Hare Krishna! Aneha koti namaskaram to Sri Velukkudi swami & devotees.
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.11
vadanti tat tattva-vidas
tattvaṁ yaj jñānam advayam
brahmeti paramātmeti
bhagavān iti śabdyate
Translation: Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramātmā or Bhagavān.
Please explain srivaishnava view of how these 3 forms compare to each other: Brahmam, Paramaatma and Bhagavan.
Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanam!
Sri Ramanujaya Namaha,
Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami Guruve Namaha,
Dear Krishna Dasa Bhagavata,
By this time adiyen believe, Bhagavata would have already come across answer from Swami’s upanyasams. At the same time, adiyen would like to fill up this thread with answer referring to Swami’s upanyasams for other Bhagavatas benefit.
There is only one View point like Shastric view point and there is no other view point about the Brahmam or ParamAthma or BhagavAn.
Brahmam or ParamAtham or BhagavAn are NOT three different forms. All names represents ONLY ONE “Sriman NarayanAn”. Like Bhagavta’s actual name is different but called as “Adiyen – Krishna Dasan”, both represents only one JeevAthama which is Bhagavata’s true nature. Likewise different countless Jeevathmas called with different names, but NOT different forms. Forms of BhagavAn are Para, Vyuha and Vibhava forms as in this thread link.
1) BRAHMAM:
Swami’s Enpani #56 “Brahmam-meaning”. https://www.kinchit.org/kinchit-en-pani/51-100/
Bruhatvatu Brahmanathvatcha Brahmamith Abhideeyathe
Two Primary Nature of BhagavAn (Bruhatvatu & Brahmanathvat) together is named as Brahmam.
Thaan miga periyavaraaga iruppadhaalum (தான் மிக பெரியவராக இருப்பதாலும்). By Quantity (Viswvam), HE is BIG and cannot be measured and by Quality (Kalayana Gunas), HIS Gunas are Countless
Thannai Adaindhavargalai Thanakku Samamaaga Periyavargalaaga aakkugirapadiyaalum (தன்னை அடைந்தவர்களை தனக்கு சமமாக பெரியவர்களாக ஆக்குகிறபடியாலும்). One who worskships HIM with Pure devotion, HE makes them Saamyapathi (Equal to HIS Gunas) asn Samyapathi Moksham for Nithya Kainkaryam and Nithya Anubhavam.
Brahmam yendru Koorugiroam (ப்ரஹ்மம் என்று கூறுகிறோம்). Such combination of these two Primary things are together called as “BRAHMAM”.
2) PARAMATHMA:
Swami in Alwargal Vaibhavam Upanyasam starting munnurai talks about the ParamAthma meaning.
Breaking down the ‘ParamAThma’ பரமாத்மா word.
பரமாத்மா = பரமன் + ஆத்மா.
a) ‘பரமன்’ means ‘ப்ரோமா அஸ்மாதிதி பரமஹ’
‘Paraman’ means ‘Paroma Asmaathithi Paramaha’
[‘Paraman’ means, “Ivanai Kaattilum Mein Pattavan Yaarum Kidayadhu, Samamm Aanavanum Yaarum Kidayadhu’, NO one Higher or Equal to HIM, ALL are Below HIM only”].
b) Breaking down ‘Paraman’ ‘பரமன்’ again as ‘ப + ரம’ (Pa + Rama), not pronounce as Raama ‘ராமா ‘, just Rama ‘ரம’.
ரம’ ‘Rama’ means Sri Maha Lakshmi Thayar as per Shastras.
பர ‘Para’ means Sriman NarayanAn as above ‘Paraman’ meaning, when added to ரம ‘Rama’ (Sri lakshmi), it means, ‘ ‘பரமன்’ means Sri Lakshmi Sambhamdham UdayavAn.
c) ஆத்மா ‘Athma’ means Sentient, Uyir Ulladhu in general.
So, பரமன் (‘பர’ Perumal + ‘ரம’ ‘SriLakshmi) + ஆத்மா = பரமாத்மா = Divya Athma = Divya Dambhathi. So Unqiue & only ONE compared to the countless Athma (Chit), and NOT applicable to any other Jeevathamas whether in Human body or Deva bodies (Brahma , Shiva etc…) or any bodies.
