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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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52) Kesavaya SrI VenkatEsaaya nama: nama:
 
Salutations to Lord VenkatEsa sporting long , beautiful , black , dense and curly locks of hair as attested by AzhwAr's words: " Taazh sadayum--Tirumalai mEl yathaikku ".
 
This is one of the best of the Lord's names, with several profound purports.
 
"Ka:" refers to BrahmA and "Isa:" to Rudra. Since both these worthies were born from Paramapurusha Sriman Narayana, He is known as "Kesava:". ("Brahma Eesayo: svaangajatvaat Kesava: parikeertita:"). The following sloka from Harivamsa attests to this--
"Ka iti Brahmano naama Isoham sarva dehinaam
 Aavaam tavaange sambhootou tasmaat Kesava naamavaan".
 
Because He is the slayer of the dreaded asuraa Kesi, the Lord is known as Kesava:
 
Since He has beautiful, black, dense and curly hair ("Kesa:")< He is known as "Kesava:". His hair falls endearingly on His forehead, we are told by Sri Alavandar--"lalaata paryanta vilambitaalakam". At the back too, the curls reach upto His shoulder and beyond.
 
According to one Azhwar, Sri Venkatesa wears His hair in long,  matted locks--"Taazh sadai", and is therefore eminently entitled to the name Kesava:
 
This Kesava naama has the pride of place among the names of the Lord, being the first to be uttered during Achamanam (a brief purificatory and preliminary ritual which is to be observed at the commencement and conclusion of all karmaas). Hence, whatever be the religeous endeavour contemplated, it has necessarily to begin with "Kesavaya nama:".
 
Sri Nammazhwar devotes an entire verse to this Kesava--
 
"Kesavan tamar keezh mel emar ezh ezhu pirappum
 maa sadir idu pettru nam vaazhvu vaaikkindravaa
 Eesan en karu maanickkam en senkola kannan vinnor naayakan
 Empiraan emmaan Narayananaale"
 
All those connected with Sri Nammazhwar upto seven generations before and after him, automatically became devotees of Lord Kesava, declares Azhwar.
 
It is this Kesava who protects us from the front, says the Dvaadasa naama Pancharam--"purastaat Kesava: paatu". Among the twelve places at which Tiruman and SrIchoornam are worn, the first and foremost one on the forehead is worn with the Kesava naama.
 
The "Panniru thirunaamam" of Swami Desikan tells us that this Kesava  moorthy's complexion is that of beaten red gold and that He holds not one, but four glowing Chakraas in His four hands--" tesiudai aazhigal naangudan sem pasum pon malai pol".
 
"Chatu: chakram namasyaami Kesavam kanaka prabham".
 
Sri Andal chides her friends for their indolence, even after listening to the singing of the enthralling and energising Kesava naama--"Kesavanai paadavum nee kEtte kidatthiyo".
 



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