Meaning and Interpretation of 108 names in the Asthottaram
Following are meaning and interpretation of a few more names in the Asthottaram. The meaning and interpretation have been taken from the book in Telugu titled "Viswa Ratnamala", authored by Smt. P. Ratna Mohini. An attempt has been made to keep the meaning and interpretation as close as possible to the original, while translating to English. We sincerely apologize for any deviation arising from translation.
Om Sri Avadhootaya Namaha
Meaning: Salutations to one who has renounced everything for the welfare of humanity. Avadhoota also means messenger of God.
Interpretation:
Avadhoota means one who has renounced everything. The whole world is his, so what more does he want. Happiness of the whole world is his happiness. Such supreme people who incarnate in this world on their own for the welfare of humanity are called Avadhootas. Their aim is the happiness of all people in the world. Having taken birth for the welfare of people, they strive for it, and shower their grace and blessings on helpless and needy people. They constantly strive to make our difficult paths easier, and help us reach our goal. Sri Viswamji with these qualities is an Avadhoota. Salutations to Sri Viswamji.
Aksharatwat varenyatvam dhoota samsara bhandhanath
Tatvamasyadhi Lakshyatvat Avadhoota itheeryathe.
Says the Upanishads. Consider the meaning of this:
Aksharadu : Means one who is indestructible.
Varenyudu : means one who is best in devotion to Lord Brahma
Dhoota Samsara Bhandanath : means one who has obtained freedom from worldly ties.
Tatvamasyadhi Lakshyatvat : means the one towards whom “Tatvam Asi” (That Thou Art) and all the Brahma Sootras point to, or the one who is basis for the Brahma Sutras and has all the qualities described in the Bramha Sutras.
Sri Viswamji has all these four qualities, which the Upanishads say are the qualities of an Avadhoota. With his goal of “The whole earth as one family”, he considers the whole universe as his family, and is before us as an Embodiment of the universal power. Living in the physical world, thinking about the society, realizing that world peace will be a reality only when person, society and country are reformed, he has freed himself from all bondage, and with his yogic powers he is accomplishing all that for which he has come to achieve. After gaining self-realization he is treading on the path chosen by him, overcoming all the obstacles.
Here Sri Viswamji is not just a messenger of God, but verily Lord Dattatreya, and it is but natural for him not to have any attachment or bondage. The very first sloka in the Avadhoota Gita also says that without grace of God knowledge cannot be gained. With devotion both knowledge and salvation can be attained. In this universe that he considers as his, Sri Viswamji is constantly striving to accomplish something great. Though he does not have any attachment with anyone, he is the savior for everyone, and is God for them. Talking with every one who comes to him, fulfilling their desires, solving their problems, he is a great man who considers every ones happiness, satisfaction and joy as his very own.
Om Sri Anugrahabhashine Namaha
Meaning: Salutations to one whose words shower grace.
Interpretation:
It is only because of our good fortune that we get to visit or see divine persons. To talk with them is to hear Vedic chants. Sri Viswamji constantly showers on us his grace with his rich divine speech. In his discourses when Sri Swamiji talks about the nature of God or any other topic of spiritual importance, it is also showering grace on us.
God or Guru shower unlimited grace on us. To get the grace, it is important to do good deeds, utter good words and behave appropriately at all times. We should not hurt anyone by thoughts, words or action. Sathya Sai Baba says, “Come to me with empty hands, and fill your hands with my grace”; so to be the subject of Gods grace you need not take any gifts to him. It is enough to have pure love and a spotless heart. Sri Viswamji has expressed the same in the following verse in Telugu, in his book “Shanti Premadayi – Sathya Sai”
Poolagutthulenni pooja lo Nunchina
Pulakarinchabodu pucchukodu
Hyidayakamala mosaga sadaiudai grahinchu
Shanti Prema Dai Sathya Sai
What this means is that if you offer many bouquets to him in prayer, he will not accept it or respond, but if you offer your heart as a flower he will accept it with kindness.
