Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Tripura Rahasya Day 3 – January 6, 2022 – Mysore
Compiled by Parimala Eshwarla
Maharishi Narada said, “My son! Hāritāyana! It is truly astonishing that you could see me in your heart. But you are describing it not like a young boy, but after due thought, like an enlightened person.
I, who eternally wander, have visited many worlds wherein scholars, fools, men, women, ignorant, shudras have put forth to me varied types of questions.
Nevertheless, no one has enquired the way you have. Your scholarliness is truly befitting your name Sumedha. Explain to me in great detail your good words, ‘I have seen you in my heart’.
What is meant by within? Within what? What is meant by outside? What is the true form of ‘within’ and ‘outside’ being described by you? I say this because, in this context, it is not apt to say, ‘within the body’.
This is because standing on the earth, you have seen me surrounded by the great space. With many proofs, it is evident that your body is 7 feet in length. You have said that you have seen me within you. If so, where were you at that time?
Did you look within using the external limbs? Or did you, who were existing within, see me within? From outside, one cannot see inside. This is because with our external senses we are unable to see what exists in the stomach.
Will you say that ‘I’, who was within, have seen you? If so, o dear friend, listen. You, who exist within, have developed a very strong connection with your Self.
Do you say that you have seen that which existed outside? If so, listen to me. Who has seen whose exterior? How did they see? What was the cause for this seeing?
The senses are at par with the body and hence they too are inert. Further, they exist within the body. If so, how can such senses perceive that which is outside the body? Answer at least this question.
Do you say that the senses that exist within have seen the exterior? If so, why are they unable to see everything that exists outside of them? If the senses have seen me, then what benefit do you gain by them seeing me? Answer this.
O Sumedha! I have come from Brahmaloka to see you. There was a discussion about you in Brahmaloka. O friend! I shall narrate it. Please listen.
Once when Lord Brahma was seated with the Devatas in Brahmaloka, Maharishi Markandeya arrived. He humbly bowed to Lord Brahma and, when everyone was listening, enquired,
“O revered Lord Brahma! You are omniscient. You are the grandfather of all the universes. There is nothing in the creation that is unknown to you. This is because you are the creator of the entire creation. Only with your grace, I have obtained immortality (chiranjivi).
I worshipped Shiva and conquered death itself. I have read all Itihasas, Āgamas, Shastras, Puranas and all sacred treatises. Which among them contains the entire essence? If I am eligible to listen, please answer this and dispel my doubt.
In the past, I enquired the same from the Devatas, Rishis and Siddha-yogis. But, as they lack omniscience, each told me in accordance with his devotion and faith. Hence, they told me based on their liking.
But, O Lord, you are all-knowing. You are the self of all beings. You are the compassionate one who is omniscient. Hence, O Lord, please answer my query”.
With a pure mind Maharishi Markandeya meditated for a while and then bowed to Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma recollected the glory and greatness of Parashakti and was ecstatic. His body horripilated and tears of joy flowed from his eyes. He then joined his palms and offered obeisance to Mother Tripura who is the cause of all causes.
Addressing Maharishi Markandeya, the best among the Rishis, he then said, “O Brahmarishi! I shall tell the truth. Along with all who are present in the assembly, listen to me attentively.
Those who lack faith have no place here. Mother Tripura due to whom all the worlds have been created, who is the cause for all causes, who dissolves everything into herself is the greatest of all. If She leaves or if we leave her, this entire creation is akin to the child of a childless woman. There is nothing barring her.
Yasyāḥ prasāda lēśēna sarvam svātmani samsthitam │
Pratyaṇukṣaṇa bhāgēṣu yā pūrṇā tripurā hi sā ‖
Only due to a little bit of Her grace, this entire world is sustained in Her. She who exists completely within every atomic particle and in every second (i.e. within all time and all matter), is Tripurambika.
That Mother, who has no beginning and no end, retains within Her this entire Universe that changes every second and which has weird bodies, life-forces and senses every moment.
(In every second limitless changes occur in the universe. In every second our mind changes. In every second many beings take birth, many die, and in many places earthquakes or other natural calamities occur. The light from the star reaches us this second but actually that light was released by that star billions of years ago and that star itself no longer exists).
Neither Vishnu, Shiva nor me, who are just specks of dust in Her lotus feet, could know her beginning, middle or end.
