BHAKTHI - THE PATH TO SALVATION [PART 2]

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The first part of this article was to initiate contemplation on the sixth Sookthi given by Mata Kamalambika for the spiritual progress of the sadhaks. We shall take up the same sookthi for higher learning in this week’s article also.

NENU BHAKTHIKI VASAMOUTHANU

EDHITI VAADI BAADHALE NA BAADHALU!

This sookthi appears to be a concise version of the four Mahavakhyas. The Vedas, Vedangas and the Upanishads are so vast in their content and meaning that our ancient rishis thought of putting the entire content in a nutshell. There are four great statements or aphorisms in which the philosophy of the entire Vedas and Vedanta has been indoctrinated. A spiritual seeker learns the meaning of these mahavakhyas from a Guru and puts the knowledge to practice; thus converting knowledge to wisdom. By adopting these methods in daily life, his wisdom matures into jnana and takes him to higher realms in the path of salvation. He practices dharma and strongly holds on to sathya with sraddha. Hence every action is performed with accuracy and perfection but the mind doesn’t crave or hanker for recognition or fame. This is how King Janaka became a Raja Rishi; in spite of his duties as an emperor. Such is the greatness of the Mahavakyas and the Guru who imparts its essence and meaning so that the sishyas may implement those practices in daily life.

Now let us proceed to analyse how these four mahavakyas have been incorporated in the sookthi under consideration.

NENU or AHAM was pronounced as an ANUBHAVA VAKHYA of a SELF-REALISED BEING. This is the reflection of the statement AHAM BRAHMA ASMI which is the mahavakya from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad in Yajurveda.

BHAKTHI was pronounced as ABHYASA VAKHYA for a sishya i.e. the mode of practice through which we realise that the activating principle in the individual and the universe is One and the same. Through unflinching devotion and jnana an aspirant realises AYAM ATMA BRAHMA which is a mahavakhya from Mandukya Upanishad in Atharvanaveda.

VASAMOUTANU was stated as UPADESA VAKHYA to a seeker to emphasise that the Self enclosed by the panchakosas in an individual is the all-pervading Self which is limitless and eternal. Through this Upadesa the seeker gets an advice and assurance of his Purity and Completeness. This is the meaning implied in the aphorism TAT TVAM ASI from Chandogya Upanishad from Samaveda.

EDHITI VAADI BAADHALE NA BAADHALU is a LAKSHANA VAKHYA, a definition by which an evolved person identifies one’s self with everything else in this Universe. He personally doesn’t suffer at the same time empathises because he realises that everything in this creation has one common substratum i.e. CONSCIOUSNESS – PRAGNANAM; but differ in name and form. This UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS is the characteristic of the Supreme Reality or Brahman. This feeling of Universality i.e. Being in Everything and Everything in the Being is the mahavakhya PRAGNANAM BRAHMA from Aithreya Upanishad in Rigveda.

           This Sookthi reminds us of the namam SRUTHI SEEMANDHA SINDHURI KRUTA PADABBJA DOOLIKA because only Sri Mata who is beyond the reach of Vedas, Vedangas and Upanishads has to descend and take up the task of making us comprehend and adhere to the instructions of the Upanishads. Thus this sookthi is the greatest ANUGRAHA from our Parama Guru Sri Mata Kamalambika. It is like a Lion’s roar which silences all the disturbing sounds produced by the mind in this dense forest of Samsara. The practice of this sookthi will liberate us from the entangling clutches of Samsara since She is Samsara Panka Nirmagna Samudarana Panditha!

With salutations to Her Lotus Feet,

 JAI SREE MATA…