Prakrutham Srimath Azhagiya Singar's approaching 79th Birthday (Thirunakshathram ) Celebration at Bangalore on Dec 10, 2005 : Part II

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

PaarTiva Samvathsaram , Simha Maasam ,

Sukla Paksha SravaNa dhvAdasi dinam

 

Dear BhakthAs of Sri Lakshmi Narasimhan :

 

In the previous posting , adiyEn cited the famous Upanishadic Passage of

" SraddhayA dhEyam " ( You should offer with MahA VisvAsam/ utter faith).

To understand the SraddhA Tatthvam and its abhimAna dEvathai , we have to

refer to Swamy Desikan's commentary on AlavanthAr's Chathu: slOki and

Saayana BhAshyam on SraddhA Sooktham . I am thankful to Smt. Subha

VenkatEsan for sending me an out of print manuscript on the commentary on

SraddhA Sooktham released in 1950 .

 

Our AchAryAs have come to the unified conclusion that SraddhA is none other

than MahA Lakshmi . They provide as PramANams MahA Laskshmi's own words

in MahA BhAratham : " Aham SraddhA cha MedhA cha ". I am indeed the One known

as SraddhA dEvi and MedhA Devi says MahA Lakshmi here . In the VishNu PurAnam ,

Indhran salutes MahA Lakshmi as " Sraddha MedhA Saraswathy ".

 

MahA Lakshmi is recognized as the abhimAna dEvathai for SraddhA ,

the mind set (Chittha Vrutthi) with utter faith (SraddhA ) in understanding

the meanings and directions of Bhagavath Saasthrams :

 

" SaasthrArTE visvAsAthisayaroopA chitthAvrutthi: SraddhA

tadhabhimAnini dEvathApi tannAmikaiva " is the Saayana BhAshyam

on sections of SraddhA Sooktham .

 

There are two SraddhA Sookthams in Yajur Vedam . Let us study them

and invoke the power of MahA Lakshmi for raining the Kanaka tArai

to realize samruddhi during the forthcoming 79th Thirunakshathram

celebrations of Srimath Prakrutham Azhagiya Singar on December 10

at Bangalore . May there be Veda Samruddhi (abundance) ! May there be

dhana dhAnya Samruddhi ! May there be Saanthi Samruddhi !

 

First SraddhA Sooktham : Yajur Vedam Kaatakam, 3rd Prsanam , 9-12

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

SraddhayA dEvO davathvamakshuthE

SraddhA prathishtA lOkasya dEvee

saa nO jushANOpougyamAgAth

kAmavathsAmrutham dhuhAnA ----Mantram 1

 

SraddhA dEvi praTamA ruthasya

visvasya bharthree jagatha: prathishtA

ThAmm SraddhAmhavishA yajAmahE

saa nO lOkamamrutham dhadhAthu

IsAnA dEvee bhuvanasyAdhipathnee ----Mantram 2

 

In his SrI Sooktha BhAshyam , Nanjeeyar , the VedAnthin , has blessed

us with the following meanings:

 

The above two manthrams describe the legendary essence of the Svaroopam ,

ThirumEni Soundharyam and Iswaryam of MahA Lakshmi celebrated in all

the VedAs.

 

" SraddhayA dEvO dhavathvamakshuthE " declares a portion of the first matram (i-e):

The attribute of being SarvEswaran (SarvEswarathvam ) for VaasudEvan (SarvEswaran)

is under the control (adheenam) of MahA Lakshmi . That SarvEswarathvam arises ,

when He is united with Her . He becomes SrinivAsan, SrIdharan , Sreesan

as a result of this union .

 

The remaining portion of the first mantram states: MahA Lakshmi , who is engaged

in the leelais of creating , protecting and destroying this universe made of sentient and

insentient beings is the basis of this universe and is known as SraddhA . She establishes

this universe . May this SraddhA-Lakshmi come close to us and be pleased with our

AarAdhanams ! She is the One , who blesses us with the desired boons just as

the compassionate mother cow nourishes its calf with milk .

 

The second mantram reveals the tatthvams of this SraddhA-Lakshmi :

(1) She is the One worshipped through all karmAs (2) She is the grantor

of all desired phalans (3) She presents Herself as and when one engages in

the performance of auspicious karmAs (4)She nurtures the world (5) She is

the foundation of this world (6) When She is pleased with the loving worship

of Her children , She becomes pleased and blesses us with life-giving rains

and rules the world .

 

May we worship this MahA Lakshmi of illustrious repute as SarvEswari

with pathrams(Bilvam) and Pushpams as well as charu purODAsam and with preethi .

May SraddhA Lakshmi pleased with our AarAdhanams grant us residence in

Parama Padham ! She is the Iswari for all the worlds . She is the divine consort of

Sriman NaarAyaNan . She is sahadharmachAriNi in the Yaj~nam of protecting

those who seek rakshaNam from Lakshmi NaarAyaNan . Similarly , the lOka

srushti proceeds with the sankalpam of these dhivya dampathis .

 

THE SECOND SRADDHA SOOKTHAM: Yajur Vedam , 2nd ashtakam : 8.8

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

SraddhayA agni: samindhathE ( This Agni is illumined by SraddhA)

 

SraddhayA vindhathE Havi: ( This Havis is also attained through SraddhA)

 

SraddhA bhagasya moordhani , VachasAaavEdayAmasi ( We say thru speech / Vaak

that SraddhA sits on the head of SoubhAgyam (i-e): We declare before people

that SraddhA is the reason behind all soubhAgyams and MangaLams ).

 

priyam sraddhE dhadhata: ( Oh SraddhE ! May the desires of mine offering Havis come true!)

priyam SraddhE dhidhAsatha:( Oh SraddhE! May Your desire to grant future boons be realized !)

priyam bhOjEshu yajvasu ( May Your priyam for yajamAnAs and boon-loving beings grow! )

idham ma udhitham kruTi ( May Your affection for me , the YajamAnan grow !)

 

yaTA dEvA asurEshu

SraddhAnugrEshu chakrirE

yEvam bhOjEshu yajvasu

asmAkamudhitham krudhi

 

(Meaning) : Just as the DevAs had the intense faith that the asurAs are fit

to be killed , similarly show Your intensive affection for the YajamAnAs ,

who enjoy the phalans of their offerings of Havis.

 

SraddhAm dEvA yajamAnA:

VaayughOshA upAsathE

SraddhAm hrudhyayayAaakootyA

SraddhAyA hUyathE havi:

 

(Meaning): Oh IndhrA and other DevAs! These YajamAnAs worship Sraddha

for protection of their PrANans . They worship Her with affection arising from

the sanklapam that arose in their minds .Their samarpaNam of Havis in the Homam

is done with SraddhA ).

 

SraddhAm prAtharhavAmahE

SraddhAm madhyandhinam pari

SraddhAm Sooryasya nimruchi

SraddhE SraddhApayEha maa

 

(Meaning): We call on SraddhA in the Morning , Evening , mid day and at

Sunset . Oh SraddhE ! May Thou make me have utter faith in the performance

of this KarmA !

 

SraddhA dEvAnadhivasthE

SraddhA visvamidham Jagath

SraddhAm kAmasya mAtharam

HaphishA vardhayAmasi

 

(Meaning): SraddhA resides amidst the DevAs . This world is full of SraddhA

( SraddhA mayam idham Jagath). May we please SraddhA DEvi (MahA Lakshmi)

to grant us all the desired Phalans with our Offerings (Havis) !

 

Nanjeeyar points out some unique meanings to select passages of

the above manthram in his Sri Sookthi BhAshyam:

"SraddhAm dEvA yajamAnA: upAsathE" means that SraddhA dEvi is meditated upon by

all dEvAs . The word dEvAs is UpalakshaNam for human beings .

 

"SraddhAm Prathar havAmahE " and the following three vAkyams reveal

that SraddhA dEvi is to be worshipped at all the three sandhis .

 

"SraddhA devAn athivasathE " : This points out that She is the indweller of

all the dEvAs .

 

"SraddhA viswamidham Jagath " : This points to the central doctrine of

VisishtAdhvaitham , SareerAthma bhAvam .

 

"SraddhAm kaamasya Matharam " : This suggests that She is the grantor of

all desired Phalans .

 

We worship Lakshmi of these magnificent and noble attributes known also as SraddhA !

 

This is the prayer of the SraddhA Sooktham , which should grow our MahA VisvAsam

in our AchaaryAs and Guru ParamparA and to be of service to them to fulfill their

Yathi dharmam . Our gratefulness to our AchAryan has to be demonstrated with affection

as long as we are on this earth .

 

SrImath Azhagiya Singar Thiruvadi ,

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

P.S: Please support the 79th Birthday celebrations of

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ,YathA Sakthi . A SamarpaNam

of $250 will cover a day's AarAdhanam , KaalakshEpam

and TadhiyArAdhanam . Higher level of support is always

much appreciated .