SHAANTAAKAARAM BHUJAGASHAYANAM PADMANAABHAM SURESHAM
VISHWAADHAARAM GAGANASADRASHAM MEGHAVARNAM SHUBHAANGAM.
LAKSHMIKAANTAM KAMALANAYANAM YOGIBHIRDHYAANAGAMYAM
VANDE VISHNUM BHAVABHAYAHARAM SARVALOKAIKANAATHAM.
MEANING
I bow to Lord Vishnu the One Master of the Universe, who is
ever peaceful, who reclines on the great serpent bed, from whose navel
springs the Lotus of the Creative Power, who is the Supreme Being, who
supports the entire universe, who is all-pervading as the sky, who is
dark like the clouds and has a beautiful form; the Lord of Lakshmi,
the lotus-eyed One, whom the yogis are able to perceive through meditation,
He, who is the destroyer of the fear of Samsar.
Vishnu aspect of the Divinity.
India has two main traditions regarding the concept of God,
and the modes of worship. These are Vaishnavism and Saivism. Although
the outer practice of rituals differs, the inner significance of both
the Faiths is the same. Vishnu is believed and pictured as having a
'Shankha' in one hand and Chakra in the other. Shankha represents sound
and Chakra, the wheel of time. So also Shiva holds a Trisula in one
hand representing Kaala, i.e., the past, present and future and the
Damaru in the other hand symbolizing sound. Thus it will be seen that
three are two essential features of the Divine, namely, (1) Time and
(2) Sound - both are subservient to and controlled by him.
Vishnu symbolizes the functions taken on by divinity of sustaining,
fostering, stabilizing and strengthening the creation. So, Vishnu has
to incarnate often in order to save and salvage the world.
The mace is the sight of might and majesty. The Shankha in Vishnu's
hand, the Damaru in Shiva's hand and Murli in Krishna's hand symbolize
God's accessibility through audible praise and song. The Chakra in Vishnu's
hand and Trishul in Shiva's hand is symbolic that God is the Maker and
Master of time.
Significance
of Garuda as the Vehicle of Vishnu
It is the heart of man that is referred to as a bird. It carries the
thought of God; it moves swiftly to where He is. His abode is Vaikuntha
meaning a place where there is no shadow of grief. How far is it? It
is within the hearing distance of every grief - stricken heart. "I do
not dwell in Vaikuntha or in the heart of Yogis. I am present wherever
my devotees sing my praise Oh Narada".
The Vishnu stotra
Viswasya Anu iti Vishnu' meaning every atom of the world is
filled with His presence. We are all aware of the tremendous energy
that is present in the atom. That energy is Lord Vishnu.
The Sanskrit words that appear in the Stotra describe God beautifully.
They have the power to fill us with delight.
The correct address of God
People wander in the name of pilgrimage to holy places, takes
bath in the sacred rivers and visit temples to find their God. All these
holy places; rivers and temples are only 'care of ' address of God.
The correct address is found in the Gita Chapter 18, Sloka No. 61: "Eashwaras
Sarvabhootanaam Hriddeshe Tishati".
"The Lord is seated in the heart of all beings, Oh Arjuna". This stotra
enables the child to understand in a delightful way the Omnipresence
of God, His beauty, His Majesty and His Grace, and he is stirred to
Devotion.
Meaning of Stotra
Lord Vishnu who is ever peaceful, who lies on the great serpent
bed, from whose navel springs the Lotus of the Creative power, who is
the controller of the Gods, whose form is the entire Universe, who is
all pervading as the sky, of the hue of the clouds, of fascinating beauty,
the Lord of Lakshmi, the lotus eyed, he who dwells in the heart of the
Yogis and who can be approached and perceived through meditation. He
who is the destroyer of fear of Samsar, we bow down to the Master of
the universe.
Shantakaram
Shantam means equanimity, unruffledness. The countenance of
the Lord depicts the inner calm, happiness; balance, inner grace and
mercy, the consciousness of strength and sovereignty - the very picture
of peaceful calm. (All the deities exhibit this Bhava on their faces
and in their stance.
Bhujaga shayanam
The Lord is the very embodiment of peace calm, though reclining
on a thousand hooded snake. The snake is the symbol of the objective
world, with its poisonous fangs. Being in the world but not of it, bound
by it - that is the secret. Immanent in the universe, yet transcending
it. The Ocean on which He reclines is symbolic of the Bhavasagar. (S.S.S.V)
Padmanabham
This refers to the lotus arising out of the navel of the Lord;
Brahma is depicted as seated on the Lotus. Brahma stands for creation.
The lotus stalk represents the umbilical cord. Just as the child draws
sustenance from the mother through the umbilical cord, the creation
draws sustenance from the God, who is the Viswadharam or the basis of
the universe.
Ganganasadrisham
The Lord is like the sky, Sarva vyapi, pervades everything.
He is at all times, everywhere, besides His children. He is in the most
distant star as well in the blade of grass. He is the core of everything,
as butter in every drop of milk. A person who realizes this becomes
fearless. Therefore, the Lord is called Bhavabhayaharam. Despair is
sin against God. When he is in your heart, why do you lose hope?" Be
always joyful, optimistic and Courageous - Baba.
Meghavarnam
The dark color of the Lord is the color of the deep sea and
the vast sky. It signifies the fathomless, unfathomable. He secret is
beyond us, (S.S.S.IV/p. 168). However long you try, whosoever seeks
to know, by whatever means, you cannot grasp the mystery of My Majesty.
Only intense study with faith of the scriptures can help you catch a
glimpse of my glory. "Yogibhirdhyanagamyam".
Shubhangam
His form is full of Loveliness and charm which radiates auspicious
everywhere. (S.S.S.V)
Laxmikantam
His is the source of all wealth. He is the universal provider.
Laxmi means
- The five elements that sustain life,
Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space.
- The Wealth of sound Indriyas and good health.
- The wealth of virtues.
The Lord is the master of the five elements. He is the source of all
virtues. He is the provider of sound body; mind and buddhi.
Kamalanayanam
The Lord is the like the lotus, unaffected by the environment
where He is. That is the reason why His eyes and His feet are compared
to the lotus. (S.S.S.V)
Sarvalokaikanatham
Sustainer of the universe.
Shantakaram Bhujagashayanam
The Paramaatma is present in the minutest particle; Being in
everything; that remains unaffected.
Gaganasadrisham
That universal consciousness (Vishnu) pervades everything in
creation.
Shubhangam
He is purer than the whitest snow.
Laxmikantham Sarvalokaikanatham
That universal consciousness illumines and sustains the three worlds.
Story related to the Stotra
Lord Vishnu is described as Shantakaram; always peaceful and
steady minded.
Once Sage Kashyapa was celebrating a yajna and all the sages had gathered
to witness the same. Now there arose a doubt in their mind as to who
was highest of all the divinities. Sage Narada replied that the Trinity
- Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara were the highest of all, but Lord Vishnu
was Supreme. Either praise or blame never disturbed him. He was every
peaceful and in bliss. The sages asked Narada to prove it. Narada called
sage Bhrigu aside, whispered something in his hear. Bhrigu was sent
to verify the truth of Narada's statement.
He first went to Brahmaloka. He saw that Lord Brahma was busy in his
act of Creation. From afar, Bhrigu started condemning Lord Brahma. He
said "Oh! Brahma you don't have the proper knowledge of creation! Your
creation is full of defects and faults. Therefore all your efforts are
in vain. Not a single things in your creation is worth praising". Lord
Brahma was annoyed to hear these words. He got up from his seat and
came forward to punish Bhrigu. But the sage ran away from Brahmaloka.
Then Bhrigu went to Shivaloka. He saw Lord Shiva engaged in Tandava
Nritya. From a distance Bhrigu began to criticise Lord Shiva. He said
"Oh! You are not looking after your department properly at all. Your
task is to destroy the evil of the world; but the world today is full
of evil. You are busy dancing the whole day and are not performing the
task allotted to you, why should we worship you then?" Lord Shiva was
angry to hear this and he was about to open his third eye to burn the
sage, but the sage ran away from there.
Then he went to Vaikuntha. He saw Lord Vishnu resting upon the Sesha.
He got very angry seeing that Lord was not coming for his devotees but
seemed to be engaged in self-enjoyment; he went near Lord Vishnu and
kicked hard upon his chest. Then Bhrigu was afraid of the consequences
and was about to run away. But to his surprise he saw Lord Vishnu getting
up from his seat falling at his feet. The Lord said, "Oh sage! please
forgive me for not noticing you and ignoring you, thereby causing anger
to rise in you; My iron-like chest may have injured your foot. Let me
press it and comfort you". What great tolerance! What peaceful state!
Bhrigu was taken back to hear these words and asked the Lord to forgive
him.
Then the Sage came back to the council of the sages at the yajna and
narrated the whole story. Hearing it, all the sages believed that Lord
Vishnu alone was Shantaakaram and their doubt was cleared.
