Nandana Naama Samvatsara - Significance of Nandana (Aanando Nandano Nandah)

                                       Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vaasudevaaya!

Om! Ham! Hanumathe! Sri Rama Doothaaya Namaha!

Nandana is a Sanskrit word meaning delighter, the one who gives happiness.  Happiness is a relative term which has no set standards.  It can neither be valued nor measured. It is not a product that can be bought at a cost.  It is a byproduct of ones virtuous activities. Happiness is something different from comfort and pleasure. It is something individual, soul related, and is the way one likes to perceive it. It is so simple; yet, so hard for the human mind to comprehend. Unhappiness comes from the sense of I & Mine. Everyone needs to be happy and also give happiness to others. Happiness never decreases by sharing with others. If you are unhappy, you can become happier by giving happiness to others.

Nandana also refers to a Son. Nandana-Vana is the name of Lord Indra’s garden. Nanda was the name of Lord Sri Krushna’s foster father and his clan was known as Nandavraja. Nandanaa gives a female reference, a daughter and Nandaa refers to happiness, female, husband’s sister.  Nanda was one of the names of Sages Vasishta’s cows. Nanda was the first king of the great Magadha dynasty in Indian history.  In Hindu Panchaanga there is a term called Nanda-Thithi one of the classifications of lunar day (Thithi). 1^st 6^th and 11^th thithis are known as Nanda thithis.  Great saint, philosopher,  and founder of Dvaitha Siddhaantha, Aachaarya Sri Madhva's Aasrama nama was Aananda Theertharu.  He was Lord Vaayu's third incarnation - Hanuma - Bheema - Madhva.

Nandanah is one of the several thousand names of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram sloka # 56 eulogize Him as 

Ajo maharhah svabhavyo jitamitrah pramodanah

Aanando nandano nandah satya-dharma trivikramah

Lord Vishnu is the one who is always joyous and the one who gives delight (Aananda) to this universe. He is the origin of happiness, the ultimate abode of delight and is perennially blissful.  He is the remover of all unhappiness. Lord Sri Rama (Vishnu Avathara) is extolled as the one who keeps the entire living beings happy, the one in whose memory yogis always revel (take pleasure) in the bliss of Brahman. Similarly Lord Sri Krishna is the personification of Satt-Chitt-Aananda the absolute and blissful happiness. He is the one who has the character, capacity and capability of attracting others with his beautiful, charming, delightful, ever smiling and fascinating figure. Lord Vishnu is Nandah the one who is accomplished with all perfections.

Nandana is the name of a year in the 60 year cycle of Samvatsara a constituent of the great TIME Kaalachakra.

http://www.bhargavasarma.blogspot.in/2012/03/concept-and-significance-of-samvatsara.html

Nandaka is the name of Lord Vishnu’s sword. We find a reference to this word in the last two slokas of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram (#107 and 108)

Vanamaali gadee shaarngee shankhii chakrii cha nandakii

Shrimannaaraayano vishnur-vaasudevo-abhirakshathu

Hey! Lord Sri ManNaaraayana the one who is adorned with a forest garland, who is symbolized holding the mace (Gada), Bow (Shanrga), Conch (Shankha), the Disk (Sudarshana Chakra) and a Sword called Nandaka who is known as Vishnu and Vaasudeva protect us and bestow happiness to one and all.

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu