SRISTHAVAM - 1

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SRI STHAVAM OF KOORATHAZHWAN

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1. " SARVE JANA: SUKHINO BHAVANTHU "

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hE ! SridEvi ! samasthalOka jananeem tvAm sthOthum eehAmahE

yukthAm bhAvaya bhAratheem praguNaya prEma pradhAnam dhiyam /

bhakthim bhandhaya nandhaya Aasritham imam dAsam janam thAvakam

lakshyam lakshmi ! kaTAkshaveechi visrutE syAma cha amee // (2)

 

MEANING

Oh! SridEvi ! We desire to praise you. You are the mother of the entire

universe.(samasthalOka jananeem) Please grant us the proper syntax and

prosody (yukthAm bhAvaya bhAratheem) and knowledge filled with affection and

devotion towards you (praguNaya prEma pradhAnam dhiyam) Please accept me and

these as " janam " (imam dAsam janam and amee) who have resorted to you

(Aasritham) and make us worthy of your benign grace (kaTAkshaveechi visrutE

syAma) by binding us with love towards you (bhakthim bhandhaya nandhaya)

 

COMMENT:

AzhwAn addresses ThAyAr as " SamasthalOka janani " drawing pointed attention to

her being the mother of the universe, and therefore, she should cast her

benevolent glance on all the " janam " in this world.

 

Does not the slOkam " Jananee janma soukhyAnAm " echo this sentiment?

 

The words " amee " meaning 'these " and " vayam " meaning " us " are significant.

When hAzhwAn prays, he does so not for himself alone but for the entire

humanity, nay the entire universe of living creatures " janam " - those that are

born and live. " SarvE janA: SukhinO bhavanthu " is the cardinal hallmark of a

Sri VaishNava

 

It is an indirect reminder to ThAyAr of the protection she gave as Sita

Piraatti to the Rakshasis who tormented her by saying " na kaschit na

aparAdhyathi " and she has a commitment to grant protection to the " Astritas. "

 

Did not AzhwAn pray to Lord VaradarAja -

" naan petra pEru nAloorAnum perak kaDavan " -

" Whatever you grant me, let NaaloorAn also get the same " ?.

 

Which NaaloorAn?.

The one was responsible for the gouging of AzhwAn's own eyes.

 

Who in the world can show such exemplary compassion to one who harmed him?

Who else in the world can - not merely " turn the other cheek " but go further

to " return good for evil " ?

Here was an AzhwAn. When comes such another?

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