Revathi: NamperumaaL's Thiru Nakshatram

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Dear Members of the Prapatti Group:

 

Tomorrow is the day, when Revathi Constellation

is in ascendance. Revathi is associated with the

Janma Nakshatram of Sri Ranganatha , just as

Sravana Nakshatram is associated with Sri Venkatesa

of Thirumalai as his birth star. Although it is odd to consider

a particular nakshatram as the one associated with the Lord,

who is never "born", traditionally , Archa Murthys have been

associated with a day in an Year that is particularly important

to them. It so happens that Sri Ranganatha, the eternal one

without an end or beginning has Panguni Revathi as his

Birth Star. Sri Ranganayaki has Panguni Uttaram as her

Star . This Panguni month is therefore doubly blessed for the

devotees of Kasturi Rangan and His Illustrious consort.

 

I will share with you some of the thoughts on the Vedic Significance of

the Word Revathi , since Sri Ranganatha is the Veda Purushan .

The word Revati or association with the concept of Revati occurs

in all of the four Veda Samhitaas.

 

The mantram 35 of Chapter 23 of the Yajur Vedam refers to the Raivati

verses this way:

 

MahaanaamnyO REVATYOH viswaa Aaasaa prabhUvaree: I

Maigheervidhyuthoh vaaccha: Sucheebhi : samyantu tvaa II

 

(Meaning at One Level): May the Mahaanaamni and Revati Vedic

verses spread all the way upto the supreme regions , which

appear like the lightning in the clouds and which are recited by the

devoted subjects please the mighty Lord!

 

Revatis are the verses from which the Raivata Saaman of the Saama

Veda is formed . This name as Raivata Saaman is connected to

the Rg Vedic Verse ( Canto I. 30.13 ) , where the word Revati is

used to symbolize Wealth, Opulence, Abundant Riches, Prosperity,

Brilliance, splendour, Beauty and other kalyana Gunaas of the Lord

saluted through the Many names of Vishnu Sahasra Naamam.

 

In another mantram of Yajur Veda, We come across the reference to

Revati again. This is the 21st mantram of Canto III :

 

REVATHI ramadhvamasminyonaavasmin

Goshtehsmimllokehsmin Kshayeh I

Ihaiva stha maapagaata II

 

Here Revati is intrepreted as the Sacred Vedic Speech .

It is requested to remain in the Vedic altar , in the Yajna ,

in the spot of the Yajna and in the house,where the Yajna

is being conducted. The prayer is "Oh, Revati ! Do not go

away from here! Remain Just here and go not thence is the

prayer. Satapatha Brahmana composed by Yajnavalkya

explains the intrepretation of Revati as Vedic Speech through

his observation: "Vaagvai Revati ". Lord Ranganatha is then

the essence of Vedic Speech or the one pervading Vedic

Speech or the utterances of the Vedas. This Veda Purusha is

requested by another Yajur Mantram to ascend to the Zenith

and bless us: Urdvamaaroha --- Raivatheh Saamaani ----

( Yajur Vedam: X.14 ).

 

Before we focus on the Rg Veda Mantraa that is behind the

Raivata Saamans of the Saama Veda, Let us salute the

Atharva Vedic Verse referring to the Revati Principle.

The Verse is found in the Ninth Khaanda of Atharva

Veda in Hymn 7.3 . The Mantram is as follows:

 

VIDHYUJJIHVAA MARUTOH DANTAA

REVATIRGREEVAA: KRITTIKAA SKANDHAA DHARMOH VAHA :

 

In this mantra conceptualizing the entire Universe as a Cow,

Revati , one of the stars of the Lunar mansion is equated to

the neck of the Cosmic Cow. The Krittika star is recognized as the

shoulder of this Cow. Symbolism of the neck is invoked here.

 

The central Mantra related to Revati is the Rg Vedic mantram

(I.30.13). The entire Thirtieth Chapter of Canto I of Rg Veda is a

splendid tribute to the Ananta Kalyana Gunaas of the Lord and

a prayer for his blessings . There are 22 verses in this chapter .

All but the last three verses deal with the request for Communion

with the generous Lord.

 

We will salute the 13th Rk first and then summarize

the meaning of the rest of the related verses.

 

REVATHIR NA : SADHAMAADHA INDREH

SANTHU TUVIVAAJAA: I

KSHUMNATHOH YABHIR MADEHMA II (RG VEDAM : I.30.13 )

 

Meaning: O Resplendent God! May Thou share our

spiritual Joy! May we have abundant nourishment ,

and May our Medha(Intellect) be unclouded and sharp,

so that we are full of devotion for You ! may we Live in

a state of unalloyed Bliss in union with You !

 

A condensed summary (excerpts ) of the other verses of

I.30 of Rg Vedam is as follows:

 

Verse 1: Just as Farmers dig a well and fill their

fields with water, may our hearts be filled with

devotion for You, the resplendent God!

 

Verse 2: May our sublime and pristine devotion for You

flow in hundreds and thousands of streams towards

You , the resplendent God, just as the river and its tributaries

rush towards the Ocean.

 

Verse 3 : May All our devout prayers , which are poured forth

to please You be treasured in Your heart like water in the

vast Ocean !

 

Verse 6: May we establish Communion with You

for our guidance!

 

Verse 7: On every occasion , in every noble Kainkaryam,

we invoke thee , the best among our friends for our

protection and happiness .

 

Verse 8: When He listens to our Invocations, He assuredly

comes to us with thousands of generous bounties and

benedictions.( This is an expression of the Maha Viswaasam

of the supplicant.)

 

Verse 9: I too invoke thee ,who created this Universe and

the eternal elements. Our ancestors have also been invoking You .

 

Verse 10: Desirous of Communion with You, we invoke You

as our best friend and we take refuge in You. Be gracious to us,

your dedicated and loyal servants.

 

Verse 12: O Mighty God! O Dispeller of all of the miseries!

We yearn for Your friendship and beseech You to respond

to our love.

 

Verse 18 & 19 : O God! Desroyer of the Wicked ! Your gift of

body to us , is like the gift of chariot with the immortal soul

residing within it. It aspires to reach beyond this material

world and travel across space to You.----- the spirit soars high

in search of the immortal. ONLY YOU CAN TAKE US TO OUR

DESIRED DESTINATION (PARAMA PADAHAM ).

 

As we reflect on the 247 verses of the Azhwaars, the echoes of the

above Vedic pronouncements are heard again and again.

 

May we seek the protection of the Saranaagatha Rakshakaa every

day and approach Him in the spirit of the above Reavti Saamans

and request Him to grant us the boon of unceasing memory of Him.

 

PAADHAAMBHOJAM SPRUSATHI BHAJATEH

RANGANATHASYA JANGHAAM

URUDHWANDHVEH VILAGATHI

SANAIRURDHWAMABHYETI NAABHIM I

VAKSHASYAASTEH VALATHI BHUJAYOR

MAAMIKEYAM MANEESHAA

VAKTRAABHIKYAAM PIBHATI

VAHATEH VAHATEH

VAASANAAM MOWLIBHANDEH II

 

--Sri Vedantha Desika's Sri Bhagavad

Dhyaana Sobhaanam : Verse 10

 

With this prayer of Nigamaantha Maha Desikan

celebrating his enjoyment of the beauty of all the

limbs of Sri Ranganatha , I salute Sri Revatisambhavan

on his birth day , which is tomorrow.

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan

Yugaadi Celebration Day, March 20, 1996.