Vanamālā
Vanamālā · vana-mālā, “garland of forest flowers”
Grammar: feminine noun; vana (forest) and mālā (garland): “a garland of the forest”. One who wears it is Vanamālī or Vanamālādhara.
Meaning: a garland of forest flowers worn by Bhagavān Vishṇu; one of his marks.
In the scriptures: the devas wonder how Hari and Hara, whose natures are of the opposed guṇas sattva and tamas, can be joined as one. As they are troubled, the imperishable Śrī Hari takes the viśvarūpa, Śiva joined in Hari. He bears three eyes, earrings of serpents and of lotuses, the jaṭājūṭa, the banners of Garuḍa and of Vṛshabha, necklaces of serpents, the pītāmbara, the tiger skin and the vanamālā, with the weapons of Śiva and of Keśava. Seeing that form, the devas headed by Brahmā bow and know that the two are one (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 36).
In the Devadāruvana, Sanatkumāra tells Mārkaṇḍeya, Parameśvara took the form of a youth, beautiful in every limb, digambara (sky-clad), adorned with a vanamālā and holding a kapāla, and went begging among the āśramas of the munis. The munis’ wives gathered round him and asked: “What kind of vrata is this, of begging for alms naked and wearing forest garlands?” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 21–22).
The Vāmana Purāṇa uses the word in these places as well:
- In the Sarva-pāpa-mocana stava that Maheśvara speaks to Vishṇu: “Deva who bears the vanamālā and Bhūdevī! Hari, namas to you” (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 60).
- In the second pāpa-śamana stotra that Pulastya Maharshi gives Nārada, Vishṇu is praised as Vanamālādhara (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 61).
- Telling the places of his forms, Vāmana says that the people of Kishkindhā call him Vanamālī (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 63).
- In his stotra to Bhagavān Vishṇu, Brahmā praises him as Vanamālādhara (Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapter 66).
Related terms: Pītāmbara · Viśvarūpa · Hari-Hara · Śrīvatsa · Devadāruvana
Sources
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Chapters 36, 60, 61, 63, 66
- Vāmana Purāṇa, Saro Māhātmya, Chapter 21–22