Ananthaya Namah - Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Bhashya (sloka # 70-95)

 अनन्तानन्तदेवेश अनन्तफलदायक ।

अनन्तरूपि विश्वात्मन् अनन्ताय नमो नमः ॥

Anantha (SVSN # 659, 886) is not only a divine name but also one of the most vital attributes (Anantata) of Anantha Kalyana Guna Paripoorna Bhagavantha Vishnu. He is the supreme repository of countless auspicious and meritorious qualities which even Goddess Lakshmi Devi cannot fully count.

The Vedic and Upanishadic Roots

The concept of Anantata (infinitude) is the foundational Vedic definition of the Supreme Reality, Bhagawan Narayana. As declared in the Taittiriya Upanishad (2.1.1):

सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म ।

Satyam Jñānam Anantam Brahma

Brahman (Narayana) is Absolute Truth, Infinite Knowledge, and Boundless Infinitude. This absolute, undiminished infinitude is perfectly encapsulated in the Upanishads.

Dimensions of Anantha

By definition, Anantha means the One:

·        Who is all-pervasive and eternal.

·        Who exists beyond all boundaries.

·        For whom there is no limit by space, time, or location.

·        Who assumes an infinite number of forms and dwells throughout the entire universe.

·        Who is invincible, omni-present, and whose glory is limitless.

·        Who is highly meritorious among the meritorious, making it impossible for anyone to describe or define He precisely.

To directly complement this boundaryless nature, tradition quotes the verse…

क्रमशो जगदाव्याप्तं स्वरूपं यस्य वैभवात् ।

अनन्तकीर्तिरनन्तात्मा स अनन्तः परिकीर्तितः ॥

Kramaśo Jagadāvyāptam Svarūpaṁ Yasya Vaibhavāt |

Ananta-kīrtir-anantātmā Sa Anantaḥ Parikīrtitaḥ ||

(He whose essential form encompasses the entire universe step-by-step through His divine majesty, whose fame is endless, and who is the infinite inner soul of all, is celebrated as Anantha).

Anantha Padmanabha

He is also popularly revered as Padmanabha—the One who has a lotus-like navel, or the One from whose navel the cosmic lotus emerges. Anantha Padmanabha is none other than Lord Vishnu, the Supreme God.

नमोस्त्वनन्ताय सहस्रमूर्तये सहस्रपादाक्षिशिरोरुबाहवे ।
सहस्रनाम्ने पुरुषाय शाश्वते सहस्रकोटीयुगधारिणे नमः ॥

Namostvananthaya sahasramuurthaye!
Sahasrapaadaakshi sirorubaahave!
Sahasranaamne purushaya saswathe!
Sahasrakoti yugadhaarine namah!!

(Brahma Uvaacha)

Salutations to the Infinite (Anantha) who:

·        Has manifested as innumerable forms.

·        Possesses innumerable feet, eyes, heads, and arms.

·        Bears innumerable names.

·        Is the Eternal Purusha (Person).

·        Holds thousands of crores of yugas which are completely uncountable.

Glory of Sesha Devaru and Vibhooti…

अनंताय नमस्तुभ्यं सहस्रशिरसे नमः

नमोस्तु पद्मनाभाय नागानां पतये नमः

anaṃtāya namastubhyaṃ sahasraśirase namaḥ

namostu padmanābhāya nāgānāṃ pataye namaḥ

Anantha is also the sacred name of Sesha Devaru (Aadisesha), the thousand-headed serpent deity. He serves as the divine seat and couch upon which Anantha Padmanabha rests in His supreme abode, Sri Vaikunta.

Furthermore, Anantha is revealed as a majestic Vibhooti Roopa of Lord Sri Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita (Vibhuti Yoga), the Lord explicitly declares that among the naga (serpent) sect, He is Anantha.

अनन्तानन्तदेवेश अनन्तफलदायक ।
अनन्तरूपि विश्वात्मन् अनन्ताय नमो नमः ॥

Ananthananthadevesha anantha phaladayaka!
Anantharoopi viswathman ananthaya namo namaha!!

Salutations, over and over again, unto Lord Anantha, the infinite Lord of all gods and the indwelling cosmic soul (Viśvātman). O Lord of boundless forms (Ananta-rūpi), who yields endless fruits of merit and blessings (Ananta-phala-dāyaka), we offer our deepest obeisances unto Your boundless, absolute nature.

ANANTA, we come across frequently in NaamaThraya Japa... Achyutaaya Namah - Ananthaaya Namah - Govindaaya Namah. These three names are not just chanted for health or purification; they represent a highly specific chronological and philosophical shield based on Lord Vishnu's absolute control over time, destruction, and preservation.

Sri KrishnaArpanamAstu

naham karta harih karta