Geethartha Chintane 02: Salutations to God and Guru

Devam Narayanam Nathwa Sarvadosha Vivarjitham |
Paripoornam Gurumchapi Geethartham Vakshyami Leshathaha ||

While writing the commentary (Bhasya) for the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Madhwacharya begins the Mangalashloka by offering salutations first to God and then to the Guru.

There is a reason why Narayana was first given the epithet “Devam.” The Lord is described as playing with the world in the form of Leela (divine play). The Leela form signifies joy, which in turn highlights the attribute of perfection.

Only one who is perfect can experience bliss. Leela is the source of this bliss. Where there is perfection, there is bliss. The word ‘Devam’ is used because it encapsulates the entire essence of the Lord in a single term.

In most scriptures, the name ‘Narayana’ is meditated upon first. This is the name that fully conveys the essence of the Lord. ‘Nara’ means attributes (gunas), and ‘ayana’ means the abode or support of these attributes. The two main attributes of the Lord are perfection (Gunaparipoornathwa) and impeccability (Nirdoshathwa). These two aspects together reveal the true nature of the Lord.

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