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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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Thirukkavalampaadi Gopala Krishnan
 The 21st Naamam of SrI VenkatEsa AshtOttharam:
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 GopAlAya Nama:

 This naamam is close to the 189th and the 543rd nAmam of SrI VishNu Sahasra Naamam (GovindhAya nama:). It is also close to the 497th and 599th nAmA ( GopathayE Nama:).

 Meaning of GopAlAya Nama:
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 Salutation to the Lord of Sapthagiri , who is the protector of the Cows as well as Veda Vaak.

 Additional Comments on the GopAla Tatthvam
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 We commented earlier that The "gO" sabdham has many meanings: (1) Moksham (2) Arrow (3)Cow (4) Divine Speech/dhivya Vaak (5) The VajrA weapon (6) Sight (7) Eyes (8)JwAlai  (9) BhUmi and (10) Victory/Jayam.

 In the context of this GopAla nAmam , the meaning number 3 , the Cow , is more appropriate. He is the protector of the Cows at Gokulam and BrundhAvanam.

 He is celebrated as Baala GopAlan, VeNu GopAlan and  Raaja GopAlan by SrImath BhAgavatham (Dasama Skandham). and by  various AzhwArs and AchAryAs. PeriyAzhwAr assumed the role of YasOdhA to enjoy the plays and pranks of Baala GopAlan ( infant GopAlan ). PeriyAzhwAr celebrated the divine flute music of VeNugOpAlan and forgot himself  in that dhivya naadham..

 ThiruppAnAzhwAr visualized Lord RanganAthan as GopAlan and refused to see anyone or anything after seeing Him as GopAlan and experiencing the lingering fragrance of stolen butter in His mouth:

 "koNDal VaNNanaik-kOvalanAi veNNai
 uNDa vaayan yenn uLLam kavarnthAnai
 aNDarkOn aNiyaranganan yenn amudhinaik-
 kaNDa kaNkaL maRRonRinaik-kaaNAvE "

 --AmalanAdhi PirAn : Last (10th) Paasuram

 The entire GopAla Vimsathi is a salutation to GopAla Parabrahmam by Swamy Desikan . Each one of these 21 slOkams are marvellous enjoyment of SrI GopAlan as Baala GopAlan, VeNu GopAalan and Raaja GopAlan . Here are selected anubhavams of GopAlan by Swamy Desikan :

 BrundhAvana charam = One who roamed as a cowherd in the forests of BrundhAvanam

 VaijayanthI vibhUshaNam = One who wears the garland made up of wild flowers known as Vaijayanthi during those travels as a cowherd.

 vallavI jana vallabham = One who is the object of the love of Gopis .

 Vallava ChakravarthI = the king of Cowherds

 GopAla Dhimbha Vapusham = KrishNan , who has taken the form of a cowherd child (Aayan at ThErazhundhUr dhivya desam ).

 miTyA Gopa: = The one who assumed the role of a Cowherd boy in a stealthy way .

 Swamy Desikan visualizes the bewitching VeNugOpAla roopam in the 12th verse of GopAla Vimsathi and wishes to remember that divine form during his last moments . In the 16th to the 18th slOkams , Swamy Desikan enjoys the Raasa krIDai , the divine music emanating from the flute of VeNu GOpAlan and the bewitching beauty of Raaja GopAlan. In the 19th slOkam , Swamy Desikan enjoys the Jala krIDai of Raaja GopAlan and salutes the Lord as "Bhaktha JeevAthu: vallavI vallabha:" ( that target of the love of Gopis and the resuscitating oushadham/medicine for the samsAric illness of His devotees ).

 The entire SrI KrishNAmrutham of LeelA Sukhar is a delectable nectar of enjoyment of GopAla Tatthvam. This same GopAlan is lying down as DaamOdhara GopAalan at Srirangam (Moolavar). He is present as archai in Pancha KrishNa KshEthrams of ChOLa dEsa Thiruppathis (dhivya dEsams) and ThErazhundUr .

 All the Thirumangai AzhwAr Paasurams on the ArchA Moorthys at these  five temples elaborate on this GopAala Tathtvam .

 Being a cowherd is an extremely pleasurable occupation for our Lord: " diavattilum pasu nirai meyppu uvatthi " ( You prefer herding cows to reigning in Parama Padham as the Parama Purushan)--Swamy NammAzhwAr.




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