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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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