Sri Dasavatara-stotra and Upaaya
(from Gita-govinda) by Jayadeva Gosvami
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a fish! All glories to You! You easily acted as a boat in the form of a giant fish just to give protection to the Vedas, which had become immersed in the turbulent sea of devastation.
2
kshitir iha vipulatare tisthati tava prste
dharani-dharana-kina-cakra-garisthe
keshava dhrta-kurma-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a tortoise! All glories to You! In this incarnation as a divine tortoise the great Mandara Mountain rests upon Your gigantic back as a pivot for churning the ocean of milk. From holding up the huge mountain a large scar like depression is put in Your back, which has become most glorious.
3
vasati dasana-sikhare dharani tava lagna
sasini kalanka-kaleva nimagna
keshava dhrta-sukara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a boar! All glories to You! The earth, which had become I,merged in the Garbhodaka Ocean at the bottom of the universe, sits fixed upon the tip of Your tusk like a spot upon the moon.
4
tava kara-kamala-vare nakham adbhuta-srngam
dalita-hiranyakasipu-tanu-bhrngam
keshava dhrta-narahari-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of half-man, half-lionl All glories to You! lust as one can easily crush a wasp between one's fingernails, so in the same way the body of the wasp like demon Hiranyakasipu has been ripped apart by the wonderful pointed nails on Your beautiful lotus hands.
5
chalayasi vikramane balim adbhuta-vamana
pada-nakha-nira-janita-jana-pavana
keshava dhrta-vamana-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of a dwarf-brahmana! All glories to You! O wonderful dwarf, by Your massive steps You deceive King Bali, and by the Ganges water that has emanated from the nails of your lotus feet, You deliver all living beings within this world.
6
kshatriya-rudhira-maye jagad-apagata-papam
snapayasi payasi samita-bhava-tapam
keshava dhrta-bhrgupati-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Bhrgupati [Parasurama] ! All glories to You! At Kuruksetra You bathe the earth in the rivers of blood from the bodies of I he demoniac ksatriyas that You have slain. The sins of the world are washed away by You, and because of You people are relieved room the blazing fire of material existence.
7
vitarasi dikshu rane dik-pati-kamaniyam
dasa-mukha-mauli-balim ramaniyam
keshava dhrta-rama-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who haze assumed the form of Ramacandra! All glories to You! In the battle of Lanka You destroy the ten-headed demon Ravana and distribute his heads as a delightful offering to the presiding deities of the ten directions, headed by Indira. This action was long desired by all of them, who were much harassed by this monster.
8
vahasi vapusi visade vasanam jaladabham
hala-hati-bhiti-milita-yamunabham
keshava dhrta-haladhara-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Balarama, the yielder of the prowl All glories to You! On Your brilliant white body You wear garments the color of a fresh blue rain cloud. These garments are colored like the beautiful dark hue of the River Yamuna, who feels great fear due to the striking of Your plowshare.
9
nindasi yajna-vidher ahaha shruti-jatam
sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam
keshava dhrta-buddha-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Buddha! All glories to You! O Buddha of compassionate heart, you decry the slaughtering of poor animals performed according to the rules of Vedic sacrifice
10
mleccha-nivaha-nidhane kalayasi karavalam
dhumaketum iva kim api karalam
keshava dhrta-kalki-sarira jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Kalki! All glories to You! You appear like a comet and carry a terrifying sword for bringing about the annihilation of the wicked barbarian men at the end of the Kali-yuga.
11
sri-jayadeva-kaver idam uditam udaram
srnu sukha-dam subha-dam bhava-saram
keshava dhrta-dasa-vidha-rupa jaya jagadisa hare
O Keshava! O Lord of the universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed these ten different forms of incarnation! All glories to You! O readers, please hear this hymn of the poet Jayadeva, which is most excellent, an awarder of happiness, a bestower of auspiciousness, and is the best thing in this dark world.
vedan uddharate jaganti vahate bhu-golam udbibhrate
daityam darayate balim chalayate ksatra-ksayam kurvate
paulastyam jayate halam kalayate karunyam atanvate
mlecchan murchayate dasakrti-krte krsnaya tubhyam namah
O Lord Krsna, I offer my obeisances unto You, who appear in the forms of these ten incarnations. In the form of Matsya You rescue the Vedas, and as Kurma You bear the Mandara Mountain on Your back. As Varaha You lift the earth with Your tusk, and in the form of Narasimha You tear open the chest of the daitya Hiranyakasipu. In the form of Vamana You trick the daitya king Bali by asking him for only three steps of land, and then You take away the whole universe from him by expanding Your steps. As Parasurama You slay all of thewicked kshatriyas, and as Ramachandra You conquer the rakshasa king Ravana. In the form of Balarama You carry a plow with which You subdue the wicked and draw toward You the River Yamuna. As Lord Buddha You show compassion toward all the living beings suffering in this world and a the end of the Kali-yuga You appear as Kalki to bewilder the mlecchas [degraded low-class men].
Prabhupäda:
...lifted the world when it was submerged within the water of Garbhodaka
Ocean. The universe which we are seeing, it is only half. The other half
is filled with water, and in that water is Garbhodakaçäyé
Viñëu lying. So one demon, Hiraëyäkña, he
pushed this earthly planet within that water, and Lord Kåñëa
delivered this earthly planet from water in the shape of a boar. So that
auspicious day is today, Varäha-dvadaçé. This is called
Varäha-dvadasi. So on this day it is better to sing, to glorify the
different incarnations of Lord within this universe. The first incarnation
is the fish form.
So these prayers
were offered by Jayadeva Gosvämé. One Vaiñëava
poet advented about seven hundred years before Lord Caitanya’s appearance.
He was a great devotee, and his specific poetry, Géta-govinda, is
very famous all over the world. Géta- govinda. Géta-govinda
is the subject matter of Kåñëa playing on flute about
Rädhäräëé. That is the subject matter of Géta-govinda.
The same poet, Jayadeva Gosvämé, has offered this prayer, pralaya-payodhi-jale-dhåtavän
asi vedam. He says, “My dear Lord, when there was devastation within this
universe, everything was filled with water. At that time You saved the
Vedas, stacked in a boat. And you held the boat from being drowned in the
water, in the shape of a big fish.” This fish first of all was caught in
the waterpot just like a small fish. Then it enlarged, and the fish was
kept in a bigger water reservoir. In this way the fish was increasing.
Then the fish informed that “Devastation is coming. You just save all the
Vedas on a boat, and I shall protect it.” So Jayadeva Gosvämé
is offering prayer, “My Lord, You saved the Vedas when there was devastation
in the shape of a fish.”
The next is
Kürmävatära. There was churning of the ocean. One side
all the demigods and one side all the demons. And the churning rod was
a great hill called Mandara-pärvata. And the resting place was on
the back of the Lord appeared as a tortoise. So he’s offering his prayer
that “You appeared as a tortoise just to become the resting place. And
this happened because You were feeling some itching sensation on Your back.
So You accepted this big rod, Mandara Hill, to itch, as the itching instrument.”
Then the next
incarnation is this Varäha, boar
or hog. He delivered this earthly planet by the tusk, and He kept the whole
world on His tusk. We can just imagine how big He appeared. And the world
at that time appeared just like the moon disc with some marks on it. So
keçava dhåta-varäha-çaréra. He says, “My
dear Lord, You have appeared as the great boar. So let me offer my respectful
obeisances unto You.”
The fourth
incarnation is Nåsiàhadeva.
Nåsiàhadeva appeared to save Prahläda Mahäräja,
who was five-years-old boy and he was being tortured by his atheistic father.
So He appeared from the pillar of the palace as a half-man, half-lion.
Because this Hiraëyakaçipu took benediction from Brahmä
that he’ll not be killed by any man or any animal. So the Lord appeared
neither man nor animal. This is the difference between the Lord’s intelligence
and our intelligence. We are thinking that we can cheat the Lord by our
intelligence, but the Lord is more intelligent than us. This Hiraëyakaçipu
wanted to cheat Brahmä by indirect definition. First of all he wanted
to become immortal. Brahmä said, “That is not possible because even
I am not immortal. Nobody in this material world is immortal. That is not
possible.” So Hiraëyakaçipu, the demon... The demons are very
intelligent. He thought that “Round about way I shall become immortal.”
He prayed to Brahmä that “Please give me the benediction that I shall
not be killed by any man or any animal.” Brahmä said, “Yes, that is
all right.” “I shall not be killed in the sky, on the water or on land.”
Brahmä said, “Oh yes.” “I shall not be killed by any man-made weapons.”
“That’s all right.” In this way he utilized his intelligence in so many
ways just to come to the conclusion of being immortal. But the Lord is
so cunning that He kept intact all the benediction given by Brahmä,
still he was killed. He said that “I’ll not be killed either during daytime
or night.” Brahmä said “Yes.” So he was killed just in the evening,
just in the junction of day and night. You cannot say it is day or night.
