Sri Lakshmi Sahasram 17.6

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SrI:

 

Dear Sri MahA Lakshmi BhakthAs :

 

Let us study the 6th SlOkam of the 17th SthaBakam today ,

where in Sri VenkatAdhri Kavi instructs us that the NaamAs of

MahA Lakshmi are equivalent to the mantrams of the Four Vedams :

 

sAmnAm janmAntharam-akhila-rg-varga sargAntharam vaa

paryAyO vaa sakala-yajushAm prakriyA-aTarvaNAnAm

vEdAnthAnAm kimu vinimayO viSrutham viSvamAtha:

dhivyam bhavyam diSathy japathAm Devi nAma Thvadheeyam

 

The Key words here are : " Devi ! Thvadheeyam nAma: viSrutham .

japathAm dhivyam bhavyam disathy " ( Oh MahA DEvi ! Your nAmAs

are the most celebrated. For the reciter , they grant divine kshEmam

and show the way for Parama PurushArTam ).

 

Prose Order : SaamnAm janmAntharam , akhila Rg varga sargam

antharam vaa , sakala yajushAm paryAyO vaa , aTarvaNAnAm prakriyA vaa ?

VedAnthAnAm vinimaya: kimu ? ViSva Maatha: Devi ! Thvadheeyam

naama: viSrutham .

 

One can ask how MahA Lakshmi's nAmAs are the other form of VedAs .

The answer is given by the poet in this slOkam. The poet explains that

the nAmAs of MahA Lakshmi is samastha vEda tulyam ( equivalent in

mantra sakthi to all Veda Mantrams) . In actuality , Lakshmi nAmAs form

one part of the VedAs and when one recites them , one gains the puNyam

equivalent to Sarva Veda PaarAyaNam ( recitation of all the VEdAs). it is

similar to the situation , where it has been stated that the recitation of

the aTarva Siras upanishad confers on one the phalan of reciting the entire

VedAs . Such is the power of the viSrutha nAmams of MahA Lakshmi

housed in Her ashtOttharam or Sahasram or SrI Sooktham !

 

Visrutham means especially celebrated in the Veda bhAgams like

SrI Sooktham ( HariNee , ChandrA , AardhrA , LakshmI , Pushti , SrI:

HemamAlini , Padhmini , VisvapriyA ). Vedam states that the recitation of

such viSrutha nAmams grants the soubhAgyams of Gold( HiraNyam) , Cows ,

Horses, Servants , Fame, food , sath puthrans and SukanyAs and immense

wealth of every kind .

 

Visrutham has also been interpreted to mean world famous ( lOka PraSiddham).

VedAs are indeed Lakshmi . Her nAmAs are VedAs . This is well accepted view .

That is why She is saluted as Vedavalli , Vedavathy , Veda Moorthy and

Veda Vaak , Veda RoopA .

 

Let us now look at the other word passages selected by the Kavi to display

His reverence for the Vedamayee , MahA Lakshmi .

 

1) sAmnAm janmAntharam = She is the other birth for Saama vEda Manthrams .

Janmam here means born entity . She appears as though She is the other

roopam ( maRu piRavi) of the Saama Veda Manthrams.

 

UttharArchika Saaman 976 addresses Her thus this way : " O drops of

Spiritual bliss , since all these nourishing praises are addressed to You

and the way You are born and the things are born of You , May You come

and be seated in the innermost cavity of our hearts ! ".

 

The links between Her nAmam , Chandraa , amrutham and this Saaman

are easily discerned here .

 

2) akhila rg varga sarga antharam vaa ? = Thou art indeed the alternate

form of all rg veda mantrams ! Are n't You that alternate form of Rg rks?

 

MahA Lakshmi's uniqueness in granting all that one desires and Her unique role

is addressed by Rg rk X.91.8:

 

" You are the imparter of intelligence (mEdhAkaram) to the priests ( reciters) , who

invoke You . You are the accomplisher of the worship , the invoker of Nature's

bounties , the chief overcomer of foes, and the counsellor of sound advice. You

equally respond to offerings , small or great . One would like You to be invoked

alone and none else ( vruNuthE nAnyam Thvath) ".

 

3) Sakala yajushAm paryAyO vaa? = Your nAmAs are parallel to all yajur vEda

manthrams in having the same meanings . They have identical meanings .

The Yajur vEda manthrams are like echos of Your nAmAs.

 

An Example is provided by Yajur Veda Mantram: XIII.36 :

 

" Harness , O Divine Self Supreme ! Your well trained vital forces ,

which bear You quickly to our benovolent desired ends "

 

4) aTarvaNAnAm prakriyA vaa? = Are Your nAmAs another kind of

aTarva Veda Mantrams ?

 

Here is an example of aTarva Veda Mantram celebrating the links between

the nAmAs of Devi and the reciter ( aTarva Vedam: XX.41.2 ):

 

" The resplendent Self ( MahA Lakshmi) destroys ninety nine times nine

(innumerable) evils with the help of the rock-like firmness of devotees

( reciting Her nAmAs)".

 

5) Viswa Maatha: ! VedAnthAnAm vinimaya: kimu ? = Oh Mother of the Universe !

You are indeed the alternate embodiment of Upanishads ! Vinimaya: means

"maaRRu PaNDam " in Tamil . That means exchange currency or alternate

vasthu.

 

6) " Devi ! Thavdheeyam visrutham nAma: japathAm dhivyam bhavyam diSathy "

Oh MahA Devi ! Your celebrated nAmAs are known for conferring the divine sampath

to all reciters. It is the equivalent to the PaarAyaNam ( recitation ) of all the VedAs.

Disathy can mean either confers or show the way to dhivyam bhavyam ( divine

sampath).

 

The Kavi wonders about the sakala kshEmam granting power of MahA Lakshmi's

names and wonders whether they are the essence of the four Vedams and

the myriads of Upanishaths (VedAnthams). He concludes that all the Vedams

and the VedAnthams are alternate forms of Her dhivya nAmAs.

 

Sriman Kannan Swamy's Tamil summary of the message of this slOkam is

as follows :

 

"nigamatthin niharAna

ninn nAmam japippathAl

nilayAna nalla phalan

nicchayamAy uNDAhum "

 

Srimathyai MahA Lakshmyai NamO nama:

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan