SVS 120 [ Vrushakruthi-114] ( 12.10)

114. OM VRUSHAKRUTHAYE NAMA: ॐ वृषाकृतये नम:

Removing the sins of devotees and gracing with Nectar like Divine image.

Today's [31st July 2008] Divine name is from the sannidhi of Sri Andal outside the temple [popularly known as Sri Veli [Outside] Andal. When Her father wanted Her to choose the bridegroom, She selected Sri Ranganatha aka Sri Azhagiya Manavalan. In our society, the bride looks for handsome groom, the mother, the groom's earning, the father, his learning and character, while relatives look forward for a good feast! Swami Desika says Sri Andal chose the Oldest [Purana] Person [Purusha]; Person sleeping on serpent and having bird [Garuda] as vehicle! On the 18^th Day of Aadi [padhinettam perukku] the Lord arrives at this sannidhi.

Valmiki says that the Lord Sri Rama's face was like the Moon, attractive and radiating coolness. We can not look at Sun as we see Moon. He showers mercy on devotees and throws heat on enemies. In Sristhuthi, Swami Vedanta Desika says 'gharme tapatraya virachite ghada thaptam kshanam mam...'. He prays Sri Maha Lakshmi to shower Her nectar like grace on him so that he is relieved of the heat of samsaram. In Panchratra agama, it is said that by His Divine radiance the Lord is pervading entire Universe. This radiance is like the nectar.

vasurvasumanasatyasamatma sammithasama:

amoghapundarikaksho vrushakarmaa vrushakruthi: [12]

SVS 119 [ Vrushakarma-113] (12.9)

113. OM VRUSHAKARMANE NAMA: ॐ वृषकर्मणे नम:

Capable of quenching the three great miseries by His soothing actions.

The Lord has the lotus like navel in which the creator of this world, lord Brahma is seated. He is smeared with sandalwood paste from Sri MahaLakshmi, by embracing Her. The Lord is embodiment of Vedas and so the scent of Vedas is also there. Vyjayanti garland is also fragrant. Thus, the Lord emanates variety of scents and He is Sri Parimala Rangan; yet, He desires to have the fragrance of the Thulasi mala used by Sri Andal, says Swami Vedanta Desika in his Goda sthuthi. Today's [30^th July 2008] lecture is from the sannidhi of Sri Andal at Sri Varadarajaswami temple, Kanchi. The Lord removes our tapa traya [three great miseries]- Adyatmikam, Adidaivikam and Adibowdhikam. These are caused by God, by natural happenings like lightning, thunder, etc., and by animals and other living beings. Like an oasis for a struggling person in desert, the Lord is there to eliminate our miseries. He is the everlasting remedy for our miseries and so He is Vrushakarma. Actions of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna refine us. Acharyas are also regarded as Avatar of the Lord and they also lead us in the righteous path. To get this help from the Lord we have to worship Him and not lament that we are suffering in this world. As a mantra this Divine name removes our evil effects of karma.

SVS 118 [ Pundarikaksha-112] (12.8)

112. OM PUNDARIKAKSHAYA NAMA: ॐ पुंडरीकाक्षाया नम:

Like eyes for those in Vaikuntam, also known as Pundarikam.

Swami Desika, in Goda Sthuthi, prays Sri Andal, that just like the jingling of the ornaments on Her would gladden the Lord, She should bless Desika's slokas also to gladden the Lord. From today till Thiru Adipooram [4^th August 2008] we will visit Kshetrams in which this festival is celebrated. As praised by Swami Manavala Mamunigal, Sri Andal is grouped among the Alwars and She, by Her flower garland and melodious poems, attracted the Lord. She ruled the Lord by Her devotion and ruled us by her invaluable advice. So She is called Andal [ruled] affectionately. She was born in Srivilliputhur, without residing in a mother's womb [ as we are all] and was found by Perialwar in the Tulasi garden, on Adi [ஆடி] month and in the star constellation Pooram. Earlier in the Divine name pushkaraksha [ SVS 46, Divine name 40, 5.4], we understood the beauty of the eyes of the Lord. Pundarikam also means lotus flower. The Eyes of the Lord are beautiful as fresh lotus flower. In fact the identification for Bhagavan or Sarveswara is the Lotus like eyes [செந்தாமரை கண்ணன் ]. Swami Parashara Bhattar interprets pundarikam to mean Paramapadam or Vaikuntam. We are all bound by Karma and live in this Leela vibhuti [play property of the Lord]. After release from this bond we reach Vaikuntam or Pundarikam. For the residents of Pundarikam, the Lord is like eyes or so important. Normally, we describe our dear ones as like eyes. But this comparison is apt only for the Lord. In Vaikuntam He is seen by the devotees without even winking the eyes!

SVS 117 [Amogha - 111] ( 12.7)

111। OM AMOGHAYA NAMA: ॐ अमोघाय नम:
Never gets diminished.

