Naama 391-421: Sri Rama Avataram

391. pararddhiḥ · परर्द्धिः

The one who is full of noble and auspicious qualities. In His incarnation as Rama, the abundance of His auspicious qualities shines even more than His supreme lordship.

(oṃ) pararddhayē namaḥ

Here begins the story of Sri Rama, which is said to bring even the dead back to life. Because of His qualities, Rama is often compared with the moon and other things that are lower than Him. The Ramayana says, "In valour, Rama is similar to Vishnu; He has a delightful appearance like the moon." When Dasaratha's ministers were consulted about Rama's coronation, they said, "O King! Many are the auspicious qualities of your son Rama."

392. paramaspaṣṭaḥ · परमस्पष्टः

The one whose greatness can be clearly seen with one's own eyes.

(oṃ) paramaspaṣṭāya namaḥ

Mandodari said after the death of Ravana, "It is evident that Rama is the great yogi, the Supreme Soul, the eternal one." It is also said, "Sri Rama is the sun even of the sun."

393. tuṣṭaḥ · तुष्टः

The one who was more pleased to be the son of Dasaratha and the protector of the world, where everyone had the right to approach Him for help, than with His status of supreme lordship, which can be approached only by those with the necessary qualifications.

(oṃ) tuṣṭāya namaḥ

Rama Himself told the devas who appeared before Him after the war, "I consider Myself to be a human being, Rama, the son of Dasaratha."

394. puṣṭaḥ · पुष्टः

The one who is replete with noble qualities such as these.

(oṃ) puṣṭāya namaḥ

Because He is complete in every respect, there is no room in Him for likes and dislikes, wants and desires. Thiruvalluvar describes the Lord as "the one who has neither desire nor aversion" (vēṇḍudal vēṇḍāmai ilān). Meditating on this naama helps us move towards that state ourselves.

395. śubhēkṣaṇaḥ · शुभेक्षणः

The one whose charming, cool, large, and long lotus-like eyes reveal both His lordship and His loving nature.

(oṃ) śubhēkṣaṇāya namaḥ

It is also said, "Whoever has not seen Rama, or whomsoever Rama has not seen, that person is condemned by all the people of the world, and even their own self condemns them."

रामो विरामो विरतो मार्गो नेयो नयोऽनयः ।

वीरश्शक्तिमतां श्रेष्ठो धर्मो धर्मविदुत्तमः ॥ ४३ ॥

rāmō virāmō viratō mārgō nēyō nayō’nayaḥ |

vīraśśaktimatāṃ śrēṣṭhō dharmō dharmaviduttamaḥ || 43 ||

396. rāmaḥ · रामः

The one in whom all beings delight, being charmed by His form and His qualities.

(oṃ) rāmāya namaḥ

The Ramayana describes Rama as "the foremost among those who delight the minds of all people," and as "the dark-hued and red-eyed youth who is majestic like the best of elephants." Just as the sun shines with its rays, Rama shone brightly with His qualities, which charmed the people of His kingdom and were a source of joy to His father.

397. virāmaḥ · विरामः

The one before whom all become powerless, the devas like Brahma who grant boons, the asuras like Ravana who have obtained them, and even the boons themselves.

(oṃ) virāmāya namaḥ

It is said, "Neither the four-faced Brahma, nor Rudra, nor Indra, the chief of the devas, can save the one whom Rama has resolved to slay."

398. viratō mārgaḥ · विरतो मार्गः

The one who, by His natural spirit of detachment, had no love for kingship and other such trifles.

(oṃ) viratāya mārgāya namaḥ

Even the loss of the kingdom did not take away Rama's splendour, just as the night cannot take away the loveliness of the moon. Sita says, "When Sri Rama gave up the kingdom in obedience to His father's words and led me to the forest on foot, there was neither disappointment nor grief nor fear in Rama." Another reading of this naama is virajō mārgaḥ, meaning "the path shown by Sri Rama is faultless."

399. nēyaḥ · नेयः

The one who willingly follows the commands of His friends and devotees.

(oṃ) nēyāya namaḥ

When Lakshmana was struck unconscious by Ravana's weapon, the asuras could not lift him. But Hanuman, the son of Vayu, lifted him with ease, because of his love and devotion for the Lord. In the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna told Yudhishthira, "When I am here for doing what is good for you, ask Me to do whatever you want. I shall certainly carry out your behests."

400. nayaḥ · नयः

The one who, by His benevolent nature, draws all beings towards Himself.

(oṃ) nayāya namaḥ

The sages of the forest said to Rama, "We are to be protected by You always, like children, even though we are sages whose treasure is penance."

401. anayaḥ · अनयः

The one who cannot be led away by those who are not well-disposed towards Him.

