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Sat-Cakra-Narupana

By Purnananda Swami

 

PART SEVEN

The Sahasrara

 

39. When the actions of the Yogi are, through the service of the Lotus

feet of his Guru, in all respects good, then he will see above it

(i.e., Ajna-cakra) the form of the Mahanada, and will ever hold in the

Lotus of his hand the Siddhi of Speech. The Mahanada, which is the

place of dissolution of Vayu is the half of Siva, and like the plough

in shape, is tranquil and grants boons and dispels fear, and makes

manifest pure Intelligence (Buddhi).

 

Half of Siva: the meaning is that Siva is Hakara; if the upper part of

Ha is removed, the remaining portion of the letter has the form ofan

Indian plough.

 

Mahanada = Maha-nada

 

40. Above all these, in the vacant space wherein is Sankhini Nadi, and

below Visarga is the Lotus of a thousand petals. This Lotus, lustrous

and whiter than the full Moon, has its head turned downward. It

charms. Its clustered filaments are tinged with the colour of the

young Sun. Its body is luminous with the letters beginning with A, and

it is the absolute bliss.

 

Vacant space: elsewhere called the parama-vyoma = supreme ether.

 

Lotus of a thousand petals = Sahasrara

 

Absolute bliss = kevalananda-rupam = lit., Brahman bliss

 

41. Within it (Sahasrara) is the full Moon, without the mark of the

hare, resplendent as in a clear sky. It sheds its rays in profusion,

and is moist and cool like nectar. Inside it (Candra-mandala),

constantly shining like lightning, is the Triangle and inside this,

again, shines the Great Void which is served in secret by all the Suras.

 

Mark of the hare = the man in the moon.

 

Triangle = the A-ka-thadi triangle.

 

Great Void = sunya = bindu.

 

Suras = devas.

 

42. Well concealed, and attainable only by great effort, is that

subtle Bindu (Sunya) which is the chief root of Liberation and which

manifests the pure Nirvana-Kala with Ama-Kala. Here is the Deva who is

known to all as Parama-Siva. He is the Brahman and the Atma of all

beings. In Him are united both Rasa and Virasa, and He is the Sun

which destroys the darkness of nescience and delusion.

 

Nirvana-Kala and Ama-Kala: There are seventeen Kalas (digits) of the

moon, but the nectar-dropping Ama and the Nirvana-kala are only at

this stage revealed.

 

Rasa and Virasa = the bliss of liberation and that arising from the

union of Siva and Sakti.

 

Nescience = ajnana.

 

Delusion = moha.

 

43. By shedding a constant and profuse stream of nectar-like essence,

the Bhagavan instructs the Yati of pure mind in the knowledge by which

he realizes the oneness of the Jivatma and the Paramatma. He pervades

all things as their Lord, who is the ever-flowing and spreading

current of all manner of bliss known by the name of Hamsah Parama

(Parama-hamsah).

 

Yati = someone whose mind rests intently upon the Devata of his worship.

 

44. The Saivas call it the abode of Siva; the Vaisnavas call it Parama

Purusa; others again, call it the place of Hari-Hara. Those who are

filled with a passion for the Lotus feet of the Devi call it the

excellent abode of the Devi; and other great sages (Munis) call it the

pure place of Prakrti-Purusa.

 

Saivas = worshippers of Siva.

Vaisnavas = worshippers of Visnu.

Hari-Hara = Visnu and Shiva.

Devi = Sakti.

Prakriti-Purusa = Sakti-Siva.

 

45. That most excellent of men who has controlled his mind and known

this place is never again born in the Wandering, as there is nothing

in the three worlds which binds him. His mind being controlled and his

aim achieved, he possesses complete power to do all which he wishes,

and to prevent that which is contrary to his will. He ever moves

towards the Brahman. His speech, whether in prose or verse, is ever

pure and sweet.

 

Mind = citta.

Wandering = samsara.

Brahman = lit. kha, which could also mean " air " or " ether. "

 

46. Here is the excellent (supreme) sixteenth Kala of the Moon. She is

pure, and resembles (in colour) the young Sun. She is as thin as the

hundredth part of a fibre in the stalk of a lotus. She is lustrous and

soft like ten million lightning flashes, and is down-turned. From Her,

whose source is the Brahman, flows copiously the continuous stream of

nectar (or, She is the receptacle of the stream of excellent nectar

which comes from the blissful union of Para and Parâ).

 

Para and Parâ = bindu-rupa Siva and Sakti.

 

47. Inside it (Ama-kala) is Nirvana-kala, more excellent than the

excellent. She is as subtle as the thousandth part of the end of a

hair, and of the shape of the crescent moon. She is the ever-existent

Bhagavati, who is the Devata who pervades all beings. She grants

divine knowledge, and is as lustrous as the light of all the suns

shining at one and the same time.

 

48. Within its middle space (i.e., middle of the Nirvana-kala) shines

the Supreme and Primordial Nirvana-Sakti; She is lustrous like ten

million suns, and is the Mother of the three worlds. She is extremely

subtle, and like unto the ten-millionth part of the end of a hair. She

contains within Her the constantly flowing stream of gladness, and is

the life of all beings. She graciously carries the knowledge of the

Truth (Tattva) to the mind of the sages.

 

Nirvana-Sakti = Samanapada or Samani Sakti.

Stream of gladness = Prema.

 

49. Within Her is the everlasting place called the abode of Siva,

which is free from Maya, attainable only by Yogis, and known by the

name of Nityananda. It is replete with every form of bliss, and is

pure knowledge itself. Some call it the Brahman; others call it Hamsa.

Wise men describe it as the abode of Visnu, and righteous men speak of

it as the ineffable place of knowledge of the Atma, or the place of

Liberation.

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