DHARANA A REQUIREMENT FOR SADHANA

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Mother Nature shows us various examples of deep contemplation and the merit of such an intense concentration i.e. Dhyana and Dharana. The emerging of a beautiful and colourful butterfly from a crawly caterpillar that went into a penance within a cocoon; the birth of a cuddly baby from a single cell that hibernated in a mother’s womb is mysterious, yet wonderful! Similarly the unfurling of a bud into complete blossom is mystical and beautiful; described by great poets as a soulful experience. There is a lesson in each one of these examples. To a spiritual aspirant, the flower bud represents an entity (Jeeva) in penance which is concentrating all its innate and latent potential within itself in spite of the humming of the bees and the rustling of the leaves. It is silently and secretly meditating on the Supreme Jnana and Lavanya hidden within as Guhamba and Guhya Roopini. When the bud blossoms into a flower it presents its grandeur, fragrance and hues impartially to all its beholders like a completely Realised Jnani who radiates his Brahma Tejas. Thus a flower in full bloom is Jnana Incarnate i.e. Jnanada and Jnana Vigraha!

                A sincere seeker of the Supreme Reality is also required to silently gather his innate energies like a Meditating bud to reach his final goal of BLOOMING TO SELF REALISATION!

Mata Kamalambika shone as this ATMA JNANA SHAKTHI through Her spiritual practices in spite of the mundane problems of daily life (Samsara). She puts forth the importance of Sadhana of CONCENTRATION AND CONSISTENT EFFORTS (Sraddha and Abhyasa) in Her Sookthi

          Neevu Vinagaligithe Rail Koothalo Kooda

          Omkaram Vinapaduthundi!    

                                                                      (SOOKTHI 9)

This Sookthi literally translates as follows:-

               If you can really make a good effort you can hear the

              Sound of Pranava i.e. Omkara even amidst the noise

              of a train!

This Sookthi can be conveniently split into three phrases for analysis so that it is useful for our Sadhana!

i.e.

         1. Rail Koothalo kooda à symbolising the Samsara

         2. Neevu Vinagaligithe à refers to our Sadhana through

• Will power, commitment, dedication which is collectively called SRADDHA
• Consistent efforts called ABHYASA which includes Smaranam, Mananam and Nidhidhyasam 

                                       under the guidance of a Sadguru.

         3. Omkaram Vinapaduthundi à indicates the final

             attainment which is the REALISATION OF THE SELF (or) BRAHMAM that is called OM or PRANAVA by the Vedas.

Let us now get deeper into the implications of this Sookthi.

                             It is common place to compare our life to a train journey to emphasise that all our worldly relationships are transitory like that of the co-passengers in a train. In Her Sookthi, Mata Sri Kamalambika compares Samsara i.e. our chaotic mind that of the disturbances in a train (Rail Koothalu). A train journey is typically characterised by confusion, noise and disorderliness caused by the rattles of restless children, arguments of uncompromising elders, bargaining hawkers and on top of all these the chugging and screeching of the train on the rails. Most of us are so engrossed in watching this hullabaloo that we don’t even realise that our journey is over. Such is our life that passes away among the rumblings of the mind without heeding to the intellect.

             But even in such a disturbing and distracting background there are very few people who complete their pre-planned job (say reading or writing) with utmost concentration. Such people have a great will power because their intellect holds the mind away from distractions and keeps it focussed on the task.

In a spiritual journey, the aspirant wants to experience and merge with the Brahman. This Brahman which is beyond description and definition is called OMKARA or PRANAVA by the VEDAS. OM is the sound-name-symbol given to the all-pervading Brahman which exists as the MANIFEST AND UNMANIFEST i.e. VYKTHA AVYKTHA SWAROOPINI. 

OM is the PRAGYANAM that acts as a substratum in our waking, dreaming and sleeping states i.e. JAGARANI, SWAPANTHI and TAIJASATHMIKA.

OM represents the Brahman which is the Ultimate Goal of concentration and meditation and is described as DHYANAGAMYA.

Sri Mata says that one can hear OMKARAM i.e. realise the SELF, even amidst the disturbances of Samsara, provided one has developed the capacity through determination. Hence She uses the phrase Nevu vinagaligithe. In other words She reiterates the instructions of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita that

                 Nothing can be achieved without self-effort because man is destined to progress spiritually only through proper utilisation of free will.

                Let man lift himself by himself, let him not lower himself; his self alone is his friend, his self alone is his enemy.

                                                     (Chapter 6; Verse 5)

Such an intense and immense concentration can be achieved through dedicated and committed effort, initiated by a Sadguru. This is called ABHYASA. It is a three-fold process of:-

1.     SMARANAM or Hearing

2.     MANANAM or Recollecting

3.     NIDHIDHYASAM or Assimilating and Internalising

Abhyasa purifies the mind initially; then the mind is made calm and finally silenced under the constant monitoring of the intellect! Now everything is set for the ULTIMATE FLOWERING called MEDITATION or DHYANA. Meditation is the highest spiritual practice which exhausts all the desires and thoughts; thus exposing the real Self or Omkara nadam.

Samsara (rail koothalu) is not a hindrance for Self-Realisation (hearing Omkaram) for those who are firmly rooted in their spiritual practices. When the will and effort are there in an individual, there is nothing to disturb their meditative state. They identify themselves with the fundamental rhythm, the under lying principle of Pranava and remain composed throughout the journey of life!

Mata Kamalambika puts this essence of Abhyasa yoga, Buddhi yoga and Dhyana yoga very aptly and concisely in Her Sookthi

              Neevu Vinagaligithe Rail Koothalo kooda

              Omkaram Vinapaduthundi!

Thus our Paramaguru has nourished every instruction (Sookthi) with Her Wisdom, Compassion and Grace. It is up to us to drop our ego and put Her Sookthis to practice because PARABRAHMAM or OMKARA SWAROOPINI can be realised only through ABHYASA.

Salutations to the Holy Mother who is ABHYASA ATHISAYA GNYATHA!

JAI SREE MATA…