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sadagopan iyengar • July 22, 2002 


 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 animalÂ’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 bullÂ’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 KaNNAÂ’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 KrishnaÂ’s
bravery that He approached the bulls squarely from the
front-“ mun nindru moimbu ozhittAi”- and made
mincemeat of them.
Listing some of the LordÂ’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 SitaÂ’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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