LAYMAN'S SANKHYA

Nainam chindanti sastrani nainam dahati pavakah,

nachainam kledayantyapo na soshayati marutah || (Gita 2.23)

(The Soul can never be cut into pieces by any weapon, nor can he be burned by fire, nor dampened by water, nor withered by the wind)

Na jayate mriyate va kada chinnayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah, 

ajo nityassasvatoyam purano na hanyate hanyamane sarire || (Gita 2.20)

(For the Soul there in no birth  nor death, He was never born nor ceases to exist, He is eternal. Even if body is slain , He si not slain)

Vasansi jirnani yadha vihaya navani gruhyati nato parani, 

tatha sarirani vihaya jirna nyanyani sanyati navani dehi || (Gita 2.22)

(As a person casts off old clothes and dons now garbs, in thesame way, the soul drops down withered physical body and takes on new one)

So goes on the invaluable Sankhya yoga teachings by the Lord Si Krishna to Arjuna on the battle field of Kurukshetra - describing the attributes of the very single Truth - transcending time and space - the Supreme Consciousness that is termed the Atman (Supreme Soul).

This is such a piece of spiritual knowledge which is very difficult  to comprehend  and realise by even the elite in their day to day life. No doubt It turns out hard nut to crack when it comes to trying for it's being imparted to the layman.- the illiterate common man on the street. When a  great sanskrit scholar, like Annamacharya,  well conversant in all vedic scriptures is concerned about the rich Indian Advaita Vedanta knowledge reaching the common man through his own intelligible local language, it must be stupendous job  undertaken as one's life mission. And now even after passing of many centuries his meticulous efforts in the form of sankeertanas are spreading  far and wide. From soul soothing lullabies to serious Soul knowledge, Advaita - he touched every aspect of human life from womb to tomb - and after.

So the sankhya jnana  mentioned  above, which he translated into the sankeertana is, 'Dehi Nityudu Dehamu Lanityalu' (Jivatma the Individual Soul is permanent and the bodies impermanent)

'The Soul (Atma) is Eternal but the body is impermanent.  O Mind, that harbours incessant thoughts, do not forget this.

'Just as the man shreds off his old torn clothes, The soul shreds off decaying old body and enters  a new body. It can not be cut by any weapon, it can not be burned by fire, can not be dampened by water, nor dried up  by wind, nor suffocated.

'This Soul is from the primordial times, It neither being born  nor dies. Omni present, All pervading
Has no attributes affecting Him.He is pure , transcending beyond space and time.

'The Soul perceives every thing of this creation. But can not be perceived by any of the sense organs of the beings. Even ever-probing mind can not visualise it. He is  not affected by the Trigunas (attributes) of the beings He is residing in.

'It is the 'Hrudguha'. (dark spiritual heart on the right side of the chest as explained by Bhagawan Ramana Maharshi) in  which it resnides as Angushta matra (thumb size) jyoti (light)  in a lotus flower as described by the upanishads. This is the abode of the Almighty mentioned in the keertanas.

With this clear awareness  about  the location  of our 'True Eternal  Being' we gradually realise the all pervading nature of this Soul - the Supreme Consciousness.

"Dehi Nityudu Dehamu lanityalu"

Angushtamatra(thumb size)

Jyoti (light) -  The Soul

Om Shanti!                                                                                                                                               

"

AUTUMNAL MUSING

Of all said and done, it is human nature to be of strong conviction  that he would live for not less than a hundred years.  Fine, zeal for life is such in all mortal beings. But a little rational pondering 

about what he is left with, if his 'wishful thinking' becomes a reality, at the fag end of his earthly sojourn, is not at all things to savour deliciously like ice cream.  A nonagenarian comes to realise that the tongue lost it's taste consciousness;  the wealth amassed and made him feel and be a Lord of the house, is almost taken away by the relatives and whatever remains goes to maintain health; the expensive silks once adorned the graceful body find their way into the hands of the younger kith and kin; All those whom he thought his - siblings, children and other relatives will not be there, preceding him in leaving this world.  Then what he is left with to come over grief on account of losing all these? Only by turning inwards can he realise the true Compassion, Soul Mate that can give relief and solace for the rest of his life.