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Another way to say ParamAthma is,
PARAMATHMA “பரமாத்மா” word is divided as “PARA + MA + ATHMA.
* PARA means Param Porul NarayanAn.
* MA means “Jagadh’MA’tha. Yella JeevAthamaakka’lukkum THAYAga Iruppaval.
* ATHMA is Chit ‘Sentient’ CHaithanyam Udayadhu.
So, ParaMAthma word is NARAYANAN and THAYAR Inclusive is one meaning.
Hence we call as “SRIMAN NARAYANAN”, and we don’t seperate Thayar from Perumal as Thayar Resides in Perumal’s Vaksha Sthalam (Thiru MAarbhu all the time).
3: BHAGAVAN:
Reference from Swami’s Vishnu Shasranama Upanyasam, Adiyen couldn’t recollect the exact audio potion.
Definition of “BhaGaVan (பகவான்)”.
Bha (ப): means two Kalya gunas“Gyana (Ultimate Knowledge), Bhala (Ultimate Strength)”
Ga (க): means two Kalya gunas “Veera (Ultimate Valour), Aishwarya (Ultimate Opulence)”,
Va (வா): means two Kalya gunas“Shakthi (Ultimate Energy), Thejas (Ultimate Luster)”
N (ன்): pronounced as “annu”, means one who don’t have any Theeya gunas (no bad qualities)
So BhaGaVaN means One who doesn’t have and any bad qualities and possesses all the 6 above Ultimate Qualities (Kalyana Gunas). This applies to ONLY Sriman NarayanAn and no one else has these 6 gunas, since all demi-gods has rajas-tamas-satvik gunas mixed together which makes them do bad activities at times as seen in Srimadh Bhagavatam. Only Sriman NarayanAn has Suddha Satva Gunam with No Rajas and No Tamas gunas.
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Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami says a slokam,
Samsara Visha VrikshasyA,
Dvo Phalegi Amrithopame
Kathachitu Keseva Bhakthihi
Tath Bhaktairva Samagaha
Meaning:
Line1: Samsaram is Visha Maram (Poison Tree)
Line2: Only two Amritha/Sweet Fruits reap out of that Poison Tree, remaining countless fruits are Visham to be avoided.
Line3: One Amritha Fruit is Kesava Bhakthi
Line4: Second Amritha Fruit is Avan (Kesavan) Adiyargaludan ‘Seardndhu’ Iruthhal (Acharyas/BhagavAtas Sathvika Satsangam)
So line4 “Bhaktairva” PRIMARILY means Kesavan adiyaargal, but this word Bhakta is applied differently in practical world for followers of demi-gods, which is NOT JeevAthma Swaroopam. What can we do about it.
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Overall, Brahmam or ParamAthma or BhagavAn represents ONLY ONE GOD “SRIMAN NARAYANAN” AS PER Paanini Maharishi Soothram, and we devotees are not supposed to even spell Demi-gods using any of these three names, and they are to be called a devatas only like Brahma devata, Shiva devata as they are also BhaddhAthmas like us with karmas but trapped in Deva bodies like how we are trapped in ordinary human bodies…
Anyway, That Sriman Narayanan (Devathi Devan) is nothing but our SUPREME SriKrishna Who is a Husband of Sridevi, Bhooma Devi, Neela Devi as per Purusha Sooktam and Sri Sooktham and “KRISHNA THE REAL BOSS”.
Adiyen Sri Velukkudi Krishna Dasan,
Uyya Oraey Vazhi UdayavAr ThiruvAdi,
Sarvam Sri Krishnarpanam Asthu.
Srimate Ramnujaye namaha,
Namaskaram.
I wish to know the differences between Bala, Shakthi and Veera (described above in explanation of “Bhagawan”)
Adiyen
Sri Ramanuja Munaye Namaha,
Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami Guruve Namaha,
Dear SanatanaDharma BhagavAta,
Aidyen’s understanding from Swami’s Upanyasams as below regarding SriKrishna’s Bhala भलम्/பலம் (Ultimate Strength), Veerya वीर्य्/வீர்யம் (Ultimate Valour) and Shakthi शक्ति/ஷக்தி (Ultimate Energy).
