bhu stuti

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bhu stuti

Introduction

Sri Bhumi Devi is the consort of Sri Oppiliappan in Thiruvinnagara Kshetram. I will focus here on some of the slokas of Swami Desikan.s Bhusthuthi, where he explained to us about Her special role.

If Sri Sthuthi was an elaboration of Sri Suktham, Bhusthuthi is an elaboration of the concepts covered by Bhusooktham.

In thirty three slokas, Swami offers his homage to Sri Bhudevi, as the Dharma Patni of Yajna Varaha Murthy, who fought with the Asura known as HiranyAksha to bring back the stolen Bhumi Devi from under the ocean. Our Acharya points out here that She is easy to approach by Chetanas and She is the sustenance of the Chetanas. He states that Sriman Narayana is enriched by His association with Bhumi Devi. The seventh Sloka covers his thoughts on this aspect of Bhumi Devi. Through the latter half of this verse, he proclaims:

TVATH SANGAMAATH BHAVATHI
MAADHAVI LABDHAPOSHA :
SAAKA SATAI : ATIGATHO
HARICHANDANOSOW

Here Swami Says that Sriman Narayana, who is like a Harichandana tree (a variety of Kalpa Taru ) ,gets His nourishment by His association with Sri Bhumi Devi and thereby becomes empowered to perform His duties as praised by the hundreds of branches of the Vedas .

Swami Desikan.s reverence for Bhumi Devi is revealed in the sixth sloka, where he recites Her many names to provide an unambiguous description of Her and dwells on Her many glories as the dear wife of the Lord. His choice of words are Sarvam Sahaa, Avani, Viswambhara, Achalaa, Vipulaa, Vasumdharaa, Ananthaa, PruthvE et al. By the holy name of Sarvam Sahaa, he points out that She represents Her infinite patience with us and putting up with our many trespasses. By the name Avani, She indicates Her functions in protecting the universe; by the name Achalaa, She represents Her steady resolve in helping the Prapannaas to receive the mercy of Her Lord; by the name Viswambharaa, She hints at Her duties of bearing the Universe; by the name Vipulaa, she points out to Her Immeasurable auspicious qualities; by the name vasundharaa, She reveals Her enormous wealth.

To show the unique distinction of Bhuma Devi and Her special place in the affection of Sriman Narayana, Swami states that Bhagavan carries Sri Devi only in His chest, where as He carries Bhuma Devi on His thousand heads in His role as Adisesha:

VISWAMBHAREH MADHURIPU: PRANAYAANURODHAATH
SESHAATMANAA TU BHAVATHEEM SIRASAA DHADAATHI

In resonance with the first Rk of Bhoosooktham, Swami Desikan states that She enriches and nourishes the Earth and makes it produce all riches including food and minerals. The First Rk of Bhoosuktham is as follows:

BHUMIRBHOOMNAA DHYAURVARINAANTHARIKSHAM MAHITVAA
UPASTEH TEH DEVYADHITEHAGNIMANNADHAMANNAADHAYAAYAADATEH

In this Taitiriya samhita mantram, the invocation in honor of Bhumi Devi is referred to. The meaning of this Mantram is as follows:

O Bhumi Devi! You are Immeasurable in Your dimensions; it is not posisble to asses your expanse. You shine forth in a manner that is respected by every one. Your qualities of compassion and forbearance elevate You to dizzying heights; You can not be divided into finite pieces by anyone. We offer the Agni that is capable of consuming the Havis for You in appreciation of our recognition of You producing the food that nourishes us.

Swami Desikan"s twelfth slokam of Bhusthuthi echoes the sentiments of the above Bhusooktha Mantram. It begins with the words:

Bhutheshu Yath -----

Here, Swami says that those living beings,which are the object of the mercy of Bhumi Devi get nourished through Her blessings very well; he also says that among the five elements (Pruthvi, Water, Agni, Vayu and ether), only Pruthvi, the amsam of Bhu Devi has the five qualities such as Taste, Fragrance, Shape, Touch and Sound . The rest of the four Pancha Bhoothams have one or two of the above attributes only. As a result, Bhoomi Devi is the embodiment of the mighty riches.

