2023-05-31 04:00:48 by ambuda-bot
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INTRODUCTION
This is an uncritical and highly exoggerated statement
even on the surface. Because, these are words, significant and
conveying definite ideas, which cannot be ignored, and there
is no authority to ignore them. Besides, Bhishma himself
describes these (holy) Names as gaunini (descriptive of His
attributes). The Vishnu Sikta speaks of "Those who have
understood the meaning of the Names after analysing them
into their components". Thus, the object of using the Names
is only to remind us of the very many attributes of the Lord.
It may well be that these Names remind us only of
qualities known to us from other sästras as in the case of
mantras. But that does not mean that the qualities denoted
by the words are altogether non-existent. (For example,
mantras are uttered in praise of certain deities before under.
taking any ritual, like a sacrifice. The deity concerned is
already known by the mandatory injunctions in the Vedas,
and the mantras help only to remind the devotee of the deity.
On that reason, it cannot be argued that the mantra is not an
authoritative source of knowledge.) Therefore, it is that in the
introductory portion of this stotra as well as in its conclusion,
Bhishma extols the gunas (including the actions) of the Lord;
and the enumeration of the gunas by means of the Names in
the body of the stotra is for making us remember them. The
reason is that the uttering even one of the holy Names is
potent to grant us all benefits. Such a name becomes equivalent
to mantras like the twelve-syllabled (Om Namo Bhagavate Väsu-
deviya), or eight-syllabled (Om Namo Nārāyaṇāya) or the six-
syllabled (Om Namo Vishnave) and such like. A mantra may
be made the principal and all the others subsidiary: it is so
stated in the Bhagavata scriptures.
(And single Names by such relationship with potent
mantras give us all benefits). As quoted from the Vishnu
Sakta, "Namachit Vivaktana" the word used, is in singular; it
bears out the above statement about the potency of single
Name fully. In the chapters in the Mahabharata relating to
the explanations of the meanings of the Names, it may be
seen that, though it is true that Names pronounced merely
and without knowledge of their meating help, still revelation
of the qualities through explanation of the meanings (of the
Names) quickly promotes clearness of mind and purifies.
53
This is an uncritical and highly exoggerated statement
even on the surface. Because, these are words, significant and
conveying definite ideas, which cannot be ignored, and there
is no authority to ignore them. Besides, Bhishma himself
describes these (holy) Names as gaunini (descriptive of His
attributes). The Vishnu Sikta speaks of "Those who have
understood the meaning of the Names after analysing them
into their components". Thus, the object of using the Names
is only to remind us of the very many attributes of the Lord.
It may well be that these Names remind us only of
qualities known to us from other sästras as in the case of
mantras. But that does not mean that the qualities denoted
by the words are altogether non-existent. (For example,
mantras are uttered in praise of certain deities before under.
taking any ritual, like a sacrifice. The deity concerned is
already known by the mandatory injunctions in the Vedas,
and the mantras help only to remind the devotee of the deity.
On that reason, it cannot be argued that the mantra is not an
authoritative source of knowledge.) Therefore, it is that in the
introductory portion of this stotra as well as in its conclusion,
Bhishma extols the gunas (including the actions) of the Lord;
and the enumeration of the gunas by means of the Names in
the body of the stotra is for making us remember them. The
reason is that the uttering even one of the holy Names is
potent to grant us all benefits. Such a name becomes equivalent
to mantras like the twelve-syllabled (Om Namo Bhagavate Väsu-
deviya), or eight-syllabled (Om Namo Nārāyaṇāya) or the six-
syllabled (Om Namo Vishnave) and such like. A mantra may
be made the principal and all the others subsidiary: it is so
stated in the Bhagavata scriptures.
(And single Names by such relationship with potent
mantras give us all benefits). As quoted from the Vishnu
Sakta, "Namachit Vivaktana" the word used, is in singular; it
bears out the above statement about the potency of single
Name fully. In the chapters in the Mahabharata relating to
the explanations of the meanings of the Names, it may be
seen that, though it is true that Names pronounced merely
and without knowledge of their meating help, still revelation
of the qualities through explanation of the meanings (of the
Names) quickly promotes clearness of mind and purifies.
53