The Three Sookthams on Sriman Narayana

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Dear Members of the Prapathi Group :

 

Srimathi Nagu satyan's Questions on the above subject

--the similarities and dissimilarities and the traditions related

to them-- are important to consider. After Sri Sundar's excellent

comments on Purusha Sooktham , my observations are more in the

realm of speculation to foster more discussions .

 

First of all , their sacredness and importance can be realized form the fact

that it is only Purusha Sooktham that is included in all of the Veda Samhitas

( Rg 10.90; Sukla Yajur Vedam , Vajasaneya Samhita 31-1-16; Krishna

Yajur Vedam , Taittiriya Aaranyakam 3-12-13 ; Sama Vedam 4-3 and

Atharva Vedam 19-6-3 with soime variations . The Version in the Yajur Veda

Taittiriya Aaranyaka version is most frequently used in the Southern part

of India. In this version, the first Anuvaakam has 18 mantras and starts

with the Viswarupa vision , Sahasraseershaa Purusha : Sahasraksha:

Sahasra Paath . It is the ancient tradition to recite the first Anuvakam

together

with the second Anuvakam beginning with Adhbhya: Sambhotha: followed by

Narayana Sooktham beginning with "Sahasra Seersham Devam "

and conclude with the short Vishnu Sooktham commencing with "Vishnohr Nukam ".

They form an organic whole from the point of subject and content.

All the three deal with the Purushotthama Tatvam elaborated in the

chapter of Bahgavad Gita entitled Purushotthama Yogam . It is therefore

considered as the essence of all Vedas. Gitaacharyan hints at it in

a Purushotthama Yoga slokam this way :

 

" I am centered in the hearts of ALL ; Memory and perception as well as their

loss come from Me . I am verily that which has to be known by ALL the

Vedas , I indeed am the author of the Vedantha ,and the knower of the Veda am I

" .

 

The old adage is that an Aasthika should recite Sri Rudram , Purusha Sooktham,

Upanishad (portions) , Geetha and Vishnu Sahasra Namam daily as an

essential pentad for Moksham . The use of Purusha Sooktha mantras

for Homam , Japam and Puja has been elaborated by Sutrakaaras like

Apasthambha and Bodhaayana for our benefit. There have ben commentaries

on them by Sayanaa of Vijaya Nagar empire time and Periya Jeeyar

or Sri Ranganatha Muni at a later time. Therefore the subject is vast .

 

For the purposes of our discussion ,we can state safely that

Purushotthaman can be meditated upon and worshipped in

the gigantic Viswa Rupa form as wel as in the minutest form

(aNu --aNorh aNeeyaan ) ... In Purusha Sooktham , at its beginning,

the focus is on the mighty form transcending the Universes. In

Narayana Sooktham , at its end , the minutest form of Purushottama

shining in the heart cave of the chetanas are being saluted. It concludes

with the thundering statement that He is Brahma , Hari , Indra , and every

thing in the universes created , sustained and destroyed by Him.

The one and only mantra of Vishnu Sooktham sums up by saying that his glory

is limitless and it is impossible to count them since it is as difficult as

counting all the dust particles in the Universes. It appeals to us by

stating , May We offer our eulogies at the feet of Trivikrama ,

who measured all the Universes. The Key passage for us in all the

three Sookthams is " Naanya : Panthaa Ayanaaya Vidhayateh ".

There is no other path to Moksham. The Understanding of the

Purushotthama Tatvam as described by the Sookthams is hinted

as the only path to attain Moksham .

 

The other references dwelling on the subject matter of Purusha Sooktham

and the other two related Sookthams are :

 

1. Saakalya Brahmanam -Purusha Sooktha Samhitai

2. Purusha Sooktha Manthraartha NirupaNam (Part

of the Text of Paancha Raatra Samhitai )

3. Purusha Sooktha Vaibhavam ( Mudgalopanishad )

4 . Maha Narayana Upanishad.

 

OM Purushottamaya Nama:

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan