Sunday, October 9, 2022

8

Excerpted from the article "The Eight Extraordinary Flowers" by Madhumati Pushkarini Devi dasi:

The ‘Sumadhva Vijaya’ is an exemplary biographical work by Sri Narayana Panditacharya belonging to the Madhva sampradaya. It presents the glorious life and teachings of Sripad Madhvacharya in the form of verses spread across 16 sargas or parts. In the 14th sarga, that describes the manner in which Sripad Madhvacharya would perform deity worship, verse 37 speaks about how he would adorn Lord Narayana with the eight kinds of ‘bhava pushpa’ or flowers of emotions. The verse is as follows:

ahiṁsā prathamaṁ puṣpaṁ puṣpam indriya-nigrahaḥ
sarvabhūta-dayā puṣpam kṣamā puṣpaṁ viśeṣataḥ
jñānaM puṣpaṁ tapaH puṣpaṁ śānthiḥ puṣpaṁ thathaiva ca
satyam aṣṭavidhaṁ puṣpaṁ viṣṇoḥ prītikaraṁ bhavet||


This verse very beautifully depicts eight extraordinary ‘flowers’ or qualities namely non-violence, sense-control, compassion towards all living beings, forgiveness, knowledge, austerity, equanimity and truthfulness that are very dear and pleasing to Lord Vishnu. 

You can read the full article at Dandavats.com.

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