Vishnu Sahasra Naamam-Vol V-Rr-edit.pub - Ahobilavalli

of bhagavAn (taru - one that provides the cool shade and protection from the
torture of the heat of samsAra). In his tiruvAimozhi, nammAzhvAr
emphasizes that even though bhagavAn is responsible for all three functions -
creation, protection and destruction, protection is His primary concern
(kAkkumiyalvinan kaNNa perumAn -tiruvAi. 2.2.9). This protection aspect of
bhagavAn is to be specially enjoyed in this nAma.
SrI veLukkuDi kRshnan gives a quote from SrImad rAmAyaNa where rAma is
described by tArA as a tree of protection, hope and refuge for all:
nivAsa vRkshaH sAdhUnAm ApannAnAm parA gatiH |
ArtAnAm samSrayaScaiva yaSaSca eka bhAjanam | |
163
(kishkindA. 15.19)
"(rAma) is the protective tree for the sAdhu-s or the virtuous people; He is
the safe Abode for the suffering; He is the Protector for those who have no
other protection; He is the One who is worthy of praise".
SrI Sa'nkara uses the root 'tR - plavana taraNayoH - to cross over, to swim',
in his primary interpretation for the nAma, and gives the meaning "One Who
helps in crossing over the three worlds - bhU loka, bhuvarloka and svar loka".
His vyAkhyAnam is:
"bhUr-bhuvaHsvaH samAkhyAni trINi vyAhRti
rUpANi SukrANi trayI sArANi bahvRcA AhuH |
tair-homAdinAjagat-trayam tarati plavate
vA iti bhUr-bhuvas-svas-taruH".
He bases his interpretation on the following Rg vedic mantra, which also occurs
in the taittirIya Upanishad:
bhUr-bhuva-suvariti etAs-tisro vyAhRtayaH | ..
bhUriti vA ayam lokaH | bhuvarityantariksham | suvarityasaulokaH | ...
bhUriti vA agniH |bhuva iti vAyuH | suvarityAdityaH | .. bhUriti vA RcaH |
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