That Parashakti who, while living in me (Brahma), Hari and Hara, completes the activities of creation, sustenance, dissolution, tirodhana and anugraha, is the Self that exists within all. She is the supreme empress who rules everything. She is the cause of all causes. She is Tripura devi also known as Tripura sundari and Svatantra (self-willed).
(Tirodhana means ‘withdrawal of the entire creation. Anugraha means ‘re-emergence of the creation’.)
If the devotees are filled with compassion, that Mother comes under their sway. As She is the embodiment of all energies, She can manifest in innumerable forms. She is the Mother of all Universes.
She is the most supreme. She loves stotras (prayers). Her form is the most supreme of all. (Those who condemn idol worship or meditation are fools. Idol worship is stipulated in the Vedas and is a procedure taught by the Maharishis).
The enlightened hold in highest esteem the doctrine that explains her Supreme Essence. O best among the Maharishis! O Markandeya! That Mother is the supreme empress and is the most venerable for all.
Only Paramashiva knows this supreme secret that is extremely meritorious. He is the primordial ruler and exists along with his shakti. (That is why Shiva-Parvati are called the primordial couple). From him, Vishnu learnt this secret. From Vishnu I have learnt this secret about Tripura (Tripura Rahasya).
Barring us no one has this knowledge. Guru Datta who is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and who resides on earth knows this. With his grace, Parashurama, who is also an incarnation of Vishnu, obtained this knowledge.
Following his Guru’s commands, Parashurama taught this to his disciple Sumedha. With a desire to compile this knowledge into a treatise, Sumedha is presently residing in Madhura-pura. As ordered by his Guru, he is meditating upon the Divine Mother while residing in her place”- said Lord Brahma to Markandeya.
Hence, seeking to meet you, I have come here. What I have said is the truth. I have revealed to you the reason behind my visit. O Sumedha! Tell me the answer that you know for my question”- said Maharishi Narada.
Hearing this, Haritayana was lost in thought. But he was unable to comprehend anything. Hence, he shyly said, “O Maharishi Narada! I am unable to give you any reply. Hence you give me an answer that is auspicious. Just as you had said, even my Guru had ordered, ‘My son! Compose Tripura Rahasya into a text’ and then had initiated me. With total concentration, I have heard all that he has said. However, being dim-witted I have forgotten everything.
You are all powerful. With compassion, please teach me everything”- saying this, Sumedha fell at Maharishi Narada’s feet and prostrated.
Based on his prayer, Maharishi Narada initiated him into meditation and all other activities. Thereafter in meditation, Maharishi Narada invited Brahma. Keeping in mind the good activity that was to take place, Lord Brahma instantly manifested there.
He had four faces that were glowing like fresh corals. In his 4 hands he was holding the kamandalu (water pot), aksha mala, abhaya mudra (assurance of fear not) and vara mudra (symbol showing showering of boons). He had worn pure sparkling white garments and a pure sacred thread. He was glowing like a fire.
Seeing him arrive, Narada along with Sumedha instantly stood up and reverentially bowed to him. Seating Lord Brahma appropriately he worshipped him with the offering of water for washing his hands and feet. Thereafter he joined his palms and stood humbly. Addressing Narada, Lord Brahma said, “My son! Why did you remember me? What do you seek from me?”
Narada replied, “O revered one! With Your grace, all my desires stand fulfilled and am content. Previously you, who are extremely intelligent, have explained to Markandeya the absolutely astonishing glory of Tripura Rahasya. Thereafter desirous of seeing this poet Sumedha, who seeks to compose Tripura Rahasya into a text, I have come here.
May your words turn true! May Haritāyana become a poet! However, I seek to ask you some questions that exist in my mind. What is the special merit that enabled Haritāyana to obtain initiation into the worship of Tripura, the empress and form of Paramashiva? Tell me how this teacher Sumedha obtained the highest revered position among those who know Tripura Rahasya? This is because this position cannot be obtained with ordinary merit. O father! This is my doubt. O Lord! Please dispel this doubt. I am aware that this is a great secret. Yet I am desirous of knowing it”.
Hearing this, Lord Brahma meditated for some time. Then he said, “O Narada! I shall tell you the merit that enabled him to obtain Tripura Rahasya and this position as well.
Previously he was a Brahmin called Alarka. He was the son of Sumanta who lived in a beautiful place by the banks of the west-flowing River Saraswati with his beautiful wife who was extremely devoted to him.