Bhala (Ultimate Strength) –> NEVER ENDING Physical ability Strength to accomplish any difficult tasks.
Veerya (Ultimate Valour) –> NEVER ENDING Mental ability Courage (boldness) to face anything without fear.
Shakthi (Ultimate Energy) –> NEVER ENDING Self-sustained power which lasts forever without getting tired.
Like one can have Courage/Valour (Veerya) to face bad people, but may not have Strength (Bhala) to defend themselves as they are physically weak. Also one can have Strength (Bhala) to lift a small rock, but cannot maintain the lift for long time, since they don’t have Shakthi (Energy) to maintain the lift for a longer period of time, since they get tired (loose energy) and they drop the rock down.
From Srimadh BhagavAtam, we can see Govardhana hill incident (Indra Devata’s atrocities) and Baanasura Vadham (BhagavAt Apacharam done by Devata’s like Shiva, Ganesha, Murugan supporting Baanasura against the war with Supreme ParamAthma SriKrishna)
Their Strength (Bhala), Valour/Courage (Veerya) and Energy (Shakthi) DOESN’T LAST forever and they finally surrender to SriKrishna, since these Demi-gods are MISHRA Satvam (JeevAthmas with a mixture of Satva-Rajas-Tamas Gunas covered with karmas like us).
Shiva Devata and his team of other demi-gods couldn’t withstand infront of Supreme SriKrishna and they all get defeated finally by ONE MAN ARMY SRIKRISHNA.
Indra Devata Finally Surrender to Supreme SriKrishna after getting exhausted with his miniscule powers.
However after these Devats surrendered to SriKsishna’s lotus feet BhagavAn immediately forgives them due to HIS Karunai ullam, as these demigods are also BhaadhAthmas like all other JevAthmas waiting for Moksham (SriVaikunta Praapthi).
Overall, BhagavAn Sri Krishna’s these 6 Kalyana Gunas with NO bad Qualities makes HIM “SATVAVAAN“, means full of SUDDHA SATVA GUNAS.
Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami has said, SriKrishna’s these PRIMARYl 6 Kalaya Gunas are NEVER ENDING, and BhagavAn has more countless Never Ending Kalyana Gunas like Soulabhyam, Sousheelyam, Vaatsalyam and so on…… That’s why Sriman NarayanAn “THE SRIKRISHNA” is the ONLY BHAGAVAN (ParamAthma) and others are Devatas/Demigods (JeevAthmas like us). The SUPREME ParamPorul SRIKRISHNA is “DEVARGALUKKUM DEVAN” as Devathi Devan.
Adiyen Sri Velukkudi Krishna Dasan,
Uyya Oraey Vazhi UdayavAr ThiruvAdi,
கோவர்தன மலையை தலைகீழாக ஒரு விரலில் சர்வ சாதாரணமாக பிடித்த ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ண பகவானுக்கு ஒரு WHISTLE அடிப்போம்
Sarvam SriKrishna Kudumbham
Sarvam SriKrishnarpanam Asthu.
Sri Ramanuja Munaye Namaha,
Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swami ThiruvAdigalaey THANJAM for the Enpani #1275 about the meaning of Sriman Narayanan’s entire 5 names “Gyanam Advayam Brahmam ParamAthma and BhagavAn” in crisp and clear explanation from Veda Vyasar’s Srimadh BhagavAtham 1.2.11. So far, adiyen has heard only the meaning of the 3 names Brahmam, ParamAthma and BhagavAn from Devareer’s past upanyasams, but today Adiyen learned the MEANING of additional names “Gyanam and Advayam” from Devareer’s today enpani 1275.
Swami ThiruvAdigalukku Pallandu Pallandu……
Adiyargal Vaazha ArangaNagar Vaazha, Sri Velukkudi Krishnan Swamiye Innum Oru Nootraandu Irumm…..
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCELEgaFullWSr3BdtZ4mUDw
Adiyen Sri Velukkudi Krishna Dasan
Uyya Oraey Vazhi UdayavAr ThiruvAdi,
Sarvam SriKrishnarpanam Asthu
