharvash Shivah Sthanur
Bhuthadir Nidhira Vyahayaha
Sambhavo Bhavono Bhartha
 Prabavah Prabhurishwaraha


25. sarvah - One who is all - the cause of creation and destruction of all things. 
26. sharvah - The Remover of all sins.
27. shivah - One who deliberates auspiciousness. subha avahasca sivah - One who bestows auspiciousness on all.
28. sthanuh - One who is firm in His benefits and anugraha to the devotees.
29. bhutadih - a) One who is eagerly sought after by all beings.
    b)  The source or cause of all beings.
    c)  The very source of the pancha bhutas.
30. nidhiravyayah   - The unlimited treasure.
31.  sambhavah - (Though like a Hidden Treasure), One who reveals Himself at will to those who sincerely seek Him. He reveals Himself
                                at any place and at any time and in any form (e.g., nrsimha, matsya, kurma, etc.).
32.  bhavanah  - (Having revealed thus), One who regenerates all by dispelling all their evils.
33.  bharta  - Supporter.
34.  prabhavah - One whose birth is of a inspiring nature.
35.  prabhuh - He who is all powerful.
36.  Isvarah - a) One who has the supreme power of control over all beings.
   b) One who has the ability to do anything without the help of any other beings or things.


SLOKA 5

Swambu Shambur Adithya
 Pushkaraksho Mahasvanaha
Anadhi Nidhano Dhath
 Vidhath Dhathu Ruthmaha 5



37. swayambhuh  - He who reveals Himself by His own free will.
38. shambhuh - One who causes happiness to everyone by the beauty of His appearance.
39. Adityah -  a) The purusha in the Sun.
                               b)  One of the twelve Adityas.
                               c)  One who sustains and nourishes everything like the Sun. 
40. pushkarakshah - The Lotus-eyed.
41. maha-svanah - He of the venerable sound (of the Vedas). 
42. anadi-nidhanah - One who is without beginning or end.
43. dhata - The creator (of .Brahma and others).
44. vidhata - The producer (of Brahma from the fetus referred to above).
45. dhaturuttamah - a) One who is far superior to Brahma (dhatr).
          b) The best of all basic constituents.


Rare Old Tirupati Photos (26)

Lord Sreenivasa, Thirumala Tirupathi

Some old and rare photos of Thirumala Tirupathi

Rare Old Tirupati Photos (24)
Rare Old Tirupati Photos (21)Rare Old Tirupati Photos (5)
Rare Old Tirupati Photos (16)

SNo
Nama
Meanings
1
Vishvam
He who is the Universe itself
2
Vishnu
He who is spread everywhere

3
Vashatkara
He who is personification of Vedic sacrifice (Yagna)

4
Bhutha Bhavya B havat Prabhu

He who is the master of past, present and future
5
Bhutakrit
He who has created the beings in the universe

6
Bhutabrit
He who takes care of all the beings in the universe

7
Bhava
He who is everything that happens
8
Bhutaatam
He who is soul of every being in the universe
9
Bhutabhabana
He sho nurtures every being in the universe
10
Putatma
He who is detached of everything or He who has a clean character
11
Paramatma
He who is in every being but beyond evry being or the greatest soul
12
Mukthanam Parama Gathi
He who is the ultimate salvation of every freed being
13
Avyaya
He who does not have different forms or He who is always same

14
Purusha
He who is inside every body
15
Sakshi
He who is the witness of everything that happens
16
Kshetrajna
He who knows the body
17
Akshara

He who does not have death

18
Yoga
He who can be attained by yoga

19
Yoga vitham netha
He who is the leader of all those who know yoga

20
Pradhana – Purusheswara
He who is the lord of nature and beings

21
Narasimha Vapusha
He who Is the part human and part lion
22
Sriman
He in whom Sri (Lakshmi or Goddess) resides
He who is served by Vishnu, Siva and Brahma
23
Keshava
Or He who has beautiful hair
 Or
Or He who killed Kesi the Asura
24
Purushottama
He who is the greatest among Purushas(beings) or
He who is greater than those who are bound, those who are free and those who are static.
25
Sarvah
He who is everything
26
Sharva
He who destroys everything when the deluge comes

27
He who is pure
28
Sthanu
He who is stable
29
Bhutaatha
He from whom all the beings evolved
30
Nidhiravyaya
He who is never destroyed (even at deluge)

31
Sambhava
He who is all that happens
32
Bhavana
He who is the giver of every thing
33
Bhartha
He who is the basis supports all beings

34
Prabhava

He in whom all things were born
35
Prabhu
He who is extremely clever

36
Ishwara
He who controls and rules all beings or He who is a natural ruler.
37
Swayambhu
He who is born from himself
38
Shambhu
He who gives all pleasures
39
Aditya
He who throws light on everything or He who is one but appears different
40
Pushkaraksha
He who has lotus like eyes
41
Mahaswana
He who has a great voice
42
Anadhinidhana
He who has neither birth nor death
43
Dhatha

He who carries the world
44
Vidhatha
He who creates all actions and their results
45
Dhatur-Uttama
He who is greater than the creator (Brahma)


  About the temple

Situated in Chitoor district, as a branch railway line connected to Renigunta on the main  Bombay-Madras line, also accessible by air and bus from all parts of South India.  Tirupathi is one of the Swayamuyaktha Kshetras(place hallowed by the descent of cosmic power(God) on earth), where the devout worshipper is believed to experience the effect of prayer.

