JANARDHANA - The Supreme God of Sraaddha Karma

WHO IS JANARDHANA?

Janaardhana is one of the popular names of Lord Vishnu.

In Bhagawadgita (Canto # 1 sloka # 44; Canto # 3 sloka # 1) we find Lord Sri Krishna being addressed as Janaardhana.

It is one of the Chaturvimshati Kesavaadi Roopas of Lord Vishnu. We chant the divine name Janaardhanain Chaturvimshati Kesava Naamaas.

Jana+Aardhana = Janaardhana;

Jana in general means the people; it also means Janana (birth);

Aardhana means destroying.

Janaardhana is the one who destroys Janma (birth) and bestows Janmarahitya (without birth).

Janaardhana is the one who protects people/devotees from evil.

This attribute of Lord Vishnu we find in Sri Vishnu Sahasranaama Stothram wherein He is eulogized as Janaardhana (sloka # 14) and in Phala Sruthi where Arujuna addresses Lord Sri Krishna as…

padmapatra vishaalaaksha padmanaabha surottama |
bhaktaanaam anuraktaanaaM traataa bhava janaardana ||

In the context of Pithru Yagna JANARDHANA ruupi Paramatma (Lord Vishnu) is the Sraaddha Swami the Supreme God of Sraaddha;

the one who exists in his moola roopas' Pradyumna-Sankarshana-Vaasudeva as Antaryaami of Vasu-Rudra-Aadityas in Pitrus; and as Aniruddha in Kartr.

As antharyaami of Vishvedevathas, Lord Janardhana protects the Kartr; Bhoktr; invited Brahmins etc. from various obstacles during Sraaddha Karma;

Daasavarenya Sri JagannathaDaasaru in his famous script Harikathamruthasaara has elaborately explained through an exclusive chapter Pithrugana Sandhi as to how anusandhana has to be made during Pithru Sraaddha/Pithru Yagna.

Sri Bharateeramana Mukhyapraanaanthargatha

SriMadhJanaardhana Vaasudevah Priyathaam
Preetho Varado Bhavathu;

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu