Nrusimha Jayanti

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopala Desika MahadeikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

For the most sacred occasion of Nrusimha Jayanthi, Adiyen wishes to

share the Nrusimha RuNa

Vimochana Stotram verses on this forum.The RuNa Vimochana Stotram is

contained in the Nrusimha PuraNam. Every individual incurs three kinds

of debt at birth. These

are Deva RuNam (debt to the Devas), Rishi RuNam (debt to Rishis) and

Pitru RuNam (debt to one’s

ancestors). These are repaid by offering Havis in Yajnas, performing

Veda Adhyayanam under great

masters (sages), and performing TarpaNams and Shraddam, respectively.

However, these debts are

so great that they cannot be repaid in one’s lifetime. The RuNam

referred to in this Stotram is

also the bondage arising from one’s Karma on account of Samsaric

association. The RuNa Vimochana Stotram extols the the munificent

grace of Bhagavan Nrusimha, as a result of which an individual is

absolved of these debts. The first eight verses glorify various

attributes of Bhagavan Nrusimha, each verse ending with the line "Sri

Nrusimham Mahaveeram Namaami RuNa MuktayE". Verse 9 contains the Phala

Shruti for this Stotram. The salutations Nrusimham and Mahaveeram have

their origins in the

most sacred NrusimhaNushtup Mantram. These salutations are

marvellously extolled by Ahirbudhnyan in the Mantrarajapada Stotram.

Vedam glorifies the Padams Nrusimha and Veeram in the following

salutations.

 

YatO Veera: KarmaNya: SudakshO Yuktagraavaa JaayatE Devakaama:

 

Shrungaprotaan Padaa Sprushtvaa Hatvaa Taamagrasat Swayam

Natvaa Cha BahuDhaa Drushtvaa Nrusimha: SwayamudhbhaBhoU

 

 

 

1. Oh Lord, who incarnated from the pillar in (HiraNyan’s) Sabha in

order to successfully accomplish the task of the Devas! Oh supremely

valorous Bhagavan Nrusimha, salutations to you! Please absolve me of

my debts.

 

Related observations: HiraNyan received a boon from Brahma which

rendered the task of killing him extremely difficult. As a result of

the power from this boon, HiraNyan persecuted all noble persons

engaged in worship of the Lord. Devas such as Indra and Rudra were

powerless to stop HiraNyan’s

tyranny. HiraNyan’s atrocities reached their zenith, when he directed

his ill-gotten power to harm

his own son, Prahlada, who was a great Bhagavata of Lord Narayana. At

this juncture, the Lord

incarnated as Narasimha from the pillar in HiraNyan’s Sabha to rush to

the succour of his Bhakta.

In the Dashavatara Stotram, Swami Desikan eulogizes the pillar in

HiraNyan’s Sabha as the grandmother of Brahma since it housed Lord

Narayana. This verse pays tribute to Bhagavan Nrusimha, of these

attributes, who accomplished the task which was beyond all the Devas

while adhering to every condition of Brahma’s boon.

 

2. Oh Lord seen embracing Mahalakshmi! You grant boons to your

devotees. Oh supremely valorous Bhagavan Nrusimha, salutations to

you! Please absolve me of my debts.

 

Related observations: This verse contains the condensed essence of our

sampradayam. First, it

extols the eternal relationship between Lord Narayana and Periya

Piratti. Next, it points to Thayar

who is forever resident in the Lord’s Vakshasthalam. As a result of

this Vishaya VailakshaNyam-

the eternal oneness of the Lord and Sri and His embrace of Piratti,

Bhagavan Nrusimha begets the

name Malola. The Pancharatra Agama salutes this eternal oneness as

"Ekamat Sahachari". Swami

Desikan echoes the message of the Agama in his Sri Stuti salutation

"Priya SahacharImaikamatyOpapannaam.

 

Granting boons to devotees takes on special significance in this

context. The reference

to the eternal relationship between the Lord and Sri preceding the

Vara Prasadi extols the exalted

nature of SharaNagati to the Lord’s lotus feet. The Purushakaratvam of

Sri is succinctly stated and

Her indispensible role in the process of granting SharaNagati is

wonderfully glorified. Thayar argues on behalf of the supplicant and

urges the Lord to ignore the supplicant’s sins and bestow his grace.

