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Dear Friends,

 

I read with great pleasure Sri Sampath Rengarajan's lucid description of

Tirumanjanam for Lord Oppiliappan, with several important details and the

related Pasurams from Tirumangai Azhwar's Anubhavam. Thank you very much

Sri Rengarajan for sharing the blessings of Vamana Avataram.

 

The aspect of Tirumanjanam and Vamana Avataram reminds me of the Divya

Dravyas (sacred offering) used in performing Tirumanjanam for the Lord.

Traditionally, Panchamruta Snanam for the Lord includes offering of Milk,

yoghurt, ghee, honey and sugar. Each of these Dravyas has Lord Narayana

associated with it.

 

Ksheera Priyo Devata is Govinda. Govinda is the protector of the cows. The

name Govinda is also associated with the PraNava Akshara AUM. As a result, this

Shabdham dispels all inauspiciousness. Thus offering of Ksheeram results in

the destruction of sins (Papa Nashanam). Ksheeram is glorified in the Vedic

hymn :"Aapyaya Svasamethushe Vishvastasto Mahakshriyum Bhavabajasya SangatE"

 

Dadhi Priyo Devata is Vamana. Offering of Dadhi results in Pushti Vardhanam

(increase in strength). Dadhi Vamana is glorified in the Vedic salutation:

"DadhikraviNNo Akarushan Jishnorashvasya Vajinaha Surabinomukhakarath PraNa

AyogmShitarushat..". Dadhi imparts a pleasing odour to the mouth and

bestows strength to the tongue to utter nothing but the truth. Connections

between Dadhi Vamana and Bhagavan Hayagriva are apparent from Swami Deikan's

Hayagriva Stotram salutation "Jihvagra Simhasana", implying that the tongue

thus fortified (purified) by Dadhi is fitting throne for Bhagavan Hayagriva.

Vamana Padhuka is also important in this context for it beautifully bears

out the aspect of the Padhukas stated in Swami Desikan's Padhuka Sahasram,

i.e., curing the arrogant ones of their pride while elevating the humble

supplicant. Mahabali ridiculed Vamana for the latters request of three paces of

land. With just two giant steps as Trivikrama, the Lord took away all of

Bali's possessions. However, when Mahabali humbly offered his head for the

Lord to place this third step, he was granted Moksham. The

Lord's Sudarshana Chakram was used in the form of the darbha grass used by

Vamana to clear the outlet of the jar, which had been blocked by

Shukracharya in the form of an insect, containing water for the Sankalpam.

 

The Dravya of ghee (clarified butter) (Ghruta) results in Ayurvardhanam

(logevity of life). Ghruta-Priyo Devata is Vishnu. Traditionally, during

offering of ghee, Lord Vishnu is eulogized through the Vishnu Sooktam chant

"VishNornukam ViryaNi Pravocham...".

 

The Dravya of honey (Madhu) results rids one of guile and vicious

thoughts (Kalmasham). Madhu Priyo Devata is Madhusudhana saluted in the

Narayana Upanishad as "BrahmaNyo Devaki PutrO Brahmanyo MadhusudhanOm". The

use of MadhusudhanOm comes from the Sama Vedam. Madhu is also saluted in the

Vedic hymn "Madhuvatarutayate Madhaksharanti Sindhavaha:...".

 

Shakkara Priyo Devata is Achyuta. The significance of Shakkara is that

it is like soap used in cleansing. The inner meaning is that it Shakkara paves

the way for the mind to recognize the Antaryami Bhavam of the Lord similar to

the Sandyavandana mantram which helps in recognizing that the Aditya seen

outside is the same as the Lord that dwells within.

 

Srivasa Ranga Parakala Muni Trayabdha: LakshmAtma RakshaNa Yaeetva YugAgamAntam

Acharya Bhakti Paripootamanarghasheelam Gopala Desika Munim Gurum Ashrayamaha

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy