Shreevidya

    As if by the divine intervention, the topic of 'Shreevidya' came up for discussion in our daily evening meetings- 'Adhyatma-Sandhya'. Hence it was decided to post some important aspects of the mystic song- the eternal, "Waves of Beauty", that is also known as the "Streams of Ocean of Bliss". These produce the waves of joy, happiness, peace and and supreme bliss in the heart of the devotees who sing in the praise of the Devi Tripura Sundari, Lalata. The very creation of cosmic entity that covers the entire brahmanda start here as mild inaudible tremors, vibrations, waves, and produce sounds, alphabets, words and their meaning leading to the phenomenal objective world along with the jivarashi to enjoy the same. Every syllable, every alphabet, every sound or note of the syllable is important here. The song rendered in the musical notes bring  immense joy and happiness.

   'Shreevidya' is very complex system of mystic knowledge and it is like the five blind persons describing an elephant! There are different perspectives of Shreevidya and different sections of society have been practicing this as a cult, a religious faith, a system of study and meditation, and practice as daily rituals since times immemorial. This include the Devi in different forms and Mudra, Devi with different arms and tools, Devi with different moods and powers. Many treat the system as a very powerful secret mantra ritual. The mantra associated with the Devi Shreevidya are numerous, beyond count and each one is inherent with powers of creation, protection, and dissolution, as well.

   Shreevidya is invariably associated with Shree Chakra and we will discuss this in detail later. There are numerous chakras, mandalas associated with this and these require a detailed study. Much research is also going on in this regard.

    Nobody knows the source of this and many have attributed to the agama shastra, and some to the Veda and many to age-old practice of tribal culture in vogue in ancient India (sanatana dharma). The author cited here is Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada and nobody knows who this Shankara is. The issue is further complicated by the practice of calling the Swamijis or Peethadhipati of all Shankara Mathas as 'Shankaracharya' only with a slight change in prefixes. Satyendranath Dasgupta says, there were as many as six or seven famous Shankaracharyas. There was one at the time of the Buddha, one at the beginning of the first Century B.C, the Sixth, Eighth, and one even later! However, it is not necessary to wrangle here about the authorship since what is said is more important than who said it!

    We follow several authors and refer to as many sources as possible in presenting a comprehensive study of Shrevidya here.  

How the Jiva enters the Earth

How the Jiva arrives on Earth:

   The Bhagavad-Gita explains how the jiva arrives on earth. All the living beings survive on food which comes from the soil. Plants depend on Rain for germination of seeds. Rain comes from clouds. Clouds are formed from evaporation of water from oceans due to sun’s heat. Thus, it is the same ‘solar energy’ that lies in the form of water vapor in the clouds that produce rain due to cooling and condensation. This ‘solar energy’ is the ‘life–force’ that we get from the sun as well as the distant stars. Each jiva is an ‘ion’, a subatomic particle, a photon, a stellar dust particle, in this sense of the term.

    This life-force or ‘prana’ is at the root of all jivas (prani). Water, heat, and soil play a very important role in germination of the seed. Vedic Texts say, “purusha’ (brahmn) is the seed. In the Gita, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says, “I am the seed of creation”. Everything is ‘chaitanya’, energy inherent in spirit, the soul that is unborn, eternal and immortal. The soul is eternal, in the sense that, ‘Energy cannot be created or destroyed’. How can an entity that is invisible, unborn and eternal create a physical body of biological entity called ‘cell’ and function within the limitations of time, space, and causality? In other words, how can the ‘non-existent’ (‘asada’) become existent (‘sada’), and again revert to the state of ‘non-existence’? This is the mysterious universe. This has been explained in the concept of ‘maya’.

   So, it is now clear as to how this invisible energy aspect, a phonon, a nutrinos, a photon that is found everywhere enters and gets out of anything! This is the core of the substance, the soul or Atman. When it enters soil, water, food and becomes the embedded soul, there appears a vibrant jiva! The body built by food and water is, however, subject to deterioration and decay and the energy hitherto working as prana leaves it. Thus a jiva ends its active life!  

Who created the Universe? 

    In the Gita, Bhagavan Sri Krishna says, “I am the seed of creation”. Everything is ‘chaitanya’, energy inherent in spirit as we as matter that is unborn, eternal and immortal. Energy cannot be created or destroyed. Energy is derived from sun, also known as Aditya (and distant stars, too,) as far as earth and its living beings are concerned. The Sun is the chief source of energy for us. As regards the actual process of creation or evolution of life forms, there are a number of sources and Vishnu purana and Devi Purana are the important ones. Some of these details are given later. However, in brief, it is stated that “Eighty-four thousand species are created by cosmic force Adi parashakti. Two opposite forces-equal and opposite are created as Satyarupa (Aditi) and Diti as consorts of Kashyapa, the self-effulgent, svayambhuva manu. From Aditi are created Sun, vayu, soma, Indra, agni, varuna, aryaman, pushan, ashvin, vasu- all considered the Vedic Devata. The human beings are created by svayambhu manu, the manifest forms of Aniruddha, the mixed impure sattva- Kashyap and Aditi while all others including the demons are created by Diti. Brahma creates, Vishnu nurtures and Ishvara neutralizes the forces of fusion and fission.

   The asya vamiya sukta of the Rk Veda has a reference to ‘tri-bandhu’. The three brothers are the surya (sun), soma (Moon) and the anala (fire). These three are the basic principles of all that manifests!  The energy component of the Trinity- brahma, vishnu, and Ishvara will be reflected in the human beings as the ‘Atman’. The Atma is the chaitanya of vishnu, intellect and creativity comes from Ishvara, and, finally the humans can cognize and realize Atman and experience sat chit and ananda only through self-awareness. There are no physical entities or parents and off-springs as such here. Body, mind and intellect as well as the soul spontaneously generated tuned to cosmic energy of the supreme spirit sol, paramatman. The scientists are still busy in finding the mystery involved in the creation of life. The molecular biologists have discovered the constituents of the structure and composition of the cell- the protein gel membrane that covers the cells, the genes and their inherent characteristics, the DNA and RNA chains, the amino acids, enzymes, the vitamins, hormones, and the chromosomes are all now known but for the exact source of their energy component, may be traced to an extraneous source that can never be described! The following illustrations will give us some idea about these. 

The Jiva's Predicament

   The embodied Atman, the jivatman undergoes many changes during its life time and suffers due to ignorance. It is embedded in the mire of the earth ssurviving on the food obtained from the soil and acquires all the qualities of the soil, water and food and displays the same throughout its life. The Jivatman will revert to its pure state only when it realizes its state of embedded nature and gives it up. But it is not that easy to give up the acquired karma-klesha, guna-doshas.

   Almost all the jivas spend their entire life in acquiring some knowledge and skill so as to enable oneself to get sufficient food and live comfortably. There is hardly any time left for any other pursuit, much less to know about the very purpose of such a living! The neglect of the soul by the ignorant jiva has created a mess and little does the jiva knows about this. Only a few sensible persons have ever thought about it and pursued the knowledge of the soul, Atmajnyan. Almost all the people die without knowing this simple truth. The tragedy is that the most successful persons in public life who achieve laurels like Nobel Prize, and national recognition like the Bharat Ratna, die without knowing who the real person, ‘purusha’, he/she is! So far, none has ever given a thought to how the jiva arrived here on earth as a sub-atomic particle (an atomic energy particle), in the form photon, (particle of ‘Light’) emitted by a distant star; it entered the clouds, rain drop, soil, food particle and became a ‘spermatozoa’ It entered the would-be mother’s womb and, remember, the chance of impregnation is almost nil! What all the jiva, as a human being, later attains (as a famous doctor or engineer, scientist or philosopher) is just a faculty (bit of material knowledge, that too, an insignificant part of the total knowledge) of their selected field of interest, or by force of destiny and chance!

    Once a person realizes the ‘truth’, who he/she is, the objective phenomenal world falls off like a house of cards! The jiva is liberated from its repeated cycles of births and deaths, metempsychosis’ the moment it realizes who it is! All the attachment to the worldly objects disappears. This is the end of all desires and attachments. Here is an anecdote from the Jataka Tales. When Gautama became the Buddha, he was brought to his father’s Palace and introduced to his father, wife, and son. But, the Buddha did not recognize anybody! He said, “I have no father, wife, or son”! 

