Sri Lakshmi Sahasram: 17.39

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SrI:

 

Dear Devotees of MahA Lakshmi :

 

In this 39th SlOkam , Sri VenkatAdhvari Kavi plays with

the word "Aksharam " , which has two meanings : (1) A Letter

and (2) Srivaikuntam :

 

SaraNa-varaNa-mantrE SaarngiNa: prANakAnthE

Paramapurusha-nAmna: prAg-upAdheeyamAnam

ViSadha-mahima nAma kshipram yEkAksharam tE

vitarathy japathAm apyEkam yEvAksharam tath

 

(Meaning): Oh Lakshmi ! SaraNAgathy mantram is dhvayam.

The aksharam " SrI " comes before the nAmA of " NaarAyaNa "

in dhvayam. "SrI" has only one aksharam . For one who recites

this yEkAksharam ( Your name) , the phalan is Aksharam

(SrI Vaikuntam) . The akshara mantram grants Aksharam

( SrI Vaikuntam/Thiru Naadu) quickly .

 

Commentary :

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1. Dhvaya Mantram used for performing SaraNAgathy starts

with the word " Sriman NaarAyaNa ". The aksharam of "Sri"

comes before NaarAyaNa sabdham . In this SaraNa varaNa

Mantram (Dhvaya Mantram) , ThAyAr's yEkAksharam (SrI:) appears before "NaarAyaNa " sabdham .

 

2. It is not only the "SrI" sabdham before "NaarAyaNa"

sabdham but it is also customary to perform Prapatthi

to ThAyAr before the execution of Prapatthi to the Lord.

 

3. Akshara Japam yielding akshara phalan fits with Tathkrathu

nyAyam . The yEva sabdham refers to the object of dhyAnam

being the same as the Phalan from such a meditation .

 

4. Akshram has also the meaning of PerumAL according to

one Sri Vishunu Sahasra Naamam . That meaning does not

alter the BhAvArTam .

 

5." yEkam " has two meanings : (1) One and (2) matchless.

 

6. ViSatha mahimaa : Many AchAryas have celebrated

the Mahimai of the name of "SrI". Swamy AlavanthAr

has has declared : "SreerithyEva naama tE " to reveal

Her Vaibhavam . Swamy Desikan has elaborated on

the six meanings of SrI sabdham in many of his Sri Sokthis :

Srimath Rahasya Thraya Saaram , ChillaRai rahasyams ,

SthOthra BhAshyam and MummaNikkOvai . Having all these

AchArya upadEsams in mind , Sri VenkatAdhvari Kavi

salutes Lakshmi's mahimaa as "ViSatha mahimA ".

 

7. Kshipram aksharam , yEkAksharam vitharathy : Oh Sri Devi !

The one leetered NaamA of Yours delivers quickly the Aksharam

(Sri Vaikuntam ) for the ones , who meditate on that yEkAksharam

of Yours : " viSadha mahima yEkAksharam tE nAma japathAm api tath

yEkam aksharam yEva kshipram vitharathy " .

 

 

Lakshmi Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil V.Sadagopan