Bhattar on Maa (Lakshmi)

December 12, 2007

One of the issues that has divided the followers of Sri Bhashyakara

is whether Lakshmi is all pervading as her spouse Narayana or limited

in her presence like the sentient beings other than Narayana. A lot

of heat, dust and frission has been generated, is being generated and

sadly will keep on being generated over this topic which cannot be

dismissed as trivial.

The inimitable Shri Parasara Bhattar, the illustrous son of an awe

inspiring father, Shri Kurathazhvan, in his usual pellucid style has

demolished the contention that Shri is not omnipresent as her spouse.

This treasure has been mined from Shri Bhagvad Guna Darpana, Shri

Parasara Bhattar's magnificient commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama,

that deserves to be at least as well disseminated as the other

commentaries, which seem to have ensnared the minds of the laity.

With solid proof based on the shastras, Shri Parasara Bhattar

establishes Lakshmi's stature as an equal to Narayana, as he

discourses on the 73rd name Madhavah. The English translation is by

Prof. A. Srinivasa Raghvan.

73(169,741). Maadhavah—The consort of Maa (i.e.Lakshmi), Maayaah-of

Sri; Dhavah—The Husband ; i.e. The Consort of Lakshmi. Vide—

" Asyeshana jagatho vishnupathni:

Lakshmi who is the Ruler of this universe and the spouse of Vishnu " .

(Nila suktham)

" Hrischate lakshmisch pathnyou:

Bhumi and Lakshmi are Thy Spouses " . (Purusha Suktham)

Even as the essential nature of Lakshmi is described in the Sastras

dealing with the Supreme Reality, Her form which is eternal and

spotless, Her supreme Rulership which is not restricted by any

limiting adjunct. Her universal Motherhood,

Her natural association with Bhagavan which is eternal and unceasing,

are all delineated in great detail in them. In Vedic

Literature Sri Sukta, Sraddha Sukta, Medha Sukta, Uttara Narayana,

Kaushitaki Brahmana and others deal with this subject.

In Vishnu Purana (1.8.17) in the episode of the churning of the Milky

Ocean the praise of Lakshmi by Indra begins with the

following verse and is elaborately described.

" This Lakshmi is eternal, the universal Mother and is ever in union

with Vishnu. Just as Vishnu pervades all things

She also does, O best of Brahmins. "

Brahma Purana begins by saying " Her power is invincible and awe-

inspiring and She is considered as the power

of Vishnu Himself. She is the Supreme Being who lives in the lotus-

like heart of all beings of the universe and She is

endowed with diverse forms. Her name is Prana or life. She is the

mother of all Mantras and is the eternal Mother of the

Universe " .

Then it says: " She is the Goddess, dark like broken collyrium, is

free from (bad) qualities and is like Ether. " (Brahmana)

" Likewise Lakshmi is His Supreme Power and She is endowed with the

quality of Mercy. She is called the Supreme Prakriti and possesses

the six qualities, knowledge and others " .

Lakshmi is the supreme, unique and eternal Sakti of Bhagavan; She is

His second and transforms Herself into diverse forms, high and low.

She has innumerable names and is the head of the Sakti-Chakra—the

wheel of powers. She stands steady, pervading

the entire universe moving and non-moving.(Brahmana)

" She is eternal and inseparably associated with Bhagavan Vasudeva,

who is the Master of great glory who is endowed

with six qualities, and who is all powerful, " She is like the

moonlight of the cool-rayed moon: She is one with Him, yet

remains distinct. She pervades the Universe and is the very

embodiment of all Saktis.

She is endowed with all glory and qualities, and is eternal. Her

dharma is the same as that of Bhagavan. She is the life-

giving Sakti of all beings on earth. She is the source of all Saktis

and is the sublime element in all. (Lakshmi-sahasra)

Lakshmi-sahasra speaks of Lakshmi thus; and other texts also must be

written. There again it is stated:

" All the Saktis that have emanated from Lakshmi are always pervading

the entire Universe. They remain, under the

command of Sri, as the cause. Therefore when Lakshmi, the Mother of

the Universe and the beloved consort of

Bhagavan Achyuta is pleased with some one, these Saktis themselves

highly pleased, bestow prosperity which he

desires. " (Lakshmi-sahasra)

This subject is fully dealt with in Vaishnava Smriti and other Dharma

(Sastras).

Sri Ramayana describes in full this topic.

" The entire-epic poem Ramayana is but the glorious story of Sita. "

" Lord (Vishnu) gets his lordship because of His association with

Sraddha (i.e. Lakshmi) " . This is the secret about the

true nature of Sri. (Katt.Up.)

When Parasara Bhattar, a peerless preceptor, who is common to both

schools, has so unambiguously elucidated the status of Sri all that

is left to be said is Q.E.D!

Dr.S.Sundar Rajan, Trichy, 10-12-

2007.