   Then, one of them asked Rahul, son of Gautama, “Who are you since your father disowns you? He also said, “I don’t know! I have not seen my father ever since he left before I could see and know him, nor do I know anything about my father’s mother! I am told she was already dead by the time my father could see her!” This gives us an idea about how we all are attached to the world due to ignorance of our true nature. The phenomenal objective world is transient and subject to death decay and dissolution. There is nothing permanent about it and we somehow cling onto it!

    The same is the story of many a orphans, forlorn children abandoned, or sold for a price, or adopted by some foreigners, or for that matter, even those saved from a hospital fire, or accident site. These kids do not know anything about their antecedents. 

    And, Lo! There are people who boast of their religions, caste and creed, and belief systems, and harm others who do not follow them! All these are eye openers to a person who is enamored by attachment, greed, ego, and suffers from ignorance.   

    But then, “Who am I?” This question is persistently asked by every jiva when it gets puzzled as to its role in life. It is confused. It is always somebody and not the real self. Hence it seeks an answer. What is the answer? The answer is very simple and direct. When all that are called ‘me and mine’ are discarded what remains is ‘that’ pure self. This pure self is inexplicable. It is pure bliss, total awareness of the true self. This state is found in deep sleep as well as a state of samadhi yoga. It is not an unconscious state; it is total awareness of the self and everything else within its self. 

   A living being, jiva, rather, an embodied soul, will ultimately find out who he/she is after a long introspection, quest, taking an inward journey in search of truth! It (the jiva) discovers that it is an embodiment, acquisition of a material gross physical body and it is constantly changing with time; hence it is not the ‘sat’, true self. So also, the fickle mind is always thinking about this and that, called ‘manovikalpa’, or’ chanchala chitta’, together with the perverted intelligence (vipareeta buddhi), is not the true self. The ‘ego’ (ahankar) that rules the jiva, too, is not the self. All these- manas, buddhi and ahankar, are at rest when the jiva when the jiva goes to deep sleep. So, the jiva finds that all these appendage- physical, mental or psychosomatic entity that is of no avail to find out the true ‘Self’, that is covered by avidya.

     Finally, a Guru (Yogacharya Shree Krishna) comes, as if by divine providence, to help the confused jiva (Arjuna) to redeem it from all this mire of mental or physical, earthly existence. However, it is not that easy; this needs a bit of carryover of the fruits of action (karma phala) carried over from the past (purvarjita), God’s grace (anugraha), and the blessings (ashirvada) of the departed souls, teachers, and elders. 

     The jiva has to prepare for this long journey taking recourse to yoga through spiritual practices (adhyatma sadhana), satsang, and study of scriptures. Finally, the jiva comes to know that it is not ‘this’ and this’. It finds out that the true nature of the jiva is nothing but the ‘truth, consciousness and bliss (sat-chit-ananda) and, it is finally redeemed. This may happen instantly, or may take several lives! This is a big question mark? It is all a question of discarding what all is acquired from birth, rather than adding accumulating wealth and appendages, prefixes, affixes, and afflictions to the name, form, and function or revel in the mire of earthly existence, enjoying a sensuous life that is transient.

The Concept of Time

Everything in this universe comes within the grip of Time. Time is an illusion since it varies from situation and space to different situations and space. In fact, Time only creates space since the space is the hidden aspect of time. There exists nothing when time and space are united. When time moves it creates space and objects occupy the space! Time begins with the radiation of electromagnetic waves. Since ‘light travels at 186000 mps, space, time and intelligence are inherent in the Light. If anything moves at the speed of light it ceases to exist in time! Even if one travel at the speed of light that person are reduced to ‘nothing’! This ‘nothingness’, unity in time and space, is brahmn. In fact, that which is measurable, or that which comes within the grip of limitation (niyati) of time and space is ‘Ma-ya’. Hence, everything, including ‘maya’ is the manifest form of brahmn. 

