KurEsar's Sri VaradarAja Sthavam: Part VIII--SlOkam 1 (Contd.)

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Dear BhakthAs of Lord VaradarAja PerumAL:

 

Svasthi Hasthigiri-mastha-sEkhara:

SanthanOthu mayi santhatham Hari:

NissamAbhuadhikam abhyadhattha

Yamm Devam oupanishadhee Sarasvathee

 

--SlOkam 1: Sri varadarAja Sthavam

 

The following thoughts crossed my mind , when

adiyEn recited the beautiful first slOkam of

Sri VaradarAja Sthavam:

 

1.The Chandha nadai of this slOkam reminded me

of the experience of joyously racing to the top of

Hasthigiri to have the darsana SoubhAgyam of

DevarAja PerumAL.The lilting melody of this slOakm ,

makes one experience the swift flow of the

mountain brook (of DayA) tumbling down the hill side

to welcome us .

 

2. KurEsar invokes both the Dhivya Dampathis to

confer their benedictions on him at the start of

his efforts:

 

" Svasthi: Mayi santhatham Svasthi SanthanOthu " is

the prayer to PerumdEvi ThAyAr. May the Dhivya Mahishi

of Lord VaradarAjA confer always MangaLams on adiyEn

is the prayer. " Hasthigiri-mastha-Sekhara: Mayi

Santhatham Svasthi santhanOthu " is the other prayer

seeking the Lord's anugrahams.Tann is the root for

TanOthu and SamtanOthu. Tann refers to extended or

uninterrupted . KurEsar prays for an uninterrupted

showering of auspiciousnes from Lord Varadhan as

he commences his eulogy.

 

3. The Many Rg Veda manthrams with the invocation of

Svasthi at the beginning of the Manthram and their

meanings are given below to illustrate the nature of

the auspiciousness htat KurEsar was seeking :

 

3.1: Svasthi na IndhrO VruddhasravA:

Svasthi na: PooshA VisvavEdhA:

Svasthi nastArkshyO arishtanEmi:

Svasthi nO BruhaspathirdadhAthu (Rg I. 89.6)

 

All the names here like Indhran , PooshA ,

Taarkshyan , ArishtanEmi and Bruhaspahti are

references to the Lord Himself .

 

For instance, Taarkshyan is not GarudA here,

but " Thrushtithum Vedhithum yOgya: " ( One who

is worth knowing and attaining ).

 

Similarly , " arishtanEmi " means the Lord , who

can not be overcome by weapons (Narasimhar)or

One who cuts asunder all arishtams ( samsAric pains).

PooshA refers to His Strength giving , Nourishing

qualities of the Lord .

 

The meaning under this context of this vedha Manthram

as it applies to DevarAjan for the whole Manthram is:

 

" May the highly-revered , the resplendent Lord guard

our well being . May the Omniscient Lord, who is

the nourisher guard our welfare. May the srishti-karthA

of this cyclic universe always protect us. May the Soverign

protector , with unblemished weapons guard us for our

prosperity. " May This Lord VaradarAjan protect us!

 

3.2: There is a string of Veda Manthrams in the 5th KaaNDam

of Rg Vedam ( V.51. 11-15) , which invoke

Svasthi for the YajamAnan.All the dEvathAs mentioned in

these manthrams like Asvini dEvAs, Vaayu , Soman ,

Aaadhithyan are empowered by the Lord as the indweller

through a miniscule portion of His sakthi (lavalEsai:).

 

THE SVASTHI THAT KURESAR SOUGHT WAS SRI VAISHNAVA

SRI OF BHAGAVATH-BHAAGAVATHA-AACHARYA KAIMKARYA SRI.

THE FOLLOWING VEDHA MANTHRAMS PROVIDE AMPLE SUPPORT

FOR THE REQUEST TO THE BOON-GIVNG VARADHAN TO CONFER

SVASTHI .

 

Here are the Svasthi-Vachana Veda Manthrams:

 

3.2.1: Svasthi nO mimithAmasvinA Bhaga:

Svasthi dEvyadhithiranavarNa:

Svasthi PooshA asurO dhadhAthu na:

Svasthi dhyAvApruthivI suchEthunA (Rg. 5.51.11)

 

Meaning : " May the pair of Twin-Divines , the gracious Lord

and the divine eternity , contribute to our prosperity. May

the irresistable Sun , the scatterer of light and the dispenser

of darkness , bestow upon us prosperity.May the most vital

heaven and earth vouch safe happiness to us. "

 

The words in the second paadham of this manthram are revelatory.

These words are Adhithi and AnarvaNa: The word Adhithi has been

translated by Dayaanandha as " Mother Infinity " and the word,

" AnarvaNa: " as the unyoked, irresistable One.PooshA here stands for

Pushtikaran ( Giver of Strength to reach Him ). Asura: refers not to

demons , but to life-giving clouds of KaruNA .

 

3.2.2: SvasthayE Vaayumupa BravAmahai Somam

Svasthi Bhuvanasya Yaspathi:

Bruhaspathim Sarvaganam svasthayE

Svasthaya AadhithyAsO Bhavanthu na:(Rg 5.51.12)

 

Meaning : " We glorify the Lord of Vitality for prosperity

and the Lord of Bliss for prosperity , who is the protector of

the world.We praise the Supreme Lord (DevAthi Raajan) ,

associated with ALL divine powers. May the radiant rays of

all the Suns and the luminaries bring us health and

happiness " .

