The Twelve Sacred Names of Vishnu and Meanings.

 The Twelve sacred names of Vishnu are ---

1.Kesava.

2.Narayanaya.

3.Madhava.

4.Govinda .

5.Vishnu.

6.Madhusoodhana.

7.TriVikrama.

8.Vamana.

9.Sridhara.

10.Hrishikesa.

11.Padmanabha.

12.Damodara.

                       Meanings.

1.Kesava: The lord who has jet black ,curly lustrous and bewitching hair.

Other meanings: a.The remover of grief in Archa [Moorthy] form both in Mathura and Varanasi.

b.Brahma is known as' Ka'  and Siva is known as 'Isa' . In HariVamsa which is  written by Vyasa , Siva  says that  since both Brahma and himself were born out of Narayana's body , Narayana[Vishnu] is known as Kesava.

2.Narayanaya:He is the sustainer and the supporter of the group of indestructible and eternal entities known as Atmas.                                                                                He is also the indweller of Atmas and dictates from within.

Note:Nara means  the group of indescructible entities known as Atmas .                     Ayana means -giving support to Atmas .

3. Madhava;The consort of Lakshmi.

Other meanings: a'.Ma' means gyanam of Paramatma.This gyanam consists of  Mounam[silence],Dhaynam[contemplation],and Yogam[mental union with God].

Bestower of this gyanam is Madhava.

b.Lakshmi's husband.Lakshmi is the mother of all worlds  and He is the father of all such worlds owing to this relationship.

c.Madhu is another name of Yadava clan .Since Krishna the Avatar of Vishnu\Narayana was born in that clan He is also known by His clan name Madhava. He is reputed to have the gyanam of Parmatma.[As per Mahabharat]

4. Govinda:'Go' means speech.                                                                                          The lord receives praising speeches and hymns from the Devas.Hence He is known as Govinda.

Other meaning:One who reclaimed the earth.'Go' means earth .'Vindha' means reclaiming.

Hence Govinda refers to Varaha avatar of Lord Vishnu. [According to Mahabharat]

5.Vishnu: Vishnu means To Pervade.                                                                             In Vishnu avatar Bhagwan enters and pervades  all sentinents [living beings]and non-sentinents[things]He is the Atma of all .

Other meanings: a. He showers His blessings on all and also helps them in many ways .In doing so  He doesnot bother about the fact that He is Supreme whilst others are lower and lowly.He also never departs from them at any point of time.

b. Owing to His intrisnic nature[swaroopa]Bhagwan who has the power of creation,direction, protection and termination of worlds activities ,enters all things, beings and space.

In Aditya Purana it is stated that owing to His 'Shakthi' or power He enters into all .'Vis' means enter.

c.Since He scaled all the three worlds Bhagwan is called Vishnu .This is stated in MahaBharat. 

6.Madhusoodhana:"The annihilator of the Asura Madhu".                                      This feat makes Him the foremost protector hence He is fit to keep Lakshmi  steadfastly to Himself. 

Other meanings; a.Madhu also means sense organs.Since He pulls all the senses of Nitya sooris to join with Him.without any hindrance.

Note : Nitya sooris are the eternal Devas or free Atmas at Sriman Narayan's service in Vaikuntum like Anantha, Garuda and others who have never been subject to the vicious cycle of birth, death and rebirth. 

b.He is very enticing. 

7.Trivikrama:Due to His exceptional grandeur His presence is spread all over the threeVedas.He pervades them all.

He has the great distinction of being proclaimed as One having exceptional qualities, by all the three Vedas.

According to Rishi's 'Tri' means 3 Vedas .Since He is present in all of them He is known as TriVikrama.

All Vedas are in Him .Vedas are for Narayana only.

8.Vamana:  The Bhagwan who took Vamana Avatar  '

He took this Avatar to protect Indra.

As per Vedas ,Vamana's light grants pleasures to those who pray to Vamana.

9.Sridhara:He is always united with Lakshmi.  

In the manner in which Amruth has a natural good taste and wholesome flavour similarily this nectarine union between Narayana and Lakshmi is natural and is to be savored.