This brooding is a stage no one can escape in one's life at one time or other.  All these practical experiences with suitable solutions is provided by Annamacharya in a musical form of sankeertanas for which we shall be grateful. The keertana 'Chavi Nora Keda Dettu ' vividly depicts the old age predicaments and relief thereby.........

'Now my tongue lost its tasting capacity. Can I regain it again? No more can I think about earning wealth once again. Even if it is possible, it is of no use for me now at this stage. Where from can I get again those precious silks ? Where from can I possess again warm mansions ?  What I possess in now, at the fag end, is this mortal body only.  Because of old age problems looming large about the body, can I forsake and say to it, 'No, I don't want  you now?'

'Once as a Master I lead a royal life; decorated my body with precious ornaments of gold and diamonds.  But all those left me. How can I bring them back now?  Where has gone all that fortune of mine ? But I don' t seek  from others any more such matters.  I have my Almighty as a true patron for seeking if anything I wanted. Is it not graceful attitude from my side?

'Today I am left with no siblings, relatives and bosom ones. No love lost with my children.  Can I reverse these things again ?  No.  Hence it is better to take refuge in my 'Soul Mate',  the Almighty within. I am contented !'............

'Soul Mate '!  Looks like heard word before ?  Certainly so; for, regular readers of this blog will recapitulate earlier post 'Atma Bandhu - Soul Mate' (23.08.2015) with an 'appealing' story in which, I had said 'a drop or two trickled down the cheeks'.  So why grope in the darkness of ignorance when the great savants and sages provided the torch - The Almighty Within !

"Chavi Nora Keda Dettu (bettu), Sampadeda Dettu Dini"

Autumn of Life

Om Shanti!                                                                                                                                               

PASSION OUT OF ILLUSION

The dictum ‘Out of Sight, Out of Mind’ can be attributed to the play of 'Illusion" in many ways.  For a seeker, finding of the root cause of passions in this world is a must so as to overcome them.  Hence once understanding the role of Illusion in swaying the lives of the beings, he has to be in constant guard to play safe in this mortal journey through births and deaths.  Thus, the realisation of the Truth and wakeful steering through traps of passions will make passage for the final liberation.

When the great  poet savant, Annamacharya wrote more than 32,000 sankeertanas, naturally there is no dearth of his tatva abounding works about the play of Illusion.  One such sankeertana is, ‘Maya Mohamu Manadidi’.  (This Passion out of Illusion is Endless)......

‘The Almighty gave to all living beings the ‘mind’ which is subservient to the ‘Illusion’. On account this illusion, mind being engrossed with desires, side tracks from the right path into the wrong ways and forgets the Almighty Himself in the process. The desires and aspirations are never ending. Hence the only way is pray for the Almighty’s attention towards this individual soul for escape from the Illusion. Just as an employer without any favouritism or prejudice towards his labour, pays wages according to the work performed, the Almighty too does same. Births are the Phalas (wages) dispensed by the Almighty for the Karmas (work) of the beings - 'The Karma-Phala Concept!'

‘O Almighty! In this Creation of yours, the darkness is as much as there is light; the accompanying risks (dangers) are as many as there is wealth; the unhealthy plants are as many as the health saving medicinal herbals; (potions and poisons both are Your Creation) It is really a wonder the way you make us bear all these contrasts of Your Creation.

‘O Almighty! You dispense with wages according to the work performed. You are granting rebirths according to the accumulated actions of the beings (Prarabda karmas). You give life and take it away too. The life you give is replete with unending desires and resultant karmas due to the play of Illusion. (vasanas, sanskaras thus  getting accumulated are paving way for rebirth).

