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Sri HayagrIva SthOthram : Part XX--SlOkam 10: Section 2

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Sadagopan • September 23, 2000 


SrimathE RaamAnujAuya nama:

Dear BhakthAs:

In the 7th, 8th and the ninth slOkams ,
Swamy Desikan saluted the great anugraham 
for DakshinAmUrthy Sivan , BrahmA and
Bruhaspathi . In the 10th slOkam , the sacred
manthric form ( the form constitued entirely 
by Veda Manthrams) receiving the oblations from
yajamAnAs of Yaj~nams is saluted .

A Digression:
*************

I will digress a little here in response 
to a request for elaboration on the Thirumazhisai 
AzhwAr's paasurams that I quoted earlier
in the context of the seventh slOkam of
Sri HayagrIva sthOthram ( Aala nizhark Keezh aRa 
neRiyai naalvarkku mEluraithAn meyt-tavatthOn ) . 

There was a question from a BhakthA as to what 
DakshiNA Moorthy Sivan taught to the four rishis 
assembled under His feet for sadupadEsam . Thirumazhisai 
AzhwAr himself describes the topic for instruction
in the second half of the above paasuram of Naanmukan 
ThiruvandAthi this way:

" JnAlamaLanthAnai AazhikkidanthAnai ,
  aal mEl vaLarnthAnait thaan vaNangumARu "
  --Naanmukan ThiruvandhAthi: Paasuram 17

Thirumazhisai refers to the unalloyed devotion of
DakshiNAmUrthy Sivan to Sriman NaarAyaNA here.
AzhwAr says here that it is not only himself,
who comprehends the Para Tatthvam of Sriman
NaarAyaNan , but it is is also DakshiNA Moorthy
Sivan sitting under the golden pupil tree (svarNa
Vata Vruksham) knows about it and instructs 
the four great sages through mounam and nayana
dheekshai ( initiation through mere katAksham/
glances).

The subject matter of the initiation is the Lord
who measured the worlds with three steps ( Ongi
UlahaLantha Uttamn), who performs Yoga NidhrA
on the bed of Adhi Seshan in the middle of
milky ocean (KsheerAbdhi Naathan) and the same
One who floats on the roaring waters of PraLaya
Jalam ( waters at the time of deluge) on a small 
pupil leaf as a tiny baby (Vata pathra Saayee)
while keeping all the worlds safely tucked away 
in His little stomach nonchalantly for the next
period of Srushti (creation).

Thirumazhisai points out that DakshiNA Moorthy-
Sivan was teaching these eminent sages the way
in which He Himself worships His Lord and grand father ,
Sriman NaarAyaNan with total devotion . 

The Tenth SlOkam of Sri HayagrIva sthOthram
********************************************

"agnou samiddhArcchishi saptha tanthO:
  aathasthivAn manthra mayam sarIram
akhaNDa saarair havishAm pradhAnai:
  aapyAyanam vyOmasadhAm vidhathsE "

(meaning): Oh Lord HayagrIvA ! When the YajamaanAs
( the performers of Yaj~nam) conduct Yaagams ,
they offer consecrated oblations in the bright
and towering flames emanating from the agni kuNTam .
At that time , You present Yourself in the form of
the manthrams that they recite and receive their
Havis (Oblations such as parched rice , pressed
somA juice et al ) directly. Afterwards , You 
pass on those tasty oblations to the DevAs and make
them fully contented.

The beauty of majestic flames constituting
the seven-tongued Agni BhagavAn is invoked by 
the choice words: " SamiddhArcchishi Saptha tanthO:".
The first Rk (manthram ) of Rg Vedam (agnimeeLE
PurOhitham --) salutes this high preist of cosmic 
activities , who works out the eternal laws (dharmams)
and who feeds and sustains all that is divine
and luminous. He is the antharyAmi Brahmam inside
Agni BhagavAn .

Comments on the first Rk of the first Hymn of Rg Vedam 
******************************************************

There are nine rks in this first hymn
that can be related to the "Manthra mayam sarIram "
of Lord HayagrIvan that NigamAntha MahA Desikan
saluted in his tenth slOkam . We will focus 
on the first RK :

" agnimeeLE PurOhitham Yaj~nyasya devamruthvijam
  hOthAram RathnadhAthamam "--Rg Vedam I.1

Here are brief comments on the selected 
Vedic words pregnant with meaning praising 
the anugraha soubhAgyam (blessing power and
glory) of this Yaj~na Moorthy:

1. Agni: the Brahman and Vrathapathi (Lord of 
observances and pledges).

2. Yaj~nasya Devam : the divine Lord of cosmic
activities guided by the manthrams of Yajur
Vedam .

3. Rithvijam : the One with no beginning , middle or
end working through His eternal Laws (Rutham ).

4. HotAram : the One who feeds (the dEvAs the havis)

5. RatnadhAtamam : the One who sustains all that 
is divine and luminous and One who is the 
best giver of joyous gifts and rayi (affluence of
all kinds).

In the remaining 8 Rks , we come across 
additional insights (5-14):

5. HOthA : the giver and  acceptor of Rayi ( wealth
of any realm ).

6. Kavikrathu: "Source of Knowledge".

7. Satya: Truth personified , the embodimnet 
of Divine Truth

8. Deva: Matchless divine One (TannoppArillappan ),
DevaRaajan ( PeraruLALan ).

9. Chitra-sravastama: "The source of divine inspiration" .

10. Anga: "the friend of All". 

11. Gopam : the protector of the Cosmos 

12. Rtasya: " the true eternal knowledge".

13. Supyana: soulabhyan ( easy of access 
by one and all )

14. SvastayE : " Blessing , Prosperity , success
and benediction " . He is the AadhAram for 
Svasthi of the world .

That Lord HayagrIvan with His manthra maya
sarIram stands in the middle of the seven-tongued
agni of Yaaga KunTam (Saptha tanthO: Samiddha 
archishi madhyE mantra mayam sarIram aatasTivAn )
All the Vedic names given to Agni stand in for 
the SvayambhU (self-manifest ) and Parameshti
( the Supreme ruler ):

A. JaatavEdas( All-possessor)

B. Paavaka ( The Purifier)

C. Jvalana (Burning as saptha jihvA/seven tongued)

D. VibhAvasu ( Rich in radiance)

E. ChitrabhAnu ( Multi-colored)

F. BhUritEjas( Resplendent )

G. Sikhin ( Flaming )

H. VaisvAnara( All Pervader /VishNu)

J. DraviNodas( the giver of wealth).

That Lord with " Manthramaya SarIram "accepts 
"akhaNda Saarai: HavishAM pradhAnai:" and
distributes them to the DevAs and makes 
them happy and contented ( vyOma-sadhAm 
aapyAyanam vidhathsE). Vyoma means aaakasam.
VyOma Pureesan (Aakasa NagarIsan ) is 
the name of ThiruviNNagarappan . VyOma sathAm
means celestials(dEvAs) . VyOma  Pureesan
is their Lord . He blesses them with gifts of
tasteful Havis (akhaNda Saarai: HavishAM pradhAnai:).
They are filled with paripUrNa thrupthi or
complete contentment ( AapyAyanam vidhathsE).

Thus ends the beautiful salutation to
the Yaj~na Moorthy , the embodiment
of Veda manthrams .

Sri Hala-dhvanayE nama:
Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE saraNam 
Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan     
 



   









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