You are here: SriPedia : Oppiliappan : Sri Venkatesa Ashtotthram Home  Index  BrahmANDa : Home  Nama List :  CD&Donation  Credits

Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

Prev   ::   (pranavam) GOpIsvarAya Nama: - 23   ::   Next

Thiruvaaipaadi Navamohana Krishnan
 The Meaning of 23rd Naamam of SrI VenkatEsa AshtOttharam:
 ********************************************************
 GOpIsvarAya Nama:

 Salutation to the Lord of Sapthagiri , Who is the Isvaran of the GOpIs( GOpa SthrIs).

 Additional Comments on the GOpIsvara Tatthvam
 **********************************************
 Recently , ParamahamsEthyaathi SrImad PoundarIkapuram Andavan wrote a brief SrImukham for the special centenial celebration Souvenir for HH the 43rd Jeeyar of SrI AhObila Matam , SrI VeerarAghava YathIndhra MahA Desikan .That Srimukham had wonderful reference to the topic of Bhakthi , which Srimad Andavan defined as unique devotion displayed to the Lord and one's AchAryan. That Bhakthi should be an unbroken flow just as when the oil is poured ( Thaila-tArAvath avicchinna smruthi santhathir Bhakthi:) . There are no breaks in the stream of oil that is being poured. The key words in this definition is " avicchinna smruthi" or uninterrupted memory and anubhavam of the Lord . The Bhakthi of Gopis is an exemplary case of avicchinna smruthi . They forgot their husbands, Fathers , Brothers , Children and Houses in favor of KrishNAnusmaraNam.

 Chapters 29--35 and the chapter 47 of the Tenth Canto (Dasama Skandham) of SrImad BhAgavatham have repeated references  to that avicchinna Bhakthi of the Gopis for their Isvaran, SrI KrishNa ParamAthmA . Sukha Brahmam explains the Tanmayathvam attained by the Gopis through seeking the Lord as their " lover " ( During RaasakreeDA , JalakreedA , Trysts on the bank of YamunA):

 nruNAm nisrEyasArTAya vyakthir-BhagavathO nrupa
 avayayasya-apramEyasaya nirguNasya guNAthmana:

 kaamam krOdham bhayam snEham iykam souhrudhamEva cha
 NITHYAM HAROU vidhadhathO yaanthi tanmayatAm hi tE

 -- SrImad BhAgavatham : 10.29.14 and 15

 " The Supreme Being , who is changeless , immeasurable , unseen , transcending matter but regulating its course, adopts an individuality only to bestow salvation on Jivans. All those who always fix their minds on Hari through any sentiment --Sex-love , anger , fear , affection , sense of unity or devotion (Bhakthi) --they attain to His nature ".

 The Gopis declare themselves as country-bred girls without any spohistication . Their conversation with their Lord as His servitors is worthy of any Jn~Ani: " Accept us as the Supreme Being accepts all that go to Him seeking liberation---Oh The Lord of all and is the foremost topic of instruction of all teachers (achAryans) and Scriptures! For art Thou not the closest relative , the dearest object of love , for all JivAs , being the soul of their souls ? The really wise person entertains loving attachment only to Thee--the ever lovable soul of one's soul ".

 The song of the GopIs (YugaLa Geetham ) houses their intense love for KrishNA as their Isvaran ( BhAgavatham:10.31). As SarvEswaran, KrishNA revels over the thought of having the Gopis as those who performed Prapatthi to Him:

 " Even by service for countless divine years , I can not pay back to You anything equal to Your glorious act of self-surrender , prompted by love untarnished by any blemish of selfishness , and breaking the ever-powerful chain of attachment for home and worldly concerns . As I can not pay back the debt, May Your generous act be its own reward ! "

 --SrImad BhAgavatham: 10.32.22

 Such is the bond between the Lord as Iswaran and the Gopis as His servitors .Andal took therefore the Gopis as Her model in  enjoying the Lord at SrIvilliputthUr and blessed us with Her ThiruppAvai Paasurams with its powerful message of SaraNAgathi (UnakkE naam aatcheyvOm ) the Lord of Gopis.



Donate by credit card via PayPal