8th Day Of danur Maasam: Govindha Naama Sankeerthanam of GodhA Piratti

[Guest guest]

Dear GodhA PriyAs :

 

Yesterday , we enjoyed the many meanings of

"GodhA " . She was born in Srivilliputthur . She

considered her birth place as Gokulam and joined

with Her friends -as Gopis did- and sang the praise of

Govindhan and sought Him as Her husband .

 

Of Srivilliputthur , it is said :

 

"Godhai piranthavoor

Govindhan Vaazhumoor ".

 

Here He came and wed her and stays there even now in His

father-in-law's house as RangamannAr . On a Eka Peetam ,

he lets us enjoy his SubhAsrayam with his dear Godhai and

Garudan .

 

It is important therefore for us to reflect on the greatness of

the name of Govindhan and engage in Govindha Naama

Sankeerthanam on this day , which is the 8th day of MarghaZhi

and reminds one of the Lord's Ashtakshara Manthram .

 

Govindha Naama Vaibhavam

**********************************

 

The following VishNu Sahasra naamam section reveals the

vaibhavam of Govindhan :

 

mahEshvAsO maheebirthA Srinivaasa: sathAm gathi : I

Aniruddha: SurAnandhO GovindhO GovidhAm pathi: II

 

Eight Sahasra NaamAs close to "GovindhA " are covered in this

section of ShasraNaamam , once again reminding one of the

significance of the number eight ( Mula manthram ) .

 

The first name , " MaheshvAsa : " refers to RamAvathAram .

The ChaNda KodhaNda MaNdhitha Raghuveeran discharging

great arrows is invoked by this Naamam. Literally , this name

refers to the One great VillALi ( Sree Dhanur NagarAdheesan-

Sri VILLI putthur Vatapatra Sayee ) , who stood facing RavaNA in

the battle field and cut off the ten heads of the latter with his

sharp and powerful arrows discharged by Kodhandham .

 

" Mahee barthA " is the second of the eight names. This literally

means the bearer or the holder of this Earth. He bore Bhumi Devi

on his tusk as a Boar during His VarahAvathAram. It has also

been intrepreted as referring to KurmAvathAram , since he is

supporting this earth as Kurma BhagaVan . I prefer to intrepret

this name as Varaha Murthy coming out of the PraLayA waters

holding Bhumi Devi on his tusk like teeth . Our most merciful mother

asked him at that time for forgivenness of the erring chetanAs

out of her role as mediatrix and He in response to his

dear consort's request gave us the Varaha

Sarama Slokam referred by the 45th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt in his

Nangai Nallur upanyAsam . We are now connected through

this name to AndAL (Bhumi Piratti ) as well as

Her husband Govindhan as VarAha PerumAn ..

 

The third of the eight names is Srinivasan . This Lord of Sri

presides over the seven hills , which echo with Govindha Naama

Sankeerthanam every day .

 

The fourth namA is SathAm gathi : . He is the refuge of the pious.

AndAL's anushtAnam of Paavai Nonbhu is to illustrate the unbreakable

relationship between the righteous (sathAm) offering SaraNAgathi

at His Lotus feet and the power of Purushakaaram of AndAL

that makes that SaraNAgathi effective at the target (Gathi )of Govindhan.

 

The fifth name is Aniruddha: . This namaa indicates that

the Charms of Govindhan are irresistible. Why is he Irresistible asks

Niruktham and answers " Anantha CheshTa yukthathvAth Aniruddha : ".

His limitless pranks and leelAs make him adorable and

irresistable . PeriyAzhwAr fell for those Anantha CheshTaas

and took on the form of mother YasOdhA to enjoy them ..

His daughter fell in love with them too and NammazhwAr and all

the other AzhwArs were not spared from the overpowering

charms of Govindhan saluted by the dasama skhandham of

Srimadh Bhagavatham .

 

The name AniruddhA also stands for the

HamsAvathaaram of the Lord . In this AvathAram , He reinstructed

BrahmA about the VedAs , since BrahmA had forgotten about them

at one time due to his egotism . Hamsa Murthy is the Veda Purushan.

Hamsam also stands for Parama Hamsa ParivrajakA AcharyAs ,

who have chosen SanyAsAsramam . This avathAra is also

saluted as HAMSAGREEVAN . Both Hamsagreevan and

Hayagreevan are closely associated with the four VedAs .

As Hayagreevan is the Lord who recovered the Vedas from

the two AsurAs , who stole them from BrahmA .

 

The sixth name is SurAnandha: . He is the source of delight

to all of the Gods , who need his protection . IndrA was taught

a lesson by the Govardhana Giridara Govindhan . IndrA learnt

his lessons and performed Govindha PattAbhishekam . BrahmA

recognized his mistake and understood the power of this Maayan

is limitless and bewildering .

 

All of these six names lead to the most meaningful seventh

name , (Viz)., Govindhan . Literally the meaning of the name has

been translated as " the recipient of the words of praise ". The

eulogies and doxologies originate from the Gods and pious Men

and Women . Even AndAL is included here based on her Naama

Sankeerthanam in Thiruppavai as compiled by

Sri VeNugopaala Naicker :

 

KoodArai Vellum seer GOVINDHAA !

Uhn tannai paaadi parai kondu GOVINDHAA !

Yaam perum Sanmaanam GOVINDHAA !

Naadu pukazhum GOVINDHAA !

ParisinAl nanrAha GOVINDHAA !

SoodahamE tOLvaLaiE GOVINDHAA !

ThodE sevippoovE GOVINDHAA !

PadahamE yenranaya GOVINDHAA !

palkalanum yaam aNivOm GOVINDHAA !

Aadai uduppOm GOVINDHAA !

Athan pinnE paal soru GOVINDHAA !

Mooda ney peythu GOVINDHAA !

Muzhankai vazhivaraikku GOVINDHAA !

KOODI IRINDHU GOVINDHAA !

KULIRNTHELOREMPAAVAAI GOVINDHAA !

 

AndaL sings thus about the "KuraivonrumilAtha GOVIDHAN "

in Her Thiruppavai .

 

The eighth Sahasran namAm assocated with this section is

" GOVIDHAAM PATHI " . He is saluted here as the protector of

those , who know the "words" . The Goh sabdham here refers

to those who know the words of the VedAs ( Arya or Dhramidi

Vedam like Thiruppavai and other Divya Prabhandhams ) .

 

Parasara Bhattar takes Niruktham as his source to

intrepret this name : Veda VidhpadhO Manu : " . He also

quotes another source referring to Jnana Yogam practised

by Parama HamsAs . This souce states : " One should

meditate upon the AtmA as the HamsA incarnation , who enjoys

the knowlege of sacrifice (JnAna Yagnam )

offered to Him (Govindhan ) .

 

We will continue with Govindha Naama Vaibhavam

in the next posting .

 

Sri VaishNava Daasan ,

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan