ADHIKA MAASAM (Purushottama Maasa) - Bhagawad Chintana

Significance of Bhagavantha as Antharyaami of Ashta Vasus…

Adhika Maasa is the most sacred month dedicated to the most sacred person Lord Vishnu who is Maasa Niyaamaka (Governing Lord) of Adhika maasam in the name Purushottama. That’s why Adhika Maasam is also referred as Purushottama Maasa.

Ashta Vasus (8) + Ekaadas Rudraas (11) + Dwaadasaadityaas (12) + Prajaapathi (1) + Vashatkaara (1); (total 33) together are the Presiding Deities of Adhika Maasam with Lord Sri Hari in the name of Purushottama being the governing Lord and Antharyaami.

VISHNU (Antharyaami of Drona).....

Matchless and unparalleled in excellence Lord Vishnu the primordial supreme Lord; the mega spirit; pervades the many, various and different objects of three Universes and the three worlds of souls. Lasting as inner soul of every being; He protects and enjoys all entities in the universe; yet, remains unscathed by their faults. He is indestructible.

Lord Vishnu is the solitary unique soul of outstanding excellence. He is the mega spirit present in every being of the entire universe, heart and soul of the universe and the only Aatman (soul) that existed in the beginning. Vishnu is the one who dwells in each and every element of this universe and everything dwells in Him.

eko vishhNur-mahadbhuutaM
pRithag-bhuutaanyanekashaH!
Trii.nlokaan-vyaapya bhuutaatmaa
bhu.nkte vishvabhug-avyayaH!!
(Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram – Phala Sruthi sloka # 20)

Ancient Hindu scripts declare God as “Eko Vishnu Mahadbhutah” There is only one gigantic presence in the world and that is none other than Lord Vishnu who is there everywhere.

Matchless and unparalleled in excellence Lord Vishnu the primordial supreme Lord, the mega spirit, pervades the many, various and different objects of three Universes and the three worlds of souls.

Lasting as the inner soul of every being, He protects and enjoys all entities in the universe, yet remains unscathed by their faults. He is indestructible.

Lord Vishnu is free from all imperfections and possessor of auspicious, best and unlimited attributes;

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.

JISHNU (Antharyaami of Dhruva).....

Jishnu is one of the names of Lord Vishnu. Bheeshmaachaarya (Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram) describe Him as “Vishum Jishnum MahaaVishnum PrabhaVishnum” Jishnu means the one who is victorious, the one who vanquishes, the one who triumphs, the one who excels. Jishnu is one of the salient features of the Supreme Lord.

Lord Vishnu the supreme Lord is ever victorious. He is the personification of VIJAYA/JAYA. He is invincible. His very nature is Victory and is ever triumphant. His very name, thought and devotion bring victory to His devotees. He is the one who grants success in endeavours (VIJAYA) to the deserving. Lord Vishnu is both Vijaya and Jaya.

He is Vijayo-Jaya Vardhana; the one who always flourishes in victory. VIJAYA is one of the several thousand names of Lord Vishnu (Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Stothra sloka # 16)

MAHA VISHNU (Antharyaami of Dosha).....

In the very first sloka of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram; Lord Sri Vishnu is referred to as Bhoota-Bhavya-Bhavat-Prabhuh. Maha Vishnu is Lord of the past; present and future. He is the Mahadbhuutah; the one and the only mega presence in this universe; the Bhootaatma; one who dwells in all beings; present everywhere.

Lord Vishnu is beyond description; He is the great God Maha Vishnu, the one who is all pervasive, eternal, beyond all boundaries and for whom there is no limit either by space, time or location. He is the one who has infinite number of forms and He dwells in the entire Universe. He is invincible and omnipresent. His glory is infinite. He is highly meritorious among the meritorious. No one can describe or define Him precisely. He is Lord of Lords the Supreme Lord Maha Vishnu.

HARI (Antharyaami of Arka).....

'Hari' refers to the every green Supreme Lord Vishnu who is known as Sri Hari saakshaatt (per se) SriManNaaraayana the Mokshakaaraka, the one who destroys (Hari) the cycle of birth and death. Hari also means the one who steals and Lord Sri Hari is the one who steals (destroys) our ignorance.

KRUSHNA (Antharyaami of Agni).....

In Bhagawadgeeta 10th canto (Vibhoothi Yoga) Lord Sri Krushna says that, He is Agni among Vasus; “Vasuunaam Paavakaschaasmi” Paavaka is another name of Agni.

Though Sri Krushna was called by several other names like Kesava, Govinda and Damodara etc… He was and is very popular as Krishna. It is said that the name Krushna was suggested by Sage Garga who had earlier meditated on this name before Sri Krushna’s birth.

We find a reference to the word Krushna in sloka # 7 of Sri Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stothram (Agraahyah shaashvathah Krishna lohitaakshah pratardanah).

The word Krishna is actually to be pronounced as Krushna or Krshna meaning dark in colour or all attractive. In the word Krushna, Krush refers to everlasting (Saaswatha) and Na refers to Sath swaroopa. Krushna means Sat-Chit-Ananda, complete and blissful happiness.

"Karshatheethi Krushnah", meaning one, who has the character, capacity and capability of attracting others with his beautiful, charming, delightful, every smiling and fascinating figure. Krushnasthu Swayam Bhagavan – Lord Sri Krushna on several occasions had revealed that He is Paramatma, the ultimate reality.

Sri Krushnaavathara has gained unique prominence and significance among the several avatharas of Lord Vishnu. It is a Paripoorna Leela Maanusha Avathara.

Sri Krushna was and is a towering and multifaceted personality in Hindu philosophy and Epics ever to remain as a role model. His preaching through Bhagawadgeeta is a Divine gift to the mankind which is accepted across the world.

The story of Lord Sri Krushna never ends. Our capacity to describe him is limited and when our limit is reached we abandon it half way.

ADHOKSHAJA (Antharyaami of Dyou).....

Adhokshaja is one of the several thousand names of Lord Vishnu. We find a reference to this name in sloka #44 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram. Adhokshaja is one of the features of the supreme Lord SriManNaaraayana.

Akshaja means knowledge emanating from senses. Adhokshaja is, He who is beyond perception through senses, beyond knowledge acquired through senses, the one who has eternal knowledge which will not degenerate or perish.

In Sri Venkatesa Stothram (Brahmanda Purana) Lord Venkateswara is addressed as Adhokshaja. For ordinary human beings he is just a Shila Vigraha, but at Tirumala Kshethra He is standing in His original roopa (Aprakrutha) and is beyond our perception.

KESAVA (Antharyaami of Praana).....

Kesava is one of the popular names of Lord Vishnu. It is considered as Moolaroopa of the Primordial Supreme Lord (Bhagavantha). Kesava is the origin and governing Lord of Brahma + Rudra;

Kesa is a Sanskrit word meaning hair or a ray of light. Kesava means the one who has got a long and beautiful hair, whose hair is very charming, filled with supreme fragrance.

Kesava is the one who is the tormentor of his enemies, and the one who’s very chanting removes sorrows and sufferings. Without chanting of the word Kesava (Kesavaaya Namaha) none of the Vedic rituals begins.

Kesava is slayer of the demon Keshi and hence is referred as Keshiha. Lord Sri Krishna is famously called as Kesava. We find a reference to the word Kesava is sloka # 3 and 69 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Stothram.

MADHAVA (Antharyaami of Vibhavasu).....

Lord Vishnu is Madhava the one who is consort of Goddess Lakshmi Devi; the one who is bestower and Lord of Superior Knowledge;

the one who is propounder or the one who advocates or the one who promulgate the knowledge of the Supreme being (Himself);

one who directs an individual towards performing of good deeds; attaining true knowledge;

He is “Madhavo-Madhusuudana”, the one who is as sweet and delicious as Honey (Madhu); the one who is a great nourisher;

the one who is the slayer of demon Madhu; the one who was born in the clan of King Madhu.

We find a reference to the words Madhava – Madhusuudana in sloka # 8,18,78 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stothram

Na Maadhava Samo devo Na Cha Madhwa Samo guru…

Sri Krushnaarpanamasthu