Sri Vishnu Sooktham : Introduction(Part I)

[Guest guest]

Daer BhakthAs :

 

As we approach the MahA samprOkshanam day of

Lord RanganAthA Temple , it is auspicious to

reflect upon on the Manthrams of Sri Vishnu Sooktham

and their meanings .

 

Lord Vishnu

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

 

Sri Vishnu Sahasra Naamam celebrates the glory of

Lord Vishnu .The first verse itself contains

the Vishnu Sabdham/Naamam:

 

Visvam VishNu VashaDkAram BhUtha bhavya bhaavth prabhu:

BhUthakruth bhUthabruth bhaavO BhUthAthmA BhUtha-bhaavana:

 

The First two Naamams are closely related. In the June 1997

postings on the extensive meanings of the Vedic Word , " Visvam "

adiyen commented on some of the 91 Rg Veda manthrams that are

elaborations of the Visva tattvam ( VisvAntharyAmithvam

and Visva VyApakathvm )of our Supreme Lord , VishNu Bhagavaan

( http:// www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/june97/0065.htm

and 0066.htm).

 

Visvam means also perfect or paripoorNam ( full in all aspects)

according to ParAsara Bhattar.That perfect One , That Nampi

pervades all of His creations (sentient and insentient):

 

" CharAchara BhUthEshu vEsanAth VISHNU: " .

 

The next naamam points out that He is " VashatkAran " (i-e)

He not only pervades all of His creations , but He also

controls and directs them as their NiyanthA.

 

His Omnipotence is celebrated with the next Naamam:

" bhUtha-Bhavya-bhavath-PRABHU: " .He is the Swamy of

all things that existed in the past , that are present

today and are going to be created in the future.He is

their Prabhu.He creates them (BhUthakrith); He protects

and supports them (BhUthabruth)and serves as their

epicenter(adhAram). He thus exists( BhAva:)with all these

VibhUthis as " Sarva-bhUtha-antharAthmA " . As " BhUtha-bhAvanan " ,

He as Sarva Seshi blesses all of His creations to grow

and provides them the means " to sustain them ,nourish them

and contribute to their enjoyment of Him ( " ThAni dhAraka-

pOshaka-bhOgya-pradhAnEna Vardhayathi " ).

 

The first nine of the Sahasra Naamams thus provide a beautiful

introduction to the powerful and unique Concept of

VishNu Tattvam. These naamams are based on Veda Manthrams

including those housed in Sri VishNu Sooktham. adiyEn will

refer to two manthrams from the Third Canto of Rg Vedam

to illustrate the Vedic pramANam for the VishNu Tattvam.

 

VISHNUM sthOmAsa: purudasmam arkA bhagasyEva kAriNO yAmani gman

Urukrama: kakuhO yasya pUrvIr na: mardhanthi yuvatayO: JanithrI:

--Rg Vedam : III.54.14

 

(Meaning): May our adulations and prayers , the causes behind

our Isvaryam , reach the all-pervading VishNu , whose DayA and

Preethi is the goal of all of us in our tasks and worship.

That VishNu traverses all regions of His Universe with His

gigantic strides.The multifacted and interlocked regions of

space , the twin-mother of all His creations , never transgress

His commands.

 

Vishnur gOpA: paramam pAthi pATa: priyA dhaamany amrithA dhadhAna:

agnishtA VisvA BhuvanAni vEda mahaddhEvAnAmasurathvamEkam

--Rg Vedam III.55.10

 

(Meaning): " Pervading and protcting ALL , possessing --

immortal radiance (as Agni), He (VishNu) preserves the Supreme

path of rains ,for the divine fire is conscious of all these

worlds. For VishNu's glory in nature's bounties is great

and unequalled " .

 

Such is His Veeryam ; another Rg Veda Manthram passage

(X.1.3) elaborates on this Veeryam :

 

" VishNur ittTA paramam asya vidvAn jAtO brihann abhi

pAthi ThruthIyam " ( VishNu becomes vast and wise as soon

as He is manifested , and pervades the entire Universe .

He as fire divine protects His third form ( the Sun).

 

Rg Veda manthram I.154.3 describes the total and

unshakable loyalty of the worshipper to Lord VishNu,

the creator of this extensive universe:

 

pra VishNavE sUshamEthu manma girikshita urugAyaya vrushNE

ya idham dhIrgam prayatham sadhasTamEkO vimmaE thribhiritpadhEbhi:

 

(Meaning): " To Him alone , who has created this entire

extensive universe with three components (micro , macro

and ultra-micro) , and who is the showerer of bliss,

the upholder of clouds,and the One glorified by ALL ,

are dedicated our learning and endeavours " .

 

The Vedic word " Girikshita " here has been intrepreted as

the One , who abides in high places. The highest of

these high places is Parama Padham , where the Nithya-

Sooris offer kaimakryam to Him . The word " Thribhi: "

has also been intrepreted to mean the triads of tatthvans:

(a)Prithvi , Jala and tEjas( Earth, water and Light)

(b)Three divisions of Time ( Past, Present and Future)

©beyond Three GuNAs ( Satthva, RajO and Tamas) a

Suddha Sathva ThirunEni.

 

Lord VishNu's limitless Vaibhavam, jagath KaaraNathvam,

Jagath Aadharathvam , Jagath Rakshathvam as JagannAthan

and His glories as VaisvAnaran ( Ruler of all souls),

as atthA or enjoyer of all souls, as SarvAthmA( the underlying

soul of all), as Akshara Brahmam ( the imperishable reality)

as AayathanavAn ( the abode of Heaven & Earth),as the BhUmA

( the infinitely lofty and immense) and as DaharAkasan

(the dweller of the subtle space in the heart lotus)

are celebrated by the above Rg Veda Manthrams and

elaborated further in the Thirteen Sri VishNu Sooktha

Manthrams .

 

adiyEN will cover the Thirteen Sri VishNu Sooktha

Manthrams in the subsequent post(s).

 

NamO VishNavE ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri satakOpan