Dasakam 27 & 28
Check out my old post
Gurukripaksham suka dinam to see the detailed Golu doll representation of the Amruta Mandanam story.
Yadā saṁharate chāyaṁ kūrmo ’ṅgānīva sarvaśaḥ Indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyas tasya prajñā pratiṣṭhitā
When a person withdraws the senses from the objects of the senses, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into its shell, that person’s wisdom is firmly established.
In the midst of life’s churning and distractions, we must remain steady (Kurma), control our senses (Gita 2.58), and stay anchored in our true Self to experience the nectar of wisdom and immortality.
I prepared the appam for **Kurma**, I kept thinking about how He silently supported the great mountain during the churning of the ocean.
When I poured the batter into the kuzhi paniyaram kal, I felt patient and focused. Watching each appam turn golden and round filled me with quiet joy. The outcome looked perfect and my heart felt full.
Dasakam 28 second sloka was difficult to chant
During Samudra Manthanam, divine treasures like Kamadhenu came only after great effort and struggle. Likewise, even chanting about those divine events should not always feel easy.
Our guru mami said that though Bhattathiri has already simplified everything for us, we should at least experience some difficulty while chanting. Divine blessings are precious and are not gained without effort.
This small struggle in learning the sloka reminds me to be humble, patient, and sincere. Just as nectar came after poison, grace comes after effort. I accept the difficulty as part of my devotion. 🙏
The churning of the ocean produced many treasures, but Mahālakṣmī, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, emerges as the ultimate divine gift.
She represents both material wealth and spiritual fulfillment and is inseparably connected to Vishnu.
Through hard work and righteous effort, both spiritual wisdom and material abundance come into our lives.
Dasakam 29 & 30
Dasakam 30
explains the divine Vāmana avatāra.
* King MahaBali, grandson of Prahlāda, was revived by Śukrācārya after being defeated.
* Aditi observed “पयोव्रतम्” (Payovratam) for twelve days.
Pleased with her devotion, the Lord was born as “बालरूपम्” (bālarūpam).
*Vāmana’s Upanayanam is described beautifully in Sloka 6.
*He accepted “मौञ्जी-दण्ड-अजिनम्” (mauñjī-daṇḍa-ajinam) like a brahmachāri.
*The Supreme Lord followed dharma with humility.
*MahaBali washed the Lord’s feet — “पादप्रक्षालनम्” (pāda-prakṣālanam).
This Dasakam teaches devotion, humility, and surrender.
Dasakam - 31 & 32
Dasakam 31 describes the glory of Vāmana at Bali’s yajña.
Vāmana shines like a young
brahmachāri — “ब्रह्मचारी-वेषधारी”
He politely asks MahaBali for
"त्रीणि पदानि” (three steps of land).
Guru Śukrācārya warns MahaBali not to give the boon.
But king MahaBali keeps his promise with firm - “सत्यव्रतः”
Vindhyāvali was the devoted and noble wife of King Bali. She supported her husband in all his duties.
He offers water to complete the dānam.
The Lord then grows into a
huge form — “त्रिविक्रमरूपम्”.
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| @Puri jaganath temple ECR |
With one step He covers the earth,
With the second step He covers the heavens.
When Lord Vamana asks where is the place for me to place the third step? Without second thoughts Mahabali asked God to place the third step on his own head. What a bhakthi he had just like his grandfather prahlada.
Thus shines the divine glory of Trivikrama.
King MahaBali is an example of Atma Nivedanam (self-surrender)which is the highest form of devotion in Navavidha Bhakti, where a devotee completely surrenders their body, mind, and soul to God, retaining no ego or personal desire.
Dasakam 32-
It describes the Matsya Avatar of Lord Vishnu. To be honest, this is the first time I am listening to the story in such detail. Our guru mami narrates every story so beautifully that we never feel bored. I feel very happy to be her student and truly blessed to learn in this way.
In this avatar, Lord Vishnu took the form of Matsya to protect the Vedas from the demon Hayagriva. The small fish that first appeared to King Satyavrata kept growing-from a pot to a tank, then to a lake and finally into the vast ocean. This showed that the divine presence cannot be contained in small limits.
At the end of the Dasakam, when the great deluge (pralaya) happens, the Lord in the Matsya form guides the boat carrying King Satyavrata, the sages, and the seeds of life safely through the waters. He also defeats the demon Hayagriva and restores the Vedas, preserving sacred knowledge for the next creation.
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| Picture from Google as no picture allowed inside |
Recently, we visited the Matsya Narayan temple at Utthandi on ECR-Chennai. It is an open temple built near the seashore, which felt very meaningful and connected to the story of the Matsya Avatar.
I noticed many people throwing coins into the water there. It made me realize that just as the Matsya shape grew in size, so might our riches and rewards. (Just sharing my take on it).
Those who visit temple can also visit Orissa model Puri Jeganath temple nearby.
I'm happy for the opportunity to hear these heavenly stories and grasp their deeper meaning. May the Lord Vishnu, who protected the Vedas, guide and strengthen our dedication and wisdom.
🙏🙏Hare Krishna 🙏🙏
