Date uploaded in London – – 12 MAY 2024
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No one would expect names of birds and animals in a hymn to God. But Hinduism sees gods even in animals and birds, trees and lakes, rivers and oceans.
All of us know about the holiness of Mount Kailash , River Ganga, Agni Theertha (Rameswaram Sea), Peepul Tree and thousand other things. Even the Dasavataram of Vishnu has many from the animal kingdom. If you travel to Tamil Nadu you will come across several places with animals and birds. In Madurai and nearby places Lor Shiva gave liberation to Black birds and Pigs.
Here in Vishnu Sahasranama (VS) we see Swan (Hamsa), Eagle (Suparna), Falcon(Garuda), Simha (Lion; also Narasimha), Vyagra (Tiger), Saaranga (honey beetle, deer, parakeet etc.), Sringi (Fish with horn), Sipivistah (Cow),Vyaalah (Big Snake), Sikandi (Peacock), Rohita (Red Fish), Vrshakapi (Boar) and Sasabindu (moon with Hare).
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Let us look at the details now,
Naarasimha- vapuh- Word No.21 in VS
One in whom the bodies of a man and a LION are combined; one of the Ten Avatars of Vishnu
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Vyaalah – Word No.92 in VS
Being ungraspable like a SERPENT.
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Vrsaakapih Word No.101 in VS
Shankara gave three meanings; one of them is from Mahabharata, whereKapih means Varaaha- a BOAR.
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Hamsah- Word No.191 in VS
One who took HAMSAVATARA
Hamsa= SWAN
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Suparnah- Word No.192 in VS
One who has two wings (My Comments: Suparna means EAGLE/GARUDA in the Vedas)
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Simhah- Word No.200 and 488 in VS
One who does Himsaa or destruction to sinners (It also means LION)
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Sahasrapaat – Word No.227 in VS
One with a thousand or innumerable legs (It also means MILLEPEDE in Sanskrit)
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Sipivistah — Word No.273 in VS
Sipi means COW.one who resides in COW as Yajna.
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Sasabiduh – Word No.285 in VS
Who has the mark of the HARE, that is, the moon.
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Sikhandi — Word No.311 in VS
Sikhanda means a feather of a PEACOCK. He used it as a decoration when He adopted the form of a cowherd (gopa).
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Garudadhvajah – Word No.354in VS
One who has a GARUDA/FALCON as his flag.
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Rohitah – Word No.364 in VS
One who assumed the form of a RED FISH.
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Ajah – Word No.521 in VS
A means Mahavishnu. So the word means one who is born of Visnuh i.e. Kama Deva (It also means GOAT)
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Mahaasrngah – Word No.536 in VS
One with a great antenna in the Matsyavatara (FISH incarnation).
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Nandih – Word No.618 in VS
One who is of the nature of Supreme Bliss (also means BULL)
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Vyagrah- Word No.762 in VS
One who has no Agra or end ( I give meaning TIGER only by changing the spelling Vyaagrah)
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Naikasringah- Word No.763 in VS
One with four horns. Shankara quotes Tittriya Aranyaka where Lord is shown in the form of OX with four horns.(RV. 4-58-3 also says the same)
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Sringi — Word No.797 in VS
FISH with one horn at the time of Pralaya (Cosmic dissolution)
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Kapih – Word No.899 in VS
Ka means water; one who drinks all water by his rays is Kapih. Kapi means BOAR or Varaaha, one of the incarnations of Vishnu.
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It is no wonder that Bhisma used at least 20 names from animal kingdom with two or more meanings. Even today most of these animals or birds are shown as Vahanas. During South Indian Temple Festivals, all these animal figures are used as Vahanas/ Mounts of Gods. Hindus don’t kill them unless there is a threat from them.
–subham—
Tags- Vishnu Sahsranama, Animals, Birds,, secrets, part 12
Tamil and Vedas 