(oṃ) anayāya namaḥ

Ravana, who could lift with ease the Himalayas, the Mandara, and the Meru mountains, could not lift even the younger brother of Bharata (Lakshmana), who had fallen unconscious on the battlefield. Alternatively, there is no one other than the Lord who can bring prosperity to the world.

402. vīraḥ · वीरः

The one who is the cause of terror for the rakshasas.

(oṃ) vīrāya namaḥ

Maricha said, "In every tree I see Sri Rama, dressed in tree bark and black deerskin, with His bow drawn, as though He were the god of death with a noose in hand."

403. śaktimatāṃ śrēṣṭhaḥ · शक्तिमतां श्रेष्ठः

The one who is the greatest among the powerful, including the devas.

(oṃ) śaktimatāṃ śrēṣṭhāya namaḥ

After the death of Ravana, Brahma said to Rama, "O foremost among the devas! How is it that You do not seem to know Your own self?" Ravana's own spies said, "The devas, asuras, gandharvas, nagas, and yakshas together cannot stand against Sri Rama in battle."

404. dharmaḥ · धर्मः

The one who sustains all beings by conferring prosperity and salvation upon them. He is dharma incarnate.

(oṃ) dharmāya namaḥ

Before sending his arrow towards Indrajit, Lakshmana said, "If Sri Rama, the son of Dasaratha, is dharma incarnate, wedded to truth, and unparalleled in valour, then, O arrow, kill the son of Ravana!" Maricha himself called Rama "the embodiment of dharma" (rāmō vigrahavān dharmaḥ).

405. dharmaviduttamaḥ · धर्मविदुत्तमः

The one who is the foremost among those who know dharma. Though Rama was their disciple, Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Markandeya, and other sages resorted to Him for knowledge of dharma.

(oṃ) dharmaviduttamāya namaḥ

Tara, the queen of the vanaras, said to Rama, "You are unknowable and invincible. You have conquered Your senses and are the embodiment of the best dharma."

वैकुण्ठः पुरुषः प्राणः प्राणदः प्रणमः पृथुः ।

हिरण्यगर्भश्शत्रुघ्नो व्याप्तो वायुरधोक्षजः ॥ ४४ ॥

vaikuṇṭhaḥ puruṣaḥ prāṇaḥ prāṇadaḥ praṇamaḥ pṛthuḥ |

hiraṇyagarbhaśśatrughnō vyāptō vāyuradhōkṣajaḥ || 44 ||

406. vaikuṇṭhaḥ · वैकुण्ठः

The one who brings all beings together by removing the obstacles that keep them apart.

(oṃ) vaikuṇṭhāya namaḥ

The Lord says in the Mahabharata, "I united the earth with water, space with air, and air with fire. So I am called Vaikuntha." This quality was seen when He came as Sri Rama. The people of His kingdom, remembering Him, never harmed one another. When Rama left for the forest, they no longer enjoyed one another's company. The elephants gave up their fodder, the cows would not feed their calves, and mothers felt no joy even at the birth of a son.

Children longing for their mothers' milk, husbands, and brothers abandoned everything and followed Sri Rama.

407. puruṣaḥ · पुरुषः

The one who purifies all by His very nature and is free from all sins.

(oṃ) puruṣāya namaḥ

Sabari said to Rama, "O gentle Lord who bestows honour! I have been purified by Your charming eyes." It is also said, "Sri Rama, the wielder of the Saarnga bow, is the Purusha and also the Purushottama."

408. prāṇaḥ · प्राणः

The one who is the life-breath of all.

(oṃ) prāṇāya namaḥ

This naama occurred earlier as the 67th and 322nd naamas. In the Rama incarnation, the Lord was the very life-breath of the people of Ayodhya. When He left for the forest, the whole city was as though lifeless, and when He returned, it came back to life.

409. prāṇadaḥ · प्राणदः

The one who gives life itself to all. When He left Ayodhya, even the trees, with their flowers, buds, and sprouts, withered away, and only dry leaves remained in the gardens.

(oṃ) prāṇadāya namaḥ

This naama occurred earlier as the 66th and 323rd naamas, and occurs again as the 956th naama. Here, Sri Bhattar sees it in the Rama incarnation: when Rama went to the forest, even the trees of Ayodhya withered, and with His return, life returned to them.

410. praṇamaḥ · प्रणमः

The one who, by His charming qualities, makes all beings, both sentient and insentient, bow before Him.

(oṃ) praṇamāya namaḥ

When Sri Rama set off for the forest, He moved the hearts of all the people with His charming qualities.

411. pṛthuḥ · पृथुः

The one who is great because of His far-reaching fame. He is the only seat of all fame.