   Time and space are created by the radiation of Sun in the form of electromagnetic waves. The sun rays inheres within the electromagnetic waves a number of other qualities such as light, heat, life-force (actinic rays) and qualities dictated by colours (violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red, as well as, infra-red and ultra-violet, alpha, beta, gamma, x rays. The three prominent ones that represent the qualities of tamas (dark), rajas (red), and sattva (white). All life-forms are supported by subtler waves of life-force (actinic rays), and energy (like Vitamin D), sound and syllables (alphabets), words and their meaning producing the phenomenal gross objects are all hidden in the electro-magnetic waves of solar radiation. Thus, the factor of ‘Time’ (kaal) holds everything within itself! Both electricity and magnetism are involved in Time. Time is energy. Time creates and destroys objects. Thus, the ‘time-space continuum’ is the basic tenet of science. Time is indeed illusory since it does not exist outside the forces of rotation of the earth! Hence, time is illusory, and, so also, the space that is created by it! If both time and space are illusory, the physical objects that occupy the space and endure in time are also illusory! This is the concept of maya. Thus, everything in this universe is governed by this maya- the limiting factor (time, space and causality).

     Einstein and many other scientists tried to give some explanation regarding the universe in many different ways, such as, algebraic equations, mathematical formulae, and theories and hypotheses. They include ‘Theory of Relativity’, a ‘Probability theory’, a ‘Quantum Mechanics theory’, ‘Gravitational theory’, and many others. So far, one single ‘unified general theory’ that can explain everything is evading! In fact, now it is learnt that such a ‘Unified Theory’, that could explain all, is not possible at all! Some intervening powerful extraneous force is always there affecting the structural changes that take place in the transformation of matter! Mere combination of two ions of Hydrogen (H2) and an Oxygen ion (O) may not immediately or instantly produce water unless there is a catalyst that brings about change! If mere Hydrogen and Oxygen could get us water, may be, there would be no dearth for water on earth?

     But, in Vedanta, the entire universe is visualized as a continuum- one of ‘unitary existence’! Everything is intimately connected to the other. Till now, there was no point of contact between the Scientists and the Vedantins and each one viewed things in their own perspective and there was no common platform for them to exchange their views. Besides, their language of expression was different. The pundits considered it a taboo even to think of Vedanta and Science together and talk about the two in the same breath, as if, it was not advisable to talk while eating’! Hence, there was no attempt to synthesize our knowledge and present a holistic view of our existence in this transient, ‘make-believe’ world. Now, times have changed. The scientists have taken to serious study of ancient Hindu scriptures and have found answers to all that they wanted to know! 

Fhe Perceiver and the Perceived are One!

The human brain is a wonder-machine that is closely associated with the Mind and has immense capacity to think, imagine, dream, create and destroy, discover and discern, dissect, disseminate, organize and reorganize, produce and reproduce, edit and re-edit what all that has been understood, assimilated, and then present that in a holistic synchronized picture! It all starts as a desire (ichha), though-wave, an imagination and create images and gradually with sankalpa, determination, consolidate and create a world by itself! Different parts of the brain have trillions of cells, each cell performing almost sixty thousand jobs at a time, instantly, and many of them do specialized functions, too! Along with the ageing process of the jiva these cells develop their ability to perform more and more specialized functions and they too die out! In fact, the very ageing process is attributed to the cells. Cells constantly divide and multiply, retrieve the information stored in the DNA and RNA, transfer all memory intact to new cells before they burnout. In fact, it is so mysterious that we grow from childhood to ripe old age and perform specialized functions as per the genes and memories of the past lives. It is estimated that a normal person hardly ever use one per cent of his mental potentiality. While the right side of the brain is normally used, the left part is left almost unused by most of us! In fact, the left part of the brain has unique capacity of perform the jiva’s karma. This is the most significant aspect that determines the destiny of the jiva. The entire life and activity of the jiva such as intelligence, creativity, art, music, mathematics, etc depends on the carryover of the past. It is a mystery how new ideas come and materialize in daily life! It is said that geniuses, wizards, path-breakers and inventors use the left part of the brain, and none ever masters the use of all parts of the brain in their life time. Hardly even a negligible percentage of the brain is ever used in a lifetime of a person. Only a ‘Vedantin’, yogi or spiritually enlightened person can develop his/her full potentialities through practice of yoga. In yogic trance, samadhi, a yogin can reduce the vibration of a trillion cells that cause thought waves. All the heated cells are cooled down and condensed into a molecule! Thus, the visionaries have given us a brilliant presentation of the holistic view of this universe!

