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Sri VishNu SahasranAmam - Nama 3.

From the Bhakti List Archives

Krishnamachari, N. • June 24, 1997 


			Sri VishNu SahasranAmam - Nama 3-  .

3.  VashatkAra: - One who controls and directs (not merely pervades).

	Sri Bhattar interprets the names VishNu, vashatkAra, and
bhuta-bhavya-bhavat-prabhu, as additional elaborations of the name
visvam.   The root of the word is vas - to control as He wills. 

	It should be noted that Sri Bhattar has pointed out in his commentary
for visvam that BhagavAn is everywhere with His shAdguNya paripUrNatva
WHICH IS NATURAL TO HIM, in the commentary for vishNu that He permeates
everything that HE CREATES AND POSSESSES, and in the current one for
vashatkAra that He controls AS HE WILLS.   Thus, all these guNas are not
something that have been acquired or imparted by something external, but
this is His will and schema.

	The following passages from the sruti are given in support of the
interpretation of this nAma:

* sarvasya vaso sarvasya IsAna: - He is the Controller of all and the
Ruler of all.

* jagadvase vartatedam - The Universe is under His control.

	The summarization from Nirukti is 

	svecchayA yo sarvam vase karoti sa: vashatkAra: - One Who controls and
directs everything and everyone as He wills.

	Sri Sankara provides a very different interpretation for this nAma.  He
points out that BhagavAn is Himself  the vashatkAra  mantra, where
vashat is a sacred sound (similar to Om, svAhA, etc). used on
sacrificial offerings.   It is also used in the anganyAsa and karanYasa
practice before chanting the sacred slokas (e.g.,  sahasrArchis
saptajihva iti saktyai sikhAyai vashat).  Note the similarity  of
vashatkAra to Om kAra, a word with which we are familiar.  VashatkAra is
thus a mantra, and BhagavAn is the mantra svarUpi.   

	The explanation in terms of BhagavAn having control over all His
creations is appealing because of the continuity it provides to the
interpretations of the previous nAmas.

-Dasan Krishnamacharyan