DWAADASA STOTRAM : ENGLISH COMMENTARY

PREFACE  Why write a commentary on Shrimad Ananda Theertha Muni’s Dwaadasha Stotra ? Aren’t there any commentary already ? There are  Eight known commentaries on Dwadasa Stotra attributed to the following  : Gangodamishra,  Gûdhakartrka,  Chalari Narasimhacharya,  Channapattana Thimmannacharya,   Umarji Tirumalacharya,  C M Padmanabhacharya,  Punyashravana Bhikshu,  Sri Vishwapati Tîrtha Why one more ?  Shrimad Ananda theertha Muni is a multi dimensional personality, being a scholar, philosopher, deep bhakta , poet, grammarian and a Hatha Yogi. Other commentators have taken a theological perspective and focused on Acharya’s Vishnu Bhakti as a lens. The new commentary focuses bringing out the hidden Ashtanga Yoga / Tantra messages in the Dwadasa Stotras.  To start with there is a scholarly opinion expressed by Dr Bannanje Govindacharya that the Dwadsa sotra was not conceived as 1 2 stotra by ShrimadAcharya to start with. Ac...

Dwadasha Stotram : A commentary  It is ShrimadAcharyaru's appane that this Dasa  share his thoughts on his Bhakti gAta , Dwadasha stotram. As always, i see it slightly differently and seek forgivance from the scholars and devoted for mistakes that i may commit.  To start with , the very story told behind the composition is intriguing.  The story often repeated states that  Shrimad Aananda Theertharu, waved his ochre robes to save a ship caught in a cyclone. He brought it safe to shore and the captain wanted offer a gift in gratitude. Acharayaru asked for a clump of Gopi Mud lying in the ship and the captain was surprised he asked such an insignificant thing. It is told Acharya broke open the clump to take out Krishna Idol which he installed in Udupi. There is a powerful message in this imagery and story. As a jIva we are caught and tossed around in the samsara and only a guidance from great Guru like Shrimad Ananda Theertha can save us from the turbulence. His w...

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 2 In Stotra 2, ShrimadAcharya relentlessly explains the supremacy of Vishnu and at the same time stresses the theme that Vishnu is beyond our characterization. 
 स्वजनोदधिसंवृद्धिपूर्ण्णचन्द्रो गुणार्ण्णवः अमन्दानन्दसान्द्रो नः सदाऽव्यादिन्दिरापतिः ॥ 01 ॥ The Lord of blue lotus  is like a full moon tide with unending waves of attributes; he creates unending waves of bliss in the minds of the devotees // Two key aspects of Bhakti is beautifully explained here- one, Shri Hari pulling his devotees towards him the way Full moon’s gravity pulls the waters; two, he creates unending waves of bliss in the hearts of devotees. So, he is the doer even in Bhakti// रमाचकोरीविधवे दुष्टसर्प्पोदवह्नये । सत् पान्थजनगेहाय नमो नारायणाय ते ॥ 02 ॥ Like the Cakora birds whose eyes turn red at sight of poisons, Narayana burns down the evil tendencies that slither in the minds of devotees, living in their body like a traveller.    // There is a great reassurance...

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 3 In shloka 3, ShrimadAcharya gives his personal assurance on how to attain endless bliss through Mukti process and who alone can deliver it to us. As a philosopher Scholar, he is convinced that all Shruti Smrutis declare that Shri Hari is the only ishwara capable of delivering us to moksha .There  all the liberated souls enjoy a bliss per their ability to absorb and hold - leading to gradation for ever even in Moksha. He implores that to the exclusion of everything else in the universe, we need to hold Shri Hari’s paada in our heart. Such devotees will be blessed with laya that opens the doors to Moksha.  This shloka is a summary of entire Tatava vaada philosophy and hence must not be used as a ritual during puja; it is more for contemplation and dhyana. ——————— 3.1 :कुरु भुंक्ष्व च कर्म निजं नियतं हरिपाद विनम्रधिया सततम्  हरिरेव परो हरिरेव गुरु हरिरेव जगत्पितृ मातृ गतिः  “Shri Hari is the  only highest objective, the only Guru...

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 4 In this stotra, shrimadAcharya sings the glory of Shri Hari - both in terms of his form as well as his infinite competencies; his compassion to grant us means of achieving mukti. He presents Shri Hari as a role model, If we think through his lines deeply.  On what basis does he assure that Shri Hari can deliver us to Moksha? He argues step by step and logically builds us the reason : To start with he is not an entity that is born, ages and dies like us humans; this is because his ‘body’ is not like ours and is made of pure bliss. In other words, bliss is not some thing he wears but his very nature itself.  Next, he has the ability to destroy darkness that envelops our mind which eliminates pains we suffer. He also looks at postulates of other Gods like Brahma, Rudra et al but concludes that even they owe their very creation, sustenance and dissolution to Shri Hari. Therefore there is no other like Shri Hari in the universe is his position....

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 5 This stotra is interesting on many counts.  At the very surface level it is very musical - just hear Shri Vidyabhhoshana singing this and one reaches heaven ! Then the slew of alliterating words which demonstrates Acharya’s mastery over language. This lays foundation for musical rendering. Further usage of words that has different meanings laughing at the poetry rules that snigger at repetition of words. The way the words get interpreted to mean so many different things from Smrutis is astounding. Acharya has chosen to have the penultimate stanza with just a line while others have two. Scholars would jump all over on this comment.  There have been a few explanations and pravacanas about this. Dr.Bannanje even doubts if there were twelve shlokas at all ; or if they were even written at same time. He is of the opinion that the shlokas were composed by Acharya as he was wandering all over India with his disciples over a period of time.  Fo...

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 6 This is a very important sloka for two points : One, it summarizes the Ten major avataras of Vishnu in one line each ; Two, it praises Buddha in a positive light contrary to the stories perpetuated in some circles denigrating Buddha.  The one line summary of major Dasa Avatara gives a window into the mind of Madhwacharya- why did he choose to summarize each avatara in that particular way. There has to be a special message that ShrimadAcharya conveys in doing so. The ‘twelve’ stotras together need to present a cogent story and coherent message - else there was no need to string them together. My commentary is an attempt to bring that threading message out.  There is a view that this sloka is  mix of two slokas - one that starts with Devaki Nandana  and ends with Ananda Poorna ; the second sloka is all about Ten major avataras of Vishnu and the phala stotra. This strengthens the opinion of Dr.Bannanje Govindachrya  that this col...

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 7 //This stotra is very interesting with  straight forward meanings hiding the fundamental aspect of Tatva Vaada. What is obvious is the point that all the great powers of Gods , Rishis and boons jignAsus receive are by a mere sideway glance of Lakshmi Devi , who in turn was blessed with that ability. Many scholars point out that this Stotra epitomizes Vishnu Swatantrata and Taratamya model.  When we look deeper, while Vishnu as the only supreme and independent entity , it is not about Taratamya at all- the sequence of Garuda, Shesha , Rudra, Rishis are not maintained in that order.  Why did ShrimadAcharya choose to follow some other order ? Perhaps to indicate this is not about Taratamya. It appears that too much is made of Taratamya concept - Acharya did not create it to highlight the difference as much as he did to indicate that difference in capabilities exist.  It is also interesting that he has used the epithet of ‘Ajitha’ repe...

Dwadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 8 This is a very popular song among all the 12  Dwadasa Storas.  It is written in a very poetic style, musical in structure , demonstrating Acharya’s mastery over language. What is not often recognized is the metaphysical elements of the song.  In this iconic song, Shrimad Ananda Theertha muni summarizes the core points of his philosophy and means of achieving its objectives. : Shri Hari is the only supreme, eternal  entity worshipped even by other Gods Shri Hari is the prime mover in every entity’s actions Scholars can debate as much as they want, but He stays beyond their conclusions His nature is of eternal , infinite bliss and hence can grant us as much He grants what we seek and proportionally to our effort - so onus is on us  He helps us to shed our Gunas, eliminate our sorrow through Samadhi Anubhava  वन्दिता सेष वन्ध्योरु वृन्दारकं चन्दना चार्चितोदार पीनांसकं  इन्दिरा चञ्चल अपाङ्ग नीराजितं मन्दरोद्दारी व्रुत्तो...

D wadasa Stotra Commentary : Stora 9 Shrimad Ananda Theertha is so fond of summarizing complex thing in a nutshell. He keeps looking at Vishnu’s prime Dasa Avataras and paraphrase in several different texts. In Shloka 9 of Dwadasa stotra , he is at it again . While traditional expositions have taken a line that ShrimadAcharya is extolling the greatness of Vishnu, we need to wonder why is it being told again ? In shloka 6- देवकिनन्दन नन्दकुमार वृन्दावनान्चान गोकुल चन्द्र   he has already dealt with it . Doing it twice would suffer from the dosha of repetition.  We have to conclude that Acharayaru is conveying different meaning through the same substance. Shrimad Ananda Theertha is famous for brevity, hidden and multiplicity of meanings.  It appears that the Avatara he is mentioning are the faculties that we need to develop to gain victory over ourselves in the battle of Samsara. Shrimad Acharya has clearly stated in MBTN ( Maha Bharata Tatparya Nirnaya) that the only ...