Sri Lalita Trishati (26. evamityAgamAbodhyA)

[Guest guest]

|| AUM mahAgaNapataye namaH ||

|| AUM shrI sha.karAchAryavaryAya namaH ||

|| AUM shrImAtre namaH ||

 

 

26. evamityAgamAbodhyA

She who is not defined by scriptures as such and such.

 

In the previous name (25. ekAnandachidAkR^itiH), it could be argued

that the word "Ananda" can be interpreted in the following manner:

"Ananda" means that which is filled with Ananda, in other words

"Ananda maya". "ya eko jAlavAn Ishata IshAnibhiH" [shvetAshvatAropaniShad]

which means 'He who is one, who rules with his powers with the help of

mAyA'. In this shruti, the word 'one' can also apply to jIva. Hence the

last name can mean "ekAnanda" of jIva and chidAkR^itiH as a form of

luminous consciousness based on jIva. In the shruti "brahma puchchham

pratiShTha" [taittirIyopaniShad], the illuminating awareness is called

"puchchha" with reference to the "Ananda maya kosha" of jIva. Here the

eternal nature of the illuminating Awareness is compared with the eternal

nature of illuminated jIva, and hence it can not be absolute. In the shruti,

"satyam jnAnam anantam" words defining brahman are descriptive of His

qualities, by a process of negation. Hence, this would imply that the

shruti sentences "tattvamasi" are only assertive in the meaning of

brahman.

 

To rebut the above argument, this name (26th nAmam) is introduced.

"eva mityAgamA bodhyA". This means that 'vedas do not state that SHE

has perceptible qualities". The word "Ananda" means absolute bliss

only. If it were to be interpreted as mere manifestation of "Ananda"

intermixed with grief as in the case of jIva, then SHE will have the

three defects: birth, change and death pertaining to the three guNas.

Hence, brahman is "Ananda" only and not "Anandamaya". Otherwise, as

there is no Ultimate reality other than brahman, the two pronouns in

"tattvam" will be conflicting like light and darkness. Hence, they

must be interpreted as one only, according to "atonyAdartam" (ataH

anyaH ayadartam) which means every thing other than brahman is false.

Every qualifying sentence purporting positively to describe HER will

only falsify HER. Hence, SHE can only defined by negation, 'not this',

'not this'.

 

AUM evamityAgamAbodhyAyai namaH

[Guest guest]

> "eva mityAgamA bodhyA". This means that 'vedas do not state that SHE

> has perceptible qualities". The word "Ananda" means absolute bliss

 

I think it should read as "eva.m iti Agama abodhyA". I think a

similar mistake is there in a different form for this name in the

300 name list I sent. I will look at the other names also

carefully for such errors.

 

I request others to step in and correct. That way all of us can

learn.

 

Sridhar, thanks of reposting the names. It is so fascinating to

read sha.nkara's commentary again and again.

 

 

Ravi