Yanai Vahanam

On sixth day evening during Brahmotsavam our Varadar blesses us all in one of his favorite Vahanam, Yanai.

Perarulalan is closely associated with yanai. Varadar resides on top of Hasthigiri. Hasthi, in sansrit means elephant. Some say that Iravadam, elephant of Indira that appeared during the churning of the milky ocean, took the form of the hillock. It was our Varadar, who rushed to save Gajendaran (king of elephant) from the claws of the crocodile. It is only appropriate for our Varadar to ride on the elephant that he has rescued.

The yanai in the vahanam is very unique. You would only see the elephant from his thy upwards, in all other temples you could have the gimps of the complete leg of the yanai, as the lower parts of the legs are under water. Unfortunately, my friends were so engrossed with Varadar’s beauty that they have not captured the elephant. adiyen have requested for the picture and shall post it later. In the meantime if any of the readers have the picture, request you to share the same with us. Perarulalan’s beauty in this Vahanam is unparallel. Swamy Desikan in his Thiruchinamaalai has praised the beauty of this Vahana purappadu by saying “Aanai pari mel Azhagar Vanthar”. This being the case with Swamy Desikan you can imagine how my friends would have been mesmerized with his beauty.

Sri Parasara Bhatter in his famous commentary on Sri Vishnu Sahasranama popularly known as ‘Bhagavatguna Darpana' faithfully reflects the greatness and grandeur of the Lord's traits.

The following 34 namas (912-945) refer to the Gajendra Moksha episode. (Most of the quotations used by Bhattar to drive home the appropriateness of the namas are from the Gajendra episode in Vishnu Dharma which are not given here for the sake of brevity). Courtsey Sapthagiri magazine.

912. Sabdasahah - He who takes heed of the indistinct cries of distress of bipeds and quadrupeds even.

913. Sisirahv - He who rushed post-haste on hearing the sound of distress, 'Srutva cakra gadadharah sannidhyam Kalpayamasa tasmin sarasi'. Immediately on hearing the painful cry (of Gajendra), the Lord armed with the discus and the mace sped through at supersonic speed and stood on the bank of the lake. (Painful cry to whom it was painful? Was it for Gajendra? Or for the Lord? Obviously the latter who made a dash).

914. Sarvari Karah - He who had the lethal weapons in His hand when he went to the rescue of Gajendra. The Lord had, in His hands, the five principal weapons Sankha Chaka, Gada, Sarnga and Nandaki.

915. Akrurah - He who was not cruel. Far from being cruel towards the crocodile despite the havoc wrought by it to Gajendra. He was of tender solicitude.

916. Pesalah - He who was charming even when His garlands, ornaments and raiments were thrown into disarray due to the terrific speed with which He hurried down to the trouble spot to rescue Gajendra (Sragbhusambara ramaniyah - pesalah).

917. Dakshah - He who moved promptly that very moment He heard the cry of the elephant.

918. Dakshinah - He who was courteous to the aged, comforting the elephant in distress with soothing words even apologising in such terms as 'Fie upon me that I was far away from you when you were engaged in a titanic struggle with the bloody crocodile'.

919. Kshaminam varah - The Foremost whose very presence made the situation bearable for the elephant.

920. Vidvattamah - He gave yogic treatment to the elephant, healing it of its wounds by His mere touch.

921. Vita bhayah - He who dispelled the fear of Gajendra that very moment He came in his presence.

922. Punya Sravana Kirtanah - He who has imparted sanctity to the very narration and listening to this episode of Gajendra's rescue by Him. "O, the best of Kurus, a person who hears, thinks or talks about the episode of Gajendra's rescue by the Lord, is at once rid of all his/her sins." (Vishnu Dharma)

923. Uttaranah - He who lifted up both the elephant and the crocodile from the lake.

924. Duskritiha - The slayer of the evil doer. Having brought both the elephant and the crocodile on to the land. Madhava slew the crocodile with the discus.

