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SHAANTAAKAARAM
BHUJAGASHAYANAM PADMANAABHAM SURESHAM
VISHWAADHAARAM GAGANASADRASHAM MEGHAVARNAM SHUBHAANGAM.
LAKSHMIKAANTAM KAMALANAYANAM YOGIBHIRDHYAANAGAMYAM
VANDE VISHNUM BHAVABHAYAHARAM SARVALOKAIKANAATHAM.
MEANING
I bow to Lord Vishnu the One Master of the Universe, who is
ever peaceful, who reclines on the great serpent bed, from whose
navel springs the Lotus of the Creative Power, who is the Supreme
Being, who supports the entire universe, who is all-pervading as the
sky, who is dark like the clouds and has a beautiful form; the Lord
of Lakshmi, the lotus-eyed One, whom the yogis are able to perceive
through meditation, He, who is the destroyer of the fear of Samsar.

The
Vishnu stotra
Viswasya
Anu iti Vishnu' meaning every atom of the world is filled with His
presence. We are all aware of the tremendous energy that is present
in the atom. That energy is Lord Vishnu.
The Sanskrit
words that appear in the Stotra describe God beautifully. They have
the power to fill us with delight.
The
correct address of God
People wander in the name of pilgrimage to holy places,
takes bath in the sacred rivers and visit temples to find their God.
All these holy places; rivers and temples are only 'care of '
address of God. The correct address is found in the Gita Chapter 18,
Sloka No. 61: "Eashwaras Sarvabhootanaam Hriddeshe Tishati".
"The
Lord is seated in the heart of all beings, Oh Arjuna". This
stotra enables the child to understand in a delightful way the
Omnipresence of God, His beauty, His Majesty and His Grace, and he
is stirred to Devotion.
Meaning
of Stotra
Lord Vishnu who is ever peaceful, who lies on the great
serpent bed, from whose navel springs the Lotus of the Creative
power, who is the controller of the Gods, whose form is the entire
Universe, who is all pervading as the sky, of the hue of the clouds,
of fascinating beauty, the Lord of Lakshmi, the lotus eyed, he who
dwells in the heart of the Yogis and who can be approached and
perceived through meditation. He who is the destroyer of fear of
Samsar, we bow down to the Master of the universe.
Shantakaram
Shantam means equanimity, unruffledness. The countenance of
the Lord depicts the inner calm, happiness; balance, inner grace and
mercy, the consciousness of strength and sovereignty - the very
picture of peaceful calm. (All the deities exhibit this Bhava on
their faces and in their stance.
Bhujaga
shayanam
The Lord is the very embodiment of peace calm, though
reclining on a thousand hooded snake. The snake is the symbol of the
objective world, with its poisonous fangs. Being in the world but
not of it, bound by it - that is the secret. Immanent in the
universe, yet transcending it. The Ocean on which He reclines is
symbolic of the Bhavasagar. (S.S.S.V)
Padmanabham
This refers to the lotus arising out of the navel of the
Lord; Brahma is depicted as seated on the Lotus. Brahma stands for
creation. The lotus stalk represents the umbilical cord. Just as the
child draws sustenance from the mother through the umbilical cord,
the creation draws sustenance from the God, who is the Viswadharam
or the basis of the universe.
Ganganasadrisham
The Lord is like the sky, Sarva vyapi, pervades everything.
He is at all times, everywhere, besides His children. He is in the
most distant star as well in the blade of grass. He is the core of
everything, as butter in every drop of milk. A person who realizes
this becomes fearless. Therefore, the Lord is called Bhavabhayaharam.
Despair is sin against God. When he is in your heart, why do you
lose hope?" Be always joyful, optimistic and Courageous - Baba.
Meghavarnam
The dark color of the Lord is the color of the deep sea and
the vast sky. It signifies the fathomless, unfathomable. He secret
is beyond us, (S.S.S.IV/p. 168). However long you try, whosoever
seeks to know, by whatever means, you cannot grasp the mystery of My
Majesty. Only intense study with faith of the scriptures can help
you catch a glimpse of my glory. "Yogibhirdhyanagamyam".
Shubhangam
His form is full of Loveliness and charm which radiates
auspicious everywhere. (S.S.S.V)
Laxmikantam
His is the source of all wealth. He is the universal
provider.
Laxmi means
- The five
elements that sustain life,
Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space.
- The Wealth
of sound Indriyas and good health.
- The wealth
of virtues.
The Lord is
the master of the five elements. He is the source of all virtues. He
is the provider of sound body; mind and buddhi.
Kamalanayanam
The Lord is the like the lotus, unaffected by the
environment where He is. That is the reason why His eyes and His
feet are compared to the lotus. (S.S.S.V)
Sarvalokaikanatham
Sustainer of the universe.
Shantakaram
Bhujagashayanam
The Paramaatma is present in the minutest particle; Being
in everything; that remains unaffected.
Gaganasadrisham
That universal consciousness (Vishnu) pervades everything
in creation.
Shubhangam
He is purer than the whitest snow.
Laxmikantham
Sarvalokaikanatham
That universal consciousness illumines and sustains the three
worlds.
Story
related to the Stotra
Lord Vishnu is described as Shantakaram; always peaceful
and steady minded.
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