Govinda Damodara Stotram

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Dear Devotees,

This refers to the posting on Govinda Damodara Stotramm in which a

reference is made to Bhagavaan's nAmA: mAdhavA. In Sri Vishnu

Sahasranamam, the nAma mAdhava occurs three times (nAma 73, 169, 741).

Members may be interested to read the following extracts from Shriman

N Krishnamachari's commentary published at:

http://kirtimukha.com/chinnamma/sahasra/index.html

 

Slokam 8: nAmA-73. mAdhavah

a) The consort of MA or Lakshmi.

b) One who is attained through the madhu vidyA, or through mauna,

dhyAna, and yoga

c) The Lord of knowledge or the propounder of the knowledge of the

Supreme Being.

d) One who is born in the race of Madhu, a yAdhava

e) One for whom there is no Lord (i.e., One who is the Lord of

everyone)

f) A silent observer, a maunee.

 

MAyAh dhavah mAdhavah - One who is the Lord or consort of MA or

Lakshmi.

Madhava gets His Lordship because of His association with MA or

Lakshmi.

mA stands for mauna, dha stands for dhyAna, and va stands for

yoga. ......

He is experienced by the seeker who has stilled his mind through

mauna, dhyAna, and yoga practices. Or, it can be said that He is

mAdhava because He is endowed with mauna, dhyAna, and yoga - He

silently observes the physical, mental, and intellectual activities

of all beings, and is ever the non-interfering Observer.

The Lord of knowledge...... In this interpretation, mA stands for

knowledge, and dhava is Lord.

madhukule jAtatvAt mAdhavah - One who is born in the race of Madhu, a

yAdava.

mA dhavah yasya sa mAdhavah - One for whom there is no other Lord.

One who is the Silent Observer - this is discussed under item b)

above.

The immediately following nama is 74) madhusUdhanah

The slayer of the evil demon called Madhu.

In the MahAbhArata we have the following -

vishNu karNodbhavam cApi madhu nAma mahAsuram |

tasya tAvadvadhAdeva deva dAnava mAnavAh madhusUdhana

ityAhur-rshayaSca janArdanam || (MahAbhArata 2.63.13)

" Because Sri VishNu destroyed the mahAsuran by name madhu, He is

called MadhusUdhana by the sages, devas, asuras, and men " .

Sri ChinmayAnanda indicates that madhu is a term used in vedAnta to

refer to the fruits of actions. Since BhagavAn destroys the effects

of the fruits of actions of those who meditate on Him, He is

madhusUdana.

Sri ChinmayAnanda indicates that madhu is a term used in vedAnta to

refer to the fruits of actions. Since BhagavAn destroys the effects

of the fruits of actions of those who meditate on Him, He is

madhusUdana.