Naama 171-181: General Auspicious Qualities of the Lord

171. atīndriyaḥ · अतीन्द्रियः

The one whom our limited senses cannot wholly grasp.

(oṃ) atīndriyāya namaḥ

Only objects with a fixed shape, colour, or other characteristics can be grasped by the senses. The Kathopanishad describes Him as "without sound, without touch, without form, imperishable, without taste, eternal, without smell" (aśabdam asparśam arūpam avyayaṃ tathā'rasaṃ nityam agandhavacca yat). The only way to realise Him is through pure devotion.

172. mahāmāyaḥ · महामायः

He who by his powers of enchantment presents a veil before the jeevaathma until the jeevaathma performs sharanagathi (unconditional surrender) to the Lord. Upon completing sharanagathi, the jeevaathma gains the power to visualise Him in all His beauty.

(oṃ) mahāmāyāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that by His wonderful power, the Lord conceals Himself from those who are not devoted to Him. Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "This divine māyā of Mine is hard to cross; but those who take refuge in Me alone cross over it" (daivī hyēṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā | māmēva yē prapadyantē māyām ētāṃ taranti tē ||). Here, māyā does not mean illusion, but something wonderful.

173. mahōtsāhaḥ · महोत्साहः

The one who loves to create the universe and does not because He is ordained to do so but as a sport.

(oṃ) mahōtsāhāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar points out that, unlike the god of the Sankhya system, who knows but does not act and remains indifferent, Sri Maha Vishnu is full of enthusiasm in His acts of lordship: creating, sustaining, and withdrawing the endless variety of beings.

174. mahābalaḥ · महाबलः

The one whose sovereign power is such that He does not require any support even in the creation of the universe.

(oṃ) mahābalāya namaḥ

Sri Sankara explains the name as "stronger than the strongest" (balināmapi balavatvāt). One commentator recounts how Ravana once went to the netherworld to conquer Bali. Ravana tried to lift an earring of Hiranyakashipu lying at the gate, and his hands were trapped under it. The Lord, who was Bali's gatekeeper, appeared and, with a mere kick, sent Ravana flying.

महाबुद्धिर्महावीर्यो महाशक्तिर्महाद्युतिः ।

अनिर्देश्यवपुः श्रीमान् अमेयात्मा महाद्रिधृत् ॥ १९ ॥

mahābuddhirmahāvīryō mahāśaktirmahādyutiḥ |

anirdēśyavapuḥ śrīmān amēyātmā mahādridhṛt || 19 ||

175. mahābuddhiḥ · महाबुद्धिः

He who is aware of His devotee's needs in all places and at all times.

(oṃ) mahābuddhayē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord's knowledge does not depend on sense organs or any outside help. The Svetasvatara Upanishad says, "He sees without eyes and hears without ears" (paśyatyacakṣuḥ sa śṛṇōtyakarṇaḥ).

176. mahāvīryaḥ · महावीर्यः

To understand this naama, I would like to use an analogy. Milk, over time, changes to curd. Similarly, the Lord may change the nature of His presence in creation, but that does not change the underlying truth of His existence.

(oṃ) mahāvīryāya namaḥ

Just as flowers spread their fragrance without any effort, the Lord performs all His acts without any effort. Every other thing changes with time, as milk turns into curd, but He remains unchanged. This changelessness amid all His activity is His vīrya.

177. mahāśaktiḥ · महाशक्तिः

He who can control all the changes that take place in prakrithi.

(oṃ) mahāśaktayē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar points out that this name shows that the Lord is not only the intelligent cause of the world but also its material cause. By His power, primordial matter is transformed into the world, just as milk is transformed into curd.

178. mahādyutiḥ · महाद्युतिः

He who does not require any help or support to make changes to prakrithi.

(oṃ) mahādyutayē namaḥ

The Yajur Veda offers worship to "Your greatness, which has come to be in the sun in the heavens" and "Your greatness, which has come to be in the stars and in the moon". All that shines in this world shines because of His splendour. Sri Bhattar explains that He needs no outside help to do all this.

179. anirdēśyavapuḥ · अनिर्देश्यवपुः

He is the one who possesses the six auspicious qualities of jñāna, bala, aiśvarya, vīrya, śakti, and tējas, and by having these qualities, there is nobody who can compare to Him.

(oṃ) anirdēśyavapuṣē namaḥ

Something that can be described as "this" or "that" is said to be nirdēśya. The Lord's divine body, which has all six qualities, cannot be described in that way, for there is nothing to compare it with. This naama occurs again as the 662nd naama.

180. śrīmān · श्रीमान्

The one who is so handsome that even the most beautiful jewellery fight for a place to adorn Him.

(oṃ) śrīmatē namaḥ

This name occurred earlier as the 22nd naama and occurs again as the 222nd naama. Since it comes right after the description of His indescribable body, Sri Bhattar explains it here as referring to the beautiful divine ornaments that adorn that body. Sri Sankara and Sri Bhattar give a different meaning each time the name occurs, depending on its context.

181. amēyātmā · अमेयात्मा

The one whose attributes rival even the vastness of the deepest oceans. The more one sees His attributes, the deeper one will want to look and experience Him to find satisfaction.

(oṃ) amēyātmanē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that because of the abundance of His diverse qualities described in the previous names, His nature cannot be measured. This naama occurred earlier as the 103rd naama.