The Greatness of Mahalakshmi

[Guest guest]

Dear Members of the Prapatthi group :

 

Few months ago , I wrote about the Mahalakshmi Krithis

of Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshithar . I just came across an article

that I had prepared even earlier that I could not find at that time .

You may find it interesting and Useful .Here it is :

 

********** THE GREATNESS OF SRI MAHALAKSHMI *************

In the PancharAtra smahitA , Maha Vishnu explains to his senior

disciple VishvaksenA ,the nature and attributes of His consort ,

Sri Mahalakshmi . He states that She is the resting place of all

Gurus ,ruler of all worlds , eternal and imperishable. He elaborates

further on their relationship:" Just as the Universe is pervaded by me

both in essence and quality , all this is pervaded by Her also . Therefore,

She is the disposer and ruler of all.... She is pervaded by me and

similarly ,I , the Lord am also pervaded by Her. The difference

between me and Her is that She, who is the ruler of all is subservient to me .

To Her as well as the Universe that I am the Lord ,is well known in Vedas.

 

In the same PancharAtra SamhitA , Sri Mahalakshmi herself

has explained Herself and Her consort , their pervasion and

rulership. Sri Vatsya Varada Guru , the author of the illustrious

work on SaranAgathi known as Prapanna ParijAtha has elaborated

on the relationship between the divine couple as follows :

" That supreme energy of Brahman , which is as is lustre to the moon,

is the Goddess Lakshmi , who is coexistent with Brahman in all His

conditions , and who is in His own nature and is indestructible. "

 

The sage Parasara , author of Vishnu PurAnam explains further the

nature and significance of Sri Mahalakshmi : "She is eternal, the

mother of the universe , the glory of Vishnu and imperishable. Just

as Vishnu is all pervading so also is She-- among Gods, animals

and humans , the glorious Hari is the masculine name and Lakshmi

is the feminine name. O MaitreyA ! There is nothing higher than these

(two)..... I salute that consort of the bestower of boons (Varadavallabha ) ,

who of Her own accord , occupies the position of mediatrix to men

(and women) prior to their surrender to Her Lord; these men (and

women ) are solely addicted to sinful deeds and are for a long time

unworthy of salvation. She promotes affection , mercy and such other

feelings for these sinners in Her Lord .She fosters knowledge , energy

and other attributes in them at the time of His becoming the means of

their salvation. She is endowed with the threecapcities of UPAYATVA

(being the means) ,UPEYATVA ( being the end) and PURUSHAKAARA

( being the mediatrix) --and is the ruler of the whole world .

 

Sri Mahalakshmi tatvam (concept ) is central to Sri Vaishnavism.

To the Sri VaishnavAs , She is known as SRI DEVI and She never

leaves the side of Her consort. Ancient Gurus of Sri Vaishnavite tenet

have recognized the centrality and significance of Her role in granting

salvation to the erring jeevans. They have praised in superb verses

Her qualities of mercy and compassion for Her suffering children , Her

intercession on our behalf with Her Lord , Her incarnations with Him ,

the redeeming power of Her glance ,and Her other myriad Kalyana

GunAs. Foremost among the celebrations of Sri Devi's auspicious

attributes is the Kila rk of the Rig Vedam known as Sri Sooktham.

Upanishads , Puranams and Ithihaasas have also saluted Her.

Illustrious Acharyas such as Yamuna Muni ( Chathusloki ) , Ramanuja

(Saranagathi Gadhyam ) , Kuresa (Sri Sthavam ) , Parasara Bhattar

( GuNarathna Kosam ) , Vedantha Desika ( Sri Sthuthi ) and Adi Sankara

(Kanaka Taraa Sthtram ) have offered their humble salutations and

received Her blessings .

 

**** THE MEANING OF THE WORD SRI ****

 

The word Sri is a profound word with deep meanings .

Six different and yet complimentary meanings are indicated

by this word "SRI " according to Swami Desikan . Following the

tradition of his preceptors , he has made it clear that Prapatthi

to Her precedes the one at the feet of Her Lord to attain freedom

from the cycles of deaths and births.

 

Let us now dwell on the six different meanings of the celebrated

word SRI . The first meaning is based on the intrepretation that

She makes Her Lord listen to our pleas . This quality confers

the attribute , SrAvayathi . Our Acharya states in this context that Her

consort , Sriman Narayana will not go against Her request and therefore

will listen to the appeal of Prapannas .

 

Before She makes Her consort listen to us , She has to listen first

to our plaintive cries. This aspect of Her listening to our appeals

is described a sthe guna of Srunothi , which serves as the second

meaning. After listening to our cries for help , She makes us fit for

recommendation to Her Lord. This act is described as

Sreenaathi , the third meaning of Her name. By blessing us with Bahgavat

Anubhava Poorthi (Completion of the enjoyment of Her Lord's

attributes) and Kaimkarya Poorthi (Completion of service to Him

on this earth ) , She exercises the Sreenaathi Quality. In view of

Her intensive compassionate listening and preparing us for

recommendation , She is very much sought after as a refuge

by the PrapannAs . This aspect of becoming sought refuge

gives the fourth meaning of Her name as Sreeyathe.

 

After listening to us and after preparing us for Her Lord's

attention , She beseeches Her consort for our protection.

By this act, She demonstrates the attribute of the fifth meaning ,

Sraayathi of Sri Sabdham. By making Her Lord listen to and accept

Her recommendations on our behalf ,she dispels our difficulties

and earns as a result the sixth meaning Srunaathi for Her name .

Thus Her name of Sri carries the six complimentary meanings

-- SREEYATHI, SRAAYATHI , SRUNOTHI , SRUNAATHI ,

SRAAVAYATHI AND SREENAATHI--and these explain Her

paramount role in conferring us the supreme bliss of Moksham .

 

Sri Devyai Nama:

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan