Naama 334-345: Para Vasudeva and His qualities

334. vāsudēvaḥ · वासुदेवः

The one who lives in all the worlds and makes them live within Him, protecting them just as a mother bird covers its young ones with its outspread wings. He is also the one who sports, wishes to conquer, shines, is praised by all, and goes to His devotees.

(oṃ) vāsudēvāya namaḥ

The twelve names from this naama to the 345th describe Para Vasudeva and His qualities. It is notable that the Vasudeva mantra (oṃ namō bhagavatē vāsudēvāya) also has twelve letters.

The Lord Himself says, "Like the sun that covers the entire world with its rays, I cover the whole world, and I am the abode of all beings. So I am called Vasudeva." Sri Bhattar adds that the deeper meaning of this name is a secret that has to be learnt from an Acharya.

335. bṛhadbhānuḥ · बृहद्भानुः

The one who shines by virtue of His world of enjoyment, Sri Vaikuntham, whose rays are eternal and radiant.

(oṃ) bṛhadbhānavē namaḥ

In the Udyoga Parva it is said, "He whose great rays surpass the sun and the moon, and who illumines the universe with them, is called bṛhadbhānuḥ." The Mundaka Upanishad says, "There the sun does not shine, nor the moon and the stars, nor these lightnings, much less this fire. When He shines, everything shines after Him."

336. ādidēvaḥ · आदिदेवः

The one who sports with the worlds which are inferior to Him, creating and destroying them as He pleases.

(oṃ) ādidēvāya namaḥ

It is said, "Bhagavan is inscrutable. He cannot be commanded by anyone. He can go wherever He likes, and He has everything under His control. Like a child playing with its toys, He plays with the beings in the world."

337. purandaraḥ · पुरन्दरः

The one who destroyed the cities of the asuras. He removes the fears and troubles that come from the devas and other forces beyond our control, such as thunder, lightning, the planets, and evil spirits (Adhi-daivika troubles).

(oṃ) purandarāya namaḥ

Nammazhwar describes how the Lord, as the inner controller of Rudra, burnt down the three cities of the asuras and gave knowledge to the devas (puram oru mūnṟu eritthu amararkkum aṟivu iyandhu). By destroying their cities, He removed the fears that came upon the devas.

अशोकस्तारणस्तारः शूरः शौरिर्जनेश्वरः ।

अनुकूलः शतावर्तः पद्मी पद्मनिभेक्षणः ॥ ३७ ॥

aśōkastāraṇastāraḥ śūraḥ śaurirjanēśvaraḥ |

anukūlaḥ śatāvartaḥ padmī padmanibhēkṣaṇaḥ || 37 ||

338. aśōkaḥ · अशोकः

The one who removes the troubles that arise from within ourselves, such as sorrow, delusion, hunger, and disease (Adhyaatmika troubles).

(oṃ) aśōkāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains this naama and the next two as a set. The Lord removes the three kinds of suffering (tāpatraya): the sufferings caused by the devas and forces beyond our control (purandaraḥ, 337), the sufferings arising within our own body and mind (aśōkaḥ, 338), and the sufferings caused by other beings (tāraṇaḥ, 339). Then, as tāraḥ (340), He takes us across the ocean of samsara itself.

339. tāraṇaḥ · तारणः

The one who, like a boat, takes us across and rescues us from the fear of enemies, thieves, wild animals, and other troubles that come from other beings (Adhi-bhautika troubles).

(oṃ) tāraṇāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar reserves the meaning of crossing the ocean of samsara for the next naama, and explains this one as rescuing us from the fears of enemies, thieves, wild animals, and diseases, which come from other beings.

340. tāraḥ · तारः

The one who, by His very presence, saves all from the great fear of the ocean of samsara, with its conception, birth, old age, and death.

(oṃ) tārāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Atharva Siras: "Because He makes one cross the great fear of the ocean of samsara, consisting of conception, birth, old age, and death, He is called tāraḥ" (garbha janma jarā maraṇa saṃsāra mahābhayāt tārayati tasmāt ucyatē tāraḥ). He also quotes the Chandogya Upanishad, which describes the Lord as "free from sin, free from old age, and free from death."

341. śūraḥ · शूरः

The valiant one, who is capable of winning victory over everything.

(oṃ) śūrāya namaḥ

Andal sings in the Thiruppavai of the Lord who "went there and destroyed beautiful Lanka in the south" (senṟu angu then ilangai seṟṟāi). Periyazhwar sings of how He went and cut off the thousand arms of Banasura. The Lord's valour is always used to go to His devotees' aid.

342. śauriḥ · शौरिः

The one who was born as the son of the valiant Vasudeva, the son of Soora. This special quality makes Him go towards His devotees.

(oṃ) śaurayē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that this special quality of valour, inherited from His father Vasudeva (who is also called Sura), makes Him go towards His devotees to help them.

343. janēśvaraḥ · जनेश्वरः

The Lord of all people, whose overflowing lordship submerges everything and shines brilliantly.

(oṃ) janēśvarāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord has a great flood of overflowing lordship that submerges everything and shines brilliantly. Yet, as the next naama shows, He never lets this lordship stand in the way of His devotees.

344. anukūlaḥ · अनुकूलः

The one who, despite His greatness, has no conceit or arrogance and never crosses the limits of His lordship. He is always gentle and agreeable towards His devotees.

(oṃ) anukūlāya namaḥ

When Yasoda tied the little Krishna to the mortar, she said, "O mischievous child! Free Yourself if You can!" The Lord of all the worlds allowed Himself to be tied by the love of His mother. Even though He has unlimited power, He remains within bounds for the sake of His devotees.

345. śatāvartaḥ · शतावर्तः

The one whose overflowing riches swirl like a hundred whirlpools. Though His riches are unlimited, He keeps them within bounds so that He is easily accessible to His devotees, just as a river forms whirlpools when it flows through a narrow gorge.

(oṃ) śatāvartāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar notes that this quality of His overflowing riches being kept within bounds for the sake of His devotees is confirmed by His mantra: "To Him of tranquil and ever-growing knowledge and life." From the next naama, Sri Bhattar describes the divine form of Para Vasudeva.