Naama 464-470: The churning of the milky ocean

464. vīrabāhuḥ · वीरबाहुः

The one who has a thousand mighty arms which competed with one another in the wonderful act of churning, shining with brilliant bracelets, armlets, and garlands.

(oṃ) vīrabāhavē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's experience of this naama is that the Lord had a thousand arms, each vying with the others in the wonderful act of churning the Milk Ocean, and all shining with bracelets, armlets, and garlands. Thirumangai Azhwar sings of the Lord of Srirangam "who churned the surging ocean with His thousand arms, while the sky, the moon, the sun, and the devas trembled."

465. vidāraṇaḥ · विदारणः

The one who cut off the head of Rahu and destroyed others with His celestial weapons.

(oṃ) vidāraṇāya namaḥ

When Rahu disguised himself and sat among the devas to drink the nectar, the Lord cut off his head with His discus. In the same way, He cuts off the greatest fears of His devotees, the fear of samsara itself.

स्वापनस्स्ववशो व्यापी नैकात्मा नैककर्मकृत् ।

वत्सरो वत्सलो वत्सी रत्नगर्भो धनेश्वरः ॥ ५० ॥

svāpanassvavaśō vyāpī naikātmā naikakarmakṛt |

vatsarō vatsalō vatsī ratnagarbhō dhanēśvaraḥ || 50 ||

466. svāpanaḥ · स्वापनः

The one who, as Mohini, with Her elegant and lovely smiles, sweet glances, and the play of Her eyebrows, bewitched the asuras and lulled them to sleep.

(oṃ) svāpanāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that in His Mohini form, the Lord lulled the asuras into a kind of sleep with His beautiful smile, His sweet glances, and the play of His eyebrows, so that they forgot that He was giving the nectar only to the devas.

467. svavaśaḥ · स्ववशः

The one who, while the asuras were asleep, played with the devas, who are His own, as He liked.

(oṃ) svavaśāya namaḥ

Having put the asuras to sleep, the Lord played as He liked with the devas, in keeping with His absolute independence. He is not under the control of anyone or anything else; He needs no one's permission or help to do what He wishes.

468. vyāpī · व्यापी

The one who, in order to give strength to the devas, the asuras, the Mandara mountain, Vasuki, and the others at the time of the churning, pervaded them with His own power.

(oṃ) vyāpinē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that at the time of the churning, the Lord entered into the devas, the asuras, the Mandara mountain, and Vasuki, and gave them the strength to churn. Nammazhwar sings that He pervades every drop of water in the vast, cool ocean (parandha taṇ paravai uḷ nīr thoṟum paranduḷan).

469. naikātmā · नैकात्मा

The one who took many forms at the time of the churning: as Vishnu to help the devas churn, as Kurma to support the Mandara mountain, and as Mohini to distribute the nectar.

(oṃ) naikātmanē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that during the churning, the Lord took several forms at once: as Vishnu, helping the devas and asuras to churn; as the tortoise, supporting the mountain; and as Mohini, distributing the nectar. This naama can be compared with caturātmā (the 139th naama).

470. naikakarmakṛt · नैककर्मकृत्

The one who performed many deeds, such as churning the ocean, supporting the mountain, overcoming the enemies, and distributing the nectar.

(oṃ) naikakarmakṛtē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar lists the many acts of the Lord during the churning: churning the ocean, supporting the mountain, overcoming the enemies, and distributing the nectar. Nammazhwar marvels at "the skill of the one who churned the ocean and left in such a way that the devas ate the nectar while the asuras were left out" (kūḍi nīraik kaḍaindavāṟum amudam dēvar uṇṇa asurargaḷai vīḍum vaṇṇaṅgaḷ seidu pōna vittagamum).