Naama 437-445: The Lord as the Simsumara (the cluster of stars)

437. sthaviṣṭhaḥ · स्थविष्ठः

The one who is of an extremely vast form, as the cluster of stars known as Simsumara.

(oṃ) sthaviṣṭhāya namaḥ

In the heavens, there is a cluster of stars in the form of a Simsumara (a dolphin), described in the Vedas and the Vishnu Purana. This cluster is said to be the form of the Lord Himself.

438. bhūḥ · भूः

The one who supports all, because of His connection with Dhruva, the pole star, which is at the tail end of the Simsumara.

(oṃ) bhuvē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord is the support (bhūḥ) of the whole circle of stars in the form of the Simsumara (the celestial porpoise) described in the previous naamas. The root bhū means "to be": He alone truly exists by Himself, without depending on anything else, while all other beings depend on Him for their existence.

439. dharmayūpaḥ · धर्मयूपः

The one who has united the principle of dharma with a part of His body, namely His head.

(oṃ) dharmayūpāya namaḥ

It is said, "Dharma has resorted to His head."

440. mahāmakhaḥ · महामखः

The one who has dharma as His body, of which the sacred yajna is an organ.

(oṃ) mahāmakhāya namaḥ

The word makha means a sacrifice (yajña). A sacrifice is something that gives the desired fruit when it is completed. The Lord is the great sacrifice, because He alone gives His devotees everything that they desire, including Himself.

441. nakṣatranēmiḥ · नक्षत्रनेमिः

The one who makes the wheel of stars go round.

(oṃ) nakṣatranēmayē namaḥ

The Vishnu Purana says, "As He goes round, He makes the sun, the moon, and the other planets revolve. All the stars also follow Him, like a wheel moving in a circle."

442. nakṣatrī · नक्षत्री

The one who, having His place in the heart of the Simsumara, is the support of all the luminaries.

(oṃ) nakṣatriṇē namaḥ

Just as one who has a field (kṣētra) is called kṣētrī, and one who has a body (śarīra) is called śarīrī, the one who has the stars is called nakṣatrī. Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord is the master and the driving force behind the Simsumara, which holds all the stars.

443. kṣamaḥ · क्षमः

The one who bears with ease the burden of the entire universe.

(oṃ) kṣamāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "akhila bhuvana bhāram anāyāsēna kṣamatē", "He bears the burden of the entire universe without effort." Sri Sankara explains the naama as "the one who is capable in all actions" (sarva kāryēṣu samarthaḥ). Kṣamā also means patience: the Lord patiently bears with our countless faults.

444. kṣāmaḥ · क्षामः

The one who alone remains, in a diminished form, at the time of the interim deluge, when all the other stars have disappeared.

(oṃ) kṣāmāya namaḥ

The Vishnu Purana says, "O Maitreya! At the time of the dissolution, all the luminaries up to the region of Dhruva disappear, and Dhruva alone remains shining in his place."

445. samīhanaḥ · समीहनः

The one who, after the deluge, at the time of creation, makes all beings carry out their work in their respective positions.

(oṃ) samīhanāya namaḥ

In the Udyoga Parva, it is said, "Janardana, the Supreme Purusha, sets in motion, as if in sport, the earth, the heavens, the space between them, and all beings."