The Bull

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika Yatindra

Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

The Bull

 

This is perhaps not quite the correct time

to write about Bulls, when the Stock Markets the world

over are in the grip of Bears. However, adiyen might

be excused for this infringement, as we would be

seeing quite different types of bulls in this piece.

 

The very mention of the animal’s name brings to our

mind a majestic, virile creature of phenomenal

strength, with a magnificent gait and threateningly

sharp horns. The animal is also renowned for its

tenacity- the capacity to see things through, without

getting disheartened midway, for whatever reason.

Perhaps the best people to attest to the bull’s

qualities indicated above would be the Matadors of

Spain and elsewhere, who try to control these powerful

animals with the ultimate aim of vanquishing them.

Many of them have lost their limbs, if not lives, in

the attempt.

This mighty bull finds many a mention in our

SAmpradAyic literature, a few of which are narrated

below.

 

All through the Scriptures, the Bull is held up

as an example of virility, superhuman strength,

majesty of comport, etc.

Sri Valmiki is extremely fond of the word

“Purusharshabha:”(a veritable bull among men) and

whenever he describes a person of strength, vitality

and bravery, he invariably employs this word with

telling effect. When Sri Janaka has his first sight of

Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana in the company of Sage

VisvAmitra, he queries the Rishi as to who these

captivating youth might be-

“Gaja simha gatI veerou, shArdoola vrishabhOpamou

Padma patra visAlAkshou khadga tooNee dhanur

dharou”

Sri Janaka wonders-who might these youth be,

who resemble mighty bulls in stature, strength and

virility? Their gait resembles that of an elephant or

lion in majesty, their eyes are as beautiful and broad

as lotus leaves and they carry knives, bows and arrows

unsuitable for their youthful appearance.

A rasAnubhavam here for the connoisseurs:-

Sri Janaka is referring to Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana

when he pours out these similes, and it is significant

that he compares the divine youth to a pair of

animals- elephant and lion in gait, tiger and bull in

appearance and demeanour. It is thus logical to

presume that each comparison refers to one of the

youth. For example, presuming that Sri Rama is

referred to first, the first simile regarding gait,

the comparison to an elephant, would apply to Him,

while Sri Lakshmana would be the person with the

lion-like walk. Similarly, in appearance and demeanour

too, the first-mentioned tiger (“Sardoolam”) would

refer to Sri Rama and the second, the Bull

(“Vrishabham) to Sri Lakshmana. In other words, Sri

Rama has the majestic, slow gait of an elephant, and

displays ferocity towards his enemies like a tiger,

while Sri Lakshmana moves like a lion and is mighty as

a bull.

The other interpretation would be that both the

sons of Dasaratha display the qualities of both the

animals referred to above, as circumstances warrant.

Just as Sri Valmiki is fond of the usage

“Purusharshabha:” the GitAchArya is enamoured of the

word “Bharatarshabha” ( a bull among the descendants

of Bharata), and often addresses Arjuna with this

sobriquet.

Talking of Sri Krishna, His association with bulls

is quite close. As vIrya shulkam for marrying Sri

Nappinnai, Sri Krishna is reputed to have conquered

not one but seven ferocious bulls. Taming of bulls

thus seems to be an ancient sport, as common in the

Orient as in the West.

Several Azhwars have recorded this feat of Sri

Krishna (of taming seven wild bulls).

Says Sri BhootattAzhwAr- “ Eruttiruttha nal Ayar Eru”

Recounting KaNNA’s exploit with the untameable

bulls, the Azwar calls Sri Krishna Himself a

bull-“Eru”, certifying to His virility, bravery and

strength. Unsatisfied with this brief reference to

this masterful act, the Azhwar mentions this in the

next pasuram also-“Eru Ezhum vendru adarttha endai”.

 

Not to be left behind, Sri PeyAzwar too records this

thus-

“ PinnaikkAi mutral muri Etrin mun nindru moimbu

ozhitthAi”. It is customary for those engaged in

taming bulls not to confront them, but to try

approaching them sideways or from behind,

strategically. It is a testimony to Sri Krishna’s

bravery that He approached the bulls squarely from the

front-“ mun nindru moimbu ozhittAi”- and made

mincemeat of them.

Listing some of the Lord’s acts of bravery, Sri

Nammazhwar recalls His encounter with the seven bulls-

“KOvai vAyAL poruttu Etrin eruttam irutthAi”

While as Sri Rama, he demonstrated His virility by

lifting ther Shiva Dhanus for gaining Sri Sita’s hand,

the later act of taming the bulls was done again for

another girl, Sri Nappinnai.

 

Sri Andal too calls Sri Krishna a bull-“patti mEyndu

Or kAr Eru”- this is a bull with a difference-it is

pitch black- true to His name, Sri Krishna is

dark-complexioned, and combining His strength,

bravery, etc. with His colour, Sri Andal calls Him

“KarEru”. However, the wild black bull that is Sri

Krishna becomes docile and meek in the presence of Sri

Balarama., out of deference-

”BaladEvarku Or keezh kandrAi”

The Bull is also famous as the vehicle of ShivA-

“Eranai” says Sri Nammazhwar, referring to Shiva.

More explicitly, comparing Emperuman with Shiva, one

of the mudalAzhwars says that while Emperuman has the

venerated VainatEya as His vehicle, Shiva has a bull

as his.

“Aan vidai puL oordi”. Similarly, Sri Gayatri Devi

too has the Bull as one of her vAhanAs- the

MadhyAhnika sandhyAvandana mantra exhorts us to

meditate on her thus-

“dhyAyAmi vrisha vAhanAm”.

 

The bull finds a prominent place in our ceremonies,

auspicious and otherwise. On the day of the

SeemanthOnnayanam(popularly known as “Seemantham”),

the pregnant lady is supposed to pet a bull calf, as

part of the ceremony. In funeral rites too, the bull

figures in the eleventh day ceremonies, known as

“VrishabhOtsarjanam”.

 

“Enough of the bull” adiyen hears you saying. The next

time we see this fine animal, it would surely kindle

in us not merely thoughts of our stockbroker, but also

the numerous contexts in which the mighty creature

figures in our Sampradaya.

 

Srimate Sri LakshmiNrisimha divya paduka sevaka

SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya

Nama:

-----dasan, sadagopan.

 

 

 

 

 

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