Sridakshinamurtistotram Part III second half

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Sridakshinamurtistotram Part III – second half

 

 

The Maayaavi, magician, and Yogi examples (in the second verse):

 

The Aitareya bhashya quoted earlier continues to consider the 'creation' of

the universe by Atman with no material whatsoever. The Bhashya gives the

example of a magician having deliberated beforehand, projects, without any

material aid his own self into a different self as though moving in the sky.

Even so the Omniscient Isvara, Omnipotent, the mighty Magician, projects Himself

into a different self – the world manifestation. The Acharya says that this is

a better explanation of creation.

 

The Yogi illustration, in addition to driving home that Isvara rests I Himself

without being subject to the will of any one else or desiring anything from

outside for fashioning the world, suggests also that at a glance as it were, the

world is created and that His desires and intentions are ever accomplished. His

transcendence is never impaired by the creation that He 'engages' in. In the

Lalitha Sahasranama there is this idea:

Unmesha-nimishotpanna-vipanna-bhuvanaavaliH. That is, the Mother Lalitha, by

the opening and closing of Her eyelids creates and dissolves countless worlds.

Is this not suggestive of the drishti-srishti prakriya of the Vedanta?

 

Thus, the import of this second verse could be summed up as the negation of

the objective universe. The Panchadasi beautifully gives this idea:

 

Yadadvaitam shrutam srshteH praak tadeva adya chopari |

Muktaavapi vruthaa maayaa bhraamayatyakhilaan janaan || (6-238)

 

Meaning: That Non-dual Truth that the Sruti speaks about as the one that

existed before creation, is the same even now, that is when the objective world

is experienced. In the state of liberation too, this Non-dual Truth alone

persists. The all-powerful Maayaa deludes all beings for no purpose !!

 

:

 

When by the Grace of the Guru, the giver of this knowledge who is necessarily

the very embodiment of Consciousness, Maya disappears, the aspirant shines in

His full glory as the Atman, The Supreme Lord, the Dakshinamurti, the Guru.

Tasmai Srigurumurtaye, Sridakshinamurtaye, idam NamaH:

 

 

Let me close this exposition on the second verse by providing below an account

of a speech delivered by His Holiness Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Mahaswamigal of

Sringeri on the subject: The Truth Beyond Space and Time. This benedictory

discourse was delivered by Him in Tamil in Madras (now Chennai) on 20th Nov.

1986.

 

Dik-kaalaadyanavacchinna-ananta-chinmaatra-murtaye |

Svaanubhutyaika-maanaaya namaH shaantaaya tejase ||

 

(Salutation to the tranquil effulgence of the form of eternal consciousness

unlimited by spatial direction, time etc. the sole valid means of knowing which

is self-experience)

 

 

Every object in this Universe has a delimitation of the form, 'It is found

here, but it is not found there'. However, Brahman which is bhuma (big), is

devoid of any spatial delimitation. Whatever place you conceive of, it is

there.

 

Therefore, there is no area where it is not. It is beyond dik or spatial

direction. Strictly speaking, spatial direction cannot be specified in an

absolute sense. For a man in Madurai, Madras lies in the northern direction.

However, for a man dwelling in Vishakhapatnam, Madras lies to the south. If it

be asked, 'Per se, does Madras lie in the northern direction or in the southern

direction?', the answer would be, ' It is neither. It exists. That is all.'

If we proceed to Vishakhapatnam, relative to us, Madras is in the south. On the

other hand, if we were to go to Maduraior Tirunelveli, the direction of Madras,

relative to us, would become north. Therefore, dik or spatial direction is

something that is relative. Even in a relative, rather than an absolute sense,

Brahman cannot be specified as existing in the northern or southern direction.

 

The case of time is similar to that of spatial direction. With respect to

some specific delimiting factor, we speak of a day. What exactly is a day? It

is something we determine with reference to the movement of the sun. We now see

the sun rising. The time interval between our current and next sighting of the

rising sun constitutes a day. When the rising sun is next seen, the next day

begins. If this be the case, what is the position if we do not sight the sun?

In other words, what is time, measured in terms of a day, independent of the

observed movement of the sun? Time exists but the question, 'What time is it?'

cannot be answered without reference to something like the movement of the sun.

Hence, a measure of time, such as a day, loses its significance without

reference to some delimiting factor. A day is thus something relative and not

absolute. Thirty days constitute a month and 365 days, a year. As other

measures of time, such as a month and a year, are based on

a day, they are also not on a firmer footing than a day; they too have meaning

only with reference to some delimiting factor.

 

Time, space and objects are all conjectured by the mind. After all, but for

our defining temporal terms, such as day with reference to the apparent movement

of the sun in the sky, time would not be discernible as it is now. Similarly,

but for our defining directions, as for instance, north with respect to the pole

star, spatial direction would lose its value. As far as the objects of the

universe are concerned the answer to the question, 'Are they limited by time?',

is 'Yes'; everything is limited by time. For instance, we make statements, such

as, 'We were born on this day. One day or the other, we will die. At present,

we exist.'

 

If we consider the case of the body or some other object, it is clear that it

did not exist prior to its origination at a certain point in time and that on

some day, it will perish; thereafter it will cease to be. Is is only between

its origination and destruction that it appears, to an observer, to exist. That

is to say, all objects are delimited by time.

 

What is Consciousness or Brahman like? Before the birth of Rama, there was

the krta-yuga. Now the kali-yuga is in progress. Brahman is not limited by

any such periods of time. It exists and that is all. The question, 'When does

It exist?' is inapplicable to Brahman, which is beyond time. Whatever point of

time you conjecture, Brahman does exist at that time. Did It exist before the

krta-yuga? It did. It was there at the time of Rama, It is there now and It

shall be there even tomorrow.

 

Brahman is beyond the limiting influence of spatial direction, time and

objects. However, though beyond space and time, It is not a void or an inert

entity. It shines in the form of consciousness. If one were to get the direct

realization of this entity, one will attain the summum bonum of life. This is

what the scriptures say.

 

Experience too is like that. The more absorbed we become in Brahman, the more

does it seem, 'So many things take place in the universe. All this is a mere

illusory sport.' If the world be a mere illusory sport then what object is good

and what is bad? For a person who has desire for the objects of the world, any

object will seem to be good or bad depending on whether he sees it a source of

his joy or sorrow. On the other hand, for one who is devoid of attachment and

aversion and whose mind is focussed on the Self, the position is, 'I am the

witness. That is all.' If such a person were asked 'Do you get happiness or

unhappiness on account of the world?', he would answer, 'I see no reason to

either laugh or weep over anything. I merely witness what comes before my eyes

and do not even make an effort to experience anything'.

 

We aspire for this state. Shankara Bhagavatpada has said that if we obtain a

Sadguru, receive his teachings and follow the means prescribed by him, we too

can attain it.

Hara namaH Paarvatii-pataye Hara Hara Mahadeva !!

Jaanaki-kaanta-smaranam Jaya Jaya Rama Rama !!

 

(Excerpted from the book: Exalting Elucidations)

(End of verse Two of Sridakshinamurti stotram. End of Part III)

(To be continued)

 

 

 

 

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