The Esoteric Significance of SIVA RAHASYA 2

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Om Namah Sivaya

 

 

 

 

 

 

People have various views on the Svarupa of Lord Shanmukha who is also known as Lord Subrahmanya. Some consider Him as the Commander-in-chief of the Deva forces, some consider Him as a helper of the Devas, and therefore not even equal to the Devas themselves, though they think that He is a higher being than men.

 

The meaning of the very name Subrahmanya gives us a clue to His Real Identity; Subrahmanya means one who knows Brahman well; and Brahman alone can know Brahman. Therefore Lord Subrahmanya is Brahman Himself.

 

The story of Lord Subrahmanya’s birth is very interesting. Lord Siva had six heads—four facing the four directions, one facing upwards and the other downwards.

 

 

 

 

From the Third Eye on each face emanated Tejas. This Light filled all the directions. The whole of ether was permeated by this Tejas. Lord Siva then withdrew this Tejas into His own hands and gave it to Vayu (Wind-god). Vayu bore it for sometime; but, unable to endure it longer, gave it to Agni (Fire-god). Fire, in turn passed it on to Ganga (water). That Tejas assumed the shape of six children and floated on Saravana-lake. When Parvati took up these children, they together formed into one child with six heads. This was Shanmukha. And, He carried on His Lilas on this earth.

 

That is the story of Brahman also; and the above is the story of Creation. Brahman filled everything: Brahman was of the form of Supreme Light. It filled ether. Thence, it passed on to Air, Fire, Water and Earth. The symbology of Subrahmanya’s birth, therefore, proves that He is no other than the Supreme Brahman Himself.

 

The Lord has six heads and, therefore, He is called Shanmukha. Mukham or the head contains all the five Jnana Indriyas. These five Jnana Indriyas plus the sixth Indriya, Buddhi, are the six gates through which the Antaratman receives impressions of objects. It is through these six “holes†that the Light of the Atman passes out. The very fact of the flowing out of consciousness through these six holes, proves to wise men that the Atman within is the form of Consciousness. This Inner Consciousness has, as it were, the six heads. So, too, has Lord Subrahmanya. He is the Supreme Brahman with six

heads—the six Jnana Indriyas.

 

And, the Yogis explain that the six heads of Lord Subrahmanya represent the six centres (Chakras) within. Each head is of the form of each Devata of the six Chakras. This way, too, we come to the conclusion that Lord Subrahmanya is Para Brahman and not a mere divine being.

 

Meditation on Lord Subrahmanya, therefore, is, according to the Bhaktas, the surest way to obtain intuitive knowledge of Brahman. Lord Subrahmanya is Knowledge Absolute Itself; therefore, meditation on Him is productive of this Knowledge.

 

 

 

 

Apart from this, even if a beginner in concentration is taught the Svarupa of Lord Subrahmanya, and is asked to meditate on the six-headed form of His, riding on the peacock, holding the Spear, with Valli and Deivayanai beside Him, the aspirant would sit absorbed in Him for three hours without any difficulty. To pass the mind from one head to the other, from one eye to the other of His eighteen eyes, from one hand to the other of His twelve arms, etc., etc., would be so absorbing that the mind would never wander.

 

 

 

 

As the aspirant advances in the practice, he can gradually dispense with all this paraphernalia and concentrate upon the Vel (Spear), alone. This Spear is the real Svarupa of Lord Subrahmanya. It represents Consciousness. When all the rest has vanished, this alone remains behind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The characteristics of Buddhi are: depth of thought, heights of intuitive perception, breadth of vision, and sharpness of intellect. All these are represented by the Vel (Spear). It is high (tall). It is deep (i.e., it has a long stem which reaches down to the feet). Its leaf is broad. And, it has a sharp top. Therefore it symbolises Consciousness. The advanced Sadhaka meditates on this. One who meditates on this as Consciousness surely attains the Supreme Brahman which is Satchidananda.

 

 

 

May the blessings of Lord Subrahmanya be upon you all!

 

 

 

 

----Sri Swami Sivananda

 

 

 

 

Sivaya Namah