Alarka was very dear to his father. When he was five years old his father, who was an ardent devotee of Mother Durga, would unfailingly worship her everyday with great interest. He had fixed his mind solely on Mother Durga. He would address his wife as ‘ai, ai’.
Young Alarka, who heard this, also began to call his mother as ‘ai, ai’. Around this time, this boy who was very dear to his mother, fell sick. Calling out to his mother, ‘ai, ai’, focussing only on her, he died.
‘Ai’ is the seed letter of Mother Goddess without the bindu. It grants all forms of knowledge. The enlightened therefore say that by chanting this seed-letter one obtains all forms of knowledge.
For a very long time he had chanted this seed-letter without a break. At the time of his death, he left his body while chanting this seed-letter.
Great Yogis are eternally engaged in deep meditation seeking to obtain a vision of Bāla Tripura, who is extraordinarily great and the form of the Supreme. Due to the merit obtained by chanting Her seed-syllable, She desired to bless him and hence blessed him with Her darshan. Seeing that mother in the space, in perfect meter he composed a prayer that was filled with meanings that fill us with astonishment.
Pleased with that prayer, She blessed him. At that time, he did not have the capacity to decipher rightly the meaning of the shlokas. Nevertheless, due to the incessant chanting of the seed-letters of Mother Tripura and with her darshan, that prayer came forth from his lips.
Thereafter he forgot that prayer. Previously, due to ignorance, he had chanted the seed-letter without the bindu. Hence, he does not have the retention ability (dharana shakti) and he has forgotten everything.
Yet, in the future period, a mega task is set to be accomplished by him. Hence, with my words, that which he has seen, heard, that which is happening, which will happen, that which has been taught by his Guru, that which is unseen by him, the meter (chandas), grammar, poetic skills, form and other qualities of poetry and their meanings will flash in his mind.
May all the subjects that are clear, that are vague, and other worldly subjects that are not perceivable by the senses, flash in his mind! May he recollect all the happenings of the past creations! May untrue subjects never flash in his mind!
May he, who is supremely intelligent, author the Tripura Rahasya! Never in the past has Tripura Rahasya come in a text format. As Hāritāyana is now going to compose it in a shloka-format, it will become a text.
This text which is of the highest cadre contains very deep meaningful stories that cause astonishment. Reading or listening to it with total devotion will please Mother Tripura.
Irrespective of how many Shastras a person reads or good stories he listens to, unless he listens or hears the story of Tripura devi, all that he has read or heard will remain futile.
O Devarishi! What is the benefit of talking extensively? This Tripura Rahasya contains the essence of everything. If this is properly understood, then there is no knowledge left to be understood. Unless this is understood, learning remains incomplete.
O Sumedha! Listen to me. The lessons taught by Parashurama and the vision of Mother Goddess seen in the dream will all gradually come to your mind. Compose 4 chapters a day and in 36 days complete the treatise. Ensure that it contains 12,000 verses and is divided into 3 main divisions (khanda).
The first mega-division (khanda) will be the Mahatmya khanda. The second khanda will be the Jnana-khanda and the third will be the Charyā khanda. O Narada! Sumedha will begin this treatise. Thereafter you listen to it which is extraordinarily astonishing.
(This is the greatness of Tripura Rahasya. Normally it is Narada who teaches others. But here, Narada is about to obtain initiation into this text from a human being).
O Narada! Among the teachers of this text, Sumedha will be the first. Among the listeners you will be the first”.
Narada and Sumedha worshipped Lord Brahma in various ways. Thereafter Brahma disappeared. After receiving worship from Sumedha, Narada too left to a place of his will, while playing the veena.
When the two great Mahatmas left, Sumedha was perturbed for a while that they had left. Hence, he remained silent for a while without doing anything. Thereafter he went to River Vegavati and bathed. He then completed his daily ordained duties.
He then worshipped Lord Sundareshwara, Goddess Meenakshi, Ganapati and Guru. Recollecting Brahma’s command that he should compose the treatise, he immersed himself in its composition.
Oṃ namaḥ karaṇānanda – with this phrase he began the composition. Sābhavēt tripuraiva hreem- with this phrase he concluded the composition.
This treatise which exists between the two Pranavas of Shiva and Shakti is of the Shivashakti Pranava. (There are 5 types of Pranava. Among them, Om and Hreem are two Pranavas).
Haritāyana thus composed Tripura Rahasya just as Brahma had said.
Sri mātre namah