During

the January 1999 telephone Upanyasam, H.H. Srimad Andavan Swami of

Srimad Poundarikapuram Ashramam brilliantly expounded on this act of

extreme compassion of Thayar using PramaaNams from the RamayaNa. The

act of granting refuge to a supplicant is a Yajna performed by the

Lord. The term Patni is used exclusively in the context of Yajna. In

the Yajna of gracing a supplicant, Thayar offers her support as VishNu

Patni. This aspect is glorified in the NeeLa Sooktam salutation

Prithivyaa AsyE Shaana JagatO VishNu Patni. The Lord makes no

distinctions on the basis of caste, wealth, knowledge or other

accomplishments in granting SharaNagati. Testimony in support of this

fact is available in the

Mantrarajapada Stotram salutation "SarvOpiyam SamAshritya Sakalam

BhadramashNutE", the

Sri Ranganatha Gadyam salutation "Analochita ViseshAshesha Loka

SharaNya" and Swami Desikan’s

Mahavira Vaibhavam salutation "Sakrut Prapanna Jana SamrakshaNa

Dikshita". As a result of these

salutations and the Lord’s assurances in the salutations "Sambhavami

YugE YugE", "Yogakshemam

Vahaamyaham", and the three Charma Shlokams, the Lord is known as

Achyuta (one who never

slips in protecting his Devotees). Of all the Avatarams of the Lord,

Bhagavan Nrusimha is the only one

who is seen constantly wearing his Padhukas. This provides further

testimony in support of the

terms Achyuta- an indication of the Lord’s readiness to rush to the

help of his devotees.

 

3. Oh Lord who bears the Amtramaala! The weapons Shanka (conch) and

Chakra (Sudarshana) adorn

your shoulders! Oh supremely valorous Bhagavan Nrusimha, salutations

to you! Please absolve me of

my debts.

 

Related Observations: This verse extols the back-to-back forms of

Sudarshana and Nrusimha. The

foremost characteristic of the Sudarshana Chakram is to destroy one’s

sins and point a supplicant in

the direction of the Lord. Sudarshana is the mighty Jwala which forms

the center of the Kala Anala

(fire at the end of time). Lord Nrusimha too denotes this mighty Jwala

as is evident from the Nrusimha

Gadyam salutation "Kalagni Rudra Simha:". The commonalities between

Bhagavan Nrusimha and

Sudarshana have been discussed in the Mantrarajapada Stotram summaries

which are available in

the archives.

 

4. Oh Bhagavan Nrusimha! Contemplation of you destroys one’s sins and

frees one

from the poison-spitting reptiles. Oh supremely valorous Bhagavan

Nrusimha, salutations to you! Please absolve me of my debts.

 

Related observations: In the Mantrarajapada Stotram Bhagavan Nrusimha

is extolled as "Yennama

SmaraNaadbheetaa: BhUta VetaLa Rakshasaa:" Please see the archives for

a detailed discussion of the Mantrarajapada Stotram salutation. This

verse echoes the message of the Mantrarajapada

Stotram salutation. Association with samsara on account of the

inextricable bondage by the rope of

Karma is akin to the virulent poison from reptiles. Bhagavan Nrusimha

alone is capable of freeing

an individual from this bondage. "Contemplation on Bhagavan Nrusimha"

in this

context reveals the subtle connection to the Ashtakshara Mantram

message of Hitam, i.e., SharaNagati

to His Lotus feet paves the way for one’s salvation.

 

5. Oh Bhagavan Nrusimha! Your resounding roar echoing in all

directions destroys all fears.

Oh supremely valorous Bhagavan Nrusimha, salutations to you! Please

absolve me of my debts.

 

Related observations: The roar of Bhagavan Nrusimha is the Simha

Naada. This Naadam forebodes

all auspiciousness since it is the condensed essence of the Rks from

the Rg, Yajus and Saama Vedam.

Veda Naadam denotes Anishta Nivrutti and Ishta Prapti. The Mahima of

Bhagavan Nrusimha’s roar

arises from its association with PraNavam. PraNavam is an emphatic

declaration of the supremacy of Lord Narayana. It is also indicative

of the Shuddha Satva aspect of the Lord. Testimony in support of

this fact can be seen from the Narayana Upanishad salutations

"NishkaLO NiranjanO NirvikalpO

NirAkyatha: ShuddhO Deva EkO Narayana: I Na DvitIyOsti Kaschit II" and

"PratyagAnandam

Brahma Purusham PraNava Swaroopam" The PraNavam sound echoing in all

directions proclaims

the Sarva Rakshakatvam of Bhagavan Nrusimha. Swami Desikan celebrates

this aspect in the

KamasikAshtakam salutation "Tvayi Rakshati Rakshakai: Kimanyai: Tvayi

ChArakshati Rakshakai: Kimanyai:" Swami Desikan provides an exquisite

description of the Lord’s Naadam in the

Garuda Dandakam salutation "Bamkaara", the Hayagriva Stotram

salutation "Hala Hala", the

Mahaveera Vaibhavam salutations "Vepattu Lasya Leelopadesha Desika

DhaurjyAgOsha",

"Katuratadatani Tankruti" and the entire Naada Paddhati of the Padhuka

Sahasram.

 

6. Oh Lord of Sri! You graced Prahlada abd destroyed the Asura King

(HiraNyan). Oh supremely valorous Bhagavan Nrusimha, salutations to

you!Please absolve me of my debts.

