abhayAmbikAShTakam.h -dhyAna (virATsvarUpa dhyAnam.h )

[Guest guest]

The dhyAna chapter of abhayAmbikAShTakam.h continues, (previous articles can

be read in the kaamaakshi site or in the archives).

 

 

yA devI sarvabhUteShu chetanetyabhidhIyate .

namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namaH ..

 

‘Salutations to her, salutations to her, salutations again and again to

devi, who abides as the consciousness in all beings’

 

virATsvarUpa dhyAnam.h (bhuuta bhaavanaH)

 

samasta jagadvilAsini namaste.

‘Salutations to thee, who sports as this universe’

 

One more method to harness the wandering mind is adopted here, virAT

darShanam or bhUta bhAvanA.

 

A large portion of an aspirant’s mental energy is afloat wandering in

various objects that catch his perception. This is diverted by the mental

assertion that all that is seen is she and she alone. This also enables one

to admire the cosmos and its vast phenomena.

 

The skies that proclaim the endless concept of space there by ascertaining

her endless nature, the embracing air that bridges the heaven and earth

reminding her quality of lifting both the poor and prudent alike, the green

leaves that resemble her complexion, the reddish fruits that copy her lips,

the shining effulgence reminiscent in the rising sun and all that is seen is

she and she alone. It’s indeed a beautiful perception that expands our

petite mind to a thrilling freedom and exuberance.

 

A ‘sIkShAvallI’ couplet that resembles such an idea is as follows,

 

athAdhilokam . pR^ithivI pUrvarUpam. dhauruttararUpam . AkAshaH sandhiH .

vAyuH sandhAnam . ityadhilokam ..

 

The term ‘sakala’ is used in the salutation to indicate, all that is created

and sustained is she, or in other words all the fourteen lokA-s and their

inhabitance is seen as her manifestation. She enjoys to be in that universal

form and hence the phrase ‘vilAsini’. One more thought that is conveyed is

that, it is incorrect to view the world as a chain upon the soul. Upanishad

terms this universe as ‘sukR^itam’ or divinely planned and perfectly

executed. dIxitar uses the term ‘vilAsini’ in accordance to ‘sukR^itam’ and

emphasizes that she enjoys ‘lokakelanam’ or to sport as this cosmos. Hence

birth is not looked as a sin but an occasion to recognize her, both in

transcendental and pluralistic presence. This also gives a convincing

support for the assertion that samsAra or avidhyA is anAdi.

 

 

Once an aspirant gets in to this mental assertion that the entire cosmos of

multiplicity that was the root cause of his fidgety nature is all but the

celestial, from that moment the universe wears a divine robe and leads him

to the gates of perfection.

 

A beautiful incident from the life of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa could

replace all these explanations, (*)

 

 

One day Saint Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was riding on a palanquin. The

palanquin bearers in a hurry tried to take the palanquin through a harlot's

courtyard. Looking at the adorable palanquin, a prostitute mistook him as a

paramour and called for him using an indecent gesture.

 

"Oh! Mother Kali you are here. I was thinking that you are in the temple",

Were the words of the saint looking at her like a kid.

 

yatraiva yatraiva manomadiiya.m

tatraiva tatraiva tava svaruupam .

yatraiva yatraiva shiro madiiya.m

tatraiva tatraiva padadvaya.m te .. (tripurasundari vedapaadastavam.h)

 

“O Mother wherever my mind wanders there is Your form. Wherever I place my

head, there are Your lotus feet”.

 

Cont …

 

Namaste

Aravind

 

______________________

Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com