Siva Sutras S1.1 to S1.6

[Guest guest]

Siva Sutras S1.1 to S1.6

 

Here are the first few sutras with a couple short commentaries. Yes,

translation always includes an interpretation. Yet there is always room to

have considerable variation on a single interpretation. Perhaps there is

interest to discuss these?

 

Siva Sûtras - Book 1 - Sâmbhavopâya - the means of becoming

 

S1.1 Self is pure consciousness (being).

"caitanyam âtmâ"

pure-consciousness self

 

caitanya - consciousness, intelligence, sensation, soul, spirit, the

Universal Soul or Spirit; pure consciousness

 

The âtma is the self and this self is pure consciousness. The self is often

referenced as the 'purusa'. These two terms appear in mixed fashion among

the literatures, but 'purusa' usually seems to be a subtler version, as a

'soul' for instance, which structures the less subtle âtma, the 'self'.

Equivalently, some writings use 'self' and 'Self' to designate 'âtma' and

'purusa', respectively. This is fine but there yet may be even more subtle

levels of realities that might structure the formation of purusa.

 

S1.2 Knowledge is bondage.

"jñânam bandhah"

knowledge bondage

 

The more our mind is buried in worldly pursuit, the less chance we have of

catching a glimpse of transcendental consciousness. Jesus said something to

the effect that a camel can get through the eye of a needle more easily than

can a rich man experience the Kingdom of Heaven. Not that there is anything

wrong with riches, we should all have what we need, but the time and energy

spent securing, maintaining, and then protecting wealth leaves no time,

energy, and habituation patterns left for moving closer to the Kingdom. This

is the idea of this sutra. It surely is NOT asserting that practical forms

of knowledge which sustain our daily life is 'binding' or 'bad', quite the

contrary. It is the habituation which binds.

 

S1.3 The sources of such phenomena are elements of the physical body.

"yoni vargah kalâ sarîram"

source phenomena elements physical-body

 

This references powerful habituation patterns and the development of

samskâras, those deep mental scars and body stresses that are further

developed in the Yoga Sutras. Interestingly, it is the physical body

(sarîram) that is specifically called out as the storage vessel. And of

course, the physical body includes the mental body if it is to exist. Hence,

it would seem that stresses are thus ultimately stored in the physical

(whenever we are found to be in the physical body).

 

S1.4 Knowledge is based upon the power of sound

"jñâna adhisthânam mâtrkâ"

knowledge based-upon power-of-sound

 

S1.5 whereby the (associated) exciting terror (of consciousness) is lifted

up

"udyamo bhairavah"

lifted-up exciting-terror

 

S1.6 in uniting this accumulation of divine power at its world center.

"sakti cakra samdhâne visva samhârah"

divine-power center in-uniting world accumulation

 

The three sutras, S1.4, S1.5, and S1.6 together form a complete statement.

Now this is absolutely fascinating. Who would have thought? The word

'mâtrkâ' refers to the large collection of fundamental Sanskrit devanâgarî

script alphabet letters, which are the fundamental building block sounds

evolving from the 'city of gods'. Together we have:

 

"Knowledge is based on the power of sound where the exciting terror is

uplifted by uniting the accumulation of divine power at its world center."

 

bhairava - exciting terror - is of the nature of astonishment - wow - behold

this new insight or new external sighting! This knowledge of exciting terror

particularly references the singsong like chanting of the sutras from memory,

as they were preciously passed down generation after generation. It is the

rhythmic soundings themselves that carry the structures of subtle

intelligence, above and beyond any intellectual meanings assigned to the

words. This bhairava is not only a most fascinating 'exciting terror', but

it seems to be almost endowed with qualities of magic. Of course, the word

'magic' is used only when we do not understand the fundamental natural laws

underlying the sequence of events. The purpose of these sutras is to try to

expose the underlying natural laws governing knowledge, mind, and

consciousness. We shall yet come back to the jist of these 3-sutras many

times as their meaning continues to unfold more clearly if we wish to

continue discussion.

 

jai guru deva,

 

Edmond

 

-------------------------------

In a message dated 3/26/02 4:14:16 PM Eastern Standard Time,

sgadkari2001 writes:

 

> In case you happen to have shiva sutras translated in the

> format that you posted earlier, could you post a translation of

> all the sutras on this list. I am particularly interested in

> the format that you have used, which I copy below:

>

> Translation (which always implies an interpretation)

> Compound sanskrit words split up into distinct sanskrit words

> Word by word translation of the distinct sanskrit words.

>

> Will really appreciate if you could post these.

>

> Thanks,

> Best regards

> Shrinivas

>

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste Edmond,

 

Thanks for your posting. I was wondering, in case there is

sufficient interest among the list members, we can have a few

sutras posted say once in every 2-3 week long time frame and

initiate discussion on these particular sutras. I hope the

list moderators will not mind this.

> The âtma is the self and this self is pure consciousness. The

self

is often

> referenced as the 'purusa'. These two terms appear in mixed

fashion among

> the literatures, but 'purusa' usually seems to be a subtler

version, as a

> 'soul' for instance, which structures the less subtle âtma,

the 'self'.

 

atma, often means what I identify myself with (among other things).

For example Shiva Sutra chapter 1, says chaitanya atma and

chapter 3 starts with chitta atma (I have glanced through the

other two chapters). So probably, chapter 1, is applicable for

a person whose conviction is chaitanya atma, and chapter 3 for

someone whose state of mind makes him/her identify self with

chitta.

> S1.4 Knowledge is based upon the power of sound

> "jñâna adhisthânam mâtrkâ"

> knowledge based-upon power-of-sound

>

> S1.5 whereby the (associated) exciting terror (of consciousness)

is lifted

> up

> "udyamo bhairavah"

> lifted-up exciting-terror

>

 

bhairava = exciting terror, comes as a surprise, has missed this

one too, ...

 

Best regards

Shrinivas