Dwaadasa Stotram 1

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 wisdom guides us to calm our minds. Hidden among the dirt that has piled in our mind is Krishna. Acharyaru helps us break away the Klesha mud and Krishna Reveals himself.

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1.1

वन्दे वन्द्यं सदानन्दं वासुदेवम् निरञ्जनं 

इन्दिरा पतिं अध्यादि वरदेश वर प्रदम् 

vande vandyam sadänandam väsudevam niraïjanam |

indiräpatimädyädi varadeesha varapradam || 1 || 

"I praise the praiseworthy- that is ever blissful, lord of supreme self, always in Turiya state, abode of splendor, the highest principle, the real boon giver of the boon givers"

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Commentary : It is important to note that Acharyaru has chosen to define the Vishnu principle in non personalized way in the very first stanza. It was both strategic and deliberate. The very first characterization of the worshipped  is  sadänandam- ever blissful. This is what we, troubled human beings seek. As an entity that is beyond the three gunas, He is always in Turiya Avastha and hence blemishless niranjanam. 

Two things stand out in this : the end goal for us and the means for it. End goal being ever blissful state and the means is to achieve Turiya avasta and make it a permanent avasta. 

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Dwadasha stotra is a unique stotra that has a surface level devotional meaning and deeper level Tantra message. It is also a Sarva Shastra Sangraha - summary of all shastras.

No other philosopher has been so kind like Shrimad Anada Theertha Muni to crystallize the entire Shahstra repertoire - Vedas, Upanishad, Itihasa, Purana, Agama , folklore etc and give us in a sweetened doses. He  very richly deserves the title Madhu Acharya .

Let us not forget that Acharyaru is from Parashu Raama kshetra, close to Malnad , where Tantra was dominant. At any rate ShrimadAcharya is great proponent of Ashtanga Yoga.

Generally the Dwadasa Stotra is recited in a monotonous voice in a ritualistic way; it should rather be delivered in deep Bhakti like Shri Vidyabhooshana or silently in deep contemplation 

1:2

नमामि निखिलादीश किरीटघृष्ट पीटवत् 

हृत्तमः शामनेर्काभं श्रीपतेः पाद पङ्कजं 

The Lotus feet of the Lord is like a pedestal on which crowns rest for dispelling the darkness of the heart. 
//This actually represents Mooladhara chakra and raising Kundalini with Siddahsana.  Even Tamil Siddhini Avvayar has written on how Kundalini rises when the heels press on the chakra//


1:3

जाम्बूनाद अम्बराधारं नितम्बं चिन्त्यमिशितुः 

सवर्णमन्जिरासंवीतं आरूढं जगदम्बया 

The waist of the Lord is covered by a golden cloth and is surrounded by a golden waistband . Jagadamba is up there. 

// This refers to the Savdhistana chakra. This is the seat of all emotions, pleasure points//

1:4

उदरं चिन्त्यं ईशस्य तनुत्वेऽपि अखिलंबरं 

वलित्रयाङ्ग्कितं नित्यं आरूढं श्रियैकया 

The stomach is slim and yet  holds the entire Universe. Three lines run across  and is always embraced by Ramaa.

// This refers to Manipura chakra that has deep impact on our emotions and consequent actions. The Three Gunas dominate here. Fundamentally the gunas are responsible for creating an undersratnding of virtual universe for each of us//

1:5

स्मरणीयमुरे विष्णोः इन्दिरा वासं उत्तमैः 

अनन्तं अन्तवदिव भुजयोरन्तर्गतं 

The chest of Lord Vishnu houses the blue lotus (Indira ) and is infinite spanned by the two arms 

//This is the location of Anhata chakra , the seat of peace, harmony  and balance. Narayana Suktam tells us that in this heart, a blue lots of flames glow and Shriman Narayan resides there// 

1:6

शंक चक्र गदा पद्म धरा श्रिचिन्त्या हरेर्भुजः 

पीनव्रुत्ता जगद् रक्षा केवलोत् योगिनोनिशम् 

The strong arms of the Lord bear the conch, discus, mace and the lotus with the sole purpose of protecting the world of Yogis.

1:7

सन्ततम् चिन्तयोत्कण्ठं भास्वत् कौस्तुभ भासक

वैकुण्ठस्य अखिला वेदा उद्गिर्यन्तेनिशं यतः

The neck of the Lord of Vaikunta is adorned with the brilliant Kausthubha Mani and is always reciting Utgita.

//  The Vishudda Chakra in the throat is the focus of 1:6 & 1:7. This is the bridge that takes us to inner core of ourselves - the Buddhi, ahankara , etc . This is the bridge between our waking state of misery to the world of Ananda resulting from Samadhi or Amala Bhakti//

1:8

स्मरते यामिनी नाथ सहस्रं अमित कान्तिमत् 

भवता पापनोदीड्यम् श्रीपते मुख पङ्कजं

The lotus like face of the Lord of Shri is effulgent unequalled  by thousands of full moons.  It destroys sins.

1:9

पूर्नानन्य सुखोद्भासिं अन्दस्मितं अधिशितुः 

गोविन्दस्य सदा चिन्त्यं नित्यानन्द पदप्रदं 

The  smile lighting up on the face of Govinda  can grant us moksha.

1:10

स्मरामि भसन्ताप हानिदा अमृत सागरम् 

पूर्नानदस्य रामस्य सानुराग अवलोकनम् 

The  love-filled look of Sri Rama, bestowing floods of passion, like the ocean of  nectar which can remove all obstacles

1:11

ध्यायेत् अजस्रम् ईशस्य पद्मजादि प्रतीक्षितम् 

भ्रू भङ्गं परमेष्ट्यादि पददायि विमुक्तिदम्  

Forever contemplate on the lord seeking him at the middle of eyebrows which can deliver Mukti.

//The stanzas 1:8 thru 1:11 describes the effect of meditating on  Vishnu in between eyebrows. This is a classical Tantra method adopted by all who follow Ashtanga Yoga

1:12

सन्ततम् चिन्तयेनन्तं अन्तकाले विशेषतः 

नैवोदापुः ग्रुणन्तोन्तम् यद्गुणानां अजादयः 

Forever contemplate on his infinite attributes that none have nor can any discern.

//This is about Sahasrara chakra dhyana. The anubhava is that of infinite presence of Vishnu - who by definition of the word Sarva vaypi. This leads to Mukti.//

In other words, in the first stotra  of Dwadasha Stotra, ShrimadAcharya seemingly explains the viraat swarupa of Shri Hari. This is only for those who want to approach Vishnu in a ritualistic manner. For those who want to move towards Vishnu Tatva rather than Vishny rUpa, metaphysics and Tantra is present in a hidden form.

As we understand the other Stotras of Dwadasha set, we will see the breathtaking breadth and depth of what ShrimadAcharya has given as gift to us.