The question of Sriman Laxmanan: Why we do namaskarams four times?

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear Sri LakshmaNan :

 

Different SampradhAyins prostrate before

the Lord once , twice or four times .

 

In Vadakalai SampradhAyam , it is done four

times .

 

One can use Yukti Vaadhams and point out the

four NamaskaraNams are for the four directions

or for the four hands of the Lord holding the disc ,

the conch , the abhaya Mudhra and the Lotus or

Gadhai. One can also view it as salutations to

the Four vyUhams etc. There is however more

doctrinal reasons based on AchAryA's teachings .

Let us look at them now :

 

Both Swamy AlavanthAr in His StOtra Ratna

slOkam and Swamy Desikan elsewhere has

given the reasons for the 4 NamaskArams as

Svaroopa Sodhanams .

 

When we are visiting a Temple of Sriman

NarayaNan , one prostrates ( ShAshtAnga

NamaskArams) before the Bali Peetam

and then enter the temple .

 

The First NamaskAram is to remind ourselves of

the Lord's Paratvam ( Superiority as ParadEvathai).

 

The second NamaskAram is to comfort ourselves

with His Soulabhya guNam ( ease of access inspite of

His Paratvam) of the Lord .

 

The Third namaskAram is to remind ourselves of

His Praapyatvam ( Being the ultimate goal , PradhAna

PurushArtham ) .

 

The Fourth NamaskAram is to remind ourselves of

His SaraNyatvam or His staying as the SarvalOka

SaraNyan and Sarva Rakshakan .

 

When one does the 4 NamaskArams this way ,

one's ego is pushed aside and one approaches

the Lord's sannidhi with the right attitude

and Jn~Anam .

 

We prostrate 4 times before AchAryan ,

Parents and elder Persons . One can

explain this with the Veda PramANam of

AchArya DevO Bhava et al .

 

The alternate four reaons for NamaskAram in

PerumAL Sannidhi based on Swamy

AlavanthAr's stOtra Ratna slOkam

and PeriyaVaacchAn PiLLai's

commentary is summed up in my

2005 posting in Sriranga Sri archives

(Volume I) and Oppiliappan archives

( Part II ) :

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia//archives/apr05/msg00071.html

 

and

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/oppiliappan/archives/apr05/msg00015.html

 

The two folded palms in the AshtAnga NamaskAram

have their own significance , The right palm of the devotee

is said to represent the lotus feet of the Lord and the left

palm , the head of the devotee.

 

NamO Sri NrisimhAya ,

V.Sadagopan

 

- Gopaul Lakshmanan

Oppiliappan

Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:03 PM

Re: Why we do namaskarams four times?

 

 

 

Dear Respected Sadagopan mama:

Why do we do namaskarams four times?(in our Vadagalai sect).

adiyen does it all times during Sandhyaa or doing namaskarams to

periyavaas. Should I stop with two namaskarams?

Cany you give some explanation or refer me to earlier correspondence?

 

Adiyen

Lakshmana dAsan

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear Sri LakshmaNan :

 

Different SampradhAyins prostrate before

the Lord once , twice or four times .

 

In Vadakalai SampradhAyam , it is done four

times .

 

One can use Yukti Vaadhams and point out the

four NamaskaraNams are for the four directions

or for the four hands of the Lord holding the disc ,

the conch , the abhaya Mudhra and the Lotus or

Gadhai. One can also view it as salutations to

the Four vyUhams etc. There is however more

doctrinal reasons based on AchAryA's teachings .

Let us look at them now :

 

Both Swamy AlavanthAr in His StOtra Ratna

slOkam and Swamy Desikan elsewhere has

given the reasons for the 4 NamaskArams as

Svaroopa Sodhanams .

 

When we are visiting a Temple of Sriman

NarayaNan , one prostrates ( ShAshtAnga

NamaskArams) before the Bali Peetam

and then enter the temple .

 

The First NamaskAram is to remind ourselves of

the Lord's Paratvam ( Superiority as ParadEvathai).

 

The second NamaskAram is to comfort ourselves

with His Soulabhya guNam ( ease of access inspite of

His Paratvam) of the Lord .

 

The Third namaskAram is to remind ourselves of

His Praapyatvam ( Being the ultimate goal , PradhAna

PurushArtham ) .

 

The Fourth NamaskAram is to remind ourselves of

His SaraNyatvam or His staying as the SarvalOka

SaraNyan and Sarva Rakshakan .

 

When one does the 4 NamaskArams this way ,

one's ego is pushed aside and one approaches

the Lord's sannidhi with the right attitude

and Jn~Anam .

 

We prostrate 4 times before AchAryan ,

Parents and elder Persons . One can

explain this with the Veda PramANam of

AchArya DevO Bhava et al .

 

The alternate four reaons for NamaskAram in

PerumAL Sannidhi based on Swamy

AlavanthAr's stOtra Ratna slOkam

and PeriyaVaacchAn PiLLai's

commentary is summed up in my

2005 posting in Sriranga Sri archives

(Volume I) and Oppiliappan archives

( Part II ) :

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia//archives/apr05/msg00071.html

 

and

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/oppiliappan/archives/apr05/msg00015.html

 

The two folded palms in the AshtAnga NamaskAram

have their own significance , The right palm of the devotee

is said to represent the lotus feet of the Lord and the left

palm , the head of the devotee.

 

NamO Sri NrisimhAya ,

V.Sadagopan

 

- Gopaul Lakshmanan

Oppiliappan

Sunday, December 28, 2008 7:03 PM

Re: Why we do namaskarams four times?

 

 

 

Dear Respected Sadagopan mama:

Why do we do namaskarams four times?(in our Vadagalai sect).

adiyen does it all times during Sandhyaa or doing namaskarams to

periyavaas. Should I stop with two namaskarams?

Cany you give some explanation or refer me to earlier correspondence?

 

Adiyen

Lakshmana dAsan

[Guest guest]

 

 

SrI:

 

Dear All:

 

There was an error in the transcription of the second URL quoted below . I have corrected it now. Please note the changes for access. Thanks .

 

V.Sadagopan

 

The alternate four reaons for NamaskAram in

PerumAL Sannidhi based on Swamy

AlavanthAr's stOtra Ratna slOkam

and PeriyaVaacchAn PiLLai's

commentary is summed up in my

2005 posting in Sriranga Sri archives

(Volume I) and Oppiliappan archives

( Part II ) :

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia//archives/apr05/msg00071.html

 

and

 

http://www.ibiblio.org/Sripedia/oppiliappan/archives/apr05/msg00015.html