925. Punyah - He who sanctifies even us who recall the episode of Gajendra Moksha.

926. Dussvapna Nassanah - How does He purify us as stated in the previous name? It is by cutting out the evil dreams. The passage in Vishnu Dharma 69 reads - mere recollection of the episode of the Gajendra Moksha is potent enough to allay (upasamayalam) the effects of bad dreams.

927. Viraha - He who exterminated the powerful adversary of Gajendra.

928. Raksanah - Bhagavan saved the elephant by gently placing His hand on it, embracing it and addressing soothing words of solace.

929. Santah - He who exists (for His devotees) or He who grants the devotee's desires (being the past participle of verb sanoti bestows) or He who increases the progency of the pious.

930. Jivanah - He redeemed even the crocodile through its regeneration into its former state as a Gandharva, duly rid of his curse. Huhu the Gandharva had been transformed as a crocodile due to the curse of sage Devala. Later, when the crocodile got slain by the Paramatma. He went back to swarga in the regenerated form (Vishnu Dharma 69).

931. Paryavashitah - He who enveloped Gajendra affectionately 'Pritiman Pundarikaksha! Saranagatha vatsalah (Vishnu Dharma). The lotus eyed Lord is affectionate towards those who seek refuge in Him.

932. Anantarupah - In such instances as this. He assumes innumerable forms at His volition to suit the needs of the occasion such as fish for saving the Vedas, tortoise for saving the Mantara mountain, Narasimha for saving Prahlada etc.

933. Anantasrih - He of interminable (unlimited) wealth all of which are meant to be bestowed on His devotees, Gajendra attained a divine body and left for the supreme abode.

934. Jitamanyuh - He who has conquered anger (keeping it under restraint, invoking it only for the nonce to quell the enemies of the devotee). In this particular context, He kept under restraint, His anger against the crocodile once the work was over.

935. Bhayapah - He who dispels the fear of the devotees. By virtue of His proverbial love for His devotees, Janardana could always be relied upon by them, as their unfailing saviour who would surely get rid of their fear (of Samsara). A true devotee has therefore no reason to feel lonely and helpless.

936. Chaturasrah - He who is adept in fulfilling the desire of His devotees (like Gajendra for whose rescue He dashed forth).

937. Gabhiratma - He of deep and profound nature. Even as He is easy of access to devotees as above. He is hard to get for others like Brahma etc.

938. Vidisah - He who is out of reach in all directions to their words of entreaty (for those as in previous nama 937).

939. Vyadisah - He who assigns duties to the respective functionaries in the divine heirarchy as above.

940. Disah - He does not treat Brahma and other functionaries who function as His subordinates in the governance of the sprawling universe with the same degree of intimacy and affection shown by Him to Gajendra, but issues commands to them.

941. Anadih - Bhagavan places Himself unreservedly in the hands of His devotees even though they are mere animals like Gajendra. He, however,, grants only fruits of lower order to Brahma and others because they do not consider Him as their foremost.

942. Bhur bhuvah - If a person has the correct knowledge of his essential nature that he is the servant of the Lord who is the Sole Master, then only he is said to exist. Bhur in the real sense. For that person (bhu) Bhagavan becomes the abode (bhuvah). That is why He assured Gajendra 'Nivasisyati mayyeva ata urdhvam na samsayah'. (Hereafter, you will live in Me alone. There is no doubt about it).

943. Lakshmih - The wealth. He alone is the aggregate of all riches for His devotees. Sarva Sampacca. My kingdom, my life and my happiness are all centered in you. (Ramayana, Yuddha Kaanda 99.5). For the Pandavas. Lord Krishna was everything (Krsnsrayah krsnabalah krsnanathasca pandavah).

944. Suvirah - He who possesses great valour. (it is by virtue of peerless valour, He retrieves His devotees from downfall and resuscitates them).

945. Ruchirangadah - He who exhibits His lovely form (unto devotees like Gajendra)