In the twenty eighth slokam of this Sthuthi, Swami addresses Her as Kshameh and goes on to describe Her influence with Her Lord to help chetanas approach Him. Our Acharya says that She is like a ladder (Svargaapavarga Saranim) for Svargam and Moksham. In yet another verse, Swami describes Her as the possessor of blemishless quality of Mercy (Anapaanukampaa). She prepares therefore the fearing Jivans to approach Her Lord. The chetanas are bent down by the fear that their enormous sins can not be expiated by any amount of Praayaschittam. They are sacred to experience the fruits of their accumulated sins through prolonged residence in Narakam. While they are in the grip of such terror, they pray to You and You out of your infinite compassion take pity on them and use Your influence with Your Lord to get the boon of entering Srivaikuntam.

Swami Desikan concludes the Bhusthuthi with a splendid word picture enshrined in the Dhyana slokam. Here, he describes Her as the Adivaraha Mahishi seated on the immense tusk of her Lord (Bhuvaraha Murthy ) arising out of the Pralaya waters:

PATHYUR DAKSHINA PAANI PANKAJA PUTEH
VINYASTHA PAADHAAMBHUJAA
VAMAM PANNAGA SAARVABHOWMA SADHRUSAM
PARYNKAYANTHEE BHUJAM
POTHRA SPARSA LASAT KAPOLA PALAKAA
PULLAARAVINDHEKSHANAA
SAA MEH PUSHYATU MANGALAANYANUDHINAM
SARVAANI SARVAM SAHAA

The above verse is set in the majestic Sardhoola Vikriitham meter in contrast to almost all of the other slokas of this Sthuthi, which are set in the lilting Vasantha Tilaka meter.

In the above Dhyana Slokam, Swami describes the beautiful vision of Bhumi Devi resting both of Her Lotus feet on the right palm of Sri Varaha Bhagavan and placing Her head on His Cheek, while being embraced by His left hand. Our Acharya says that the intimacy of Her cheek touching the cheek of Her Lord made Her experience the sensation of horripilation. Our Acharya prays that Sri Bhumi Devi in that state of auspiciousness (Romanjali) and the enjoyment of the proximity of Her Lord.s presence (Saamepyam) to confer on us all blessings every day.

Slokas

bhUstutiH

shrImaan.h ve~NkaTa naathaaryaH kavitaarkika kesarI. 
vedaantaachaarya varyo me sannidhattaaM sadaa hR^idi.. 

sa~Nkalpa kalpa latikaam.h avadhiiM xamaayaaH 
svechchhaa varaaha mahiShiiM sulabhaanukampaam.h 
vishvasya maataram.h aki~nchana kaamadhenum.h 
vishvaMbharaam.h asharaNaH sharaNaM prapadye..  1 

tvam.h vyaahR^itiH prathamataH praNavaH priyaste 
saMvedayatyakhila mantra gaNastameva. 
itthaM pratiita vibhavaam.h itareShvidaaniiM 
stotuM yathaavadavane ka ivaarhati tvaam.h..  2 

nityaM hitaahita viparyaya baddha bhaave 
tvadviixaNaika vinivartaya bahu vyapaaye. 
mugdhaaxarairakhila dhaariNi modamaanaa 
maataH stanandhaya dhiyaM mayi vartayethaaH..  3 

sa~Nkalpa kiMkara charaachara chakravaalaM 
sarvaati shaayinaM ananta shayasya puMsaH. 
bhuumaanam.h aatma vibhavaiH punaruktayantii 
vaachaam.h abhuumir.h api bhuumir.h asi tvamekaa..  4 

vedhastR^iNaavadhi vihaara parichchhadam.h te 
vishvaM charaacharatayaa vyatibhidya maanam.h. 
amba tvadaashrita tayaa paripoShayantii 
vishvaMbharasya dayitaa.asi tadeka naamaa..  5 

sarvaM sahetyavaniritya chaleti maataH 
vishvaMbhareti vipuleti vasundhareti. 
anyaani chaanya vimukhaanya bhidhaana vR^ityaa 
naamaanyamuuni kathayanti tavaanu bhaavam.h..  6 