(oṃ) pṛthavē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Bala Kandam: "The son of king Dasaratha, endowed with world-wide renown" (pṛthuśrīḥ pārthivātmajaḥ), and "Among them, Rama was the most renowned in the world" (tēṣām atiyaśā lōkē rāmaḥ). Nammazhwar calls Him "the one whose fame has no equal" (nigar il pugazhāy).

412. hiraṇyagarbhaḥ · हिरण्यगर्भः

The one who remains concealed in the loving and delightful hearts of those who meditate upon Him, like a treasure of gold. Even those who were not alive at the time of His incarnation are blessed by meditating on Him.

(oṃ) hiraṇyagarbhāya namaḥ

This naama occurred earlier as the 71st naama. The word hiraṇya means gold. Just as gold is pure, attractive, and highly coveted, the Lord is pure, delightful, and the object of everyone's longing. Here, in the Rama incarnation, He is the one who delights everyone's heart.

413. śatrughnaḥ · शत्रुघ्नः

The one who, with His arrows of wisdom, subdues the senses, which are our real enemies and lead us away to worldly pleasures.

(oṃ) śatrughnāya namaḥ

Just as Sri Rama defeated the ten-headed Ravana and his hosts with His arrows, He helps the yogis conquer the mind and the ten senses with the arrows of discrimination.

414. vyāptaḥ · व्याप्तः

The one who is full of love and affection towards all equally, whether they are children or elders, masters or servants, friends or foes.

(oṃ) vyāptāya namaḥ

It is said, "Rama makes kind enquiries of all His subjects, as though they were His own family, asking about their sons, their sacred fires, their wives, their servants, and their disciples, just as a father would of his own sons." Even towards His enemies, Rama is kind.

415. vāyuḥ · वायुः

The one who Himself goes to His devotees, wherever they may be.

(oṃ) vāyavē namaḥ

Sri Rama, though He is the great destroyer of His enemies, Himself went to the hermitage of Sabari, the hunter woman, and also to Guha, the chieftain of the hunters, and to the ashram of Sage Bharadvaja.

416. adhōkṣajaḥ · अधोक्षजः

The one who, like an ocean of nectar, never diminishes even though He is enjoyed by all at all times.

(oṃ) adhōkṣajāya namaḥ

Nammazhwar sings, "Though I praise Him, and all the three worlds praise Him, and He Himself praises Himself, how can His greatness be exhausted? He is like honey, milk, sugarcane, and nectar, ever sweet" (tēnum pālum kannalum amudumāgit tittippa). The more He is enjoyed, the more there is to enjoy.

ऋतुस्सुदर्शनः कालः परमेष्ठी परिग्रहः ।

उग्रस्संवत्सरो दक्षो विश्रामो विश्वदक्षिणः ॥ ४५ ॥

ṛtussudarśanaḥ kālaḥ paramēṣṭhī parigrahaḥ |

ugrassaṃvatsarō dakṣō viśrāmō viśvadakṣiṇaḥ || 45 ||

417. ṛtuḥ · ऋतुः

The one who enters into the hearts of all through the delightful waves of His qualities. The seasons, such as spring, are called rutu because they have a little of this quality.

(oṃ) ṛtavē namaḥ

King Dasaratha could never have enough of looking at Rama. When Rama approached him, it was like a water-laden cloud bringing relief to people oppressed by the heat of summer.

418. sudarśanaḥ · सुदर्शनः

The one whose very sight is a source of delight and auspiciousness, even to those who do not know His qualities and greatness.

(oṃ) sudarśanāya namaḥ

The Ramayana says, "Like the moon, Rama had a delightful form."

419. kālaḥ · कालः

The one who draws all things, moving and non-moving, towards Himself with His delightful qualities.

(oṃ) kālāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "carācara saṅkalanāt kālaḥ", "He gathers together everything, moving and unmoving." Sri Sankara derives the naama from kala, "to measure or count": He measures out the karma of every being and gives the fruits accordingly, and He is death itself to His enemies.

420. paramēṣṭhī · परमेष्ठी

The one who, after protecting the people of the world by hunting down the rakshasas, returned to stay in His Supreme Abode.

(oṃ) paramēṣṭhinē namaḥ

The Ramayana says, "He entered the resplendent world of Vishnu with His own body and with His followers."

421. parigrahaḥ · परिग्रहः

The one who accepts everyone, here, there, and everywhere, and takes them all with Him.

(oṃ) parigrahāya namaḥ

When Sri Rama returned to His abode, He took with Him not only the people of Ayodhya and those connected with them, but even the devas they worshipped and the trees and grass of their gardens. Bhattar observes that the predominant characteristic of Rama Avataram is His easy accessibility (sauśīlyam).