Line by Line summarized meaning of the sanskrit verses in Shivananda Lahari discourse
Day 19 – August 18 – verse 36 and 37
Verse 36
In a very dramatic way, Bhagavad padacharya explains to us the Sadhana that should be followed by us. In rituals relating to Gruhapravesha, upananayam etc. a custom called Nāndi is practiced. It is also known as punyaha. Through this ritual, the surroundings, the person etc. is purified (purificatory process). A process similar to it is being taught here.
Bhaktho bhakthi guṇā vruthai mudhamruthā purne prasanne manah,
Kumbhe Sāmba twāmgri pallava yugam samsthāpya samwith phalam
Sathvam mantra mudeeraya nnija śareerāgāra shuddhim vahan,
Punyāham prakati karōmi ruchiram kalyāna mapā dayan.
Punyahvacanaor the purification process differs from region to region. In some regions one kumbha is used, while in others 3 kumbhas are used. Coloured threads are tied around the kumbha in an artistic manner. The deity is invoked into it and duly worshipped. The purified water from these kumbhas are mixed and then sprinkled around the house/ area for purification.
Here Bhagavad padacharya states to the Lord that his mind is the kumbha (kalasa) and devotion to the Lord, ananda is the punyahvacana.
Bhaktho bhakthi guna avruthai – I am your devotee (bhakto) and with bhakti as the thread (to the kumbha called mind)
Muda amruta purne – with bliss (ananda) as the water in the Purnakumbha
Mutthu means ananda (bliss). Muttukāli means the mother Kāli who gives bliss.
Prasanne – in a well cleaned (kumbha)
Vessels pertaining to God should be thoroughly washed and kept clean always. Here it means that the mind is clean.
Kumbha is prakriti aradhana. In a meticulously clean pot, we tie colourful threads and apply haldi around it. Water is filled in the Kumbha. In that water, coins, ring, darbha grass, garika, sugandhi dravya, haldi, kumkum, herbs, elaichi, lavang are added. Mango leaves or betel leaves are placed on top and coconut is kept on it. The Divine Mother resides within the water in the coconut (poorna phala). She also resides within the water, kumbha, rice, vastra (cloth), haldi etc. With proper mantras, the deity is invoked into the kumbha.
In a puja, the avahana is most important. ‘Amma, please come. My prana is your prana; your prana is my prana. I am invoking you. Please come and bless’ should be the prayer. After udvasana (completion of the ritual), the water is used to purify the house. There is science embedded into it.
Punya +aham means ‘good day; pure day’.
Manah kumbhe – in my mind which itself is the kumbha
Sāmba – together with Mother Goddess Amba
Twāmgri pallava yugam – Your feet (angri) are the leaves (pallava, mango leaves) that adorn the Kumbha.
Samsthāpya samvith phalam – Jnana (samvit) is the coconut (fruit, phala) that adorns the kumbha.
Jnana is seated on Your feet. Knowing about You is itself Jnana. It is the phala
Sathvam mantra mudeerayan – Reciting the Taraka mantra, which is the sattva mantra
Amongst the mantras there are ugra, shanta mantra, sattva, rajas mantras.
Nija sareera agara shuddhim vahan – I am purifying this house called body (shareera)
Punyaham prakati karomi – I declare (prakati) that Punyaha has been conducted in my house
Ruchiram kalyanam apaadayan – I can declare that I have attained kalyana (your jnana, liberation).
In marriage punyaham is pre-requisite for kalyana (wedding). Shastras state that even if the person has mastered entire Vedas, he should call another purohit for conducting the function. Even brahma has to call another priest if he is conducting a function.
Pranayama is essential to clean the kumbha called mind.
Verse 37
The Lord takes on the name – Vedavedya i.e. He who is known only through Vedas. At the time of churning of the ocean, Vasuki snake was tied like a rope around the Mandara mountain which was the pole used for churning. Many objects emerged from the ocean. Amongst them were Airavata, Chintamani, moon, kalpataru, amrita etc.
The ksheera sagara is within us and the results obtained due to its churning are now explained.
Āmnāyāmbudhi-mādarena sumana-ssanghā ssamudhyan-mano,
Manthānām druda bakthi –rajju-sahitham kruthvā matithvā tatah,
Somam kalpatharum suparva-surabhīm chintāmanim dheematām,
Nithyānanda sudhām niranthara-rama sowbhāgya-mātanvate.
Āmnāya ambudhi madarena – Reverential and worshipful (ādarena) is the ocean (āmbudhi) called Vedas (āmnāya)
The Vedas is like a huge ocean – Ananta vai vedaha. From such a huge ocean, from our of 1000’s of branches now only 9 or 11 branches are remaining. We should strive to safeguard this knowledge. This is the treasure of Bharata.
Sumana ssangha ssamudhyan mano Manthānām – by having discussions with like minded persons (sumana sangha),
I have churned this ocean called mind
I am trying to understand the Lord through Vedas. I am churning the mind to obtain Vedas. Vedas is the medicine to cure the disease called ‘bhava roga’. One who tries with dedication will understand its meaning.
Druda bakthi rajju sahitham – using the strong rope (rajju) called drda (unflinching) bhakti
Kruthvā matithvā tatah – what can I tell you, O Lord
Somam kalpatharum suparva surabhim chintamanim dheemathām – I have obtained that which is equal to the amruta (soma), Kalpataru, Surabhi, chintamani gem
Nithyānanda sudhām – the infinite endless bliss (nectar called bliss).
Now there is no fear of death. Once this bliss is attained, the fear of losing it/ falling from it did not arise for the Devatas.
Niranthara rama sowbhāgym – The Devatas enjoyed the blessings of Lakshmi (rama) perpetually after churning.
At the individual level, it means perpetual liberation (permanent liberation) attained.
Āthanvathe – this is attained (when one understands you as vedavedya).