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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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Thiruvann Purushotthamam Purushotthamn
 The 22nd Naamam of SrI VenkatEsa AshtOttharam:
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 (PraNavam) PurushOtthamAya Nama:

 This naamam is the 24th nAmam of SrI VishNu Sahasra Naamam (VSN).The sequence in which the PurushOtthama Naamam appears in VSN is:

 yOgO yOgavidhAm nEthA Pradhana: PurushEswara:
 Naarasimha Vapu: SrImAn Kesava: PURUSHOTTHAMA:

 Meaning of PurushOtthama NamaAm
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 Salutation to the Lord of Sapthagiri , who is the most Supreme amongst the PurushAs (i-e)Individual Souls. He is the ParamAthmA distinct from and Superior(uthkrushtan) to Nithya , Muktha, Baddha Jeevans . There is no one equal or Superior to this PurushOtthaman .He is different from achEthanam , the object of enjoyment.He is different from the chEthanam (enjoyer). He is the Lord and controller (niyanthA) of  both chEthanams and achEthanams .

 Additional Comments on the PurushOtthama Tatthvam
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 Two slOkams of the 15th Chapter of Bhagavad-GitA ( PurushOtthama yOgam) define this PurushOtthaman:

 Utthama: Purushasthvanya: ParamAthmEthyudhAhruta:
  yO lOka-thrayam-aavisya Bhibarthyavya Isvara:

 --Bhagavad GitA : 15.17

 There is the Supreme Person other than the two (Ksharan and aksharan). That One different from the Ksharan and the aksharan is named the Supreme Self (ParamAthmA) in all the VedAs. He is the immutable one , who enters the three worlds and supports them with His power. He is of a category that is distinct from the bound (kshara purushan ) and the liberated selves (akshara Purushan) as well as " the bound-conscient matter". He is the Lord of the above three categories/worlds in His role as PurushOtthaman.

  yO MaamEvamasammUDO jaanAthi PURUSHOTTHAMAM
  sa sarvavidh-bhajathi Maam sarva-bhAvEna Bhaaratha

 --Bhagavad-GitA: 15.19

 He, who without any doubt and delusion knows Me as the PurushOtthaman , knows every thing that needs to be known to attain Me . Such a blessed person worships Me in every manner . This person knows Me as the One , who pervades, supports and rules all the three worlds and their beings.This bhAgyasaali worships Me by all the modes of worship and attains Me ultimately . I am the Para: ParANAm Parama: ( the Supreme PurushOtthaman, the greatest among  the great according to SrI VishNu PurAnam).

 In PeriyAzhwAr's Thirumozhi (4.7) , we enjoy the anubhavam of PurushOtthaman at the Northern dhivyadesam of ThiruKaNdam Kadi nagar on the western banks of Ganges. The Lord's name here is PurushOtthaman.

 The 4.7.10 Paasuram is a beautiful one distilling the essence of AshtAksharam :

 Monrezhutthu-atanai Moonrezutthu-athanAl
 MonnRezhutthu-aakki , Moonrezhutthai
 yEnRu koNDiruppArkku irakkam nanku-udaya
 Yemm PuruDOtthaman irukkai
 MoonRadi nimirtthu Moonrinil thOnRi
 MoonRinil MoonRu-uruvAnaan
 kaan-taDam pozhil soozh Gangayin karai mEl
 KanDam yenum kadi-nakarE

 This paasuram celebrates the three manifestations (AakAra Thrayams ) of PurushOtthaman through His AshtAkshara manthram and its deep meanings .

 First salutation is to PraNavam made up of three letters (A+U+M). Lord is recognized ashaving unmatched KaruNai for those who take refugein PraNavam . When that PraNavam is joined with Nama: Padham and NaarAyaNa Padham , AshtAkshara manthram results .These three padhams together house the three AakArams : the individual Jeevan's ananyArha sEshathvam ( Being the servant of PurushOtthaman alone and for no one else), ananya SaraNathvam ( Taking refuge in Him and Him alone ) and ananya bhOgyathvam ( experiencing Him and Him alone as the delectable nectar) . PurushOtthaman creates these AakAra Thrayams and sits on the opposite scale of the balance manifesting other three aakArams to reveal His three roles: Seshithvam ( Being the Supreme Master), SaraNyathvam ( Being the means for the Jeevans: neRiyAthal), and PrApyathvam ( being the place of refuge , adayum idam aathal) . PeriyAzhwAr points out that PurushOtthaman defined by Moola Manthram lives on the western bank of Gangai at Kadi Nagaram known for its fragrant groves.

 The fourth slOkam of Ashta slOki of Swamy ParAsara Bhattar , Mumukshupadi and the 27th chapter of Srimad Rahasya Thraya saaram (Moola ManthrAdhikAram) elaborate on the deep meanings of the AshtAkshara manthram associated with the PurushOtthama Naamam .




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