Today's [28th July 2008] lecture is from the most important place in Ayodhya. It is called Guptar Ghat, in Sarayu river, from where Sri Rama and others departed to Vaikuntam. After completing avatar in this World as Sri Rama, the Lord wanted to depart for Vaikuntam. But the people and all living and non-living beings of Ayodhya exhibited extreme sorrow and wanted to be with the Lord. So He brought all on this spot and after a holy bath, all left for Moksham. Nammalwar in the pasuram 'karpar ramapiranai' [கற்பார் இராம பிரானை அல்லால் மற்றும் கற்பரோ..], says that all, even the tiny grass, went to Vaikuntam. Swami Koorathalwan asks whether any of them did Karma yoga or Gyana yoga to reach Vaikuntam. Valmiki says that fortunate are those who saw the Lord or were seen by Him. Our relationship with the Lord which can not be denied even by Himself. So says Sri Andal 'undhannodu uravel ozhikka ozhiyadhu '[உன் தன்னோடு உறவேல் நமக்கிங்கு ஒழிக்க ஒழியாது]. This is the interpretation of the Divine name amogha, which means never He or His actions get ever diminished. Sri Krishna tells Draupati that even the sky might fall down, but His words would never be false or untrue. In our usual usage we take the meaning of amogha to mean prosperity. But the most proesperous one can get is at Vaikuntam and that can be achieved by worshiping the Lord with this Divine name.

SVS 116 [ Sama-110] (12.6)

110. OM SAMAYA NAMA: ॐ समाय नम:
Treats even fresh devotees, as He would treat earlier ones.

Today's [ 25th July 2008] lecture is from Sri Birla mandir in Ayodhya. It has all facilities for comfortable stay. We can worship Lord Sri Rama, sculpted out of marble stone. Sama means He behaves equally with all. Sri Krishna in Gita also mentions that He is same to all. Thirumangai Alwar says that when seeing His Majesty and greatness, he tried to drift away, but he remembered the words the Lord spoke to Guha. The Lord introduced Sri Sita as his friend and Lakshmana as his brother. He further said that henceforth Guha was His friend. He is not merely approachable by learned sages but by the ordinary people also. The experience sages had in Dandakaranya, was revealed to Gopikas in Brindavan. He ate in the same way at Bharadwaja's hermitage and at Sabari's place. Just as He went behind Viswamitra, He went after Sugriva. He respected vaideekam and laukeekam [வைதீகம், லௌகிகம்] - that is Vedic rituals and worldly acts. We should avoid ego arising out of learning, being born in noble family and wealth. In the Rajasuya yaga performed by Yudhishtra, the Lord took pleasure to welcome Vedic scholars and sprinkled on His head the water after washing their feet.

SVS 115 [ Sammitha-109](12.5)

109.OM SAMMITHAYA NAMA: ॐ सम्मिताय नम:
Obeys devotees.

Today's lecture is from Ammaji Mandir, a temple raised by South Indians in Southern style. Utsavar here is captivating. We should make it a point to visit this temple when coming to Ayodhya. We will study the Divine name sammitha, meaning obeying His devotees. Yasoda tried to tame Sri Krishna by tying Him to a pulverizer, so that He would not be able to move about. But she could not tie Him with any length of ropes and after getting tired, she prayed and the Lord yielded and allowed Him to be tied, like an elephant picking up the chain so that it could be fastened. Viswamitra requested for the help of Sri Rama to guard his yagna. The Lord guarded the yagna for Six days. It is said that He Himself protected the yagna for Him [yagnovaivishnu:vishnururuvaiyagna:]. He obeyed Viswamitra totally. The Lord obeyed Thirumazhisai Alwar and got the name Sri Yathoythakari [சொன்ன வண்ணம் செய்த பெருமாள் ]

SVS 114 [Samathma -108] (12.4)

108. OM SAMATHMANE NAMA: ॐ समात्मने नम:
Among His devotees, He sees no inequality.


Worshiping Paduka will get us yoga kshemam [yoga = acquiring something new, kshemam = retaining such acquisitions]. Even Ramarajya was with certain mistakes; but Padukarajyam was perfect. In Nandigrama, we will see today's [28th July 2008] Divine name Samathma - impartiality. In Swami Desika's Dayasathakam, we can see this quality of the Lord. The Lord Sri Rama, Who was close to great sages like Vasishta, Viswamitra and Bharadwaja, was also close to hunter Guha, monkey king Sugriva, hunter woman Sabari, vulture Jatayu and demon Vibheeshana. Similarly Sri Krishna was intimate to the poor brahmin Kuchela, clumsy flower woman, illiterate Gopikas, etc. He treated all equally and no partiality was shown. When Vali responded to the call for fight by Sugriva and tried to get ready, Tara, wife of Vali advised Vali not to venture as Sri Rama was helping Sugriva. For that Vali replied that if Sri Rama was friend of Sugriva, He was Vali's friend also. Tara then tells that Sri Rama is nivasa vruksha: sadhunam - He is shelter to devotees. Apannanam para gathi: - He is rescuer for people in distress. Aarti means sufferings and we are therefore, aarthas. For them He is asylum. Sri Rama considered the pity of Sugriva for losing his wife to Vali more than His losing Sri Sita. Forgetting His own sufferings in wild forests, Sri Rama was more worried about the welfare of Bharata, having to bathe in Sarayu in winter!!