Tuesday, May 20, 2008

SVS 71

65. OM ISHANAYA NAMA: ईशा नाय नम:
Absolute and never diminishing Controller of all.

In the next sloka [8] of SVS, ten Divine names are listed. When we get up from sleep in the early morning, we should chant the name of Hari:, seven times. We should first look at our palms, as a palm is the abode of Sri Lakshmi, Saraswati and Sri Govinda. Ishana and Iswara mean one and the same. Administrator and Controller of all. We complain to the Lord our deficiencies but never praise Him for all the other good things done to us. Pathi or Isha means leader and the Lord remains as the Absolute and Supreme God protecting all at all times. We call one as emperor, but if we compare his kingdom with the area of this earth, it will be ridiculously small. That is why when Swami Desika was invited to receive honours from a king, in his Vairagya panchakam, he says, such a small kingdom and a temporary king is nothing before Lord Sri Varadaraja, the King of all worlds and at all times; and so he was content with what the Lord provided him. Lord Sri Ranganatha is called Sri Ranga raja and He holds the power symbol of sceptre [ Tamil sengol -செங்கோல் ]। I [ ई ] also means Sri Mahalakshmi and so Isha means the Darling of Sri Mahalakshmi. Sriyapathi is Jagathpathi.

2 comments:

saranathantg said...

Everywhere we hear
Karaagre vasathe Lakshmi,
Karamadhye Saraswathi,
Karamoole sthithe Gowri,
Prabhathe karadarshanam.
to be chanted when we get up & see our palms in the morning.
Why the difference ?

TG Saranathan said...

I saw the comment today only and so my reply is belated.
I have reproduced what the lecturer told and I do not know even the origin of this sloka. Perhaps, scholars or the lecturer might be able to clarify.