He took the benediction that “I shall not be killed in the sky, on the
water, on the land.” So he was killed on His lap. He took the benediction
that “I shall not be killed by any man-made or any God-made weapons.” That
was given, “All right.” So he was killed by the nails. In this way, all
the benedictions were kept intact, still he was killed. Similarly, we may
make plan, we may make very advancement in scientific knowledge, but the
killing process of nature will be there. Nobody can escape. By our intelligence
we cannot escape. The four principles of material existence means birth,
death, old age and disease. We can manufacture many medicines, many weapons,
many means, many methods, but you cannot escape these four principles of
material existence, however great you may be. That was proved by Hiraëyakaçipu.
Hiraëyakaçipu was one of the stalwart materialistic and he
wanted to live forever, enjoy, but he also could not live. Everything was
finished.
Then next
incarnation is Vämana, the dwarf.
Lord Vämana appeared before Bali Mahäräja. That was also
another cheating. Bali Mahäräja conquered all the universal planets
and the demigods were too much disturbed. So Vämana Mahäräja...
Vämanadeva went to Bali Mahäräja that “You give me some
alms. I am brähmaëa. I have come to beg from you.” So Bali Mahäräja
said, “Yes. I’ll give You.” So He wanted three feet land only. So by one
feet the whole universe was covered, upside, and another feet the other
half was covered. Then the third feet Bali Mahäräja said, “Yes,
now there is no place. Please keep Your feet on my head. Still my head
is there.” So Vämanadeva was very much pleased by the sacrifice of
Bali Mahäräja. He gave up everything for the Lord. So he is one
of the great authorities. Out of the twelve authorities, Bali Mahäräja
is one of the authorities because he sacrificed everything to satisfy the
Lord.
And next is Paraçuräma.
Paraçuräma, twenty-one times He made a massacre propaganda
for killing all the kñatriya kings. The kñatriya kings were
very much dishonest at that time, so he killed them for twenty-one times.
They fled from here and there. And from the history of Mahäbhärata
it is understood, at that time some of the kñatriyas fled and took
shelter in the European side. And the Indo-European stock is from those
kñatriyas. That is history, inform..., historical information from
Mahäbhärata.
Then next
incarnation is Lord Räma.
So He fought with Rävaëa who had ten heads. So ... And the next
incarnation is Balaräma. Balaräma is the elder brother of Kåñëa.
He is incarnation of Saìkarñaëa, next expansion of Kåñëa.
So He was very white in complexion, and He was wearing blue garments, and
with His plow He was, sometimes He was angry with Yamunä River, and
He tried to dry up the Yamunä River. That description is given here.
And Yamunä, out of His fear, she agreed to the proposal of Balaräma.
And the next
incarnation is Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha,
He decried the Vedic principles. Therefore He is calculated as atheist.
Anyone who does not agree with the Vedic principles, he is considered as
atheist. Just like one who does not believe in the Bible, they are called
heathens, similarly, those who do not accept the Vedic principles, they
are called atheists. So Lord Buddha although incarnation of Kåñëa,
He said that “I do not believe in Vedas.” What was the reason? The reason
was to save the poor animals. At that time people were sacrificing the
poor animals under the plea of Vedic sacrifice. So demonic persons, they
want to do something under the protection of authority. Just like a big
lawyer takes the protection of the lawbook and he makes the law unlawful.
Similarly, the demons are so intelligent that they take advantage of scriptural
injunction and do all nonsense. So these things were going on. In the name
of Vedic sacrifice, they were killing animals like anything. So Lord became
very much compassionate these poor animals, and He appeared as Lord Buddha,
and His philosophy was nonviolence. His philosophy was atheist because
He said that “There is no God. This combination of matter is a manifestation,
and you dismantle the material elements, there will be void and there will
be no sense of pleasure and pain. That is the nirväëa, ultimate
goal of life.” That was His philosophy. But actually His mission was to
stop animal killing, to stop the men from so much sinful activities. So
Lord Buddha is also prayed herewith. So people will be surprised that Lord
Buddha is designated as atheist and still the Vaiñëavas, they
are offering their respectful prayers to Lord Viñëu (Buddha).
Why? Because the Vaiñëava knows how the God is acting for His
different purposes. Others, they do not know.
The next avatär incarnation
is Kalki.
That is yet to take place. Kalki avatära will appear at the end of
this age, Kali- yuga. The age of Kali-yuga, duration of this age is still
to be, I mean to say, fulfilled in 400,000’s of years. So at the end of
Kali, that means at the last stage, after about 400,000’s of years, the
incarnation of Kali will appear. That is predicted in the Vedic literatures,
as Lord Buddha’s appearance was also predicted in the Çrémad-Bhägavatam.
And Çrémad-Bhägavatam was compiled five thousand years
ago, and Lord Buddha appeared about 2,500 years ago. Therefore about Lord
Buddha’s appearance it is predicted that at the beginning of Kali-yuga
Lord Buddha will appear.
