Naama 946-992: The purpose of all the Lord's actions

946. jananaḥ · जननः

The one who creates us and other beings, equipped with senses and minds suitable for enjoying Him.

(oṃ) jananāya namaḥ

From this naama almost to the end, Sri Bhattar interprets the naamas as explaining the purpose (prayojanam) for which the Lord undertakes all His actions. The very purpose of our creation is that we may know and enjoy Him.

947. janajanmādiḥ · जनजन्मादिः

The one who is the root cause of the birth of all beings, and also its ultimate purpose.

(oṃ) janajanmādayē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar emphasises the purpose: we are given birth in a body so that we may use it to reach Him. The Azhwars say that this human birth, which is so hard to obtain, should not be wasted.

948. bhīmaḥ · भीमः

The one who is frightful to those who turn away from His great grace and refuse to follow dharma.

(oṃ) bhīmāya namaḥ

When this naama occurred earlier as the 359th naama, it meant the one out of fear of whom the sun, the wind, and the other devas do their duties. Here, Sri Bhattar explains that the Lord becomes frightening only towards those who turn their faces away from His grace (mahānugraha vimukhānāṃ bhīmaḥ).

949. bhīmaparākramaḥ · भीमपराक्रमः

The one whose terrific valour strikes terror in the hearts of those, like Hiranya and Ravana, who are bent on harming the world.

(oṃ) bhīmaparākramāya namaḥ

This is a benefit both to His devotees and to the wicked themselves, for it keeps the wicked under control, just as a person who is out of their mind is restrained so that they do not hurt themselves.

आधारनिलयो धाता पुष्पहासः प्रजागरः ।

ऊर्ध्वगः सत्पथाचारः प्राणदः प्रणवः पणः ॥ १०२ ॥

ādhāranilayō dhātā puṣpahāsaḥ prajāgaraḥ |

ūrdhvagaḥ satpathācāraḥ prāṇadaḥ praṇavaḥ paṇaḥ || 102 ||

950. ādhāranilayaḥ · आधारनिलयः

The one who is the abode of those, like Prahlada, Vibhishana, and the Pandavas, whose righteous conduct is the support and example for the world.

(oṃ) ādhāranilayāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Vishnu Smriti, where the Lord tells the Earth, "O Earth! The good, who follow the conduct of their varna and ashrama and are devoted to the shastras alone, support you."

951. dhātā · धाता

The one who Himself practises dharma rigorously, and is therefore the best teacher of dharma.

(oṃ) dhātrē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Gita: "O Arjuna, there is nothing in the three worlds that I have to do, nor anything to be gained that I have not gained, yet I continue to act" (na mē pārthāsti kartavyaṃ triṣu lōkēṣu kiñcana). When this naama occurred earlier as the 43rd naama, it meant the creator.

952. puṣpahāsaḥ · पुष्पहासः

The one whose powers, which are worthy of enjoyment by His devotees, blossom forth for them like a flower blooming in the evening.

(oṃ) puṣpahāsāya namaḥ

Just as a flower opens up in all its beauty and fragrance, the Lord's tenderness and loveliness unfold before those whom He has made capable of enjoying Him.

953. prajāgaraḥ · प्रजागरः

The one who stays awake day and night to protect His devotees.

(oṃ) prajāgarāya namaḥ

Even when He appears to be sleeping on Adisesha in the milky ocean, He is in yoga nidra, always awake and thinking of ways to help the jeevaathmas reach Him. Nammazhwar describes this as the Lord's sleep in which He is thinking of the protection of the world (ulagu aḷikkum yōga nidrai).

954. ūrdhvagaḥ · ऊर्ध्वगः

The one who, by His very nature, rises above everything in every respect.

(oṃ) ūrdhvagāya namaḥ

He protects His creation without sleep because He wants to lift His devotees to the highest state, where He Himself is.

955. satpathācāraḥ · सत्पथाचारः

The one who leads His devotees on the right path, the path of natural service to Him.

(oṃ) satpathācārāya namaḥ

Lord Krishna advises Arjuna in the Gita: "Having come into this impermanent and joyless world, worship Me" (anityam asukhaṃ lōkam imaṃ prāpya bhajasva mām).

956. prāṇadaḥ · प्राणदः

The one who gives a new life to the souls who are lost in worldly pleasures.

(oṃ) prāṇadāya namaḥ

This is one of the two naamas that occur four times in Sri Bhattar's reading (the other being nivṛttātmā). As the 66th naama, prāṇadaḥ is the one who gives the nityasuris the strength to serve Him eternally; as the 323rd naama, the one who gave the devas strength during the churning of the ocean; as the 409th naama, the one whose absence made even the trees of Ayodhya wither; and here, the one who revives souls poisoned by attachment to sense pleasures.

The Nirukti says, "He is called prāṇadaḥ because, out of compassion, He gives new life to those souls lost in attachment to worldly objects."

957. praṇavaḥ · प्रणवः

The one who, through the sacred Pranava (OM), reveals to His devotees their true relationship with Him and makes them bow at His lotus feet, saying, "Bow to Me."

(oṃ) praṇavāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Atharva Siras: "Because it makes all the life-breaths bow to the Supreme Self, it is called praṇava." When the naama praṇamaḥ occurred as the 410th naama, it meant the one who makes all beings bow before Him by His charming qualities.

958. paṇaḥ · पणः

The one who behaves as if there has been an exchange, so that the roles of master and servant are reversed between Him and His devotees.

(oṃ) paṇāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "ēvaṃ tēṣāṃ svāmyadāsya vyatihārēṇa vyavaharati iti paṇaḥ." He serves His devotees as though He were their servant. We have seen this so often: He became a charioteer for Arjuna, a messenger for the Pandavas, and followed Thirumazhisai Azhwar at his command.

प्रमाणं प्राणनिलयः प्राणधृत्प्राणजीवनः ।

तत्त्वं तत्त्वविदेकात्मा जन्ममृत्युजरातिगः ॥ १०३ ॥

pramāṇaṃ prāṇanilayaḥ prāṇadhṛtprāṇajīvanaḥ |

tattvaṃ tattvavidēkātmā janmamṛtyujarātigaḥ || 103 ||

959. pramāṇam · प्रमाणम्

The one who reveals, without doubt or error, the secrets and mystic truths of the Vedas.

(oṃ) pramāṇāya namaḥ

When this naama occurred earlier as the 429th naama, it meant the one who is the authority for deciding what is good and bad in the Krita yuga.

960. prāṇanilayaḥ · प्राणनिलयः

The one who is the abode of all the jeevaathmas, just as a nest is the resting place for birds at the end of the day.

(oṃ) prāṇanilayāya namaḥ

Nammazhwar says that entering Vaikuntham is the destiny of the people of this earth (vaikuntham puguvadu maṇṇavar vidhiyē).

961. prāṇadhṛt · प्राणधृत्

The one who nourishes and supports all living beings, as a mother does.

(oṃ) prāṇadhṛtē namaḥ

Nammazhwar praises the Lord as "our mother, our father, and our very life", the three who always work for our welfare.

962. prāṇajīvanaḥ · प्राणजीवनः

The one who sustains life, just as food and drink do.

(oṃ) prāṇajīvanāya namaḥ

Indeed, food and water have the power to sustain life only because of Him. Nammazhwar says, "For me, the food I eat, the water I drink, and the betel I chew are all Kannan, my Lord" (uṇṇum sōṟu parugu nīr thinnum veṟṟilaiyum ellām kaṇṇan).

963. tattvam · तत्त्वम्

The one who is the essence of all things, just as butter is the essence of milk and curd.

(oṃ) tattvāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains, "Like butter, the essence of milk and curd, the Lord, by pervading the sentient and the non-sentient and by being useful to them, is their essence." He quotes the Vishnu Purana: "One who seeks refuge in Govinda, the supreme reality, the cause of the creation and dissolution of the whole universe, the refuge of all, never comes to grief."

964. tattvavit · तत्त्ववित्

The one who knows the truth about Himself.

(oṃ) tattvavidē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes Arjuna's words in the Gita: "O Supreme Person, Creator of beings, Lord of beings, God of gods, Ruler of the universe! You alone know Yourself by Yourself" (svayamēvātmanātmānaṃ vēttha tvaṃ puruṣōttama). The Sruti also says, "You alone know Yourself."

965. ēkātmā · एकात्मा

The one who is the one and only Supreme Soul, the master, the enjoyer, and the owner of all sentient and non-sentient beings.

(oṃ) ēkātmanē namaḥ

The Kathopanishad says, "He is the eternal among the eternal, the conscious among the conscious; the One who fulfils the desires of the many" (nityō nityānāṃ cētanaścētanānām ēkō bahūnāṃ yō vidadhāti kāmān).

966. janmamṛtyujarātigaḥ · जन्ममृत्युजरातिगः

The one who is beyond birth, death, and old age.

(oṃ) janmamṛtyujarātigāya namaḥ

Even though all sentient and non-sentient beings are His body, the Lord is not touched by their defects, such as sin, birth, and death. It is the souls themselves that experience the effects of their karma, not the Lord who dwells in them.

भूर्भुवः स्वस्तरुस्तारः सविता प्रपितामहः ।

यज्ञो यज्ञपतिर्यज्वा यज्ञाङ्गो यज्ञवाहनः ॥ १०४ ॥

bhūrbhuvaḥ svastarustāraḥ savitā prapitāmahaḥ |

yajñō yajñapatiryajvā yajñāṅgō yajñavāhanaḥ || 104 ||

967. bhūrbhuvaḥsvastaruḥ · भूर्भुवःस्वस्तरुः

The one who is like the celestial Parijata tree for all beings living in the three worlds, bhU (the earth), bhuva: (the sky), and sva: (the heavens).

(oṃ) bhūrbhuvaḥsvastaravē namaḥ

Just as a tree with green foliage and cool shade is a welcome resting place for birds and travellers, the Lord is the refuge of all beings. Sri Bhattar quotes the Vishnu Purana: "For one who resorts to the eternal tree of Brahman, there is no doubt that its ripe fruit will fall" (samāśritād brahmatarōr anantāt niḥsaṃśayaḥ pakvaphalaprapātaḥ). The ripe fruit is release from samsara and the attainment of the Lord.

968. tāraḥ · तारः

The one who, like a ferry, helps us cross the ocean of samsara.

(oṃ) tārāya namaḥ

When this naama occurred earlier as the 340th naama, Sri Bhattar explained it as the one who saves all from the fear of samsara.

969. savitā · सविता

The one who is the direct father and creator of all beings.

(oṃ) savitrē namaḥ

When this naama occurred earlier as the 887th naama, it referred to the sun as one of the stages on the path of light. Here, Sri Bhattar emphasises the word "sākṣāt", meaning that the Lord is directly the father of all.

970. prapitāmahaḥ · प्रपितामहः

The great-grandfather of all beings, because He is the father of Brahma, who is himself the grandfather (pitāmaha) of all the worlds.

(oṃ) prapitāmahāya namaḥ

971. yajñaḥ · यज्ञः

The one who is the object of all sacrifices, the means of performing them, and the one who grants their fruits.

(oṃ) yajñāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Vishnu Purana: "Then the devas, nourished by the offerings made into the fire, become the cause of rain for the sustenance of all beings." When this naama occurred earlier as the 446th naama, it was explained as the goal of those who follow the path of action.

972. yajñapatiḥ · यज्ञपतिः

The one who grants the fruits of the sacrifices offered to Him.

(oṃ) yajñapatayē namaḥ

973. yajvā · यज्वा

The one who Himself performs the sacrifice on behalf of those who are unable to perform their rites.

(oṃ) yajvanē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the words of Lord Krishna in the Mahabharata: "O Yudhishthira, for the purification of those (who are unable), I Myself always perform the sacrifices." This is a great consolation for those of us who are unable to perform the rituals as they should be performed.

974. yajñāṅgaḥ · यज्ञाङ्गः

The one for whom even the other sacrifices performed by capable people are only accessories to His worship.

(oṃ) yajñāṅgāya namaḥ

975. yajñavāhanaḥ · यज्ञवाहनः

The one who ensures the successful completion of a sacrifice by giving the performer devotion, faith, and the eligibility to perform it.

(oṃ) yajñavāhanāya namaḥ

यज्ञभृद्यज्ञकृद्यज्ञी यज्ञभुग्यज्ञसाधनः ।

यज्ञान्तकृद्यज्ञगुह्यमन्नमन्नाद एव च ॥ १०५ ॥

yajñabhṛdyajñakṛdyajñī yajñabhugyajñasādhanaḥ |

yajñāntakṛdyajñaguhyamannamannāda ēva ca || 105 ||

976. yajñabhṛt · यज्ञभृत्

The one who makes a sacrifice complete, even when it has defects in its performance, when the final offering (pūrṇāhuti) is made while remembering Him.

(oṃ) yajñabhṛtē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Sruti: "If, through negligence, there is any defect in the performance of a sacrifice, by the mere remembrance of Vishnu, it becomes complete." This is why, at the end of every ritual, we say "śrī kṛṣṇārpaṇam astu" or recite the Lord's names, so that any shortcoming is made whole.

977. yajñakṛt · यज्ञकृत्

The one who first created the sacrifice for the well-being of the world.

(oṃ) yajñakṛtē namaḥ

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "In the beginning, the Lord of creatures created human beings along with sacrifice, and said, 'By this you shall prosper.'"

978. yajñī · यज्ञी

The one who is the master of all sacrifices. It is for His pleasure that all sacrifices are performed.

(oṃ) yajñinē namaḥ

979. yajñabhuk · यज्ञभुक्

The one who enjoys the sacrifices and also protects them.

(oṃ) yajñabhujē namaḥ

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "I am the enjoyer and the Lord of all sacrifices" (ahaṃ hi sarvayajñānāṃ bhōktā ca prabhurēva ca).

980. yajñasādhanaḥ · यज्ञसाधनः

The one for whom the sacrifices become a means to attain Him, through the knowledge they produce.

(oṃ) yajñasādhanāya namaḥ

981. yajñāntakṛt · यज्ञान्तकृत्

The one who makes the true knowledge of Himself the end and goal of all sacrifices.

(oṃ) yajñāntakṛtē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Gita: "The sacrifice of knowledge is superior to the sacrifice of material things, O Parantapa. All actions, O Partha, culminate in knowledge" (śrēyān dravyamayād yajñāj jñānayajñaḥ parantapa).

982. yajñaguhyam · यज्ञगुह्यम्

The one who is the secret behind all sacrifices.

(oṃ) yajñaguhyāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar quotes the Mahabharata: "All the Vedas, all that is to be known, all the shastras, all the sacrifices, and all worship are Sri Krishna. For those Brahmins who truly know Krishna, all sacrifices have been completed, O King."

983. annam · अन्नम्

The one who is enjoyed, like food, by those whom He has given the power to enjoy Him.

(oṃ) annāya namaḥ

The Taittiriya Upanishad describes the joyful song of the released soul: "I am food, I am food, I am food! I am the eater of food!" (aham annam aham annam aham annam | aham annādaḥ). For the devotee, the Lord is the food that sustains and delights.

