Naama 12-17: He who is the guide to attain Moksham

12. muktānāṃ paramā gatiḥ · मुक्तानां परमा गतिः

The one who is the supreme goal of the released souls.

(oṃ) muktānāṃ paramāyai gatayē namaḥ

Aathmas are of three types.

1. Badhaathma- These are those aathmas born into bhulokam and must rely on bhakti yogam to reach the Lord.

2. Nithyaathma- These are the aathmas that are forever bound in eternal service to the Lord and known as the nityasuris—for example, Garuda, Adisesha, Vishvaksena, etc.

3. Mukthaathma- These are the aathmas that have finally attained the Lord as the final destination and have earned a permanent place within the realm of Sri Vaikuntham.

Thus, the one who becomes the sole destination for all those who seek moksham is muktānāṃ paramā gatiḥ.

The released souls (muktas) have no needs and no wants; they enjoy the same bliss as the Lord. Yet the one thing they long for is to serve Him without end. That is why He is their supreme goal. Sri Bhattar interprets the next five names as explaining why the released souls choose the Lord as their supreme goal.

13. avyayaḥ · अव्ययः

When an aathma becomes a mukthaathma, the Lord does not allow such aathmas to return to the mortal world. The one who keeps the mukthaathma from the process of rebirth is avyayaḥ.

(oṃ) avyayāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "na vīyatē na vyapagamyatē iti avyayaḥ", "He does not send them away." The Yama Smriti says, "Having attained the Supreme Self, the Lord, in the supreme Vaikuntham, he becomes fit for immortality and never returns again" (amṛtatvāya kalpēta na nivartēta vai punaḥ). Sri Sankara gives the meaning "the indestructible one".

14. puruṣaḥ · पुरुषः

The one who is capable of granting any wish that is brought before Him and the one who grants wishes in a very generous manner is said to be puruṣaḥ.

(oṃ) puruṣāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains this name as "the one who gives in plenty" (puru sanōti iti puruṣaḥ). He gives the released souls the enjoyment of Himself in abundance. The Taittiriya Upanishad says, "He is bliss itself; having attained that bliss, one becomes blissful" (rasō vai saḥ, rasaṃ hyēvāyaṃ labdhvānandī bhavati). The Mahabharata gives another meaning: "Because the great Self pervades and dwells in this holy city of nine gates (the body), He is called puruṣa" (navadvāraṃ puraṃ puṇyam … vyāpya śētē mahātmā yastasmāt puruṣa ucyatē).

15. sākṣī · साक्षी

The one who derives happiness in the bliss of the mukthaathmas as if they were His children.

(oṃ) sākṣiṇē namaḥ

The Lord sees everything directly, without the help of any sense organ. Just as the sun lights up everything but is not affected by the things it lights up, the Lord witnesses everything but remains untouched. Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord watches the released souls enjoying the bliss He gives them and is delighted Himself, and this in turn delights the released souls.

16. kṣētrajñaḥ · क्षेत्रज्ञः

The one who gives the mukthaathmas the experience of always seeing the Lord's non-confined celestial form.

(oṃ) kṣētrajñāya namaḥ

The Varaha Purana describes how even the great Sage Agastya longed for Sri Vaikuntham: "Even now, I stand meditating on that best of worlds. When shall I reach that noblest of all worlds?" (adyāpi taṃ lōkavaraṃ dhyāyan tiṣṭhāmi suvrata). The Lord alone knows the way to that place and leads the released souls to it.

17. akṣaraḥ · अक्षरः

The mukthaathmas in Sri Vaikuntham are said to meditate upon the Lord. During the meditation process, the Lord is said to showcase new forms and qualities for the mukthaathmas to meditate upon, thus allowing them to engage in His true and complete form. The one capable of showing the mukthaathmas various endless qualities to meditate upon is said to be akṣaraḥ.

(oṃ) akṣarāya namaḥ

The Nirukti says, "Though constantly enjoyed by the released souls, He never diminishes, because of the greatness of His limitless qualities; so He is called akṣaraḥ" (sadā anubhūyamānō'pi nissīma guṇa gauravāt | muktaiḥ kvacit na kṣarati iti akṣaraḥ parikīrtitaḥ ||). With this, Sri Bhattar concludes his explanation of why the released souls consider the Lord their supreme goal.