Of Stones and Shells

Partha Desikan

Prologue:
The very large span in seven of the eight aishvaryas (as different from corresponding siddhis which men attain through sadhana) that Bhagavan possesses is indicated in sloka 90 of the Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, along with its significance to the cosmic creation play. Bhagavan is of course Vishnu and Vyapaka, a great spanner of extremes. This sloka has 12 names in it, numbering 839 to 850.
839. Bhagavan is anu: the very first, very minute singularity that was created by his srshtisankalpa. (animaa)
840. He is brhat, huge, the vast expanse of all his creation. (mahimaa)

Shri Matsya Narayana

Partha Desikan

Gururgurutamo dhaama satyah satyaparaakramah |
Nimisho (a)nimishah sragvee vaachaspatir udaaradheeh ||
Agraneer graamaneeh shreemaan nyaayo netaa sameeranah |

The above three lines constitute the full shloka 23 and the first half of shloka 24 of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama from the Anushaasanika parva of Maharishi Vedavyasa’s ancient epic. The fifteen names numbering 211 to 225 of the Lord are covered by these lines.

1. The first name consists of two words, Guruh and Gurutamah. Together it means the greatest of Gurus.