 

The word, " Aadhithya " in the fourth paadham refers to

the Luminary body like Sun at whose center the Lord

resides and presides (Adhithya maNDala Madhyastham).

 

3.2.3: VisvE dEvO nO adhyA SAVASTHAYE

VaisvAnarO Vasuragni: SVASTHAYE

dEVA avantvrubhava: SAVASTHAYE

SVASTHI nO Paathvahamsa: (Rg 5.51.13)

 

Meaning: " may all the divine powwers be with us today

for our prosperity. May the divine fire, the benefactor of

all men , and giver of dwellings , be with us , for our

prosperity . May the divine wise sages protect us for our

prosperity. May the fear of the Lord of terror keep us

from crimes and calamity .

 

Ribhava: in the third paadham refers to Men of wisdom

(AchArya:) . Lord VaradarAjan is the boon-giver of

AchAryans for us.

 

3.2.4: SVASTHI MithrAvarunA

SVASTHI PaTyE Revathi

SVASTHI na IndhrascchAgnisccha

SVASTHI nO adhithE krudhi ( Rg : 5.51.14)

 

Meaning: May the Lord of Light and bliss grant us

prosperity. May the guiding spirit of firmament

and the Goddess of riches , grant us prosperity.

May the adorable and resplendent Lord prosper us

and May the spirit of indivisible fullness bestow

prosperity upon us.

 

The reference to the Goddess of Riches is connected

with salutations to MahA Lakshmi ( PerumdEvi ThAyAr here).

Indivisible fullnes refers to Oupanishdhee Sarasvathee

from IsAvAsyam about Paripoornathvam of the Lord.

 

3.2.5: SVASTHI PanTAmanu charEma

SooryAchandramasAviva

Punar-dadhathAghnatA

JaanathA sam gamEmahi ( Rg : 5.51.15)

 

Meaning : May we ever pursue our path of prosperity

like the Sun and Moon; May we move in full cooperation

in mutual give and take , without causing injury to

each other , and in the mutual right understanding !

 

In the context of KurEsar standing before the Boon-giving

Varadhan at Hasthigiri following the command of AchArya

RaamAnujA after the ChOLa RaajA committed asahyApachAram,

this Vedha manthram has tremendous significance .This noble

Kuresan seems to be guided by the code of conduct advocated

by this manthram .

 

The final three Svasthi Manthrams come at the very end of

Rg Vedam in the Xth Canto ( Rg X.7.1 , Rg X.63.15 and X.63.16):

 

3.2.6:SVASTHI nO dEvO AgnE PruthivyA

VisvAyurdEhi yajaTAya dEva

SachEmahi Tava dhasma prakEtair-

urushya Na urubhir dEva samsai:( Rg: X.7.1)

 

(Meaning): " Oh Adorable Lord ! May You bestow upon us

prosperity and abundant food from Heaven and Earth so that

we may be able to perform beneficial acts efficently.

Oh Divine ! Oh Wonder-worker! protect us with Your

far reaching indications of favour in rsponse to our

profuse praises " .

 

The blessings from the LeelA and Nithya VibhUthi

are sought here from the Lord.

 

Since Aayu: is synonoums with annam in Vedhic parlance,

VisvAyu: of 2nd Paadham stands for abundant spiritual food.

 

3.2.7: SVASTHI na; paTyAsu dhanvasu

SVASTHI apsu vrujanE svarvathi

SVASTHI na: puthakaTEshu yOnishu

SVASTHI rAyE MaruthO dhadhAna (Rg. X.63.15)

 

Meaning : Oh Vital principles( Men of Spirtuality/

AchAryAs)! May we have security and well being on

our paths across the (samsAric) deserts. May we

have well-being on our waterways (billowing samsaric

oceans), even in the hostile surroundings! May we have

well-being , when our children develop in the Mother's

womb ( Garbha SrImAn)! We pray for their safe delivery.

May we have the well being for the acquisition of

riches ( Sri Sookthis based on Vedham and Upanishads

as well as Saasthrams )!

 

3.2.8: SVASTHIR id dhi prapaTE SrEshtA

rENasvathyapi yaa vaamamEthi

saa nO amA sO araNE ni paathu

svAvEsA bhavathu dEvagOpA ( Rg. X.63.16)

 

Meaning : " May every one's good wishes secure us

well-being on (traveling across ) our excellent paths

( adhyAthmic journey). Abounding with wealth , May we

proceed to attain the goal of our life ( PurushArTam ).

May we have protection on the path that we travel;

blessed and protected by nature's bounties , May we

have a plesant abode , and a security in forests too!

 

dhrushtam and adhrushtam are the two kinds of fortunes or

forms of Svasthi . The most important among the two is

adhrushtam ( " PrapaTE PrkrushtAya MaargAya " ) or Praaptthi

or Aathma SamarpaNam at the Lord's Thiuvadi with the help

of a SadAchAryan.

 

KurEsar standing before the Sarva Loka SaraNyan and

his AchArya Saarvabhouman invoked the most auspicious

word of Svasthi ripe with Vedha Sambhandham as the first

word of his illustrious Sri Varadha Raaja Sthavam.

 

May Lord VaradharAjan give the strength and insight to

complete this kaimkaryam !

 

Sri KurEsAya Namo Nama:

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE Saranam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan