Venkatanathanum Thiruvenkadamudayanum - part 12

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2015/11/venkatanathanum-thiruvenkadamudayanum_21.html

Matsya Kurmavataram

 

"Kann" also means ‘ocean’ in Tamil. In order to save us from the ocean of Samsara, the dayai of lord Srinivasa has even made Him to incarnate as a fish when He did upadesam to Vaivaswatha manu and saved him from the deluge by instructing Manu to build an ark. To honor the saranagathi of Devas, Lord Srinivasa's mercy, made Him incarnate as a tortoise when the milky ocean was churned. He acted as the base and supported mount mandhara on His back while the milky ocean was being churned. The following slokams from Daya Satakam composed by Swami Desikan eulogize Lord Srinivasa’s compassion as the cause for incarnating as Matsya and Kurma.

prasuuya vividhaM jagat tadabhi vR^iddhaye tvaM daye

samIxaNa vichintana prabhR^itibhiH svayaM taadhR^ishaiH.

vichitra guNa chitritaaM vividha dhoSha vaideshikiiM

vR^iShaachalapateH tanuM vishasi matsya kuurmaadikaam.h..82

Vamana Trivikramavataram

Srinivasa Perumal - Trivikrama Alamkaram

"Kann" as we have seen earlier refers to Earth. It makes us experience Lord Srinivasa as Vamana and Trivikrama when Perumal sought alms from Bali to honor the saranagathi of Devas and ended up measuring all the worlds in just three strides. He not only got back the lost treasures of the Devas but, He also protected Bali and gave to Him Patala lokam which was much better than Swarka lokam. He gave Himself to Bali and became the Guardian of Patala lokam to protect Bali since Bali had given himself to be measured by the Lord’s third stride. Perumal by His third step, placed His thiruvadi on Bali’s head and accepted his saranagathi.

Parasu Ramavataram

“Kann" refers to Earth and thus "Kannan" is Parasu Rama because he donated the entire Earth which He had won from the kshatriyas to Kashyapa Prajapathi. Parasu Rama is the epitome of mercy because He saved this world from the evil kshatriyas. He not only saved the world but, He also prevented the kshatriyas from falling into hell by killing them Himself. Surgeons physically hurt us in order to cure us; Likewise, Parasurama, killed the kshatriyas to cure them of their sins.

Bala Ramavataram

 

One of Perumal's name is "Ka". Therefore, the name Kannan also makes us think about Balarama who was the brother of Ka i.e., lord Krishna. Ka's Anna became Kannan in Tamil. Perumal out of His infinite mercy incarnated as both Krishna and Balarama to reduce bhu bharam and to protect His devotees.  

Conclusion

When we drop an item into a well, we have to take many dips in the well till we find the object we had lost. In this manner, Perumal takes many incarnations by descending into this samsaric ocean to rescue us. Perumal’s benevolence makes Him to incarnate for our sake. This is highlighted in the following slokam from Daya Satakam by Swami Desikan.

prasuuya vividhaM jagat tadabhi vR^iddhaye tvaM daye

samIxaNa vichintana prabhR^itibhiH svayaM taadhR^ishaiH.

vichitra guNa chitritaaM vividha dhoSha vaideshikiiM

vR^iShaachalapateH tanuM vishasi matsya kuurmaadikaam.h..82

Lord Srinivasa’s compassion is instrumental in making Him manifest as archa thirumenis and for making Him incarnate as vibhavavatarams. If the Lord were bereft of this Supreme Quality then, there would be no Vibhavavatarams. This supreme act is highlighted in this verse, ‘kaNNan adiyiNai emakku kaattum veRpu’ by drawing our attention to all the ten incarnations of the Lord which reveal Him as the Supreme Protector who is our Sole Refuge. 

