U.Ve. Sri Mukkur Lakshminarasimharachariar Swamin's Upanyasam Tapes

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Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

Sriman Rajagopalan Srinivasan Swamin is engaged in the wonderful

kaimkaryam of copying and distributing upanyasam tapes of the

Narasimha Avataram by Parama Pada Vasi Sri Mukkur Swami. Adiyen was

delighted to receive a copy of this set of tapes. Proceeds from the

sale of these tapes will go towards the Swati Mahayagna trust set up

in memory of Sri Mukkur Swami to continue the wonderful Swati

Mahayagna Kaimkaryam for Bhagavan Nrusimha. Adiyen will summarize the

upanyasam tapes in a multiple part posting and requests Bhagavatas to

come forward with generous donations for this most noble cause.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan

 

*************Upanyasam Summary**************************************

 

The upanyasam commences with the rendition of majestic Ghana Patam in

praise of Bhagavan Nrusimha. Sri Swami goes into ecstasy while

rendering the padam "Bahubhyam Dhanvani". Sri Swami began by

saluting his Acharya and stated that the Narasimha Avataram was the

foremost among all the Avatarams of Lord Narayana. The Avataram took

place at the Kshetram of Ahobilam, which is adorned by Bhagavan

Narasimha in the form of the Nava Narasimhas. Swami quoted pramaNams

from the Vedam to illustrate the exalted position of Bhagavan

Nrusimha. Rudram for example glorifies Bhagavan Nrusimha in the

salutation "Trayambakam yajAmahE sugandhim puShti varDhanam

urvArugamiva BhandanAth mruthyOr mukshIya mAmruthAath" . This mantram

is known as the Mruthyunjaya Mantram and aptly so since Bhagavan

Nrusimha is known as "mruthyu mruthyum" (that which spells death for

death itself).

Trayambaka is one who has three eyes. In this context, Bhagavan

Nrusimha has three eyes which are eulogized in the Nrusimha TapanIya

Upanishad of the AtharvaNa vedam. Specifically, the right eye of

Bhagavan Nrusimha is Surya (Sun), the left eye is Chandran(moon) and

the eye in his forehead is Agni. Sri Swami then observed that Swami

Desikan glorifies this aspect in the KamasikAshtakam as "TapanEndu

Agni nayana: tApAna pachinOthuna:" Swami continued that the 18

puraNas, the itihasas (Ramayana and Mahabharata) are replete with the

glory of Bhagavan Narasimha. Among Mantrams, the NrusimhAnushtup

occupies the pride of place. Even in the Tantric form of worship

practiced in KeraLa, there is nothing greater than the Narasimha

Tantram.

 

Sri Swami then elaborated on the significance of the sacred Narasimha

mantram set to Anushtup meter. Sri Swami observed that this mantram

containing 32 syllables represents the condensed essence of the 32

Brahma vidyas (which prescribe upasanas for attaining Lord Narayana).

Properly practice of even one of the 32 Brahma vidyas is impossible.

Whereas, the prayogam of the Nrusimha Anushtup Mantram learnt through

upadesham from a qualified Acharya confers the benefit of properly

practicing all the 32 Brahma vidyas. Therefore, it is the favored

mantram of Mumukshus (those anxious to get Moksham).

(As a side note: U.Ve. Dr. V.N. Vedanta Desikan Swamin remarks that

H.H. Devanarvilagam Azhagiya Singar, the 43 Jeeyar Swami of Ahobila

Matham was so fond of Bhagavan Narasimha that he changed the 100th

verse of the Daya Shatakam to read "mukthAnuBhUthimiha dhAsyathi Me

Nrusimha:")

The status of the Nrusimha Mantram is so elevated that it cannot be

nullified by the utterance of any other mantram (i.e., the effect of

uttering some mantrams can be counteracted by uttering other

mantrams. However, the effects from uttering the powerful Narasimha

mantram cannot be counteracted by any other mantram.) Therefore, it

occupies the pride of place among mantrams.

 

Sri Swami continued:

Ahirbudhyan, an Amsham of Shiva-the Parama Bhagavata (foremost Bhakta

of Lord Narayana-"VaishNavasya Shambu:") has blessed us with a

majestic Stuthi known as the Mantrarajapada Stothram in the

Ahirbudhnya Samhita, an important text of the Pancharata Agama. In

this Stuthi, Ahirbudhnyan elaborates on the individual Padams

contained in the Narasimha anushtup Mantram. Specifically verses 1-9

of this Stothram elaborate upon the 9 Padams of the Narasimha

anushtup Mantram, while verses 10 and 11 contain the formal

SharaNagati of Ahirbudhnyan to the lotus feet of Bhagavan JwAla

Nrusimhar. Consequently, Swami Desikan salutes Ahirbudhyan in the

Rahasya trayasAram as "Sarvajnyan Ahirbudhyan". Swami then referred

to the tributes of various Azhwars to Bhagavan Nrusimha.

 

Therefore, it is not possible for ordinary people to perform nithya

Aradhanam to Bhagavan Narasimha of such an extraordinary greatness.

Only pre-eminent Aradhakas like the Jeeyar Swamis of Ahobila Matham

are endowed with the jnAnam and anushtAnam to undertake this task.

 

To be continued