'Once taking form of a being in this world, the body is subject invariably to becoming old. Then what is the way out? Yes, there is, in turning towards You ‘within’ the beings. All will be well by overcoming the Illusion.’............

This knowledge of awakening is as much clear as the clean and sweet fresh water lake. One who is thirsty has only to make a little effort of reaching the lake nearby. He can take a plunge in to the state of Boundless Bliss !

"Maya Mohamu Manadidi"

Employer(Almighty) and Labourer(Human Being)

Om Shanti!                                                                                                                                             

                                         

TWO BIRD ALLEGORY

Yadhaa nadyah syandamaanaah samudre, stam gacchanti naamaroope vihaaya |

Tadhaa vidyaannamarpppaadvimuktah, paraatparam purushamupaiti divyam ||

---Mundakopanishad 3.2.8

(Gushing and over flowing rivers lose their names and forms as they merge with ocean. In the same manner, knower  of the Truth, freeing himself from  his name and form, is imbued with  the Supreme, Illuminating Consciousness)

Indian Vedanta exponents had propounded way back that 'I'  is not at all the gross body, it is the Atma - Soul that resides in the body; the  'I' consciousness is there only with the Atma's presence, the moment Atma is liberated, the body is just like a firewood stick consumed by the fire.  Though the the consciousness that is Atma may appear to be in different forms, it is but a part of the Supreme consciousness, Paramatma.  Before merging away into the latter, it undergoes many many illusions on account of the play of Trigunas (Satva, Rajo, Tamo - Attributes), Six vices namely, Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya) and bound by the Five powerful sense organs, causing to indulge in all sorts of sins and pious acts as well with an admixture of elations and dejections. This is the sum up of Jivatma's earthly sojourn.

'Beings' on earth, who are conscious about good and bad, the illusory material world  are  compared to supreme swan which is capable of segregating the cream of milk from the whey.  Other beings are compared to parrot that, being ignorant of what is good and bad lives in  whiling away in tasting sweet as well as sour fruits.

A detailed description of the allegorical two bird Illusion is in the Mundakopanishad:--

'Dva suvarna sayuja sakhaya samanam vriksham parishasvajayate |
Tayoranyah pippalam svadvatti anasnan anyo abhichaka seeti ||' (3.1.1)
(Two birds of same kind and never being separated are sitting on the same tree. Of them one is tasting fruits and the other sitting calm)

'Samane vrikshe purusho nimagno nisaya sochati muhyamanah |
Jushtam yada pasyatyanyam Isamasya mahimanamiti vitasokah ||' (3.1.2)
(Jiva and Atma are in  the same body. Jiva, that is man, being in ignorance, suffering in illusion. He is  coming out of this woeful situation only when he is becoming aware of his nature of Atma  and its magnificence)

In all simplicity for the common man, the keertana ' Jivatumai Vundu Chiluka' Annamacharya has described the Individual Soul's bound life being ignorant of it's identity with the Supreme consciousness , Universal Soul - Paramatma.

' O parrot! You are the Jivatma (Individual Soul); Looked from the other side you are verily Paramatma (Supreme Soul). But because of ignorance, you are not able to realise this fact.

'O Parrot! You are bound in the cage called Atma.  You are brought up by none other than Myself. Do you know how you got this bondage? It is on account of Karmas ( Actions of previous and present births).  Your limbs are shackled.

'O Parrot! Making me studious day and night  you learnt various studies.  You feel cosy under the wide feathers but you cannot tolerate the vagaries of  cold and heat. That is, you cannot tolerate the difficult and dire conditions.

'O Parrot! You are befriending with Five aimless vagabonds. They by threatening,  make you obey them.  How long will you be scared by them?

 Six kind less foes  (Arishadvaarga - Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya) are trying to keep you under their subjugation constantly. Your life is under the risk of down fall due to them. O Parrot! you have in addition a 'weakness'. You cannot survive without food. To fetch it you make un necessary, un warranted  chatterings. O Parrot! You enter into attachments with all and lose your virtues.  Strange thing is, you don't learn a lesson and become wise  even after losing.

