Re. AasIrvAdams

[Guest guest]

Dear BhaghavatOttamAs:

 

It was quite sometime ago that Prof. Vasudha Narayanan wanted to know about

aashIrvAdams in our sampradAyam. AdiyEn knows a little bit of the mantrAs

used on different occassions but not quite well their meanings. I will make

an attempt to write them with a hope that other members would find it

appropriate to add/comment on them.

 

Benedictions and AashiIrvAdams or blessings almost mark the beginning and

conclusions of any Vaideeka karmA that we all undertake during the course of

our life. This has to be viewed under the backdrop of our larger social

setting. Our elders often tell us to keep uttering good things. As a child

the use of words like 'AyO' etc., was almost forbidden. Such was the

earnestness on the part of our elders(/society) to maintain 'mangalakaram'

in our homes at all times.

 

The first mantrA which I am quoting below is the one that is used as an

invocation in all auspicious functions. For eg.: When adiyEn performed the

upanayanam of my son at Srirangam, this mantrA when uttered by 40+ Sri

Vaishnava priests reverberating like a thunder penetrated the hearts of

those present and possibly drove away all negatives from that place. One

can really feel it. It set a perfect tone, a perfect atmosphere for things

to follow. The mantrA is:

 

dhruvam tE rAjA varunO, dhruvam dEvO bruhaspatihi

dhruvam ta indraschAgnishcha, rAshtram dhArayatAm dhruvam.

 

dhruvam here implies 'long live' or 'pallaAndu'. Thus, one can make out the

meaning of this verse.

 

dAsan

Vijayaraghavan

Buffalo, NY

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