Theeya Theeyani phalameeyaga mecchadu
Phalamulu yenni unna phalamuneedu
Karmaphalamu nosaga karunincharaa Sai
Shanti Premadayi Sathya Sai.
This says that God does not need any sweet fruits He showers his divine grace and saves us from our fate.
The day you ask him for his grace, he will arrange for everything or bless you with everything. But when you ask him for a specific desire to be fulfilled he satisfies only that, says Sri Viswamji. His words are as true as the Vedas. His divine messages are like nectar. They are useful to set the humanity on the right path.
“It is the result of the merits of our previous birth that we are born in India which is a Land of Yogies. So everyone should make the most of it. Many countries came to India to rule or to steal its riches, but none could steal or take away the Indian Sanaatana Dharma or culture. It is Sanaatana Dharma that is protecting our country even today. Every one should worship the mother who has given birth, the motherland, mother earth, and the world as mother, and the holy cow”. (11-10-1998 - Vijayawada Akhila Bharat Brahman Federation)
To keep our environment clean is the responsibility of each one of us. The body is the temple and heart is the altar of God. This is the motto of Viswamandiram . Every person should gather spiritual strength to be strong physically, mentally, financially and socially. It is necessary for everyone to work hard for the development of the world. United protect the Sanaatana Dharma, which will eliminate differences based on caste and religion prevalent in society today. If we do not have unity we will be faced with many calamities. Even the most difficult task can be accomplished successfully with unity”. (8-3-98, Annual celebrations of Viswa Vikas Kendra, Peddanandipadu).
“Avattar Babaji is alive even today. As I always say yogis conference with each other between 12 AM to 3AM in the mornings. Even to this day, in the inner caves of the Himalayas, Yogies and divine forces conference in celestial forms. Lahiri Mahasya (Guru of Avataar Babaji) and Yogananda are still there. Goudapada Maharshi is a supreme yogi. He is alive even today. If you try there will be energy flow or transmission from your Guru. Not only should you have dedication, patience, unshakable faith, but also you should have tolerance” (13-12-1997, Sri Datta Jayanthi).
There are thousands of such divine messages. Swamiji shows his grace to devotes in many ways. He gives satisfaction and joy to them by somehow fulfilling their desires.
Om Sri Ananthaya Namaha
Meaning: Salutations to one who is infinite, i.e. who does not have a beginning and an end.
Interpretation:
“Do not try to understand me, that is beyond you. My nature is infinite. It has no end. This spiritual practice is to merge you with the infinite God. Why delay? Come to me”, says embodiment of infinite power Sri Viswamji. Salutations to him.
The one who does not have a beginning or an end is God. The truth that has no beginning or end is God. There is no place in this whole universe where God does not reside. Time, any country, any name or any one form does not bind him. He is infinite, supreme, indestructible, all pervading, omnipresent and omnipotent.
“Anoraneyaan mahato maheeyan : I exist in minutest of the minutest and mightiest of the mightiest. I am form of the universe and I am form of the Atom” God is present in an atom and God is present everywhere. Then how is it possible to recognize God? God is pervading everywhere from minutest atom to the greatest thing, and also in the soul. Sri Viswamji expresses this in his song:
Kaladu Church lona
Kaladu maseedu lona
Kaladu gudini chooda kannulunna
Kanakanmu nandu kaludura paramatma
Following this great saying, not only God exists in every atom and every particle, if one goes beyond caste, creed, religion and language, then God exists in the nature in the form of the Supreme soul. If we consider the whole world as a temple, every country is like a small room in the temple. Whatever form we pray to God, the God who fulfills our prayers is one.
Sri Viswamji is a kind-hearted soul who awakens the consciousness in everyone. He is the embodiment of truth. No one knows when truth was born. There is no end to it. It is constantly alive in this creation. In a similar way Sri Viswamji who is an embodiment of Lord Dattatreya, is infinite. He is the truth that is eternal. Salutations to Sri Viswamji who is an embodiment of divine light, infinite, supreme and indestructible.
