Madhava (Vishnu)
Madhava (Sanskrit: माधव) is another name for Vishnu or Krishna and appears as the 72nd, 167th and 735th names in the Vishnu sahasranama.
From the Bhagavad Gita it is understood to refer to Vishnu being the husband of the goddess of fortune (Lakshmi). Arjuna addresses Krishna in the first chapter as follows:
"What should we gain, O Krishna, husband of the goddess of fortune, and how could we be happy by killing our own kinsmen?" (Bhagavad-Gita 1.36)
Also in the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna address Krishna as "Madhava" (meaning "Lord of fortune and also slayer of the demon Madhu").[1]
According to Adi Sankara' s commentary on the Vishnu sahasranama, Madhava means the consort (dhava) of the Mother (Ma), or Mahalaksmi, the Mother of the universe. Alternatively, it means on who is fit to be known through Madhu-vidya or can mean One who is the Lord of "Ma" or knowledge.
Additionally, it can also mean 'one who was born in the clan of Madhu'.
The Madhava worship is very prominent in Odisha since ancient time.In Prachi river valley several Madhav temples were constructed by the Hindu Kings of Odisha and this area was highly influenced by Brahmanic Vishanavanism. Great Sanskrit poet Jayadev was born in an Utkala Brahmin in Kenduli village of Prachi River velley in 10th centuery. Madhava is worship as Nila-Madhava,Radha-Madhava,Durga-Madhava etc..The Brahmanic Vaishnavanism of Prachi River Valley later known as Utkala Vaishnavanism and spread to many parts of India.Many prominent Bhakti & Vaishnava saints,poets of medieval peiod like Vidyapati,Guru Nanak,Sri Chaitanya,Srimanta Shankardev were highly influenced by the teachings & philosophy of Utkala Vaishnavanism & pholosophy of poet Jayadeva.
See also
References
- ↑ Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad-Gita, a New Translation and Commentary, Chapter 1-6. Penguin Books, 1969, p 37 (v 14)
- Cited from Sri Vishnu Sahasranama, commentary by Sri Sankaracharya, translated by Swami Tapasyananda, available at Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.