'O Parrot! Ponder over with wisdom. Who are 'You'? Who am 'I'? I am yourself  and you are myself.(All souls are one, though looking as many due to illusion). The Almighty residing in as 'Antaratma'  is all pervading Paramatma (Supreme Soul). Be bold being aware of thisTruth.

'O Parrot! Things happening to you are some by human acts, some of which may be rectifiable and others not. Some are divine (by Jivatma) which are Prarabda karmas. Knowing that these are all part of divine illusion please don't forsake me. Be vigilant and follow the Almighty. I owe to you  for awakening me from vanity of all these worldly matters.'

One more 'Tatvic' lyric on the allegorical Parrot that is Jivatma, we have from melody par excellence, Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (in YT) - "Gudu China Boyera".  You can have a glimpse of this from the 'Arenar Songs' blog under the  category "Kadamba Mala" (other than Annamayya).

As of the sincere seekers' quest, such illuminating knowledge about non dual nature of the birds is helpful in daily spiritual sadhana.

"Jivatumai Vundu Chiluka"

Paramatma -Supreme Soul (Top)

                                                     Jivatma - Indiavidual Soul (Bottom)                                                                                                           

Om Shanti!




                    

INCARNATIONS IN LYRIC

'Sat' - The Truth about the 'Being' is sought after by the seeker through ages. The paths for the inquisitive search  are many. Gita  mentioned about them as yogas, like karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Raia yoga, Jnana yoga and others. Among these  Bhakti path is concerned about devotee deity relationship. Initially, a form for  un-manifest Consciousness is envisioned and worshipped devotedly. The devotee's search culminates in realisation  of wisdom about the The Ultimate Truth - all pervading, one single  Supreme Consciousness.  So, the concept of the Form of the  deity has grown and  scriptures reveal various accounts of  these deities generally residing in heavens above, and descending down on the earth down, periodically with a purpose - to attend to the devotees, to take cudgel against the wicked, extermination  of rampant evil doers etc.  These descents  may be of either human or animal form depending on the necessity of the occasion.  Their births will generally have illustrious reputation  on this earth. Such descents of the deities on the earth  are termed as 'avatars' or incarnations. Bhagavatha deals of various avatars of Lord Vishnu. Commonly we hear
about Sri Rama and Sri Krishna as incarnations  being worshipped  by the maximum Indian house hold.

The description of these avatars were well woven in to the fabric of a sankeertana by the  deft master weaver,  Annamacharya in his "Timmireddi Maku Nicche Dishta Maina Polamu, Bommireddi kappaginchi Podi sese Bolamu".

'Timmanna or Tiammareddi alludes to Lord Venkateswara, manifest Form of the 'Param Atma', Almighty - The Universal Soul - Supreme Consciousness.  Bommireddi alludes to the Jivatma - the Individual Soul on earth. Bhoomi or Kshetra is monitored by Kshetrajna, the Individual Soul. The Land Lord (Paramatma, Supreme Soul) gave for tilling the 'gracious' land (human body) to the Cultivator (Jivatma, Individual Soul).  Now we admire at various Lands that descended on earth.

"Tinnireddi maku nicche dishtamaina polamu, bommireddi kappaginchi podisese bolamu ||

Nindinatti madugula niruvanka polamu, kondalu mochina pedda gobbarapu bolamu,
Andane polamu rajulundeti polamu, chendivesi makulella selagina polamu ||

Asapadi vara dana madagina polamu, basalato gadu netru pattamaina polamu,
Rasikekke Munulaku racchaina polamu, vesaraka Nageta vegilaina polamu ||

Manchi gurutaina ravimani cheni polamu, vanchina gurramu dole vayyali polamu,
Yenchaga Srivenkatesu niravaina polamu, panchukoni lokulella bradiketi polamu ||"

'Nindina madugula niruvanka polamu' -            The body (Form) in waters aplenty (Matsya Avatara)

'Kondalu mochina pedda gobbarapu polamu' - The body which lifted Mandara mountain during                                                                                     churning of milk of ocean,Ksheera sagara madanam,                                                                               alluding to turtle (Kurma Avatara)

'Andane polamu rajului vundeti' -                    The body (land) inhabited by pigs (Varaha Avatara)

'Chendivesi makulalla chelagina polamu' -       The body pouncing on the wicked, sinful (Narasimha                                                                               Avatara)

'Asapadi vadanam adigina poolkamu'ra  -        The body that asked for alms of land (Vamana                                                                                        Avatara)

'Basalato kadu netru paa miana polamu' -        The body that indulged in much bloodshed by vow                                                                                   (Parasurama Avatara)

'Munulaku racchai rasi kekkina polamu' -         The body that protected the sages (in yagas) (Rama                                                                                 Avatara)

'Vesaraka nageta vegilaina polamu' -                The body carrying on shoulder the heavy plough                                                                                     (Balarama Avatara)

'Manchi gurutaina ravimani cheni polamu' -     The body that became famous under the  Ashwattha                                                                                tree (Buddha Avatara)

'Vanchina gurramu dole vayyali polamu' -        The  body that trotted on well groomed horse (Kalki                                                                               Avatara)'

The Universal Soul's varied manifestations described above in different Forms of Fields (Lands) grows in us more admiration and awareness about our identity with it.!

'Thimmireddi Maku Nicche Dishta maina Polamu"

'Dasa Avatara'

(Photo taken from Bommalakoluvu.co.in)

Om Shanti!

       

NOT EDUCATION AND DISCOURSES ALONE

Happiness and well being are any body's wish in general. In our practical day to day life we come across people very rarely with the assertion that they are absolutely satisfied with what  the Almighty provided for them to live in  on this earth comfortably. Every one has his own list of desires, wants, aspirations which knows only one trend, that is, the graph  scaling new heights as the age advances - indeed 'An Endless Scroll!'

People get education. But does it bring in them any awakening? Mostly, eduction  has become a passport  for getting some occupation.  Is that all?  Who tells 'What is the Way of Living' in this world to realise the aims of 'happiness  and well being'.  Proper bringing up right from child hood with due parental care and school education by devoted teachers will go a long way in the character building of every child which assures to the child comfortable well being in the society as he grows up.  

If you can recollect, in one of the earlier posts - 'Self Control - Waiting for A Delayed Gratification' (28.09.2015) - we had discussed the Marshmallow Experiment , it's findings about the children who became highly successful in their later career,  that 1) Waiting for gratification  is worth it and 2) I Have the Capacity to Wait! Taking cue from these findings, how can one under estimate the noble attributes of  'Meditation and Self- Control'.

Lack of such care of imbibing morals and ethics in child hood, results in blossoming up of discontented souls on various counts.  The traits which are resulting  in unsatisfied, dejected spirits is narrated by Annamacharya in the sankeertana 'Enta Chadivina Enta Vinina'.

'By academic education one may find livelihood and by hearing discourses on may become aware of the subjects unknown hither to. But these will in no way drive away one's blues. One who has the habit of blaming others, one who indulges in sensual pleasures and one who has always wavering and fickle mind, unless being ridden off these vices can not have happy life on this earth and thereafter. Hell is the destination  for such bound  beings.

' One who eyes on others' legitimate properties, one who indulges in insinuations at others, and one who has arrogant attitude towards others, unless being cleared off these vices,  cannot have happy life on this earth and thereafter.  Besides his calamities will not give way.

' One who comes out of uncertainty, disbelief and gets rid of anger, untruthfulness and surrenders himself totally to the inner Almighty, he will have the ultimate triumph. Otherwise no respite from his woes.'.........