The temple is on the top of seven hills, and is one of the 108 places of worship sacred to the Vaishnavites.  The richest temple in India, visited by the maximum number of devotees from all over India, the presiding deity is known as Venkateshwara, Venkatachalapathi and Srinivasa in the south, and Balaji in the north.

  The poorest of the poor and the rich, pour their offerings in the Hundial there, as a mark of sacrifice and perform Anga Pradakshina a special form of Praying with folded hands, all parts of the body in touch with the ground, the body itself rolling on the inner Prakaram of the temple housing the deity, a sign of total Physical surrender.  Darshan is available to the devotees throughout the day except for a short break.

For over 2000 years this temple has been devotionally patronized by all the ruling families of South India, the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandians, Vijayanagar rulers, Nayakis, Reddies and others.  One of the greatest devotee of the Lord was Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagar emperor.  He endowed the deity with invaluable jewels, treasures, lands etc.  A metal portrait of the king and queen can still be seen inside the temples in addition of the deity.  Vaishnavite Alwars -6th-9th century, have poured forth soul-stirring hymns on Lord Venkateswara.  Annamacharya, the noted composer has several thousand songs in praise of the Lord.  These songs were engraved on copper plates and have survived to this day.  The saint composer Thyagaraja has sung in praise of Lord.  Arunagirinathar has sung Tiruppugaz in praise of Lord Venkateswara.



Monday, December 2, 2013

VISHNU SAHASRANAMA - PART 1



Bhishma responded by reciting the one thousand names now hailed as the Vishnu Shasranama, and reminded him that either by meditating on these names or by invoking the names through archana (Offering), our minds can be lifted to higher consciousness.

Indeed, such a long recital of nAmAs glorifying the Lord and His splendor is rare in the world.  Yet a rational person is apt to question how mere words and their repetition can create such great power.. Just imagine for a moment that you are in an assembly, and the lecturer begins his talk with the word “boat”.  You can at one grasp the image of a boat, and there is calmness of mind.  Suddenly then, if someone in the assembly, utters the word “snake”, will your calmness continue?  It therefore follows that vak (utterance) and artha (meaning) together infuse a subtle energy either positively or negatively.  The thousand naamas are storehouses of proven spiritual content that can easily uplift our minds.  Indeed the expression NaMa is made up of Na for Naramandala and Ma for manas, our Mind.  NaMa, the chanting of which helps to unite our nervous system and Mind.

Krishna and Padvas converse with Bheeshma who is on the arrow bed.
Shree Bheeshmã Uvacha  

Jagath prabhum deva devam antham purushothamam  
Sthuvan nãma sahasréna purusha saththo thithaha

Uttamam – the Supreme
Jagath - world
Prabhum - Lord
Anatham – endless

The supreme ("uttamam") Purusha, who is ever up and working for the welfare of all, the Lord ("prabhum") of the world ("jagat") the endless ("anantam") – Sri Maha Vishnu.

Thameva chãr chayanth nithyam bhakthya purusha mavyayam  
Dhayãyan sthuvan namasyamsha yajamãnas thamevacha   

Sthuvan naama – meditating upon
Cha - by
Archayan - worshipping

By meditating upon ("sthuvan naama"), by ("cha") worshipping ("archayan") and by prostrating at the same Purusha, man can reach true Auspiciousness.

Anãdhinidhanam vishnum sarva lokamahesvaram 
Lokãdhyaksham sthuvan nithyam sarva dhukkã thigo bhavéth

Aadi - Beginning
Nidhanam - end
Maheshwaram Supreme Lord
Nityam - daily
Stuvan - chants
Lokaadhyaksha – the one knows the whole world

The greatest Dharma is the one Vishnu, who has neither a beginning (Aadi) nor an end (Nidhanam), the supreme Lord ("maheshwaram") of the world. All creatures can go beyond the bonds of samsar, “and he goes beyond all sorrows” who daily ("nityam") chants ("stuvan") the sahasranaamas and within glorifies “the one who knows the world” (Lokaadhyaksha).