Concluded:

Venkatanathanum Thiruvenkadamudayanum - part 11

Continued From: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2015/11/venkatanathanum-thiruvenkadamudayanum_15.html?spref=fb

Lord Srinivasa in Narasimhar Alamkaram

 “kaNNan adiyiNai emakku kaattum veRpu” can also be interpreted to denote Lord Narasimha. “Kan” refers to place; since Perumal is present everywhere, He is called as “Kannan”. Prahaladazhwan mentioned to Hiranyakashipu that, Perumal is omnipresent. He said that, ‘engum ulan Kannan’. Perumal took the form of Lord Narasimha and was present in each and every object in order to prove the words uttered by Prahaladazhwan. Perumal’s swaroopam is present everywhere but, His divya mangala Vigraham is not present everywhere. With the intention of proving Prahaladan’s words as true, Perumal took up the divya mangala Vigraha form of Lord Narasimha and was present everywhere in this divine form. The Lord incarnated not to protect Prahladan as, He could have done this task without having to incarnate but, to protect Prahaladan’s words. While the Lord had protected Prahladan from fire, snakes, elephants and poison without incarnating, He incarnated from the pillar because, with firm faith Prahladan told Hiranyakashipu that, the Lord was omnipresent. Thus, to uphold Prahladan’s faith He incarnated the instant Hiranyakashipu’s mace touched the pillar. The Lord’s Narasimhaavataram is glorious because He appeared to uphold the words of a five year old child! He appeared with the face of a lion and not that of any other animal because, Hiranyakashipu threatened to pounce on Prahladan like a lion.

Lord Narasimha appears instantly to help anyone who calls Him during an emergency. Lord Rama revealed Himself as Narasimhan when He informed Sugreevan that, with just the tip of His nails He can destroy the hosts of any beings be they asuras, rakshashas, devas or gandharvas. During other incarnation the Lord has to hold His weapons in His hands while as Narasimhan the weapons never leave His hands!

पिशाचान् दानवान् यक्षान् पृथिव्याम् चैव राक्षसान् ||६-१८-२३

अन्गुलि अग्रेण तान् हन्याम् इच्चन् हरि गण ईश्वर |

"O, Sugreeva, Lord of monkey-troops! If I wish, I can kill those devilish beings, demons, supernatural beings and ogres living on earth with just a tip of my finger" (http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/yuddha/sarga18/yuddha_18_frame.htm) The name “Kannan” therefore draws our attention to “Nirsimha Garbham”.

The glories of Lord Nirsimha are closely tied with the sthala puranam of Tirumala. During Srinivasa Kalyana Utsavam when Lord Srinivasa wed Padmavathy Thayar, the food prepared by Lord Agni for the wedding was first offered to Lord Narasimha of Ahobilam who came to Tirumala to accept the offering. Archai of Lord Narasimha is consecrated in the North East corner of the temple. This line, “kaNNan adiyiNai emakku kaattum veRpu” reminds us about Lord Narasimha whose Vaibhavam was highlighted during the Srinivasa kalyana Utsavam.

It is playfully mentioned by the devotees that, Lord Rama who was a prince worshipped Lord Ranganatha and obtained vanavasam as the fruit of His worship whereas, Lord Srinivasa who was roaming around in the forests of Tirumala was made the emperor after worshipping the Lord of Ahobilam! Hence, through this line, Swami Vedanta Desikan draws our mind to enjoy the glories of Lord Nirsimha who is often referred to as “Peria Peria Perumal” since He was worshipped by both lord Rama during His vanavasam and by Lord Srinivasa.

Lord Nirsimha is praised as the “saranagatha vatsalan” since He rushed to prove the words of a five year old child. It was to lord Narasimhan that Sri Adi Sankaracharyar prayed when he was in danger. He composed “Karavalampam” when he was in danger and prayed to Lord Narasimhan to save him. The best person to surrender to is Lord Narasimha. People who seek Moksham should worship Lord Narasimha. Lord Srinivasa as Lord Narasimhan is ever ready to protect those who seek refuge under His feet. The divine feet of our lord Narasimhan the Saranagatha vatsalan are revealed by the holy hills to even people like us. Bhishmacharya started the Vishnusahasranamam with Narasimha Avataram by mentioning “Narasimha vabhu Sriman”. He is Sriman because He is always with Sri; therefore, He is Srinivasan. Lord of Tiruvenkatam, stands as Narasimhan to save us from all kinds of danger. 

Continued On: http://thoughtsonsanathanadharma.blogspot.ca/2016/02/venkatanathanum-thiruvenkadamudayanum.html