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KurEsar's Sri VaradarAja Sthavam: Part VIII--SlOkam 1 (Contd.)

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Sadagopan • June 26, 2001 


Dear BhakthAs of Lord VaradarAja PerumAL:

Svasthi Hasthigiri-mastha-sEkhara:
SanthanOthu mayi santhatham Hari:
NissamAbhuadhikam abhyadhattha 
Yamm Devam oupanishadhee Sarasvathee

--SlOkam 1: Sri varadarAja Sthavam

The following thoughts crossed my mind , when 
adiyEn recited the beautiful first slOkam of
Sri VaradarAja Sthavam:

1.The Chandha nadai of this slOkam reminded me
of the experience of joyously racing to the top of 
Hasthigiri to have the darsana SoubhAgyam of 
DevarAja PerumAL.The lilting melody of this slOakm ,
makes one experience the  swift flow of the 
mountain brook (of DayA) tumbling down the hill side 
to welcome us .

2. KurEsar invokes both the Dhivya Dampathis to
confer their benedictions on him at the start of
his efforts:

" Svasthi: Mayi santhatham Svasthi SanthanOthu " is 
the prayer to PerumdEvi ThAyAr. May the Dhivya Mahishi
of Lord VaradarAjA confer always MangaLams on adiyEn
is the prayer. " Hasthigiri-mastha-Sekhara: Mayi
Santhatham Svasthi santhanOthu" is the other prayer
seeking the Lord's anugrahams.Tann is the root for 
TanOthu and SamtanOthu. Tann refers to extended or
uninterrupted . KurEsar prays for an uninterrupted
showering of auspiciousnes from Lord Varadhan as
he commences his eulogy. 

3. The Many Rg Veda manthrams with the invocation of
Svasthi at the beginning of the Manthram and their
meanings are given below to illustrate the nature of
the auspiciousness htat KurEsar was seeking :

3.1: Svasthi na IndhrO VruddhasravA:
     Svasthi na: PooshA VisvavEdhA:
     Svasthi nastArkshyO arishtanEmi:
     Svasthi nO BruhaspathirdadhAthu (Rg I. 89.6)

All the names here like Indhran , PooshA ,
Taarkshyan , ArishtanEmi and Bruhaspahti are 
references to the Lord Himself .

For instance, Taarkshyan is not GarudA here,
but " Thrushtithum Vedhithum yOgya:" ( One who
is worth knowing and attaining ). 

Similarly , "arishtanEmi" means the Lord , who 
can not be overcome by weapons (Narasimhar)or 
One who cuts asunder all arishtams ( samsAric pains).
PooshA refers to His Strength giving , Nourishing 
qualities of the Lord .

The meaning under this context of this vedha Manthram 
as it applies to DevarAjan for the whole Manthram is:

" May the highly-revered , the resplendent Lord guard 
our well being . May the Omniscient Lord, who is 
the nourisher guard our welfare. May the srishti-karthA 
of this cyclic universe always protect us. May the Soverign
protector , with unblemished weapons guard us for our
prosperity." May This Lord VaradarAjan protect us! 

3.2: There is a string of Veda Manthrams in the 5th KaaNDam
of Rg Vedam ( V.51. 11-15) , which invoke 
Svasthi for the YajamAnan.All the dEvathAs mentioned in
these manthrams like Asvini dEvAs, Vaayu , Soman , 
Aaadhithyan are empowered by the Lord as the indweller
through a miniscule portion of His sakthi (lavalEsai:).

THE SVASTHI THAT KURESAR SOUGHT WAS SRI VAISHNAVA
SRI OF BHAGAVATH-BHAAGAVATHA-AACHARYA KAIMKARYA SRI.
THE FOLLOWING VEDHA MANTHRAMS PROVIDE AMPLE SUPPORT 
FOR THE REQUEST TO THE BOON-GIVNG VARADHAN TO CONFER 
SVASTHI .

Here are the Svasthi-Vachana Veda Manthrams:

3.2.1: Svasthi nO mimithAmasvinA Bhaga:
       Svasthi dEvyadhithiranavarNa:
       Svasthi PooshA asurO dhadhAthu na:
       Svasthi dhyAvApruthivI suchEthunA (Rg. 5.51.11)

Meaning : " May the pair of Twin-Divines , the gracious Lord 
and the divine eternity , contribute to our prosperity. May
the irresistable Sun , the scatterer of light and the dispenser
of darkness , bestow upon us prosperity.May the most vital
heaven and earth vouch safe happiness to us."

The words in the second paadham of this manthram are revelatory.
These words are Adhithi and AnarvaNa: The word Adhithi has been
translated by Dayaanandha as "Mother Infinity " and the word,
"AnarvaNa:" as the unyoked, irresistable One.PooshA here stands for 
Pushtikaran ( Giver of Strength to reach Him ). Asura: refers not to
demons , but to life-giving clouds of KaruNA . 

3.2.2: SvasthayE Vaayumupa BravAmahai Somam 
       Svasthi Bhuvanasya Yaspathi:
       Bruhaspathim Sarvaganam svasthayE 
       Svasthaya AadhithyAsO Bhavanthu na:(Rg 5.51.12)

Meaning : " We glorify the Lord of Vitality for prosperity
and the Lord of Bliss for prosperity , who is the protector of 
the world.We praise the Supreme Lord (DevAthi Raajan) ,
associated with ALL divine powers. May the radiant rays of 
all the Suns and the luminaries bring us health and
happiness".

The word, "Aadhithya" in the fourth paadham refers to
the Luminary body like Sun at whose center the Lord
resides and presides (Adhithya maNDala Madhyastham).

3.2.3: VisvE dEvO nO adhyA SAVASTHAYE 
       VaisvAnarO Vasuragni: SVASTHAYE
       dEVA avantvrubhava: SAVASTHAYE 
       SVASTHI nO Paathvahamsa: (Rg 5.51.13)

Meaning: " may all the divine powwers be with us today 
for our prosperity. May the divine fire, the benefactor of 
all men , and giver of dwellings , be with us , for our
prosperity . May the divine wise sages protect us for our
prosperity. May the fear of the Lord of terror keep us 
from crimes and calamity .

Ribhava: in the third paadham refers to Men of wisdom 
(AchArya:) . Lord VaradarAjan is the boon-giver of
AchAryans for us.

3.2.4:  SVASTHI MithrAvarunA 
        SVASTHI PaTyE Revathi
        SVASTHI na IndhrascchAgnisccha 
        SVASTHI nO adhithE krudhi ( Rg : 5.51.14)

Meaning: May the Lord of Light and bliss grant us 
prosperity. May the guiding spirit of firmament 
and the Goddess of riches , grant us prosperity.
May the adorable and resplendent Lord prosper us
and May the spirit of indivisible fullness bestow
prosperity upon us.

The reference to the Goddess of Riches is connected
with salutations to MahA Lakshmi ( PerumdEvi ThAyAr here).
Indivisible fullnes refers to Oupanishdhee Sarasvathee
from IsAvAsyam about Paripoornathvam of the Lord.

3.2.5:  SVASTHI PanTAmanu charEma
        SooryAchandramasAviva
        Punar-dadhathAghnatA
        JaanathA sam gamEmahi ( Rg : 5.51.15)

Meaning : May we ever pursue our path of prosperity 
like the Sun and Moon; May we move in full cooperation 
in mutual give and take , without causing injury to
each other , and in the mutual right understanding ! 

In the context of KurEsar standing before the Boon-giving 
Varadhan at Hasthigiri following the command of AchArya 
RaamAnujA after the ChOLa RaajA committed asahyApachAram,
this Vedha manthram has tremendous significance .This noble
Kuresan seems to be guided by the code of conduct advocated
by this manthram .

The final three Svasthi Manthrams come at the very end of
Rg Vedam in the Xth Canto ( Rg X.7.1 , Rg X.63.15 and X.63.16):

3.2.6:SVASTHI nO dEvO AgnE PruthivyA
      VisvAyurdEhi yajaTAya dEva 
      SachEmahi Tava dhasma prakEtair-
      urushya Na urubhir dEva samsai:( Rg: X.7.1)

(Meaning): " Oh Adorable Lord ! May You bestow upon us 
prosperity  and abundant food from Heaven and Earth so that 
we may be able to perform beneficial acts efficently. 
Oh Divine ! Oh Wonder-worker! protect us with Your 
far reaching indications of favour in rsponse to our 
profuse praises ".

The blessings from the LeelA and Nithya VibhUthi
are sought here from the Lord.

Since Aayu: is synonoums with annam in Vedhic parlance,
VisvAyu: of 2nd Paadham stands for abundant spiritual food.

3.2.7: SVASTHI na; paTyAsu dhanvasu
       SVASTHI apsu vrujanE svarvathi
       SVASTHI na: puthakaTEshu yOnishu
       SVASTHI rAyE MaruthO dhadhAna (Rg. X.63.15)

Meaning : Oh Vital principles( Men of Spirtuality/
AchAryAs)! May we have security and well being on
our paths across the (samsAric) deserts. May we 
have well-being on our waterways (billowing samsaric
oceans), even in the hostile surroundings! May we have 
well-being , when our children develop in the Mother's 
womb ( Garbha SrImAn)! We pray for their safe delivery.
May we have the well being for the acquisition of 
riches ( Sri Sookthis based on Vedham and Upanishads
as well as Saasthrams )! 

3.2.8: SVASTHIR id dhi prapaTE SrEshtA 
       rENasvathyapi yaa vaamamEthi
       saa nO amA sO araNE ni paathu
       svAvEsA bhavathu dEvagOpA ( Rg. X.63.16)

Meaning : " May every one's good wishes secure us
well-being on (traveling across ) our excellent paths 
( adhyAthmic journey). Abounding with wealth , May we
proceed to attain the goal of our life ( PurushArTam ).
May we have protection on the path that we travel; 
blessed and protected by nature's bounties , May we 
have a plesant abode , and a security in forests too!

dhrushtam and adhrushtam are the two kinds of fortunes or
forms of Svasthi . The most important among the two is
adhrushtam ( "PrapaTE PrkrushtAya MaargAya") or Praaptthi
or Aathma SamarpaNam at the Lord's Thiuvadi with the help
of a SadAchAryan. 

KurEsar standing before the Sarva Loka SaraNyan and
his AchArya Saarvabhouman invoked the most auspicious 
word of Svasthi ripe with Vedha Sambhandham as the first
word of his illustrious Sri Varadha Raaja Sthavam.

May Lord VaradharAjan give the strength and insight to
complete this kaimkaryam !

Sri KurEsAya Namo Nama:
Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE Saranam ,
Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan 



 


 
        

 

 


   


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