 

Related observations: This verse extols the Pida Pariharam (for

Bhaktas) and Pida Pradanam (for

Dushtas) aspects of Bhagavan Nrusimha. The mention of Prahlada Varadan

and DaityEshvara

VidaaraNam in the same line suggests this. Again the Pida Pariharam

and Pida Pradanam aspects

are also attributes of the Lord’s Sudarshana Chakram. This offers

further testimony in support of the

worship of the back-to-back forms of Sudarshana and Narasimha. It is

also interesting to note that

the the constellation of ChakratAzhwar is Chitta and that of Bhagavan

Nrusimha is Swati. Therefore,

even in this respect, the Sudarshana Chakram and Bhagavan Nrusimha

appear consecutively (back-to-back).

 

Swami Desikan goes into raptures in the KamasikAshtakam

while describing the Avatara features of Bhagavan Narasimha. Swami

Desikan observes that the

hands of Bhagavan Nrusimha were in competition with each other to

grace his Bhakta and destroy

HiraNyan. Swami Desikan also notes that the eyes of Bhagavan Nrusimha

simultaneously radiated

compassion for Prahlada and struck terror in the heart of HiraNyan.

The relevant Kamasikashtakam

salutation is "Satapatala BheeshaNE SarbasattahasOtpatEh…….".

Ahirbudhnyan succinctly

glorifies the Avatara Adhbutam of Bhagavan Nrusimha in the verse

"Naravat SimhavacchaIva

Rupam Yasya MahAtmana:I Mahaa Satam Mahaa Damshtram Tam Nrusimham

Namaamyaham II"

 

6. Oh Lord you destroy the fears of malefic influences for your

Bhaktas! Oh supremely valorous Bhagavan Nrusimha, salutations to

you!Please absolve me of my debts.

 

Related observations: Bhagavan Nrusimha shines with great splendour

and dazzling radiance dispelling

all darkness caused by ignorance. Malefic influences are Tamasic in

nature and hence, thrive in

darkeness. However, when confronted by the fiercest flames and extreme

luminescence of Bhagavan

Nrusimha (Jwaala Nrusimhar), these creatures are ruthlessly destroyed.

This is illustrative of the

Vedam salutation "TamasOma JyOtirgamayaa". Additionally, Jwala

Nrusimhar is saluted in the

Vedam Rk "Savita Prasavitaa DeeptO Deepayan Deepyamaana: Jwalan

Jwalita Tapan Vitapan

Santapan RochanO Rochamana: Shobana: Shobamaana: KalyaaNa:"

 

7. Oh Lord of Vedas, Vedanta and Yajna! You are saluted with

reverence by Brahma and Rudra.

Oh supremely valorous Bhagavan Nrusimha, salutations to you!Please

absolve me of my debts.

 

Related observations: The first part of this verse is best explained

by Swami Desikan’s KamasikAshtakam

salutation "Shruteenaam Uttaram Bhagam". This implies that the Lord is

beyond the Vedam , the

Lord is extolled in the final part of the Vedam, i.e., the Upanishads.

Final part of the Vedam also

supports the interpretation that the Lord is extolled in the last

Vedam (AtharvaNa Vedam). Testimony

in support of this fact can be seen from Swami Desikan’s tribute

"Tapaneeya RahasyaaNaam". This

refers to the fact that Bhagavan Nrusimha is extolled in the Purva and

Uttara Tapaneeya Upanishad

pertaining to the AtharvaNa Vedam. This verse is also a consummate

illustration of the Narayana Upanishad salutation "Narayana EvEdagam

Sarvam"

 

Yajna aspects of the Lord are covered in the VishNu Sahasranamam

salutations 971-982 (YajnO Yajna Patir Yajvaa…….Yajna Guhyam). Yajna

appearing in this verse also supports the interpretation that the Lord

is the master of the Yajna of Prapanna Jana RakshaNam. In

the Mahavira Vaibhavam, Swami Desikan salutes this aspect as "Sakrut

Prapanna Jana SamrakshaNa

Deekshita". Shruti extols the Yajna aspect of the Lord through the

majestic salutation "Eta Asadan

Sukrutasya LokE Taa VishNO Paahi Paahi Yajnam Paahi Yajna Patim

Pahimaam Yajna NiyaM".

Rendition of this salutation in Ghanam form is a delight to hear. This

majestic form of Bhagavan

Nrusimha is reverentially saluted by Brahma and Rudra.

 

8. Those who engage in constant recitation of this Stotram are

assured of freedom from debt. Having

been absolved of their debt they will soon beget wealth.

 

Related observations: This verse provides the Phala Shruti for the

Stotram. This again points to the

fact that surrender to the Lord’s lotus feet (SharaNagati) frees the

supplicant from the endless cycle of birth and death and paves the way

for Divya Sampath (Nitya Kaimkaryam to Lord Narayana at His

pleasure and for His pleasure). This verse illustrates the fact that

surrender to the Lord’s lotus feet

(Narayana Sayujyam) results in SaarUpyam Saameepyam and Saalokyam for

the supplicant.

"Narayana SayujyamavApnOti, Narayana SayujyamavApnOti" is the Narayana

Upanishad

slautation which describes the act of surrender to His lotus feet.

 

Sri Lakshmi Nrusimha ParabrahmaNE Namaha,

 

Namo Narayana,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy

 

 

 

_____________

Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com