Brahmanyam sarva dharmangyam lokãnãm keerthivardhanam
Lokanãtham mahath bhootham sarva bhootha bhavothbhavam
Esha mé sarvadharmãnãm dharmodhi kathamo mathaha  
Yath bhakthyã pundari kãksham sthavai rar-chén nara ssatha
Paramam yo mahath teja paramam yo mahath thapaha 
Paramam yo mahath brahma paramam ya parãyanam

Mahat - great
Tejah  - radiance, being bright
Tapah - controller
Brahma – spread the truth
Param - highest
Ayanam - goal

He who is the great ("mahat") radiance ("tejah"); He who is the Great controller ("tapah"); He who is the Supreme All-Pervading Truth; ("brahma") he who is the Highest (Param) Goal (Ayanam)-the Lord Vishnu.

Pavithrãm pavithram yo mangalãnãncha  mangalam  
Daivatham dévathãnãncha bhoothãnãm yovyaya pithã    15

Yo - who
Pavitram – very sanctity
Pavitraanaam – scared things
Mangalam - auspicious
Devataa - god
Daivatam - gods
Avayayah - eternal
Pitaa - father
Bhootaanaam – all creatures

He who is ("yo") the very sanctity ("pavitram") that sanctifies all sacred things ("pavitraanaam"); he who is most auspicious ("mangalam"); he who is the god ("devataa") of gods ("daivatam"); he who is the eternal ("avyayah") father ("pitaa") of all creatures ("bhootaanaam") is the one god – VISHNU.


*************************************************************************************************************************************
 MEANINGS OF THE DIALOGUE

Yudhistirau Uvaachaa:
(Question 1.)  Kim ekam daivatam loke?


Who ("kim") is the greatest ("ekam") Lord ("daivatam") in the world ("loke")?

(Answer 1.)
Pavitraanaam pavitram yo Mangalaanaam cha mangalam
Daivatam devataanam cha Bhootaanam yo avyayah pitaa.

He who is ("yo") the very sacred ("pavitram") that purifies all sacred things ("pavitraanaam"); he who is most auspicious ("mangalam"); he who is the god ("devataa") of gods ("daivatam"); he who is the eternal ("avyayah") father ("pitaa") of all creatures ("bhootaanaam") is the one god – VISHNU.

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(Question 2. )  Kim vaapyekam paraayanam?

Who is the one ("ekam") protector ("paraayanam") for all?
(Answer 2.)
Paramam yo mahat-tejah Paramam yo mahat-tapah
Paramam yo mahat-brahma Paramam yah paraayanam.

He who is the great ("mahat") radiance ("tejah"); He who is the Great controller ("tapah"); He who is the Supreme All-Pervading Truth; ("brahma") he who is the Highest (Param) Goal (Ayanam)-the Lord Vishnu.

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(Question 3.)   Stuvantam kam praapnuyuh (Maanavah subham)?


By glorifying ("sthuvantah") whom ("kam") can man ("manavah") reach the Auspiciousness ("shubam") (peace and prosperity)?


Answer 3.     
Jagat-prabhum deva-devam Anantam purushottamam
Stuvan naama-sahasrena Purushah satatotthitah.

The supreme ("uttamam") Purusha, who is ever up  for the welfare of all, the Lord ("prabhum") of the world ("jagat") the endless ("anantam") – Sri Maha Vishnu.
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Question 4. (Kam archantah) praapnuyuh  Maanavaah subham?

By worshipping ("archantah") whom can a man reach auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)?

Answer 4.   Tameva cha archayan nityam Bhaktyaa purusham avyayam
Stuvan naama-sahasrena Purushah satatthitah.


By meditating upon ("sthuvan naama"), by ("cha") worshipping ("archayan") and by prostrating (doing namaskar) at the same Purusha, man can reach true Auspiciousness.

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Question 5.  Ko dharmah sarva-dharmaanaam Bhavatah paramo matah?

 What ("ko") is, in your opinion, is the Greatest Dharma?


Question 6.  
Kim japan muchyate jantuh Janma-samsaara-bandhaaat?

By ("kim") doing japa of what can “creatures” (jantu) go beyond ("mutchyate") the bonds ("bandhanaath") of samsara?

Answers 5&6.
Anaadi-nidhanam vishnum Sarvaloka-maheshvaram
Lokaadhyaksham stuvan nityam Sarva-duhkha-atigo bhavet.

Both questions are answered here: - the greatest Dharma is the one Vishnu, who has neither a beginning (Aadi) nor an end (Nidhanam), the supreme Lord ("maheshwaram") of the world. All creatures can go beyond the bonds of samsar, “and he goes beyond all sorrows” who daily ("nityam") chants ("stuvan") the sahasranaamas and within glorifies “the knower of the world” (Lokaadhyaksha).

The supreme is described as that from which the whole world of names and forms had risen in the beginning of the creation, that in which the world continues to exit, that into which alone the world can merge back during the ‘Dissolution’ (Pralaya); this supreme is VISHNU.