   It is the constant endeavor of all thinkers, whether they are Vedantins or scientists ‘to know’ and ‘understand’ the reality, ‘truth’ about the world we live  and work, as also, find out who we are, wherefrom we arrive here ,and wherefore do we go from here?  The scientists think in a limited way, in a narrow perspective and feel that answers are eluding!  However, the ancient sages have found the answer to all these questions by taking recourse to yoga. They have realized the ‘truth’. Almost a hundred and odd Upanishads explain in different ways what the sages experienced in their yogic trance. The nature of ‘reality of existence’ is explained by Bhagavan Shree Krishna in the Gita. There are many other scriptures like the eighteen epics, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita, besides the brahmasutras. Bhagavan Shree Krishna, the supreme Lord, as an avatara of Vishnu, helps us to find out the true nature of both the ‘purusha’ and ‘prakruti’- ‘the self’ and ‘the nature’. 

   The ultimate answer is very simple: “The perceiver and the perceived are one”. Conscious awareness of the seeker will bring out this truth! Consciousness is not only conscious of itself, but also of the ‘other’. Almost all of us are interested in the external world and dwell in it from birth to death! It is rarely possible for anybody to take respite, pause for a while to think about the self, unless ordained by the divine, as if by the carryover of the past lives! The entire life is spent in earning a livelihood and running the family. Scarcely any time is left after the days toil. However, a time will come for taking stock of the situation, look where one is moving, and turn away from the sensuous world toward the higher spiritual aspects! Wisdom dawns and renunciation begins. This is consciousness being conscious of itself!

Everything Created is Perfect!

purNamadah purNamidam purNaat purNamuduchyatE |

purNasya purNamAdAya purNamEvAvashiShyatE ||

   The fundamental principle enunciated in the ancient scriptures is very clear. It is “unity Consciousness”- samyak-prajnya, where all dualities disappear, ritambhara! Duality (dvandva), is the reality one experiences due to ignorance, avidya. It is the result of embodiment as an earthling bound to the gross material objective world, not realizing the fact that everything here is transient and inter-related. The Mind, the senses, and the intellect are all closely connected with the phenomenal objective world and the senses act and interact as dictated by the mind and the intellect. Objects that we perceive disappear the moment the mind is disconnected from the objects! Even if the eyes are engaged and the mind is not interested the objects do not matter, however interesting they may be! The mind and moods thus dictate the interaction of the jiva with the world. No interest, no life?

   This duality of the jiva and world is the outward movement of the jiva to experience the quality of the diverse paraphernalia of the material objects. This is the product of ignorance. The moment the jiva realizes its true nature it discard the external world as one of no consequence. Then it turns inwards towards the Self. This is the function of Consciousness that operates either outward or inward! When consciousness is conscious of itself it becomes self-centered within itself and attains to Shiva. When it is working in an outward material world it is jiva. Shiva only becomes jiva and the jagat.