December 13, 2007

As you have rightly said, this is an un-necessary controvercy going on for several centuries. AzhwAr says she remains with the Lord without separation even for a moment, where is the question of her being different from Him? I have studied on this subject and it is my own opinion that the controvercy must have been started on a personality fight and not on actual philosophical dispute. It would be better to leave the matter there. Let us not further deepen the divide among the Srivaishnavites as we have already problems. Regards, Srinivasan"Dr.S.Sundar Rajan" <kuresadasan wrote: One of the issues that has divided the followers of Sri Bhashyakara is whether Lakshmi is all pervading as her spouse Narayana or limited in her presence like the sentient beings other than Narayana. A lot of heat, dust and frission has been generated, is being generated and sadly will keep on being generated over this topic which cannot be dismissed as trivial.The inimitable Shri Parasara Bhattar, the illustrous son of an awe inspiring father, Shri Kurathazhvan, in his usual pellucid style has demolished the contention that Shri is not omnipresent as her spouse.This treasure has been mined from Shri Bhagvad Guna Darpana, Shri Parasara Bhattar's magnificient commentary on Vishnu Sahasranama, that deserves to be at least as well disseminated as the other commentaries, which seem to have ensnared the minds of

the laity. With solid proof based on the shastras, Shri Parasara Bhattar establishes Lakshmi's stature as an equal to Narayana, as he discourses on the 73rd name Madhavah. The English translation is by Prof. A. Srinivasa Raghvan.73(169,741). Maadhavah—The consort of Maa (i.e.Lakshmi), Maayaah-of Sri; Dhavah—The Husband ; i.e. The Consort of Lakshmi. Vide—"Asyeshana jagatho vishnupathni:Lakshmi who is the Ruler of this universe and the spouse of Vishnu". (Nila suktham) " Hrischate lakshmisch pathnyou: Bhumi and Lakshmi are Thy Spouses". (Purusha Suktham)Even as the essential nature of Lakshmi is described in the Sastras dealing with the Supreme Reality, Her form which is eternal and spotless, Her supreme Rulership which is not restricted by any limiting adjunct. Her universal Motherhood,Her natural association with Bhagavan which is eternal and unceasing, are all delineated in great detail

in them. In VedicLiterature Sri Sukta, Sraddha Sukta, Medha Sukta, Uttara Narayana, Kaushitaki Brahmana and others deal with this subject.In Vishnu Purana (1.8.17) in the episode of the churning of the Milky Ocean the praise of Lakshmi by Indra begins with thefollowing verse and is elaborately described."This Lakshmi is eternal, the universal Mother and is ever in union with Vishnu. Just as Vishnu pervades all thingsShe also does, O best of Brahmins."Brahma Purana begins by saying "Her power is invincible and awe-inspiring and She is considered as the powerof Vishnu Himself. She is the Supreme Being who lives in the lotus-like heart of all beings of the universe and She isendowed with diverse forms. Her name is Prana or life. She is the mother of all Mantras and is the eternal Mother of theUniverse".Then it says: "She is the Goddess, dark like broken collyrium, is free from (bad) qualities

and is like Ether."(Brahmana)"Likewise Lakshmi is His Supreme Power and She is endowed with the quality of Mercy. She is called the Supreme Prakriti and possesses the six qualities, knowledge and others".Lakshmi is the supreme, unique and eternal Sakti of Bhagavan; She is His second and transforms Herself into diverse forms, high and low.She has innumerable names and is the head of the Sakti-Chakra—the wheel of powers. She stands steady, pervadingthe entire universe moving and non-moving.(Brahmana)"She is eternal and inseparably associated with Bhagavan Vasudeva, who is the Master of great glory who is endowedwith six qualities, and who is all powerful," She is like the moonlight of the cool-rayed moon: She is one with Him, yetremains distinct. She pervades the Universe and is the very embodiment of all Saktis.She is endowed with all glory and qualities, and is eternal. Her dharma

is the same as that of Bhagavan. She is the life-giving Sakti of all beings on earth. She is the source of all Saktis and is the sublime element in all. (Lakshmi-sahasra)Lakshmi-sahasra speaks of Lakshmi thus; and other texts also must be written. There again it is stated:"All the Saktis that have emanated from Lakshmi are always pervading the entire Universe. They remain, under thecommand of Sri, as the cause. Therefore when Lakshmi, the Mother of the Universe and the beloved consort ofBhagavan Achyuta is pleased with some one, these Saktis themselves highly pleased, bestow prosperity which hedesires." (Lakshmi-sahasra)This subject is fully dealt with in Vaishnava Smriti and other Dharma (Sastras).Sri Ramayana describes in full this topic."The entire-epic poem Ramayana is but the glorious story of Sita.""Lord (Vishnu) gets his lordship because of His association with Sraddha (i.e.

Lakshmi)". This is the secret about thetrue nature of Sri. (Katt.Up.) When Parasara Bhattar, a peerless preceptor, who is common to both schools, has so unambiguously elucidated the status of Sri all that is left to be said is Q.E.D!Dr.S.Sundar Rajan, Trichy, 10-12-2007.

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