From: "V. Sadagopan" <75041.3037@compuserve.com> Sender: bhakti-errors@lists.best.com To: bhakti@lists.best.com Subject: 8th Day Of danur Maasam: Govindha Naama Sankeerthanam of GodhA Piratti Date: 22 Dec 96 18:31:31 EST Dear GodhA PriyAs : Yesterday , we enjoyed the many meanings of "GodhA " . She was born in Srivilliputthur . She considered her birth place as Gokulam and joined with Her friends -as Gopis did- and sang the praise of Govindhan and sought Him as Her husband . Of Srivilliputthur , it is said : "Godhai piranthavoor Govindhan Vaazhumoor ". Here He came and wed her and stays there even now in His father-in-law's house as RangamannAr . On a Eka Peetam , he lets us enjoy his SubhAsrayam with his dear Godhai and Garudan . It is important therefore for us to reflect on the greatness of the name of Govindhan and engage in Govindha Naama Sankeerthanam on this day , which is the 8th day of MarghaZhi and reminds one of the Lord's Ashtakshara Manthram . Govindha Naama Vaibhavam ********************************** The following VishNu Sahasra naamam section reveals the vaibhavam of Govindhan : mahEshvAsO maheebirthA Srinivaasa: sathAm gathi : I Aniruddha: SurAnandhO GovindhO GovidhAm pathi: II Eight Sahasra NaamAs close to "GovindhA " are covered in this section of ShasraNaamam , once again reminding one of the significance of the number eight ( Mula manthram ) . The first name , " MaheshvAsa : " refers to RamAvathAram . The ChaNda KodhaNda MaNdhitha Raghuveeran discharging great arrows is invoked by this Naamam. Literally , this name refers to the One great VillALi ( Sree Dhanur NagarAdheesan- Sri VILLI putthur Vatapatra Sayee ) , who stood facing RavaNA in the battle field and cut off the ten heads of the latter with his sharp and powerful arrows discharged by Kodhandham . " Mahee barthA " is the second of the eight names. This literally means the bearer or the holder of this Earth. He bore Bhumi Devi on his tusk as a Boar during His VarahAvathAram. It has also been intrepreted as referring to KurmAvathAram , since he is supporting this earth as Kurma BhagaVan . I prefer to intrepret this name as Varaha Murthy coming out of the PraLayA waters holding Bhumi Devi on his tusk like teeth . Our most merciful mother asked him at that time for forgivenness of the erring chetanAs out of her role as mediatrix and He in response to his dear consort's request gave us the Varaha Sarama Slokam referred by the 45th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt in his Nangai Nallur upanyAsam . We are now connected through this name to AndAL (Bhumi Piratti ) as well as Her husband Govindhan as VarAha PerumAn .. The third of the eight names is Srinivasan . This Lord of Sri presides over the seven hills , which echo with Govindha Naama Sankeerthanam every day . The fourth namA is SathAm gathi : . He is the refuge of the pious. AndAL's anushtAnam of Paavai Nonbhu is to illustrate the unbreakable relationship between the righteous (sathAm) offering SaraNAgathi at His Lotus feet and the power of Purushakaaram of AndAL that makes that SaraNAgathi effective at the target (Gathi )of Govindhan. The fifth name is Aniruddha: . This namaa indicates that the Charms of Govindhan are irresistible. Why is he Irresistible asks Niruktham and answers " Anantha CheshTa yukthathvAth Aniruddha : ". His limitless pranks and leelAs make him adorable and irresistable . PeriyAzhwAr fell for those Anantha CheshTaas and took on the form of mother YasOdhA to enjoy them .. His daughter fell in love with them too and NammazhwAr and all the other AzhwArs were not spared from the overpowering charms of Govindhan saluted by the dasama skhandham of Srimadh Bhagavatham . The name AniruddhA also stands for the HamsAvathaaram of the Lord . In this AvathAram , He reinstructed BrahmA about the VedAs , since BrahmA had forgotten about them at one time due to his egotism . Hamsa Murthy is the Veda Purushan. Hamsam also stands for Parama Hamsa ParivrajakA AcharyAs , who have chosen SanyAsAsramam . This avathAra is also saluted as HAMSAGREEVAN . Both Hamsagreevan and Hayagreevan are closely associated with the four VedAs . As Hayagreevan is the Lord who recovered the Vedas from the two AsurAs , who stole them from BrahmA . The sixth name is SurAnandha: . He is the source of delight to all of the Gods , who need his protection . IndrA was taught a lesson by the Govardhana Giridara Govindhan . IndrA learnt his lessons and performed Govindha PattAbhishekam . BrahmA recognized his mistake and understood the power of this Maayan is limitless and bewildering . All of these six names lead to the most meaningful seventh name , (Viz)., Govindhan . Literally the meaning of the name has been translated as " the recipient of the words of praise ". The eulogies and doxologies originate from the Gods and pious Men and Women . Even AndAL is included here based on her Naama Sankeerthanam in Thiruppavai as compiled by Sri VeNugopaala Naicker : KoodArai Vellum seer GOVINDHAA ! Uhn tannai paaadi parai kondu GOVINDHAA ! Yaam perum Sanmaanam GOVINDHAA ! Naadu pukazhum GOVINDHAA ! ParisinAl nanrAha GOVINDHAA ! SoodahamE tOLvaLaiE GOVINDHAA ! ThodE sevippoovE GOVINDHAA ! PadahamE yenranaya GOVINDHAA ! palkalanum yaam aNivOm GOVINDHAA ! Aadai uduppOm GOVINDHAA ! Athan pinnE paal soru GOVINDHAA ! Mooda ney peythu GOVINDHAA ! Muzhankai vazhivaraikku GOVINDHAA ! KOODI IRINDHU GOVINDHAA ! KULIRNTHELOREMPAAVAAI GOVINDHAA ! AndaL sings thus about the "KuraivonrumilAtha GOVIDHAN " in Her Thiruppavai . The eighth Sahasran namAm assocated with this section is " GOVIDHAAM PATHI " . He is saluted here as the protector of those , who know the "words" . The Goh sabdham here refers to those who know the words of the VedAs ( Arya or Dhramidi Vedam like Thiruppavai and other Divya Prabhandhams ) . Parasara Bhattar takes Niruktham as his source to intrepret this name : Veda VidhpadhO Manu : " . He also quotes another source referring to Jnana Yogam practised by Parama HamsAs . This souce states : " One should meditate upon the AtmA as the HamsA incarnation , who enjoys the knowlege of sacrifice (JnAna Yagnam ) offered to Him (Govindhan ) . We will continue with Govindha Naama Vaibhavam in the next posting . Sri VaishNava Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan