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Visvam & Rg Vedam

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • June 21, 1997 


Dear Friends : 

As I mentioned in my earlier posting , the word 
Visvam is saluted NINETY times in the Rg Veda 
Rks . I will present  examples  from each of 
the Khandams ., such references are illustrative 
rather than being exhaustive and are intended 
to encourage you to get closer to the Veda manthrams 
of our Vaidhika Matham . The ten manthraas
from each of the ten Khandams are :

1. Visvasya hi prANanam ---1.48.10

2. Visvam satyam magavAnA -- 2. 24.12

3. VisvadhEthE janimA -- 3.54 .8

4 . VisvA rhOdhAmsi pravathasccha -- 4. 22.4 

5. visvasya hi prachEthasA -- 5. 71.2

6. VisvE yaddhAm mamhanA --6.67.5

7. Visvam pratheechee saprathA --7.77.2

8. Visvam pasyanthO bibhruthA --8.20.26

9. Visvasya rAjA pavathE --9.76.4

10. VisvakarmA vimanA --10. 82.2 

Some of the beautiful Rks( 1.48.8 ,10, 12 )
dealing with Dawn (Ushas ) also include referencs 
to Visvam . The first Khandam -- the oldest section of
the oldest Vedam -- has the largest number of references 
to "Visvam " ( 17 out of 90 salutations ) . 

First KhAndam : Rk 1.100.19
********************************

visvAhEndrO adhivakthA nO asthva 
parihvritA : sunuyAma vAjam I
tannO MithrO VaruNO mAmahanthAmadhithi:
sindhu: pruthvee utha dhyou : II

Here ,  the prayer is in Trishtubh Chandas .
It is addressed to the resplendent Lord of 
the Universe ( Visvendra : ) . The Rishis offering 
the prayer are six in number ( VaaRshAgirar, 
Rujraswar, Ambareeshar , Sahadevar , Bhaya mAnar
and SurAdasar . IndrA is the DevathA . 

The Lord pervading the Universe is requested to be our guide 
each day . The prayer is for the benediction of total 
surrender (SaraNAgathi ) to Him and for the enjoyment 
of food in the manner recommended by the first manthram
of IsAvAsya Upanishad (tEna tyaktEna BhunjithA: --the renounced,
thou shouldst enjoy ) .

The prayer continues : " May the venerable , INDIVISIBLE ,
mighty God and the natural bounties of Ocean , Earth and
Heaven ( His visva Rupa manifestations ) grant us favours" . 

Second KhAndam : Rk 2.13.10 
**********************************

visvedh anu rodhanA asya poumsyam 
dhadhurasmai dadhirE krutnavE dhanam I
shalastabhnA vishtira: pancha samdrusa: 
pari parO abhava: sAsyuthya : II

Sownaka and Gruthsamadha are the twin rishis 
for this manthram ; Indra continues to be the DevathA
and the chandas is Truishtubh .

The omnipotence , the omnipresence of the Lord 
is saluted here . The manthram acknowledges that 
all the obstacles  (for spiritual advancement ) yield 
to His manly strength. It goes on to the Visva sAmrAt 
aspect of the Lord this way : " All the virtuous people 
lay before You , the emperor , ALL of their posessions " .
You are the door (entrance gate ) of mighty deeds (efforts)
and uphold(pervade )  the regions of the six extensions 
or cardinal points and offer protection to the five classes 
of men , who look upto you for spiritual guidance .
May all of our praises be to You and You alone ! 

Sayana intreprets the Six extensions or cardinal points
of the Lord as Heaven , Earth , Day, Night , Waters 
and Oushadhis ( life giving and medicianal plants ) .
The five classes of people are considered to belong to
the four VarNAs and Nishadaas . These five classes of people
have also been associated with the five cognitive organs .

Third KhAndam : Rk 3.54.8
*****************************
The Rishi for this manthram is PrajApathi ,
DevathA is VisvE devAs and the chandas is Trishtubh .
 
visvEdh yEthE janimA vivikthO mahO 
dEvAn bibhrathi na vyaThEthE I
yejad dhruvam patyathE VISVAMEKAM
charath patathri VishuNam vi jAtham II

Here , the Rk salutes the ONE BASE on which
all entities rest (i.e) , the VisvAthman . This prayer
starts with the focus on the two entities ( Earth 
and Heaven ) and states that  these two keep 
all born (created ) things discrete . It points out that 
these two comprehending Nature's great bounties 
are not themselves distressed (affected ) . The Rk 
firmly states that all the moving (ChEthanAs ) and 
stationary (AchEthanAs )  beings of HIs Universe 
rest upon ONE BASE ( HIM ) , be they animals ,
birds , humans or creatures of various kinds. 
His VisvAdharathvam is saluted throught this Rk .

Fourth KhAndam : Rk 4.22.4
*******************************

The Rishis for this manthram are Goudhama and 
VaamaDeva . Indra is the DevathA and Trishtubh is
the Chandas .

The Rk is : 

visvA rhodhAmsi pravathasccha purvir 
dhyaour rshvAj janimAn rEjatha kshA : I
aa mAtharA bharathi sukshmyA ghOr 
nrivath parijman nOnuvantha vAthA : II

The pervasiness of the Lord in all the things 
that He created as Visvarupi and VisvAthmA 
and Visva Saakshi is slauted in this manthram .

It recognizes that His sankalpam (ordainment )
pulsates ALL of His creation with His presence and 
Energy and make them vibrant with vigour . All the Hills ,
flooded (overflowing , bounteous ) rivers ,  Heaven 
and Earth start oscillating with energy and power .
 
The Lord not only pervades them and ennergizes them 
at the start , but , He as the mighty , caring and determined
parent of all of His creation sustains both Heaven , Earth 
and all that is in between . The Cosmic winds ( VaathA : ) 
raise their voices in loud salutations like a crowd of men 
in mid-region . The unity betwen the Creator, Created and
their resonances are being saluted by the two 
Manthra DhrushTAs in this Rk . 

Fifth KhAndam: Rk - 5.81.2
******************************* 
The Rishis ( Manthra DhrushTAs ) of this Rk are 
AthrEya and SyAvana . Savitha is the DevathA and
the chandas is Jagadhi .

The Rk itself is :

visvA roopANi prathi munjathE kavi : prAsAveedh 
bhadram dvipadEh chathushpadEh I
vi nAkam akhyath SavithA varENyOnu 
prayANamushasO vi rAjathi II

KAVI  : VISVAAROOPAANI PRATHI MUNJATEH  
( The all knowing , omniscient Creator as the supreme
Enlightenment pervades and presents Himself in ALL
forms of His creation . 

DVIPADEH CHATHUSHPADEH BHADRAM PRAASAAVEEDH 
( He blesses , brings forth the humans and the four-footed 
all auspiciousness) .

VARENYA: VI NAAKAM AKHYATH SAVITHA 
ANU PRAYAANAM USHASO VI RAAJATHI 
( The celebrated , illustrious Creator illumines
the heaven's high vault and continues to illumine
even after the setting of Ushas ( the first awakening /
flashes of the inner conscience ) .

(To be continued) 

Om Veda PurushAya Nama: 
Om VisvAya Nama :  

Oppiliappan Kovil VaradAchAri Sadagopan