Thus we can understand  the innate qualities. which mould the personality of the being, apart from education  and discourses. have to seek the Almighty within, which would only can drive away the woes of this world.

Catch them young! That is the approach, to our children  to present a beautiful world with noble qualities in every body in the society, which in turn assures happiness and well-being in one and all . Our awareness of this concept if  put in to sincere practice, can turn hell to heaven !

"Enta Chadivina Emi Vinina"

Om Shanti!                                                                                                                                              

FORM DOES NOT MATTER

I am not a professional! Still the response of the noble souls about my views and songs is causing dampening of my eyes.  An encouraging sign for my continuation of sharing of more and more spiritual knowledge. This has become possible only by the awareness in you of the presence of One Almighty in all beings of this creation.

When one is aware that the whole creation itself is manifestation  of the Almighty, he obliterates  the disparities of 'status' of birth, and Form taken by him, because he knows every being is resided by Almighty only. Thus every being revels in its birth as of being in  paradise.  Annamacharya gives us this knowledge through the keertana 'Edayanemi Hari Icchina Janmame Chalu'.

'Whatever be the birth, why one should worry about it, once having the knowledge that it is given by the Almighty only. Not only that. He actually residing in all of them in equal proportion - (Samam Sarveshu Bhuteshu Tishtthantam Visweswaram... from Gita, discussed in previous blogs).  A dog revels in it's birth and never thinks it is mean. An insect  in its mud pool habitat feels being in the paradise. It is all in the 'mind set'.  This applies to the 'realised souls' on this earth who are ever blissful about their birth, with the awareness of all pervading Almighty in every being.....

'When every being is the Almighty Himself, why bother about what Form (birth) one takes on this earth.  For a dog it's life is majestic one. It never feels that it's birth is 'mean'. Once the mind is accustomed to its own life, what difference does it make about good birth and otherwise.  The all pervading Almighty is present as Supreme Consciousness in the being. That is why every being has passion for life.

'For an insect, the place it resides in, the muddy pool, is like paradise. It is the best place enjoyable in this world for it. It is enough if the place is stable and comfortable (in the mind of the being); why bother about higher plane or lower plane of existence, since all these planes are pervaded by the  One Almighty only.  So in what ever place one nay be it is enough if he is conscious about and be with the Almighty within.

'For a true Jnani (the realised soul), every place is Paradise. Taking his life in to his stride as Almighty's, he is liberated! Every astute  devotee and seeker with total surrender to the Almighty has no more sense of disparities of low or high birth in this world.'......

In Mahabharata we have a character by name Vyadha, a realised soul in the profession of a butcher ! 'Vyadha gita' is the knowledge imparted by him to an astute brahmin, Kaushika..

How much 'heavenly' a pig's  life is - for a pig,  is in an anecdote retold here.....'King of the Gods, Indra, once became a pig. He had a cosy family with wife  and children. He was so amorous about his beautiful wife ( dark lady pig) that he could not live even for a minute without her, wallowing  in the dark muddy pool, paradise for him. The gods in the heaven searching for  Indra, came down to earth and saw the plight of Indra. When exhorted by them to leave the body of pig and assume the post of King of the Gods in heaven once again, Indra refused to oblige and said on the contrary, " Never mind! I am very much happy here with this beauty and children. I don't believe  in better paradise (Heaven, his real abode) than this kingdom of mine - dark muddy swamp with fellow pigs)"  When their beseechings to their Lord were falling on deaf ears, they had no other go but to cut through the pig body, thus liberating Indra. Upon realisation  of what had happened to him, Indra felt shy about Illusion undergone in Pig's life.'

Thus what matters is  the all pervading Almighty inside not the external bodies of the beings, taking different 'forms' in the nature (Prakruti - Illusion).  This awareness and association with the Almighty in a seeker brings about blissful existence in this world!

Edayanemi Hari Icchina Janmame Chalu

(King of Gods, Indra's Illusion)

Om Shanti!