SRI HARIKATHAMRITASARA

(Sri Jagannatha Dasa virachita)

SRI HARIKATHAMRUTASARA / ಶ್ರಿ ಹರಿಕಥಾಮೃತಸಾರ

Salutation to Lord Rudra (ಶ್ರೀ ರುದ್ರದೇವರ ಸ್ತುತಿ)

ವಾಮದೇವ ವಿರಿಂಚಿತನಯ ಉ-

ಮಾಮನೋಹರ ಉಗ್ರ ಧೂರ್ಜಟಿ

ಸಾಮಜಾಜಿನವಸನಭೂಷಣ ಸುಮನಸೋತ್ತಂಸ|

ಕಾಮಹರ ಕೈಲಾಸಮಂದಿರ

ಸೋಮಸೂರ್ಯಾನಲವಿಲೋಚನ

ಕಾಮಿತಪ್ರದ ಕರುಣಿಸೆಮಗೆ ಸದಾ ಸುಮಂಗಳವ||10||

VAmadEva virinchitanaya U-

mAmanOhara ugra DhUrjaTi

SAmajAjinavasana BhUShaNa sumanasOttamsa|

KAmahara kailasamandira

SOmasUryAnalavilOchana
KAmitaprada karuNisemage sumangaLava||10||

“Ugra” is one of the names of Lord Shiva. Amarakosha mentions “Ugraha kapardihi SreekanThaha” as names of Lord Shiva. In Sanskrit “U” refers to Family and “Gra” means “act of destroying”. Moreover, Lord Shiva is known as “Layakarta” as he inflicts destruction, which is a horrible deed and therefore he is known as “Ugra”. In his incarnations as Shuka and others, Lord Shiva preaches Bhagavata and other texts to “Gra”, which means to drive away, the emotional attachment in human minds with family, friends, relatives etc., which is indicated as “U”. Therefore, Lord Shiva is called as “Ugra”.

Lord Shiva is called as “DhUrjaTa” because he always wears matted hair. Besides, Ganga, who is addressed as “Dhoo”, a sound that emanates from her powerful, torrential flow from the heavens to the Earth, is worn in the matted hair by Lord Shiva. The matted hair is symbolic of a person known for “unhindered pursuit” of spirituality or any divine goal, which has been explained by Sri Vadirajaru in his “Teerthaprabandha”. As Lord Shiva was doing penance for a very long period of time, the matted hair suited his pursuit and it was symbolic of his Vaishanavite faith. “Vyomakesha” also indicates this aspect of Lord Shiva.

“SAmajAjinavasanaBhUShaNa” (ಸಾಮಜಾಜಿನವಸನಭೂಷಣ) is an adjective of Lord Shiva. In this expression, “SAmaja” means elephant and “ajina” means skin. “Vasana” means wearing and “BhUShaNa” means one who is decorated with. This refers to Lord Shiva who is normally seen as clad in elephant skin. The skin is not of any ordinary elephant. Lord Shiva killed a demon called “GajAsura” and in a fit of rage, he wore the skin of Gajasura as clothes. “Gaja” means elephant and “Asura” means demon. The attire of elephant’s skin is a symbol of wealth, glory and courage. That is why “BhUShaNa” has been employed. Lord Shiva wears elephant’s skin and covers his chest with tiger’s skin. This is the reason for him being called as “KruttivAsa”. Gajasura was he son of Mahishasura. While dying, Gajasura appealed to Lord Shiva that his skin be worn by Lord Shiva, which Lord Shiva granted as a boon.

Lord Shiva is “SumanasOttamsa”. “Sumanasa” refers to deities and “Uttama” means super-most or supreme. Persons with extraordinary knowledge are categorized as “Sumanasa” and Lord Shiva is “Uttama Sumanasa”.

There are a few more names of Shiva which require explanation. It will be done in the next episode. Please read, comment and share. SDN