taapaan.h xipan.h prasavitaa sumano gaNaanaaM 
prachchhaaya shiitala talaH pradishan.h phalaani. 
tvatsa~Ngamaat.h bhavati maadhavi labdhapoShaH 
shaakhaa shatair.h adhigato hari chandano.asau..  7 

smereNa vardhita rasasya mukhendunaa te 
nispandataaM vijahato nijayaa prakR^ityaa. 
vishraanti bhuumirasi tatva tara~Nga pa~NkteH 
veleva viShNu jaladheH apR^ithagbhavantii  8 

svaabhaavike vasumati shrutibhir.h vibhaavye 
patyur.h mahimni bhavatiiM pratipanna vaasaam.h. 
sha~Nke vimaana vahana pratimaa samaanaaH 
stamberam.h prabhR^itayo.api vahanti satvaaH..  9 

saMbhaavayan.h madhuripuH praNayaanurodhaat.h 
vaxaH sthalena varuNaalaya raaja kanyaam.h. 
vishvaMbhare bahumukha pratipanna bhogaH 
sheShaatmanaa tu bhavatiiM shirasaa dadhaati..  10 

kriiDaa varaaha dayite kR^itinaH xitiindraaH 
sa~Nkrandas.h taditare.api dishaamadhiishaaH. 
aamodayanti bhuvanaani alika aashritaanaam.h 
amba tvada~Nghri rajasaaM pariNaama bhedaiH..  11 

bhuuteShu yat.h tvadabhimaana visheSha paatraM 
poShaM tadeva bhajatiiti vibhaavayantaH. 
bhuutaM prabhuutaguNa pa~nchakam.h aadyameva 
praayo nidarshanatayaa pratipaadayanti..  12 

kaantastavaiSha karuNaa jaladhiH prajaanaam.h 
aj~naatila~Nghana vashaadu pajaata roShaH. 
ahnaaya vishva janani xamayaa bhavatyaa 
sarvaavagaahana sahaam.h upayaatya vasthaam.h..  13 

aashvaasanaaya jagataaM puruShe parasmin.h 
aapanna raxaNa dashaam.h abhinetu kaame. 
antarhitetara guNaadabalaa svabhaavaat.h 
audanvate payasi majjanam.h abhyanaiShiiH..  14 

puurvaM varaaha vapuShaa puruShottamena 
priitena bhogi sadane samudiixitaayaaH. 
paadaahataaH pralaya vaaridhayastavaasan.h 
udvaaha ma~Ngala vidher.h uchitaa mR^ida~NgaaH..  15 

vyomaati la~Nghini vibhoH pralayaamburaashau 
veshanta lesha iva maatum.h ashakya muurteH. 
sadyaH samudra vasane sarasair.h akaarShiiH 
aananda saagaraM apaaraM apaa~Nga paataiH..  16 

damShTraa vidaarita mahaasura shoNitaa~NkaiH 
a~NgaiH prayastava dadhe parirambha liilaam.h. 
saa te payodhi jala keli samutthitaayaaH 
sairandhrikeva vidadhe navam.h a~Ngaraagam.h..  17 

anyonya saMvalana jR^imbhita tuurya ghoShaiH. 
saMvarta sindhu salilair.h vihitaabhiShekaa. 
ekaata patrayasi vishvamidaM guNaiH svaiH 
adhyaasya bhartur.h adhikonnatam.h aMsa piiTham.h..  18 

bhartustamaala ruchire bhuja madhya bhaage 
paryaaya mauktikavatii pR^iShataiH payodheH. 
taapaanubandha shamanii jagataaM trayaaNaaM 
taaraapathe sphurasi taarakitaa nisheva..  19 

aasakta vaasava sharaasana pallavaistvaaM 
saMvR^iddhaye shubha taTidguNa jaala ramyaiH. 
devesha divya mahiShiiM dhR^ita sindhu toyaiH 
jiimuuta ratna kalashair.h abhiShi~nchati dyauH.. 20 

