Sri HayagrIva SthOthram : Part XX--SlOkam 10: Section 2

[Guest guest]

SrimathE RaamAnujAuya nama:

 

Dear BhakthAs:

 

In the 7th, 8th and the ninth slOkams ,

Swamy Desikan saluted the great anugraham

for DakshinAmUrthy Sivan , BrahmA and

Bruhaspathi . In the 10th slOkam , the sacred

manthric form ( the form constitued entirely

by Veda Manthrams) receiving the oblations from

yajamAnAs of Yaj~nams is saluted .

 

A Digression:

*************

 

I will digress a little here in response

to a request for elaboration on the Thirumazhisai

AzhwAr's paasurams that I quoted earlier

in the context of the seventh slOkam of

Sri HayagrIva sthOthram ( Aala nizhark Keezh aRa

neRiyai naalvarkku mEluraithAn meyt-tavatthOn ) .

 

There was a question from a BhakthA as to what

DakshiNA Moorthy Sivan taught to the four rishis

assembled under His feet for sadupadEsam . Thirumazhisai

AzhwAr himself describes the topic for instruction

in the second half of the above paasuram of Naanmukan

ThiruvandAthi this way:

 

" JnAlamaLanthAnai AazhikkidanthAnai ,

aal mEl vaLarnthAnait thaan vaNangumARu "

--Naanmukan ThiruvandhAthi: Paasuram 17

 

Thirumazhisai refers to the unalloyed devotion of

DakshiNAmUrthy Sivan to Sriman NaarAyaNA here.

AzhwAr says here that it is not only himself,

who comprehends the Para Tatthvam of Sriman

NaarAyaNan , but it is is also DakshiNA Moorthy

Sivan sitting under the golden pupil tree (svarNa

Vata Vruksham) knows about it and instructs

the four great sages through mounam and nayana

dheekshai ( initiation through mere katAksham/

glances).

 

The subject matter of the initiation is the Lord

who measured the worlds with three steps ( Ongi

UlahaLantha Uttamn), who performs Yoga NidhrA

on the bed of Adhi Seshan in the middle of

milky ocean (KsheerAbdhi Naathan) and the same

One who floats on the roaring waters of PraLaya

Jalam ( waters at the time of deluge) on a small

pupil leaf as a tiny baby (Vata pathra Saayee)

while keeping all the worlds safely tucked away

in His little stomach nonchalantly for the next

period of Srushti (creation).

 

Thirumazhisai points out that DakshiNA Moorthy-

Sivan was teaching these eminent sages the way

in which He Himself worships His Lord and grand father ,

Sriman NaarAyaNan with total devotion .

 

The Tenth SlOkam of Sri HayagrIva sthOthram

********************************************

 

" agnou samiddhArcchishi saptha tanthO:

aathasthivAn manthra mayam sarIram

akhaNDa saarair havishAm pradhAnai:

aapyAyanam vyOmasadhAm vidhathsE "

 

(meaning): Oh Lord HayagrIvA ! When the YajamaanAs

( the performers of Yaj~nam) conduct Yaagams ,

they offer consecrated oblations in the bright

and towering flames emanating from the agni kuNTam .

At that time , You present Yourself in the form of

the manthrams that they recite and receive their

Havis (Oblations such as parched rice , pressed

somA juice et al ) directly. Afterwards , You

pass on those tasty oblations to the DevAs and make

them fully contented.

 

The beauty of majestic flames constituting

the seven-tongued Agni BhagavAn is invoked by

the choice words: " SamiddhArcchishi Saptha tanthO: " .

The first Rk (manthram ) of Rg Vedam (agnimeeLE

PurOhitham --) salutes this high preist of cosmic

activities , who works out the eternal laws (dharmams)

and who feeds and sustains all that is divine

and luminous. He is the antharyAmi Brahmam inside

Agni BhagavAn .

 

Comments on the first Rk of the first Hymn of Rg Vedam

******************************************************

 

There are nine rks in this first hymn

that can be related to the " Manthra mayam sarIram "

of Lord HayagrIvan that NigamAntha MahA Desikan

saluted in his tenth slOkam . We will focus

on the first RK :

 

" agnimeeLE PurOhitham Yaj~nyasya devamruthvijam

hOthAram RathnadhAthamam " --Rg Vedam I.1

 

Here are brief comments on the selected

Vedic words pregnant with meaning praising

the anugraha soubhAgyam (blessing power and

glory) of this Yaj~na Moorthy:

 

1. Agni: the Brahman and Vrathapathi (Lord of

observances and pledges).

 

2. Yaj~nasya Devam : the divine Lord of cosmic

activities guided by the manthrams of Yajur

Vedam .

 

3. Rithvijam : the One with no beginning , middle or

end working through His eternal Laws (Rutham ).

 

4. HotAram : the One who feeds (the dEvAs the havis)

 

5. RatnadhAtamam : the One who sustains all that

is divine and luminous and One who is the

best giver of joyous gifts and rayi (affluence of

all kinds).

 

In the remaining 8 Rks , we come across

additional insights (5-14):

 

5. HOthA : the giver and acceptor of Rayi ( wealth

of any realm ).

 

6. Kavikrathu: " Source of Knowledge " .

 

7. Satya: Truth personified , the embodimnet

of Divine Truth

 

8. Deva: Matchless divine One (TannoppArillappan ),

DevaRaajan ( PeraruLALan ).

 

9. Chitra-sravastama: " The source of divine inspiration " .

 

10. Anga: " the friend of All " .

 

11. Gopam : the protector of the Cosmos

 

12. Rtasya: " the true eternal knowledge " .

 

13. Supyana: soulabhyan ( easy of access

by one and all )

 

14. SvastayE : " Blessing , Prosperity , success

and benediction " . He is the AadhAram for

Svasthi of the world .

 

That Lord HayagrIvan with His manthra maya

sarIram stands in the middle of the seven-tongued

agni of Yaaga KunTam (Saptha tanthO: Samiddha

archishi madhyE mantra mayam sarIram aatasTivAn )

All the Vedic names given to Agni stand in for

the SvayambhU (self-manifest ) and Parameshti

( the Supreme ruler ):

 

A. JaatavEdas( All-possessor)

 

B. Paavaka ( The Purifier)

 

C. Jvalana (Burning as saptha jihvA/seven tongued)

 

D. VibhAvasu ( Rich in radiance)

 

E. ChitrabhAnu ( Multi-colored)

 

F. BhUritEjas( Resplendent )

 

G. Sikhin ( Flaming )

 

H. VaisvAnara( All Pervader /VishNu)

 

J. DraviNodas( the giver of wealth).

 

That Lord with " Manthramaya SarIram " accepts

" akhaNda Saarai: HavishAM pradhAnai: " and

distributes them to the DevAs and makes

them happy and contented ( vyOma-sadhAm

aapyAyanam vidhathsE). Vyoma means aaakasam.

VyOma Pureesan (Aakasa NagarIsan ) is

the name of ThiruviNNagarappan . VyOma sathAm

means celestials(dEvAs) . VyOma Pureesan

is their Lord . He blesses them with gifts of

tasteful Havis (akhaNda Saarai: HavishAM pradhAnai:).

They are filled with paripUrNa thrupthi or

complete contentment ( AapyAyanam vidhathsE).

 

Thus ends the beautiful salutation to

the Yaj~na Moorthy , the embodiment

of Veda manthrams .

 

Sri Hala-dhvanayE nama:

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE saraNam

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan