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Stotras of Vedanta Desika
by Sri D. Ramaswamy Ayyangar
Page 6
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9. Ashtabhujaashtakam
This stotra and the four stotras that follow are in praise of
the Deities adorning five shrines in or about Kanchipuram. All
of them except Saranagati Deepika are very short ones. Two of
them, this and No. 11, are ashtakams (eight slokas).
The name Ashtabhujam is the Sanskrit for Attapuyakaram by
which name Peyalwar and Tirumangai Alvar have referred to the
Lord of this shrine. The word means one with 8 hands. In sloka
10 Vedanta Desika attributes the doubling of the Lord's hands
(from four to eight) to the Lord's hurry and eagerness to afford
protection to those who have sought refuge in Him. May that Lord
be pleased to receive this stuti of eight slokas composed by me
-- is the idea contained in the same sloka.
The first sloka prays for help preferred promptly as in
the case of Gajendra. I am in the same plight -- nay, in a
worse one because Gajendra was assailed by one crocodile, while I
am assailed by several. The reference to the Gajendra episode
here is based on Peyalvar's verse 99 of his Prabandham.
This stotra it is stated will be of help to those who
have performed prapatti and become prapannas, and also to those
who desire to become prapannas (9). The "tvara" of the Lord to
protect those in distress, i.e., the avidity and the hurry finds
mention in the first and last slokas.
Detailed Explanation -
Devanagari Text
10. Vegasetu Stotram
The name Vegaa-setu meaning a dam across the river Vegaa
(Vegavati) for the Perumal (Lord) indicates the part He played in
protecting the Aswamedhayaga performed by Brahma to visualise the
Lord, by protecting that yaga from being washed away by the irate
Saraswati who desired to wreck that yaga by taking the form of a
river in spate. This is to be found in the Sthalapurana.
The Lord, however, attained greater fame and name by packing up
His Adisesha couch and following Tirumazhisai Alvar at his behest
and later re-spreading that Adisesha couch and lying on it
once again (now pillowing His head on the left hand instead of on
the right). For this fine gesture, inconsistent with the state of
arca, this Lord is popularly known as Yathoktakari or, as Desika
has put it, bhagavat-bhakti-mataam yathoktakari (5) --
one who acts as dictated to by His Devotees.
Slokas 2 to 4 and 7 refer to the Lord's puranic greatness as
Vegasetu. Slokas 5 and 7 refer to both aspects. 6 and
8 deal with His subservience to His devotees.
More Details -
Devanagari Text
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Last modified: Tue Apr 6 16:42:09 PDT
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