The invocation continues...

The verses presented below, succeed the praising hymn (Shuklam baradaram Vishnum) that was analyzed in my foremost blog. (If you're going to read it for the first time, please do read the comments as well, because it's incomplete without the comments.) Well I spent days together trying to find meanings for the verses below. With my limited available resources (as yet) on Sanskrit and on the Vishnu Sahasranama, I’ve been able to compile only the holistic meanings. Request readers to render light onto the essence of individual words…

Invocation continues:

“VyAsam VasishthanapthAram, Shakthya poutramakalmasham,
ParAsharAthmajam vande, ShukathAtham tapOnidhim”

I bow before you Vyasa,
The great grand son of Vasishta (one of the Saptarishis / Brahmarishis)
The grand son of Shakthi, (the divine mother of all)
The son of Parashara.
And the father of Shuka,
(But who is Vyasa?)

“VyAsaya VishNu roopaya, VyAsa roopaya VishNave,
NamO vai Brahma nidhaye, VAsishtAya namO namaha”

I bow before you,
Vyasa who is VishNu,
Vishnu who is Vyasa,
And again bow before,
He, who is born,
In the family of Vasishta.

“avikArAya ShuddhAya, NityAya ParamAtmane,
sadaika roopa roopaya, VishNave sarva JishNave”

Bow I before Vishnu
Who is pure,
Who is not affected,
Who is permanent,
Who is the ultimate truth.
And He who wins over,
All the mortals in this world.

“Yasya smaraNa mAthreNa, Janma SamsAra bandhanAth.
Vimuchayate Namas tasmai , VishNave Prabha VishNave

OM namO VishNave Prabha VishNave”

I bow before Him,
The all-powerful Vishnu,
The mere thought of whom.
Releases one forever,
Of the ties of birth and life.

Bow I before the all powerful Vishnu!

The invocation does not end here. What follows is the conversation between Yudhishtira and Bheeshma Pitamaha, which further paves path to the Sahasranamas of the Almighty…

Please feel free to contribute your knowledge on the above, perhaps I could compile them into a special post. :-)

Aadhyaatma

The transcendental part of me recently found a new endeavor in the ‘pursuit of happyness’ :-) - reading verses from the Vishnu Sahasranama (1000 titles of Lord Vishnu) and trying to decipher the Taatparya (meanings and significance) of each verse. It’s easy for anyone who has heard the Vishnu Sahasranama, to guess the source for the name of my blogspot “me-uvacha” – uvacha in Sanskrit means Speaks or Says, therefore: Me-Speaks!

Though insignificant, I wish to pass the acquired knowledge on for the acquaintance and appraisal by many. I begin with the foremost of Shlokas which is used to invoke the Lord:

“Shuklambaradharam Vishnum
Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyayet
Sarva Vighnopashaantaye”

Shukla = White; ambara = Sky; dhara = Wearing; Vishnu = Lord Vishnu;Shashi = Moon; Varna = Color; Chatur = Four; Bhuja = Arms;
Prasanna = Pleasant; Vadana = Face; Dhyayet = Meditate / pray;
Sarva = All; Vighna = Obstacle; Uashaantaye = Clear / Remove;

In value, it glorifies the Lord by saying...

“Dear Vishnu – One clad in White, the all-pervading
One whose complexion is that of the Moon, One who has four arms
One who wears a pleasant smile on his face;
I Pray to thee, kindly clear all obstacles!”

The Vishnu Sahasranama was introduced to mankind during the Mahabharata.. At a time when Yudhishtira was deeply hurt by the proceedings of the war, he pleaded Bheeshma Pitamaha to guide him to peace of mind. Grandsire Bheeshma imparted the sacred Vishnu Sahasranama - originally scripted by Sri Veda Vyasa Rishi (an incarnation of Vishnu himself) – to Yudhishtira as a means of gaining inner peace and strength.