aavirmadairamara dantibhir.h uhyamaanaaM 
ratnaakareNa ruchiraaM rashanaa guNena. 
maatastriloka jananiiM vana maaliniiM tvaaM 
maayaa varaaha mahiShiim.h avayanti santaH..  21 

niShkaNTaka prashama yoga niShevaNiiyaaM 
chhaayaa visheSha paribhuuta samasta taapaam.h. 
svargaa pavarga saraNiM bhavatiimushanti 
svachchhanda suukara vadhuum.h adhuuta pa~Nkaam.h.. 22 

gaNDojvalaaM gahana kuntala darshaniiyaaM 
shailastaniiM tarala nirjhara lamba haaraam.h. 
shyaamaaM svatastriyuga suukara gehini tvaM 
vyaktiM samudra vasanaaM ubhayiiM bibharShi..  23 

niH saMshayaiH nigama siimani viShNu patni 
prakhyaapitaM bhR^igu mukhair.h munibhiH pratiitaiH. 
pashyant.h yananya para dhii rasa saMstutena 
santaH samaadhi nayanena tavaanu bhaavam.h..  24 

saMchoditaa karuNayaa chaturaH pumarthaan.h 
vyaatanvatii vividha mantra gaNopagiitaa. 
saMchintyase vasumati sthira bhakti bandhaiH 
antar.h bahishcha bahudhaa praNidhaana daxaiH..  25 

kriiDaa gR^ihiita kamalaadi visheSha chihnaaM 
vishraaNitaabhaya varaaM vasudhe sabhuutim.h 
daurgatya durviSha vinaasha sudhaa nadiiM tvaaM 
saMchintayan.h hi labhate dhanadaadhikaaraan.h.. 26 

udvela kalmaSha paramparitaad.h amarShaat.h 
uttaM sitena harima~njalinaa apyadhR^iShyam.h. 
aakasmiko.ayamadhigamya yati prajaanaam.h 
amba tvadiiya karuNaa pariNaama eva..   27 

pratyekam.h abda niyutair.h api durvyapohaat.h 
praapte vipaaka samaye janitaanutaapaat.h. 
nityaaparaadha nivahaachchakitasya jantoH 
gantuM mukunda charaNau sharaNam.h xame tvam.h..  28 

traaNaabhisandhi subhage.api sadaa mukunde 
saMsaara tantra vahanena vilambamaane. 
raxaa vidhau tanubhR^itaam.h anaghaanukampaa 
maataH svayaM vitanuShe mahatiimapexaam.h..  29 

dharma dR^ihaM sakala duShkR^iti saarva bhaumam.h 
aatmaana bhij~nam.h anutaapa lavojjhitaM maam.h. 
vaitaana suukara pateshcharaNaara vinde 
sarvaM sahe nanu samarpayitum.h xamaa tvam.h.. 30 

taapatrayiiM niravadhiM bhavatii dayaardraaH 
saMsaara gharma janitaaM sapadi xipantaH. 
maatar.h bhajantu madhuraamR^ita varSha maitriiM 
maayaa varaaha dayite mayi te kaTaaxaaH..  31 

patyur.h daxiNa paaNi pa~Nkaja puTe vinyasta paadaambujaa 
vaamaM pannaga saarva bhauma sadR^ishaM parya~Nkayantii bhujam.h. 
potra sparsha lasat.h kapola phalakaa phullaara vindexaNaa 
saa me puShyatu ma~Ngalaan.h yanudinaM sarvaaNi sarvaM sahaa.. 32 

asye shaanaa jagata iti yaa shruuyate viShNupatnii 
tasyaaH stotraM virachitamidaM ve~NkaTeshena bhaktyaa. 
shraddhaa bhakti prachaya guruNaa chetasaa saMstuvaano 
yadyat.h kaamyaM sapadi labhate tatra tatra pratiShThaam.h.. 33 

kavitaarkika siMhaaya kalyaaNa guNa shaaline. 
shrImate ve~NkaTeshaaya vedaanta gurave namaH. 

Commentary

(See introduction above)

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