Guest guest Posted June 5, 2009 Report Share Posted June 5, 2009 Dear members, Since, there was a topic on *Mantra Pushpam*, i thought of sharing this information on the concept of *sacred waters* that are invoked. The *sacred waters* are also called *udaka* or *apah*. When there is Creation of Universe, the Parama Pususha rupa Agni enters into the Apah (the Sacred Waters) and creates the Cosmos. The Paramatma when thus ready for Creation is called " APAH " . Since, the Parama Purusha rupa Agni bears this APAH, he is called " APSUMAAN. It is this " APAH " that bears the entire seed of creation. It is this Parama Purusha in the form of Udaka Devata that is invoked in our Nitya Karmanushtana. Apo vai Narayanah.. says the Sruthi. Lord Narayana takes the form of Waters (Udaka) and creates the entire Cosmos. Making the ` Nara ' / `Udaka' as the medium, creates the Universe and hence, he is called " NARAYANA " . It is this APAH, the Sacred Waters that bears the seed of Creation, invoked during the Kalasa Sthapana (Please refer the mantra " Apo Va Idam Sarvam, Vishwa Bhutaan Apah………… " ). This mantra says that this entire universe is of the form of APAH. Literally, the word " apah " means that which permeates and pervades. So, after cosmic dissolution, when the supreme being thinks of creation, he enters into the " Eternal Waters " (refer *apraketam salilam* of Nasadiya Sukta of Rg Veda) and creates the universe by pervading himself in all directions. The " waters " or " apah " prior to creation of universe has the " seed of creation " in itself and hence sruti says " apo vai narayanah " . The " sacred waters " are the form of " nArAyaNa " . And hence during the Kalasa Sthapana, the sacred waters are invoked with the mantra " apo va idam sarvam viswa bhutaan apah...... " . This entire universe is *apah* including virat, hiranyagarbha, iswara, 7 meters of veda, vital energy in the form of life force, all the vedas, all the three worlds bhu, bhuvah and suvah are the forms of Sacred Waters / Apah. The physical waters is just the symbolic representation of this principle of Apah because like narayana it is also of the tattva of permeation and all-pervasiveness. Please refer the Yajurveda Mantra " Apo histha mayobhuvah taa na urje dadhatana……….Apo Jana Yatha Chanah " . This is also used in Sandhya Anushtana. Since, this Narayana rupa Paramapurusha in the form of APAH, is of the form of Supreme Bliss, he is called as " Mayobhuvah " . Since, this Paramapurusha has supreme energies, this energy is invoked in us as " Taa Na Urje Dadhatana " . (Please refer Yajur Veda Rik " Apo Hista Mayobhuvah………..Apo Jana Yatha Chanah " ). It is this Udaka rupa Paramapurusha that is invoked to bless and nourish us with His Rasa (Divine Energy) as Mother nourishes her children with Milk. The last mantra of " Apo Histha.. " denotes the Progeny (Apo Jana Yatha Chanah). This Progeny is not to be misunderstood with Procreation of Children. This implies " May we become Multitude and Transmit the Knowledge and Bliss in All Directions " . Please refer the Mantra " Hiranyavarnaah Shuchayah Pavakaah…… …Balam Ojo Niddhatta " of Yajur Veda which is also used in Sandhya Anushtana. Since, this Narayana rupa Udaka is also of the form of Agni, he is termed as the " Resplendent / Effulgent / Luminent One " . And hence, " Hiranyavaraah " . Since, he cleanses our entire sins, he is " Suchayah " . Since, he is of the form of Bliss Divine, he is termed as " Madhuschyutah " . It is this Agni rupa Paramatma that is invoked for Brahma Varchas or Brahma Tejas in the mantra " Huve vo mayee varcho balam ojo Nidhatta " . Please refer the Mantra " Dadhikravano Akarisham Jishno Ashvasya Vaajinah………Tarishat " of Sandhya Mantra. Dadhikraav is the Agni devata that presides over the Curd / Dadhi. During the Ashwamedha Yajana, the Srauta Sutras ordain the Yajamana to purify their mouth and teeth with Dadhi or Curd. It is this Agni rupa Paramapurusha again that is invoked for Purity of Speech. Because, without Vaak Shuddhi or the Purity of Speech, one is not entitled for Mantra Anushtana whether it is Gayatri mantra or other mantras. And hence, this Dadhikraav is invoked for Vaak Shuddhi in the Mantra " Surabhino Mukhakarat " . " Ashwasya " denotes the Divine Strength. Some Vaishnava Scholars interpret this Mantra in terms of " Hayagriva " . When we sprinkle the Udaka on us saying that " Apavitah Pavitro Vaa…… " , it is this Pundarikaasha rupa Paramapurusha in the Udaka / The Sacred Waters that is invoked for external and internal purity. Hence, to conclude that " APAH " is not mere Waters but the Sacred " NARAYANA " or " PARAMAPURUSHA " that bears the SEED OF ENTIRE CREATION. He is " APSUMAAN " . This NARAYANA is the UDAKA DEVATA. During the Kalasa Sthapana, Sandhya Anushtana, Punya Havachana, Vaidika Karmanushtana, it is this AGNI / NARAYANA / PARAMA PURUSHA that is invoked as Udaka Devata in APAH / The Sacred Waters. With Regards, Sriram Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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