Note: "Sri "means Lakshmi

10.Hrishikesa: The Bhagwan rules over , dictates and directs the five senses.

other meaning:It also refers to His nature ,which is characterised by happiness, well being ,wealth, enthusiasm and bliss. 

11.Padmanabha:The Bhagwan  has a lotus in His navel which represents Time-Kala-.This lotus is the birth place of Brahma.    

 Other  meanings:a.He has eight petaled Golden lotus in His navel.This is earth.It rose when Narayana\Vishnu was in  Yoga nithra and was formed due to His will.Mount Meru is the golden fruit of this lotus.

b.His navel is like a lotus.

12.Damodhara:The Bhagwan keeps the worlds in His stomach.

Note:Dama means world.

Other meanings: a.The Bhagwan gives pleasures to Devas .This is as per Mahabharat.                                                                                                               Note;Damam means- pleasure.Udhara means - shows .

b. The Bhagwan's belly  was tied  around with a rope by His mother Yashoda.

This shows His extreme simplicity and His nature to subjugate Himself to His devotees owing to His love towards His devotees. This  is  as per Vishnu Purana.

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Reference:From Vishnu Sahasarnamam Bhashyam by Mahamahopadya  Sri Ramanujachariar and Dr Desikan.which is based on Prasarar Bhattars interpretations in his Bashyam on Vishnu Sahasarnamam"-Bhagavath Guna Darpanam".

Note : Parasara Bhattar was the son of Koorathazwar,who was the direct disciple of Sri Ramanujar.

He must have written his Bhashyam in 11 th or 12 th century AD.

                                                                                          

Shodasa Ayudha Stothram by Swamy Desikan.Slokas on Sudarshana Chakra and Meanings.

                                                          Sri Sudarshana Chakra
                                                                 Sri :

                                      Srimathe Nigamantha MahaDesikaya Namha:

                                                    Introduction.

This Sthothram consists of 19 Slokas about the 16 weapons of Sri Sudarshana Chakra .

When Swamy Desikan was residing at Kanchipuram nearly 750 years ago he came to know of the hapless plight of the people living in a nearby village known as Thirupatkuzhi.They were all suffering from high fever and cold .

Moved by their sufferings Swamy Desikan invoked the most important weapon of Sriman Narayana, the Sudarshana Chakra and wrote Sudarshana Ashtakam and Shodasa Ayudha Stothram.These slokas  praise Sudarshana's nature, ability and his capacity to destroy enemies and disease.

Immediately all the villagers were cured of this terrible disease which was completely wiped out  and all of them returned to their normal life and started to lead a healthy and happy life. .

 __________________________________________________________________

                                                     Sri:

                             Sri Shodasa ayudha Stothram .

Srimathe NigamanthaMahaDesikaya namaha;

Sriman Venkatanatharya :Kavitharkikakesari|

Vedantha charyavaryo me sannidhatham sadha hruthi||

               ___________________________________

  Sloka 1.

 Swa sankalpa kala kalpai:

Ayudhai rayudeshvarai:|

Jooshta:shodashabir divyai:

Jooshathaam va:para:pumaan||

 

According to Shastras it is the sankalpam of Sriman Narayana that took the form of Sri Sudarshana Chakra .This Chakra took the form of 16 weapons ,which serve Sri Sudarshana.

May Sri Sudarshana the King of weapons who is worshipped by 16 weapons  and appears as Param Purusha , make you all happy by conferring auspicious benifits  on each one of you

..

 Sloka 2.

 Yadha jagach chakram kala chakram cha shashvadham|

 Pathu vasthathath param chakram chakra roopasya chakrina||

 

This world is spinning like wheel.The concept of Time which has seconds . minutes , hours , days and months as its components is also spinning like from time immemoriol..

All these actions are under the control of Chakrayudham which is the Ruler of all weapons.

Sriman Narayana Himself has taken the form of Chakrayudham.

Let this Supreme power protect and bless you all.

Sloka 3.

Yathprasoothi shathairasan Rudra:parashu laankchana:|

Sa divyo hethi rajasya parashu: paripaathu va:||

Rudra's are numerous .Each one have them have an axe as their weapon.Sri Sudarshana Chakra has a Axe as his weapon.All axes owe their existence to this Axe weilded by Sri Sudarashana.

