Discourse on Sivananda Lahari
Day 15, August 12
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Ganesaya Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha
Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Sadgurubhyo Namaha
Bhajan: Vinayaka Vinayaka
Sardoola vikreedita is the poetic meter used for the next verses till the 43rd verse. Perhaps Sri Bhagavatpada had seen a tiger in the surrounding jungles of Srisailam and is using this meter because of it to describe the tiger’s sport.
Till now the verses were in the Sikharinee vritta. Sikhara means mountain. Sri Bhagavatpada was at Srisailam surrounded by several hills at the time he composed this poem. Any words that are uttered should be in a balanced meter. A vritta is a circle that is bound by certain rules and restrictions in meter, also called Chandas in Sanskrit.
The entire Soundarya Lahari is in one single poetic meter. Here in Sivananda Lahari he is using different metric systems as per the mood and topic.
Verse 28
Sārūpyam tava pūjane shiva mahā devēthi samkeertane,
Sāmeepyam shivabhakthi-dhurya-janatā-sāngathya-sambhāshane,
Sālokyam ca charācharāthmaka-tanu-dhyāne-bhavāni pate,
Sāyujyam mama siddha-mathra bhavati swāmin krithārthosysmaham
The mind is like a thorn. It was pricking me constantly giving me pain. Once I have removed it from me, and given it away to you, I now feel free and painless. I feel immense bliss in my worship of you.
Unless we become Siva ourselves, we are not eligible to worship Siva. We invoke Siva into ourselves through Mahanyasa. Siva’s different forms are invoked into our different limbs and organs. This ritual procedure itself takes 2 hours. After this the puja takes only half an hour.
Siva loves dust. If after the journey we have no time to bathe, it is fine. We can go directly to the temple to have Siva’s darshan. First time like this, it is called Dhooli darshana – I have come only to see you; I have come directly here, without stopping anywhere. During this darshana you are not eligible to do abhishekam. Only to have darshan. You do not go to the room to freshen up. Then you are like Siva who is also covered in ash. You do not even use wet ash/Vibhooti. Just apply some dry Vibhooti and go. Or if it is not available, just apply some dust itself. Only Siva devotees who experience the bliss in this, they alone will understand this. But to offer Him worship you have to bathe and wear the proper attire.
Siva is Sadyojata – he gives immediate results just like Guru. No question of waiting or postponement of blessings.
O Lord Siva, you have given me the type of bliss that even deities like Brahma do not enjoy. I offer you my mind for your use. Those who surrender their minds to God enjoy supreme bliss. O Siva, you give all the greatest benefits.
For every action certain attire is worn. The attire reminds us as to what we are doing. During Siva Puja we wear vibhooti. Men, women and children always wear vibhooti to remind themselves that Siva is within them and is protecting them. Similarly Sandal Paste reminds us of Vishnu’s presence within us and the wearing of Kumkum makes us feel the presence of Mother Goddess.
Saroopya Mukti means that after leaving this body, we go to Siva Loka and will remain with Siva in the form of Siva. We will have His form but not His power to create, sustain or destroy.
Mahadeva Mahadeva Mahadeva – By saying this 3 times all sins are destroyed. When it is not possible at all to take a bath (e.g. in the Himalayas, there is no water, one is very ill, and so on). Apavitrah pavitrovaa.. is the mantra to be chanted. Regardless of your circumstance, by remembering Pundareekaaksha (3 times) you become pure. Touch your right ear 3 times and repeat the above name. Same effect. But use this only in extreme conditions where there is absolutely no possibility for taking a bath for cleansing the body.
Sastras must be followed and not abused as per our laziness and convenience.
Siva and Mahadeva are the main names favored by Siva. Namassivaya means, Siva I offer you prostrations. Another meaning is, none of this is mine. It all belongs to Siva alone.
While doing Nama Sankeertana and chanting Namassivaya continuously, we feel the closeness to Siva. We feel that we are with him.
We must never be amidst those who blame or speak bad things about Siva. That is why Sati left her body through igniting the Yoga Fire that emanated from within herself. Her own father was speaking ill of Siva and she could not bear to hear it. She wished to vanish from there. From the Mooladhara she ignited the Fire of Yoga, which rose to the Sahasrara and Sati merged in Siva.
It is very wrong to jump into the fire physically to kill oneself. It is a great sin.
Siva had warned Sati not to go to her father’s house. He cautioned her that trouble will arise. She did not heed Siva’s words and hence, suffered insults.
When possible, avoid the company of non-devotees. But if you are forced to mingle with them, remain silent. Do not engage in arguments. Sometimes even devotees speak like atheists. The example is Sage Jabali in the Ramayana. In his attempt to convince Rama to return to Ayodhya he spoke like that and made Rama angry. Then Jabali explained the reason for speaking like that. Even Guru does this sometimes to test the strength of our devotion.
We must never lose our temper. Those devotees who get angry are still immature. They are not ripe in their understanding of Guru Tattva/Principle about Guru. You may try to change the perspective of non-devotees by living a good example. Sangatya/association and Sambhashana/conversation should be only with other devotees.
Sameepya/close proximity, and Salokya/seeing and being seen
Lord Siva, your form encompasses both the conscious and the unconscious. You are the atom and the energy that moves it. You are the five elements and the entire earth; the entire Creation is you, Lord Siva. You must meditate like this. I see Siva everywhere. This deep understanding must arise. It must be developed. I merge into you like a light merging into the highest light, Paranjyoti.
You preside over me, Lord Siva.
In a meeting, the president remains silent till the end and then he has to give a concluding speech, remembering all those who are present and all their points of view that were expressed. It is a great responsibility.