984. annādaḥ · अन्नादः

The one who enjoys His devotees in the same way that they enjoy Him.

(oṃ) annādāya namaḥ

This is one of the most beautiful ideas in Sri Bhattar's commentary: the joy is mutual. Just as the devotees enjoy the Lord, the Lord enjoys His devotees.

आत्मयोनिः स्वयंजातो वैखानः सामगायनः ।

देवकीनन्दनः स्रष्टा क्षितीशः पापनाशनः ॥ १०६ ॥

ātmayōniḥ svayaṃjātō vaikhānaḥ sāmagāyanaḥ |

dēvakīnandanaḥ sraṣṭā kṣitīśaḥ pāpanāśanaḥ || 106 ||

985. ātmayōniḥ · आत्मयोनिः

The one who mixes easily with His devotees, like sugar with milk.

(oṃ) ātmayōnayē namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "dugdhēnēva sitāvalayam ātmanā bhōktāraṃ miśrayati", "He mixes the enjoyer with Himself, like sugar with milk." This is a vivid example of how Sri Bhattar brings out the Lord's sauseelyam, the quality by which He, the greatest of all, mixes freely with the lowliest.

986. svayaṃjātaḥ · स्वयंजातः

The one who takes His incarnations by His own will, whenever they are needed, without waiting for those in difficulty to pray to Him.

(oṃ) svayaṃjātāya namaḥ

Lord Krishna says in the Gita, "Though I am unborn and of imperishable nature, and the Lord of all beings, I am born by My own will, governing My own prakruti" (sambhavāmyātmamāyayā).

987. vaikhānaḥ · वैखानः

The one who, having taken birth of His own will, uproots the sorrows of the world, especially the sorrow of repeated birth and death.

(oṃ) vaikhānāya namaḥ

988. sāmagāyanaḥ · सामगायनः

The one who has the released souls singing the Saama hymns in His praise once they have attained Him.

(oṃ) sāmagāyanāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar describes the released soul, drinking the honey of attaining the Lord, singing "hā vu hā vu hā vu", the Saama chant of joy described in the Taittiriya Upanishad.

989. dēvakīnandanaḥ · देवकीनन्दनः

The one who is the joy of Devaki.

(oṃ) dēvakīnandanāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar explains that through this naama, Bhishma makes it clear to Yudhishthira that all the names he has been reciting are not about some deity far away, but about Lord Krishna, the son of Devaki, who is standing right in front of them.

Sri Bhattar quotes the Mahabharata: "This Janardana, of broad and long eyes, who is your own relative, O best of the Bharatas, is the past, the future, and the present." It is this same Lord, introduced in the prologue as "the Lord who is worshipped is the son of Devaki" (dēvō bhagavān dēvakīsutaḥ), whom Bhishma names here.

990. sraṣṭā · स्रष्टा

The one who is the creator of all. Here again, Bhishma tells Yudhishthira that Sri Krishna, the son of Devaki, is none other than Para Vasudeva, the creator of everything.

(oṃ) sraṣṭrē namaḥ

When this naama occurred earlier as the 595th naama, it meant the one who grants samsara to those who desire it, in accordance with their karma.

991. kṣitīśaḥ · क्षितीशः

The Lord of the earth, who takes His incarnations more often here because there is generally more suffering on earth than in the other worlds.

(oṃ) kṣitīśāya namaḥ

992. pāpanāśanaḥ · पापनाशनः

The one who destroys the sins of all through the nectar of the stories of His deeds, such as stealing curd and butter and the rasa dance.

(oṃ) pāpanāśanāya namaḥ

Sri Bhattar's words are "atha dadhinavanītastainya rāsakrīḍādi kathāmṛtēna parēṣāṃ pāpanāśanaḥ." Even during His incarnations, He destroys the enemies, both internal and external, of the Sri Vaishnavas. Listening to the stories of His childhood with love is itself enough to wash away our sins.