 In fact, “Everything has manifested from the ‘One’, single without any other as the second, unimaginable, unthinkable, unknowable, and the invisible most powerful all-knowing, self-effulgent, perfect ‘that’ (‘tyat’) for which there is no name (nama), form (roopa), or function (kriya). Everything manifests out of ‘that’ as the divine will”. All that we can ever imagine, think of, aspire, or dream about, exist in it and manifest as per the ‘desire’, the divine will! This entire universe is the gross product of the subtler-most ‘chit’ (consciousness), the divine will, desire that is ‘brahman’. Since the living beings are not in any way different or separate from this ‘chit’, Consciousness, it is possible for the jiva to realize the whole ’truth’ (‘sat’), the true nature of its existence. Only a keen sense of awareness of one’s self will reveal the true self. This search for the true nature of the self (Atma shodha) continues till the jiva realizes the pure state. This is pure consciousness (shuddha prajnya) unblemished or adulterated by desires, attachment, anger, selfishness, jealousy, greed, etc. It is also necessary that the out-going nature of the five senses and the vibrant mind, perverted intelligence and such other aspects that make the jiva indulge in the external phenomenal objective world are withdrawn. When one is busy with the affairs of the world, working outward without any idea of the true nature of the self, it is avidya. ‘Avidya’, rather the true awareness of the Self so far covered by the ego, selfishness, and the carry-over of the fruits of action of previous births (karmakleshas), will be erased when the person becomes aware of the limitations of the jiva, turns inward, and looks for the guidance of the ‘Self’! “Consciousness becomes aware of its Self and reveals itself!” This is the ultimate goal of life. Thus, every embodied soul looks for redemption, emancipation, liberation or mukti, moksha from its embodied, embedded state.

Beginningless Beginning!

Nasadiya Sukta, Mandala X of the Rk Veda gives an account of the beginningless beginning. It says, “There was nothing that one can say as ‘Existence’ (sada), or ‘Non-existence’ (asada). There was neither ‘Light’ nor ‘Darkness’, and, neither there existed a ‘Heaven’ or ‘Something Beyond’, nor there was anything like ‘Air’, ‘Death’, or ‘Immortality’. There was neither what is called ‘day’ or ‘night’ and one breathed windless and sustained oneself; there was only One, the ‘Purusha’, and no other.” The Samskruta shloka is given in Appendix. ‘Purusha Sukta’ Mandala X, Rk Veda exemplifies this further.

Another version regarding the Creation is also given as hereunder:

   “In the beginning, this universe was the self (Viraj) alone, in the shape of a person. He reflected and saw nothing else but His self. He first said: “I am He”. Therefore, He came to be known by the name ‘I’ (Aham). Hence, even now, when a person is addressed, he first says: It is ‘I’, and then says whatever other name he may have. And, because He, before (purva) the whole group of aspirants, burnt (vaushat) all evils, therefore, “He is called Purusha”- The One who enters the ‘pura’ (the body). He is actually ‘Rudra’, one of the twelve Adityas (twelve positions of the Earth in its sojourn around the Sun during its revolution).

    “Purusha is the One who is embodied (pura) as a Jiva. “Shiva only becomes the Jiva”. (Shiva Purana). It is He, the Purusha, who is embodied and says ‘I’ (ahanta). This ‘I’ is a pronoun that stands for the name of a person ‘Rudra’, who resides in the jiva as ‘Bheshaja’, Dhanvantari and maintains it! [Mandala VII of the Rk Veda, Rudra Shatiya]. It is also stated further, “He who knows this verily burns up him who wishes to be Viraj in advance of him.” [Yajur Veda, Brih. Upa. I, IV-The Creation and Its Cause, 1].

     It is this Knowledge of the Purusha, ‘Parabrahman manifest as the One’, that brings emancipation, liberation to the tormented jiva, the person suffering due to avidya. It is shuddha vidya, para-vidya, the knowledge of the highest Self, Paramatman. All other worldly knowledge is apara-vidya that brings about bondage due to reckless action of the jiva. The jiva is driven by the “Ego’ (ahankara), seated on the throne of the Mind (Manas) using the Intellect (Buddhi) as its Minister, employs the Senses as the Instruments of fulfillment of its unending carnal desires. Thus, the ‘Jivatman’ suffers an eternal bondage, until redeemed by the Blessings of the Lord through an attained person, Guru. An enlightened person is one who knows that the body, the senses, the mind, the intellect, and the ego are all just the adjuncts of the jiva, and not the person, purusha, by Himself! Knowledge, ‘jnyan’, lies in the knower, ‘jnyata’, the ‘Jnyeya’ (that is to be known) and the Knowledge, ‘jnyana’, are one. In the absence of true knowledge, understanding, and experience the jiva is perturbed and gets into actions that binds it eternally as prarabhda karmat.