Rudra's worship the King of weapons-Sri Sudarshana who  bestows on them their axes with which they perform their duties.

Let Sudarshana Bhagwan's Axe which brings numerous axes into existence protect and bless us all.

Sloka 4.

Helaya hethi raajen yasmin Daitya:samudhruthe|

Shakuntha yiva dhavanthi sa kuntha:paalyetha va:||

Even  when the King of weapons Sri Sudarshana Chakra takes hold of one of his weapons the Lance', just in a playful manner,Asuras take fright and fly away like startled birds.

Let that Lance protect and bless you all.

Sloka  5.

Daitya dhanava mukyanaam Dhandayanaam yena Dhandanam|                                                              Hethi dhandesha Dhandosow bhavathaam dhandeyeth dhwisha: ||

There are several types of Asuras.For example those who are born from womb of Dhithi are known as Daityas.Dhanu's descendants are known as Dhanavas.The various types of Asuras are known for doing cruel deeds  , hence they have to be punished.

Sri Sudarshana Chakra punishes them by using a weapon called Danda or rod.

Let this Danda , the weapon of King of weapons punish your enemies.

Sloka 6.

Aananyaanvaya bhakthanaam rundhanasha mathang kajaan|

Anangkusha viharo va:paathu hetheeshvaraangusa||

All those who donot take recourse to other gods and repose full faith in Sriman Narayana will have their desires  destroyed by the weapon of Sri SudarshanaChakra known as Angusam in the manner in which elephants are controlled by a goad.

Let that sacred weapon which performs unimpeded sport protect and bless you all. 

Note:Desires are the insourmountable obstacles towards attaining freedom from the tenous cycle of repeated births.

Sloka 7.

Sambhooya shalabhaayanthe yathra paapaani dehinaam|

Sa paathu shatha vathrangini hethir hethi eeshvarasya va:||

Sri Sudarshana Chakra has a weapon known as Shathamukagni.This weapon has 100 mouths with tongues of roaring flames issuing out from each mouth.

If one meditataes on this weapon all the sins of Chetnas [living beings] will be destroyed in the manner of moths that burn themselves down  by getting attracted to lamps.

Sloka 8.

Avidhyaam swa prakashen vidyaroopa shinathi ya:|

Sa Sudarshana nisthreemasha: Sowthu vas thathava darshanam||

 

Knife is also a weapon of Sri Sudarshana Chakra.

According to Puranaas this  Knife is the Deva for knowledge. 

This Knife is thus a personification of knowledge.

By its light it roots away the ignorance of devotees.

Let this sacred weapon bless you all with philosophical knowledge.

Sloka 9.

Kriya shakthi guno Vishno: yo bhavathyathi shakthimaan|

Akunta shakthi:Sa shakthi:Ashakthim vaaryeth va:||

Sri Sudarshana Chakra also has a Spear in his hands.This a very powerful Spear.

It is said that Sriman Naryana's power to create this universe is enshrined in this Spear.

Its power will never diminish at all times to come.

Let this Spear destroy powerlessness in you and bless you all. 

Sloka 10.                                                           

Tharathvam yasya samasthane shabdhe cha parithrushyathe|

Prabho:praharana indrasya Panchajanya: sa paathu va:||

The weapon that is next in importance to Sri Sudarshana Chakra is the Conch known as Panchajanya.

This Conch is in form of Pranava [ஒம்].The sound that is made when the Conch is blown is akin to the sound of the loud chanting of pranava mantra .

This  booming sound made by this Conch rattles  the intestines of enemies.

Let this Conch protect and bless you all.

Sloka 11.

Yam saathath vigamahangaram aamananthyaksha sayagam|

 Avayaadh vach chakra roopasya thath dhanu :Saranaga dhanvana:||

 

Great Rishi's consider the bow Saranaga as personification of Satvic Ahankar--sublime ego,and its arrows as senses.

Sriman Narayana who carries that bow has Himself taken the form of Sri Sudarshana Chakra.

Let that bow which is carried by Sudarshana protect you all.

Sloka 12.

Ayudhendhrena yenaiva vishwasargo virachyathe|

Sa va : sowdarshana: kuryaath pasha: pasha vimochanam||

Sri Sudarshana Chakra creates this world with the help of a trap held in his hands.

Let that trap free you all from the vexatious trap of Samsara viz repeated cycles of birth , death and rebirth and protect and bless you all.

Sloka 13.

Vihaaro yena Devasya vishwa kshetra krushivala:|

Vyajyathe thena seerena naseera vijayosthu va:||

This whole world is a cultivable field .

Sriman Narayana is a farmer par excelence.

He grows crops known as Chetanas and reaps the harvest.

The fact that Sri Sudarshana Chakra holds a plough as a weapon in his hands shows that he performs the sport or Lila of sowing and harvesting crops  like a farmer.

Sloka 14.

Aayudhanaamaham Vajram ithyageeyath ya:sa va :|

Avyaath hetheesha vajro sow Adha theeshsayasthee sambava:||

Vajram is the weapon of Indra .It was made  out of the bones of a Muni known as Dhadeechi.

It was with this weapon that Indra could kill a Asura known as Vruttirasuran.

Of all weapons Vajrayudhum takes the foremost place.

In Gita Sri Krishna has declared that Vajrayudhum is one of the manifestations of his superlative creations in which he resides  .

Sri Sudarshana Chakra  has Vajrayudhum as one of his weapons .This Vajrayudhum prevades the Vajrayudhum of Indra .

The Vajrayudhum of Sri SudarshanaChakra was not made out of the bones of Dhadeechi Muni.

Let this honourable weapon protect and bless you all.

 

 Sloka 15.

Vishwa samhruthi shakthir ya vishrutha budhi roopini|

Sa va :sowdarshani  bhooyaath gadha prashmani Gadhaa||

Of the three concepts Prakruti,Mahaan and Ahankar, the weapon Mace is personification of Mahaan.

Shastras extoll the virtues of the weapon Mace of Sri Sudarshana Chakra as a powerful and vibrant energy which can destroy this world .

Let that Mace  bless you all by destroying all your diseases.

 

 

Sloka 16.

Yaath yathikshodha shalithvam musalo yena thena va:|

Hetheesa musalenashu pidhyathama moha mowsalam||

Sri Sudarshana Chakra has a Pestle as a weapon.

Since this pestle pervades all the pestles  , all the pestles in this world get the ability to shatter and break all things to pieces and powder them to dust.

Let this weapon bless you all by speedily destroying your miseries arising out of your ignorance.

Sloka 17.

Shooli  drushta  manor vachachyo yena Shoolayathi dhviasha|

Bhavathaam thena bhavathaath Trishoolena vishulatha||

Siva bears the weapon known as Trishool.

In Aahirputhanya Samhitha Siva has revealed the Mantra of Sri SudarshanaChakra..

Sri Sudarshana who is the meaning of that Mantra tortures his enemies with his weaponTrishul.

Let that sacred weapon of Sri Sudarshana Chakra bless you all to be free of diseases.

 

Sloka 18. 

Astara kramasya kruthsanasya prashoothim yam prachakshathe|

Sowyaath Sudarshano vishwam ayudhai :Shodasa ayudha:||

As per Shastras Sri SudarshanaChakra is the cause of creation of all weapons in this world.

Sri Sudarshana! You bear all the 16 weapons mentioned above.

With the help of the above mentioned weapons , kindly bless this entire world with your protection.

Sloka 19.

SrimathVenakatanathena shreyase bhooyase  sathaam|

Krutheya mayu dhendrasya shodasa ayudhasamasthuthi||

This Stotra  which describes the 16 weapons of Sri Sudarshana Chakra  has been written by Sri Venkatesan, the poet, for the benifit of sadhus.

        Sri Shodasa Ayudha Stotra concludes.

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Kavitharkika Simhaya Kalyana Gunasaline'|

Srimathe Venkatesaya Vedantha Gurave Namaha:||

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Reference --Desika Stotramala by  V.N.Sri Ramadesikachariar Swamy.