Naama 6-9: He is the universe, its creator and destroyer

6. bhūtabhṛt · भूतभृत्

He who supports all sentient and insentient matter within this vast creation.

(oṃ) bhūtabhṛtē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar compares this support to the hub of a wheel. If the hub is removed, the spokes and the whole wheel collapse. In the same way, the existence of everything depends on the Lord. He supports them as their inner self (the 8th naama) and as the one who nourishes them (the 9th naama).

7. bhāvaḥ · भावः

The one who is capable of creation and the dissolution of creation at His will.

(oṃ) bhāvāya namaḥ

For example, a peacock displays its magnificent feathers when it wishes to do so. When its display is completed, it withdraws its feathers. Similarly, the Lord reveals His will in the creation process, and when the time comes, He will participate in the dissolution of everything in this world as we know it.

8. bhūtātmā · भूतात्मा

He is present as the Antaryaami to all living creatures, be it a tiny microorganism or Lord Brahma.

(oṃ) bhūtātmanē namaḥ

All things are His body, and He is the soul of all. Just as the soul enters the body and directs all its activities, the Lord directs all beings from within. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says, "He is your self, the inner controller, the immortal" (ēṣa ta ātmā antaryāmyamṛtaḥ). The Kathopanishad says, "The one controller, the inner self of all beings, takes form in every form" (ēkō vaśī sarvabhūtāntarātmā).

9. bhūtabhāvanaḥ · भूतभावनः

He who nourishes all that has been created.

(oṃ) bhūtabhāvanāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "tāni dhāraka pōṣaka bhōgya pradānēna vardhayati iti bhūtabhāvanaḥ", "He makes all beings grow by giving them what sustains them, what nourishes them, and what they enjoy." Sri Bhattar beautifully brings out the continuity among the nine names of this first shloka: He is complete (viśvam), He pervades (viṣṇuḥ), He controls (vaṣaṭkāraḥ), He owns all time (bhūtabhavyabhavatprabhuḥ), He creates, supports, exists, indwells, and nourishes.