Sri Suktam Explained - Part 6

Sri Suktam Explained - Part 6

Sri Suktam: The First Mantra

हिरण्यवर्णां हरिणीं सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम्
चन्द्रां हिरण्मयीं लक्ष्मीं जातवेदो म आवह

This mantra is addressed to Jataveda:
हे जातवेदः, जातवेदो म आवह।

Who is Jataveda? Normally, Agni is called Jataveda. However, here the meaning is Lakshmipati Sri Hari.

जातं स्वतस्सिद्धं
वेदः – ज्ञानं वा यशो वा धनं वा यस्य जातवेदाः।

All these—janana (birth or creation), aishwarya (wealth), and yashas (fame)—are swatassiddha (inherent) for Sri Hari. They are his own and not conferred upon him by anyone.

For everyone else, these attributes are granted by someone. They did not originally possess them; they were given at some point. Sri Hari, however, never received them from anyone. He has always had them. That is why he is called Jataveda.

The Mahabharata says:
युगकोटिसहस्राणि विष्णुमाराध्य पद्मभूः
पुनस्त्रैलोक्यधातृत्वं प्राप्तवानिति शुश्रुम।

As a result of worshiping Sri Hari for thousands of crores of yugas, Brahma became Brahma. He became the creator of the three worlds.

Similarly, it says:
इष्ट्वायमिन्द्रो यज्ञानां शतेनामरराजताम्
अवाप तमनन्तादिमहं द्रक्ष्यामि चक्रिणम्।

Even Indra attained his position as the king of the Devas by performing a hundred sacrifices to Sri Hari.

तेजोदास्त्वमस्याग्नेः वर्चोदाः त्वमसि सूर्यस्य
द्युम्नोदास्त्वमसि चन्द्रस्य।

You alone have given heat to Agni. You alone have given brilliance to Surya. You alone have given splendor to Chandra. Sri Hari is the giver of everything to everyone. But he has never accepted anything from anyone. For him, everything is swatasiddha.

Attributes of Lakshmi in the Mantra

हिरण्यवर्णाम् – हितरमणीयाम्
The term combines two qualities: hitatvam and ramaneeyatvam.

1. Hitatvam – She grants everything that is auspicious, pleasant, and joy-giving. She fulfills all wishes (अपेक्षित अर्थ साधकत्वम्).

2. Ramaneeyatvam – She embodies all feminine beauty:
   सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नां श्रियं श्रेयः प्रदायिनीम्
   क्षिप्रप्रसादिनीं देवीं शरण्यामनुचिन्तयेत्।

   She is:

   • स्फुरत्कान्तिमती – Radiating brilliance.
   • विकासिकमले स्थिता – Residing on a blossoming lotus.

This is the ramaneeyatva of Mata Lakshmi.

हरिणीम् – सर्वपाप हरण शीलाम्।
She is harana sheela—one who removes all sins. Hence, she is called Harini.

सुवर्णरजतस्रजाम् – She wears ornaments and garlands made of gold and silver, perfectly befitting her divine beauty.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi