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Sri Venkateswara Ashtotthram 

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Vishnu: Nepal
95) Thrivikramaaya SrI VenkatEsaaya nama:
 
Swami Desikan pays a tribute to the overwhelming mercy of Srinivasa, as displayed in the Trivikramavatara, pointing out that the Lord's lotus feet touched the heads of all sentient beings (irrespective of caste, creed, colour, social or economic status) and inanimate objects, with absolutely no distinction, sanctifying everything they touched--
 
"Asesham aviseshata: trijagat Anjanaadri Eesitu:
 Charaacharam ahceekara: charana pankajena ankitam"  (Daya Satakam)
 
This is a name of the Lord which is popular with the Vedas, which contain numerous references to the same. We could perhaps say that no other name of the Lord is mentioned so frequently in the entire hallowed body of the Vedas, as that of Trivikrama. Here are a few samples from the Yajur Veda-- 
 

.treeNi padA vichakramE Vishnu: gOpA adAbhya:.

 

  trEdhA Vishnu: urugAyO vichakramE.

 

  .VichakramE prithivImEsha EtAm. etc.

 

All these refer to the glorious act of the Lord in seeking and obtaining just three feet of land, measured with the tiny footsteps of the Vamana (dwarf) Brahmachaari and later growing into a colossus whose head and shoulders shot through the various worlds above and whose giant tiruvadi measured all the universes with a single step and all the higher worlds above with another, leaving no place for the third step, which was ultimately placed upon the Emperor's head. This colossus, who transformed Himself in a second from a dimunitive Bramachaari into an immense, immeasurable giant.

 

Azhwars too are extremely enamoured of this avataara and lovingly mention the name at every available opportunity.

 

Sri Andal pays tribute to "Ongi ulagalanda Utthaman" and again, "andru iv vulagam alandaai adi pottri" "ambaram oodarutthu ongi ulagalanda umbar komaan" etc.  We should note with care that Sri Andal reserves the rare sobriquet "Utthaman" (Paragon of Virtue) to Trivikrama.

 

Interestingly, Sri Nammazhwar calls Trivikrama a liar and a cheat, in a lighter vain, for having obtained three feet of land from Mahabali on false pretences, showing His tiny feet and later turning them into colossal feet that transcended the Universe--

 

.gyAlam koLvAn KuraLAgiya vanjanE.

 

  . ariyAmai kuraLAi nilam mAvali moovadi endru

    ariyAmai vanjitthAi. etc.

 

Another interesting interpretation of  "Trivikrama" is one who transcends the three Vedas (though four in number, Rk, Yajus and Sama Veda are often known as the "trayee", encompassing the fourth, the Atharva Veda, in their ambit) with His immeasurable and boundless glory and magnificene, leaving the Vedas spell bound and incapable of depicting His praises adquately. The aforesaid meaning is incoporated in the following sloka--

 

"Treen Vedaan kramate ya: hi mahimnaa sa Trivikrama:".

 

This Lord holds four sceptres in His hands as weapons, we are told--"Trivikrama: khadga paani:".

 

In complexion, this Emperuman resembles a brilliant fire--"Jvalana prabha:" "tigazh tee niratthan" says Swami Desikan too.

 

"Agni varnam chatur khadgam bhaavayaami Trivikramam"




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