First I will outline this article in brief:
Theme: arthavada
Subtheme: arthavadis or persons who suppose that statements about the Efficacy of The Nama-Sadhana in Kali-Yuga are just exaggerated praise
Where is mentioned: mentioned by Lord Krishna in "Shree Narada-Purana"
Where is mentioned: mentioned by Lord Krishna in "Shree Narada-Purana"
Subtheme (actually, main theme): Pramanas from BhaskaraRaya Acharya crushing arthavadis and explaining why arthavadis are most abominable sinners in Kali-Yuga
अर्थवाद (arthavAda) means
praise, eulogium and as we all know, there are a lot of Pramanas in Puranas, praising Nama-Sadhana of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shreemati MahaLakshmi-Devi and Shreemati Durga-Devi) in Kali-Yuga.
praise, eulogium and as we all know, there are a lot of Pramanas in Puranas, praising Nama-Sadhana of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (Shreemati MahaLakshmi-Devi and Shreemati Durga-Devi) in Kali-Yuga.
But some persons (pashus, actually) claim such ArthaVada to be just exaggerated praise for the illiterate masses.
Such persons suppose that Puranic arthavada about efficacy of The Names of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu (and All The Shaktis: Shreemati MahaLakshmi-Devi, Shreemati Uma-Devi) is just exaggeration and overstatement aiming at illiterate audience.
So, such persons are called arthavadis, they are most abominable sinners in Kali-Yuga.
Such sinners usually babble in the following way: "Efficacy of Bhagavan Shree Vishnu's names and such statements as "harer nama eva kevalam" are only exaggerations leading to no real siddhi in real life at all".
So, as you see this is very offensive frame of mind and if you read "Shree Narada-Purana", you must remember the Verses in which Bhagavan Shree Krishna promises life in the hellish worlds for all the persons, who consider The Praise of His Names in Puranas just simple arthavada.
By the way, as you will see further, BhaskaraRaya Maha Acharya also cites the Arthavada-Pramana from "Shree Narada-Purana" in His Tika.
So, one should be very careful in order to avoid such offensive frame of mind.
In the following cite BhaskaraRaya Acharya explains this Siddhanta.
If you are interested in The Mantra of Shreemati Uma-Devi (BhaskaraRaya Maha Acharya cites the Pramana from "Shree Vayu-Purana" about the special status of The Name of Shreemati Uma-Devi), you can either refer to "108 Names of Shreemati Chamundika Ishvari" (LINK TO NAMAVALI) or just recite the following Mantra (still "108 Names of Shreemati Chamundika Ishvari" contains a lot of Very Beautiful Mantras):
ॐ उमायै नमः
OM umAyai namaH
NOW THE TIKA OF BHASKARARAYA MAHA ACHARYA:
The Vayu Purana thus gives the common effect of all names:
“One should repeat Devi’s names in the forest, in water, on dry land, in places where fear arises from tigers, wild animals, or thieves, and in all diseases. That The Name of Devi should be continually repeated when walking, sleeping, standing and eating; thus doing, he liberates himself from bondage.”
The Vamakeshvara-Tantra says:
“If one aspirant thinks in his mind One Single Name of Hers, in that moment he knows The Chakra of The Mother, O Beloved One.”
This indicates that mere mental repetition of Her Names confers on one the boons even up to the knowledge of Her Chakra.
The KashiKhanda says that by repeating a Particular Name one obtains the corresponding result:
“He who drinks the nectar of the name of Shreemati Uma-Devi while in this mortal life, O Kumbhasambhava, will never again suck milk from the breast of his mother.
Citragupta, the god of death, O brahmana never takes note of him who repeats day and night the two syllabled Mantra, UMA (उमा), though he may have committed sins, etc.”
Here an objector might say: In the Phala-Shruti Chapter of "Shree Lalita-Sahasranam" it is invariably said that one will obtain whatever he desires by reading the book in question.
Then, what is the use of saying that one will be relieved if he repeats a Certain Name, viz., "O remover of all diseases"?
Nor can we take the above as an Arthavada (praise), for though we have this in the Vedas, we have it not in the Puranas, for the "Shree Brihad-Naradiya Purana" says:
“they who attribute Arthavada to Puranas, the worst among the twice-born, their virtues also will have the same effect. He who attributes Arthavada to the Puranas, which are the means of ridding himself of all actions, ho, the vilest of creatures, goes to hell".
The answer is that though Each Name produces a result corresponding to its specific power, yet it may also produce a general result.
For the Tantravarttika says that when a general rule is not clear the special one is followed; but the special rule is not to be included under any others. Here too we find the same.
For Devi says ("Shree Lalita-Sahasranam"):
“One should always repeat These 1000 Names to please Me, and by My Grace one will undoubtedly obtain all his desires.” (This is the general result).
Again "Shree Kalika-Purana" says:
“O, Mother of the Universe, those who praise You by the words Ambika, Jaganmayi and Maya, will obtain all.”
In "Shree Vishnu-Purana" Bhagavan Shree Visnu says to Devi:
“Those who prostrating their bodies praise You by the words Maya, Durga, VedaGarbha, Amba, Bhadra, BhadraKali, Kshemya, Kshemamkari, in the mornings and evenings will obtain all desired objects by My Grace".
The same is echoed in Yajnavalkya-Smriti:
"One should approach Ambika, The Mother of Vinayaka, offering water with grass, and Sarsapa flowers, and pray to Her : "Give me beauty, give me fame, give me prosperity, give me children, give me wealth, and give me all the desired objects.”
"Shree Devi-Bhagavata Purana":
“There is nothing which cannot be obtained either on earth or heaven, when Devi is pleased. They are poor, they are very unfortunate, they are much afflicted with many diseases, in whose mind there is no faith in the worship of Amba.”
"Shree HariVamsha" also says:
“Brahma, Visnu, Rudra, Moon, Sun, Fire, Air, Ashvins, Vasus, Vishvedevas, Mahendra, Parjanya, Dhatr, Barth, ten quarters, cattle, stars, planets, rivers, lakes, ocean, many Vidyadharas, Serpents, Nagas, Eagles, groups of Gandharvas, Apsaras, are very pleased where The Name of Devi is recited.”
Thus, according to the Scriptures any of The Names of Devi may be repeated, yet if any one desires a particular object to be fulfilled, he must invoke The Goddess by the corresponding Name.
And The Shruti (Br. Up. 4-4-24) also says: “He who knows that Brahman receives food from all sides and is the giver of wealth to all, will attain food and wealth.”
In conclusion, if any worshipper invokes Devi by any particular Name such as “Annada”, he will soon obtain the corresponding result.
Hence "Shree Suta-Samhita" (IV, 88, 29 and 30) says:
“All Names are attributed by His Own Maya (to Brahman) Who is Himself The Eternal Bliss; yet, some Names, such as Shiva apply specially (to Brahman) by The Wish of Shiva Himself.
O sages, by repeating The Special Names one becomes truly The Supreme Lord Himself; and before one’s Lotus-Like Face SadaShiva Dances With His Consort (Shreemati Uma-Devi)".
Cited from
"LALITA SAHASRANAMAN
WITH BHASKARARAYA
COMMENTARY"
translated into english
by
Ananta Krishna Sastry,
Adyar,
3rd edition 1951 -
