Ashtasloki - 2 - Verse1: line 1: Explaining how letter 'ah' indicates the Paramatma?

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Sri:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

 

Pranam to all devotees:

 

After a gap in this series adiyen is continuing this series.

Continued from the previous post.

========================================A doubt may arise about the exact number

of letters contained in thePranavam, 'om'. Is it only one letter as mentioned in

the Vedas? 'omithi ekaksharam',

or is it three letters : combination of 'ah','ooh' and 'ma''?

========================================

 

One should note that there are two methods followed in counting thenumber of

letters contained in a word. They are => 'samhithakaram' (undivided form)

=> and ' asamhithakaram'(divided form).

As per the 'samhithakaram' method the Pranavam is a one lettered wordand as per

'asamhithakaram' there are three letters in the Pranavam.For the purpose of

understanding the meaning 'asamhithakaram' method is adopted, thus "om" is

broken into three letters "ahooh" and"ma".The Vedas say it is one letter

'omithi eka aksharam' as per'samhithakaram' method.

Both are correct. In this verse, Parasara Bhattar uses the

word'triatma' to signify three letters or three words.

The next word to be understood is 'tri-yi-sara-ha'.The origin of the letters

contained in 'om' namely 'ah','ooh'and 'ma'are traced to have representation

from three Vedas, Rig, Yajur andSama. Initially the three vyahrudees, 'bhoo',

'bhuvaha' and 'suvaha'were taken out of the three Vedas as their essence. Then

Paramatmaculled out the three letters 'ah', 'ooh' and 'ma' from these

vyahrudees. Thus the three letters are truly the essence of threeVedas.

Accordingly the Pranavam "om" is mentioned as 'tra-yi-sara-ha'.The meaning of

the letters is explained in each line of the verse. => Verse 1, line 1 explains

the letter 'ah';=> line 2 explains 'ooh' and=> line 3 explains 'ma'.Line 4

combines all the three letters of the pranavam and explains how"om" is composed

out of three Vedas. How does the letter 'ah' indicate the Paramatma? This is

being explained here.All worlds are created, sustained and destroyed by Him.

This meaningis derived for the letter 'ah' because of its nature. Note: 'agara

mudal ezuthu ellam adi bagawan muthat-ray ulagu'

meaning all letters are emanated from the letter 'ah'. In the same way allworlds

are created by Paramatma. The same is mentioned in the Vedas"akaaro vai sarva

vaak". There is another meaning for the letter 'ah' with reference to itsroot

word. In Sanskrit the 'ah' comes from the root 'ava' meaning'rakshanam', i.e.

sustenance. Thus 'ah' represents protection. So far we have seen that 'ah'

implies creation and protection, inaddition these two meanings creation and

protection imply thedestruction as well. Thus all the three functions of

Brahman areindicated.

Hence 'ah' refers to Paramatma.

Out of the five essentials listed in ArthaPanchakam this "ah"represents the

'prapyam'. "Prapyam" includes the Lord and HIS form,nature, qualities,

possessions and belongings. Other attributes of the Lord as contained in the

Upanishad, thea. truthfulness (satyatvam),b. knowledge (janathvam),c.

bliss (anandatvam),d. extensive nature (ananthatvam) and e.

blimishless nature (amalatvam)are also included under this "Prapyam" heading to

have completeknowledge about the Lord.=======================================

 

We will continue with Verse 1: line 2: referring to

"ma" i.e Jeevathma in the next post.

Azhvar Emberumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale SaranamRamanuja Dasan VP Srinivasa Varadan