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Re: Lord's attributes.

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mani Varadarajan • October 7, 2002 


Dear Friends,

Apropos the recent discussion on the Lord's kalyana-gunas,
a learned correspondent sent me a note of which I reproduce
and abridgment here:

> 
> You may like to cite the following from vishNu purANam:
> 
> aiSvaryasya samagrasya vIryasya yaSasa: Sriya:
> jnAna vairAgyayOS caiva shaNNAm bhaga itIraNA
> (VP 6-5-74)

The word 'Bhagavan' (/bhagavAn/) means 'One who possesses
'bhaga'.  'bhaga' is the collective possession of the six
qualities of supremacy, valor, renown, auspiciousness, knowledge,
and detachment.  Only one who possesses all these in full 
is called 'Bhagavan'.

> jnAna-Sakti-balAiSvarya-veerya-tEjAmsy aSEshata:
> bhagavac-chabda-vAchyAni vinA heyAir-guNAdibhi:
> (VP 6-5-79)

The word Bhagavan is associated totally with the qualities
of knowledge, power, strength, supremacy, valor, and
effulgence, and is absolutely bereft of anything limiting
or defiling. 

The following sloka of Sri Alavandar brings the nectarean
ocean of Bhagavan's auspiciousness to light:

> 
> vaSI vadAnyO guNavAn RjuS-Suchi:
> mRdur-dayALur-madhura:-sthira:-sama: 
> guNI guNajna: tvamasi svabhAvata:
> samasta-kalyANa-guNamRtOdadhi:
> (stOtra ratnam 18)

---

I am told that this verse of Alavandar's was once cited
by Indira Gandhi in a speech, highlighting the fact that
that God can be absolutely pure as well as be full of all glory.

aDiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan,
Mani


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