SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
321) prathitha: (प्रथितः)
Since bhagavAn is popularly known to hold his greatness at all times, he is called ‘prathitha:’ – the popular one.
This is as said in the scriptures thus:
- “…His name is widely known”
- “He is the only one who is bound to succeed in everything”, etc.
Etymology: The one who is popular in this world due to his being ‘achyutha’ (as explained in the previous divine name) is called ‘prathitha:’.
अच्युतत्वॆन लॊकॆsस्मिन् प्रख्यातः प्रथितः स्मृतः |
322) prANa: (प्राणः) (also repeated in 67 and 408)
The one who is verily the life force for all souls in this world is called ‘prANa:’. (In the 67th divine name, bhagavAn’s nature of being dear to the nithyasUris as much as their very life force was expounded. In this divine name, bhagavAn being the life force for all individual souls in this world during his incarnations is said)
The scriptures hail thus:
- “I am verily the life force, and the knower. Know me to be the life of all, and verily the nectar, and worship me”
- “bhagavAn is the nectar for all dhEvas, and he is verily the life of all souls”
- “bhagavAn is called ‘prANa:’, since he is the life force in every entity”, etc.
Etymology: Since bhagavAn is like the life force in every individual soul, he is called ‘prANa:’.
पुंसां जीवितरूपत्वात् प्राण इत्यभिदीयतॆ |
323) prANadha: (प्राणदः) (also repeated in 66, 409 and 956)
Thereafter the ensuing divine names hail the kUrmAvathAra (incarnation as the great tortoise) of bhagavAn.
Since bhagavAn bestowed the dhEvas with all energy necessary to churn the magnificent milky ocean, he is called ‘prANadha:’ – the bestower of power.
In the manthra varNas, bhahavAn is hailed as “the one with immense power”.
Etymology: The one who bestowed the dhEvas with all necessary energy to churn the mighty milky ocean during his incarnation as the great tortoise is called ‘prANadha:’.
मरुतां बलदानाद्धि समुद्रमथनॆ भृशम् |
प्राणदश्च समुद्दिष्टः कूर्मरूपतया हि सः ||
324) vAsavAnuja: (वासवानुजः)
Since bhagavAn was born as the younger brother of indhra – who desired for the lost wealth and nectar by churning the milky ocean, he is called ‘vAsavAnuja:’.
The root ‘jan’ जन् (to be born) is prefixed with the word ‘anu’ अनु (following), due to which it gets the ‘da:’ (डः) suffix, resulting in the word ‘anuja:’. Since bhagavAn incarnated as the brother of indhra, he is called ‘vAsavAnuja:’.
Etymology: Since bhagavAn was born as the younger brother of indhra, he is called ‘vAsavAnuja:’.
वासवस्यानुजत्वॆन जातत्वात् वासवानुजः |
325) apAmnidhi: (अपांनिधिः)
The one who supported the mighty ocean during its churning is called ‘apAmnidhi:’.
Etymology: bhagavAn is called ‘apAmnidhi:’ due to his supporting of the mighty ocean that was being churned.
अपांनिधिः मथ्यमान-महार्णव-विधारणात् |
326) adhishtAnam (अधिष्ठानम्)
At the same time as he supported the mighty ocean, he also supported the mandhara mountain that was used as the churning rod by holding it firmly from above. Thus, he is called ‘adhishtAnam’ – the supporting base.
Etymology: The one who firmly held the moving mandhara mountain in the churning waters is called ‘adhishtAnam’. he is indeed the one who supports every entity.
भ्राम्यमाणं मन्दराद्रिं धृतवान् यॊ महाजलॆ |
अधिष्ठानं तमॆवाहुः अधिष्ठानप्रदॊ मनुः ||
327) apramaththa: (अप्रमत्तः)
Since bhagavAn is ever cautious in protecting his devotees thus, he is called ‘apramaththa:’ – the one who never falters.
Etymology: The one who is extremely mindful in protecting his devotees is called ‘apramaththa:’.
अत्यन्तावहितस्त्राणॆ ह्यप्रमत्तः प्रकीर्तितः |
328) prathishtitha: (प्रतिष्ठितः)
Since bhagavAn does not need another support for himself and stands firm in his own greatness, he is called ‘prathishtitha:’.
The chAndhOgya upanishath raises a question and also provides an answer thus: “Where does that bhagavAn rest? He rests in his own greatness”
Even the vishNu dharma says thus: “…that supreme lord, who is ever established in his own greatness…”
Etymology: The one who is established in his own greatness (without an expectation of any external support) is called ‘prathishtitha:’.
स्वॆ महिम्नि स्थितॊ यस्तु स प्रतिष्ठित उच्यतॆ |
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स्कन्दः स्कन्दधरॊ धुर्यॊ वरदॊ वायुवाहनः ।
वासुदॆवॊ बृहद्भानुरादिदॆवः पुरन्दरः ॥ ३६ ॥
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329) skandha: (स्कन्दः)
Since bhagavAn withers the asuras during his incarnation as mahA kUrma, he is called ‘skandha:’ – the one who destroys.
Etymology: The one who slays or destroys or withers the asuras is called ‘skandha:’.
असुरादीन् शॊषयति स्कन्दः स्कन्दयतीति यः |
330) skandhadhara: (स्कन्दधरः)
Since bhagavAn supports even the commander-in-chief of dhEvas – subrahmaNya (skandha), he is called ‘skandhadhara:’. After all, even subrahmaNya is also included in bhagavAn’s wealth of entities (vibhUthi).
As bhagavAn himself declares in the bhagavath gIthA, he is ‘skandha’ among commanders.
Etymology: The one who supports even the six headed subrahmaNya is called ‘skandhadhara:’.
स स्कन्दधर आख्यातः षडाननविधारणात् |
adiyen srinivasa raja ramanuja dasan
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