Naama 315-322: Parasurama Avataram

315. krōdhahā · क्रोधहा

The one who gave up His anger at the mere request of Sage Kasyapa, after having destroyed the evil kshatriya kings twenty-one times.

(oṃ) krōdhaghnē namaḥ

Sage Kasyapa, to whom Parasurama had given the whole earth as a gift, asked Him to leave the earth. At this mere request, Parasurama gave up His anger and went away to the Mahendra mountain to perform penance. Sri Bhattar notes that the next eight naamas refer to the Parasurama incarnation.

316. krōdhakṛt · क्रोधकृत्

The one who, before giving it up, showed His anger against the evil kings.

(oṃ) krōdhakṛtē namaḥ

When the evil Kartaveerya Arjuna and his sons stole the sacred cow of Sage Jamadagni and later killed the sage, Parasurama's anger rose against the wicked kshatriya kings, and He rid the earth of them twenty-one times.

317. kartā · कर्ता

The one who cut down Kartaveerya Arjuna, who was the cause of His anger.

(oṃ) kartrē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Vishnu Dharma: "He who made the earth rid of kshatriyas twenty-one times" (niḥkṣatriyāṃ yaścakāra mēdinīm).

318. viśvabāhuḥ · विश्वबाहुः

The one whose arms are for the good of the whole world, for with these arms He removes the thorns of evil-doers from the world.

(oṃ) viśvabāhavē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "ēvaṃ kaṇṭakōddhārēṇa viśvasmai yasya bāhuḥ", "His arms are for the good of the whole world, because with them He removes the thorns (the wicked) from it."

319. mahīdharaḥ · महीधरः

The one who supports the earth by removing the burden of the wicked from it.

(oṃ) mahīdharāya namaḥ

By removing the burden of the wicked kings, He supported the earth, just as He did later as Krishna. Bhoomi Devi herself prayed to the Lord to relieve her of this burden.

अच्युतः प्रथितः प्राणः प्राणदो वासवानुजः ।

अपान्निधि रधिष्ठानमप्रमत्तः प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ ३५ ॥

acyutaḥ prathitaḥ prāṇaḥ prāṇadō vāsavānujaḥ |

apānnidhi radhiṣṭhānamapramattaḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ || 35 ||

320. acyutaḥ · अच्युतः

The one who never falls from His status. Even when He is born among beings like Brahma, Indra and Varuna, who are subject to birth and loss of position, He never loses His supreme lordship.

(oṃ) acyutāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the words of the devas: "Even when You are born among Brahma, Indra, Varuna, and others, who are subject to birth and loss of position, You never fall from Your status. Therefore, You are Acyuta." This naama occurred earlier as the 101st naama and occurs again as the 557th naama.

321. prathitaḥ · प्रथितः

The one who has great fame and is the sole repository of all fame.

(oṃ) prathitāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Taittiriya Narayaniyam, "His name is great glory" (tasya nāma mahadyaśaḥ), and the Svetasvatara Upanishad, "He is the only repository of all fame" (yaśaśca ēka bhājanam).

322. prāṇaḥ · प्राणः

The one who is the very life-breath of those who resort to Him.

(oṃ) prāṇāya namaḥ

The Lord says in the Kaushitaki Upanishad, "Indeed, I am the prāṇa and the omniscient Self. Worship and meditate on Me as life and as immortality."