There was prediction,
and that has actually come to be true. Similarly, there is prediction about
Kalki avatära, and that will also come to be true. So at that time
Lord Kalki’s business will be simply to kill. No instruction. Just like...
In Bhagavad- gétä Lord Kåñëa gave instruction
in the shape of Bhagavad-gétä. But at the end of Kali-yuga,
people will be so much degraded that there is no more possibility to give
any instruction. They will not be able to understand even. At that time
the only weapon will be to kill them. And one who is killed by the Lord,
he also gets salvation. That is God’s all-merciful quality. Either He protects
or He kills, the result is the same. So that will be the last stage of
this Kali-yuga, and after that, again Satya-yuga, the age of religiosity,
will begin. These are the statements of Vedic literature. (end)
All these forms of the Lord are fully brought to life in the pages of the Srimad Bhagavatam Cantos 1 thru' to 12.
Remedial Devatas (Lords) to be worshipped for the deficiencies or impediments with the nine Planets:
The following is a list of personalities who either rule the various planets and thus have dominion over them, or come from or appeared in that dynasty, and so have influence over that planet. Therefore it is advised to offer homage/worship/puja/service to that presiding personality to gain His favour to alleviate malefic situations being caused by the planetary influence.
Jupiter Dynasty: The Dwarf
incarnation of the Lord Vamandeva,
was from the Jupiter dynasty.
He is to be considered Jeevamsa
and Parmatmansa combined incarnation .
Ketu Dynasty: The Fish incarnation
of the Lord Matsya was from Ketu
dynasty.
He too was Jeevamsa and Parmatmamsa
combined incarnation .
Mars Dynasty: The Narasimha, half man half lion incarnation of the Lord was from the Mars dynasty. He was fully Parmatmamsa incarnation .
Mercury Dynasty: Lord Buddha
the combined incarnation was from the Mercurean dynasty.
He was Jeevamsa and Paramatmamsa.
The Moon Dynasty: Lord Krishna,
the in Supreme Personality of God was from the Moon dynasty.
He was fully Parmatmamsa incarnation
- the Avatari.
Rahu Dynasty: The wild Boar,
the incarnation of God Varahawas
from the Rahu dynasty.
He was fully Parmatmamsa incarnation
.
Saturn Dynasty: The Tortoise,
the incarnation of God Kurma was
from the Saturn dynasty.
He was Jeevamsa and Parmatmamsa
combined incarnation .
Sun Dynasty: Lord Rama,
the incarnation of Lord was from Solar dynasty.
He was fully Parmatmamsa incarnation
.
Venusian Dynasty: Sage Bhargava
(Jamadagni the father of Parasuram),
the plenary incarnation of God was from Venusian dynasty. (The Bhargava
dynasty comes down from Bhrgumuni) He was Jeevamsa and Parmatmamsa combined
incarnation .
Devi Deities are: Lakshmi. (Mohini,
Saraswati)
The puruña-avatäras are
the Lords of the universal creation. These are the Käraëodakaçäyé
Viñëu, Garbhodakaçäyé Viñëu
and Kñérodakaçäyé Viñëu. There
are also lélä-avatäras, and these include (1) Catuùsana,
(2) Närada, (3) Varäha, (4) Matsya, (5) Yajïa, (6) Nara-Näräyaëa,
(7) Kärdami Kapila, (8) Dattätreya, (9) Hayaçérñä,
(10) Haàsa, (11) Dhruvapriya, or Påçnigarbha, (12)
Åñabha, (13) Påthu, (14) Nåsiàha, (15)
Kürma, (16) Dhanvantari, (17) Mohiné, (18) Vämana, (19)
Bhärgava Paraçuräma, (20) Räghavendra, (21) Vyäsa,
(22) Pralambäri Balaräma, (23) Kåñëa, (24)
Buddha and (25) Kalki.
These twenty-five
Personalities of Godhead are known as lélä-avatäras. Because
they appear in each day of Brahmä, or in each kalpa (millennium),
they are sometimes known as kalpa-avatäras. Of these incarnations,
Haàsa and Mohiné are not very permanent or well known, but
They are listed among the präbhava-avatäras. Kapila, Dattätreya,
Åñabha, Dhanvantari and Vyäsa are eternally situated
and very widely known. They are also counted among the präbhava incarnations.
Kürma, Matsya, Näräyaëa, Varäha, Hayagréva,
Påçnigarbha, and Baladeva, the killer of Pralambäsura,
are counted among the vaibhava-avatäras (A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupad. Chaitanya Charitamrta. Madhya 20.245 purport.)
Therefore at different times it might
be good to render service unto these various expansions of the Lord rather
than looking toward material solutions such as jewelry, gems, talismans,
etc.
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