Siva is the president of all our lives. He notices the sadhana performed by each and every devotee, weighs their eligibility and grants the proper blessings.
Jeevanmukta Vivekaha – a book written by Vidyaranya Swami explains how to understand Jeevanmukti.
Daily we must keep this life’s goal in mind – this small light must become the supreme light.
Maha Deva Maha Deva Maha Deva
You are the God of all Gods. Sambho Mahadeva, we pray.
Siva, the two syllable name or Mahadeva with 4 syllables, or Namassivaya with 5 syllables – these names are like the code numbers we use to call the police or the ambulance. To at once communicate with Siva, the Namassivaya mantra is the code. Always chant the names of God to reach Him easily.
Sameepya also I have been blessed with, says Sri Bhagavatpada. I wish to always be speaking of your glories with like-minded devotees. You are everywhere. You are animate and inanimate. Lalita Sahasranama also refers to Mother Goddess as being Jada Sakti, inert energy.
Ramadas sings, Rama is everywhere, even in the trees, the moment the sound ‘R’ is uttered, Rama appears as the entire world.
Bhavaaneepate – indicates that Siva and His consort are one and the same. I have become one with you. In cinemas it shows how a light goes from the body and merges in God. The wick is like the body. The flame is the soul. When put the wick in the flame, it burns completely.
Paranjyoti –
O Swami, I am fulfilled. I am now fully liberated. Saroopya, Sameepya, Salokya and Sayujya – all 4 ways of liberation I have attained by offering my mind to you. My mind was hurting me like a thorn and obstructing my sadhana. Now I am free and happy.
I now feel that I live in Siva Loka.
In Kasi, everyone looks like Siva. The rickshaw driver is resting and chewing betel leaves. He will not work unless he wishes to. He refuses to give a ride. He keeps chanting Bham bham bhole.
Even women may wear Rudraksha beads on Sivaratri. Otherwise they say that only crystal beads may be worn by women. If given by Guru, Rudraksha beads may be worn. Store bought Rudrakshas may be fake and harmful for women to wear.
All that remains is Sayujya. It will come with continuous contemplation. During mantra japa or contemplation, in one instant people fall asleep and even snore during Sivaratri night.
All the above are the benefits of surrendering the mind to Siva.
Each verse is linked to the next here. It goes in a continuous sequence. Lalita Sahasranama is a Mala/garland mantra. The whole hymn is one single garland. Once begun, you must not stop in the middle. From Srimata to the end you must chant at a stretch without giving a break. It is very important. In the Sravana month, we intend to complete one crore of Lalita Sahasranama Parayana/repeated chanting. Please join in and help us with the count.
Bhajan: Jyotirlingakara (Rameswara)
Verse 29:
Twat pādambuja marchayami paramam twām chintayāmyaham
Twameeśam saranam vrijami vachasa twāmeva yāche Vibho
Deeksham me diśa chākshusheem sakarunām divyai schiram prārthitham
Shambho loka guro madeeya manasah soukyopadesam kuru
I need a deeksha from you Siva, says Sri Bhagavatpada. I desire the blessing that I should continually worship your divine lotus feet. There is nothing higher in this world. I wish that I should remain absorbed in your contemplation.
This is what I am doing now, is what the verse says, and it means that I have the intention to do so, but am unable to carry it out successfully.
I seek refuge in you. I pray to you verbally, through these specific words to grant me what I desire. I desire your Drshtipata – spiritual energy transfer coupled with compassion through your divine glances. All the gods are praying to you for this same blessing.
Through vision, touch, or mantra spiritual energy transfer occurs from God/Guru. Guru discloses to us knowledge that is secret.
O Guru of all the worlds, O Siva, you give us not only the knowledge of this world, but you give us the supreme knowledge that transcends worldly knowledge. You know my desires and my needs.
Parents know what is required for the children and they give them what is good for them of all the things that they ask for.
Normally, before giving a Mantra, Guru studies the horoscope and then decides what mantra to give. It is not like going to the restaurant and placing an order for this snack or that. Some devotees go to Guru and say, on television they say that Mother Goddess mantra is powerful. So give me that, some devotees demand like that from Guru, specifying what mantra should be given to them. It is not the proper way. Guru knows what is suitable for you. Desikaha is Guru.
Guru destroys the darkness of ignorance by giving the light of knowledge. The world is filled with wonders. All that we can do is gape with wonder at the magnificent creation. Guru/God knows the secrets behind this Creation.
Never use the word Guru lightly. In Karnataka, the word is used almost as lightly as Hi. It is wrong. Perhaps at least this way they remember Guru. For a farmer the sun is Guru. He is their protector by giving sunshine, timely rains, and so on. The farmers are ever busy trying to fill our stomachs.
God descends to this earth as Guru/Sadguru to enlighten us. We have no other means of attaining the required spiritual knowledge.
All creatures of the world are given light by you in the form of the Sun. Please give me Upadesa. Desikacharya is one who gives us the direction in which to proceed. He shows us the path. That instruction that will benefit me, please bless me with that. Incessant Mantra Japa Deeksha I desire. I wish my mind to ever dwell only upon you.
This is the way to pray to God seeing Him as Guru.
The blessings that Sri Bhagavatpada enjoyed momentarily earlier of the 4 types of bliss, he now prays that they should become permanent in him.
Bhajan: Namah Parvatipataye
Tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM Yoga Vasishtha discourse will begin.
We will visit the temple of Sri Chandramouleeswara. It will be followed by Sri Chakra Puja.
Sri Guru Datta