SVS8

Naimisaranya Kshetram is counted among the 108 Divya Desam. Nemi in Sanskrit means Discus and because it remained here, this Kshetram is called Naimisaranyam. The great 18 Puranas are reported to have appeared here. Great sages were associated with this Kshetram, The Naimisaranya mandapam in Venus colony, in Chennai, also is as sacred, as many noble scholars have lectured on Puranas and sanctified the place. From this place this lecturer [Sri U.Ve. Ananthapadmanabhachariar swamy] is going to give lectures on Gopika geetham, for six days starting 28th February, 2008. We will now start the Divya namam [Sacred names]:
1. OM VISWAYA NAMA:
In the first sloka 9 names are told. Viswam means the entire Universe. Swami Parasara Bhatta says that this name reveals the totality or completeness [ paripoornatvam]. His Swaroopam [entity], Roopam [ images], Gunam [quality] and Vibhooti [wealth] are spread all over. Swaroopam means the Paramatma tatvam or entity and it is present everywhere. Roopam means the Divya mangala vigraham or idols, are spread as Sri Rama or Sri Ranagantha, etc. Gunam means auspicious and good qualities. We can see only some good qualities in persons or objects in this world. But the Lord possesses all the qualities in abundance. Upanishads say He has heyapratyanikam kalyanika... That is He has qualities opposed to bad qualities and auspicious [kalyana] qualities in abundance. None has all these qualities and His qualities also do not vary with place, time or object. Bhagavan means He has six qualities - Gyana, Shakti, Balam, Aiswaryam, Veeryam and Tejas. Swami Parasara Bhatta says the word Bhagavan associated with others is just out of respect and only the Lord Sriman Narayana possesses all these six qualities and so the word Bhagavan fits only Him. Bheeshma also says yani namani gownanai... He says these names are based on the Lord's qualities [guna]. Sri Krishna also says that He is praised by His guna. Yet another way of interpreting this name Viswam is by the cause - effect theory. By seeing the pot, effect, we understand the cause, mud, and its qualities. So if we can understand the Universe, then we can appreciate the Lord, Who is the Cause.