Naama 195-199: Padmanabha Avataram

195. bhujagōttamaḥ · भुजगोत्तमः

He who commands and reclines on best of all serpents, Adisesha.

(oṃ) bhujagōttamāya namaḥ

The word bhujaga means a serpent, "one that moves on its shoulders" (bhujēna gacchati). The Lord reclines on Adisesha and is his master (śēṣī). Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "Among the serpents, I am Ananta" (anantaścāsmi nāgānām). From this name, Sri Bhattar describes the Lord as Padmanabha, reclining on Adisesha.

196. hiraṇyanābhaḥ · हिरण्यनाभः

The one whose navel is a sight to behold as it holds the seed of creation in the form of Lord Brahma.

(oṃ) hiraṇyanābhāya namaḥ

Brahma is great because he creates all beings and gives them the opportunity to reveal their greatness. Brahma was born from the Lord's navel, and so the greatness of that navel is evident. Just as a nation that produces great people is called great, the navel that produced Brahma is called golden.

197. sutapāḥ · सुतपाः

His superior and supreme knowledge protects all of creation.

(oṃ) sutapasē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar takes tapas to mean knowledge. Sri Sankara quotes the Mahabharata: "The concentration of the mind and the senses is the highest tapas" (manasaścēndriyāṇāṃ ca hyaikāgryaṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ). The Upanishad says, "Having performed tapas (having thought), He created all this" (sa tapastaptvā idaṃ sarvam asṛjata).

198. padmanābhaḥ · पद्मनाभः

The one whose navel stalks the divine lotus upon which is seated, Lord Brahma.

(oṃ) padmanābhāya namaḥ

This name occurred earlier as the 48th naama and occurs again as the 348th naama. Sri Sankara gives another meaning here: the Lord dwells at the centre (nābhi) of the lotus of every heart.

199. prajāpatiḥ · प्रजापतिः

He who is the father to Lord Brahma.

(oṃ) prajāpatayē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "tat padmōdbhava prabhṛtīnāṃ prajānāṃ patiḥ", "the Lord of all beings, beginning with Brahma, who was born of that lotus." This name occurred earlier as the 70th naama.