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श्लोक - नाम क्रमांक: 151
मराठी अर्थ
शब्द:
ॐ उपेन्द्राय नमः।
विवेचन:
जो इंद्राचा धाकटा भाऊ म्हणून वामनावतारात प्रकट झाला, तो उपेन्द्रः. इंद्रापेक्षा श्रेष्ठ दैवी सामर्थ्य असूनही विनम्र रूप धारण करणारा तोच. अवतारातील लीलामाधुर्य आणि दैवी विनय यांचे हे सुंदर नाव आहे.
अर्थ:
इंद्राचा धाकटा भाऊ (वामन).
English Meaning
Meaning:
Om Upendraya Namah।
Simple Meaning:
From *upa* (near, secondary) + *Indra* (king of gods); "He Who Appeared as Younger Brother to Indra" — a reference to His Vamana avatar, born as the younger brother of Indra; though appearing secondary, He is in fact supreme.
Mythology / Philosophy / Spiritual:
**The Vāmana paradox<br> This name beautifully captures the divine play of the Vāmana avatāra. Viṣṇu, as the supreme Lord of the cosmos, voluntarily assumed the humble form of a small Brāhmaṇa boy (‘Vāmana’) and was born as the younger brother of Indra (from Aditi and Kaśyapa). He was thus ‘Upa-Indra’ — literally "near Indra," or "below Indra" in apparent status. Yet this apparent subordinate was actually the supreme Puruṣottama — the one who in three strides measured all three worlds and reclaimed the cosmos from Bali Mahārāja. The "subordinate" was, all along, the Supreme. **Theological message<br> Upendraḥ teaches that the Lord's voluntary self-humbling (as seen in all avatāras) does not diminish His supremacy — it expresses it. The infinite becomes finite; the Supreme becomes the "subordinate" — not because He is reduced but because His love is so great that He will condescend to any form to protect and liberate His devotees. This is ‘saulabhya’ (accessibility) in its most extreme and moving expression. **Bhāgavata Purāṇa (8.15–23)<br> The complete Vāmana episode, from His birth to the three strides, is one of the most theologically rich narratives in the entire Purāṇa.