The Inherent Powers of Silence and Sound

   The universe was initially in a state of absolute silence, peace, tranquil state- mahattanta shanta. This is the state of equilibrium where the purusha and prakruti are one in quietude, 'brahmn', 'bhuman'. Any disturbance in this state creates a ripple, a wave, a sound (nada) that condenses into a gross form bindu. These 'nada', svara, shabda, and 'bindu' are the gross forms while the tremor, ripple, wave, current are all powerful subtler forces that have their origin in the tranquil state of absolute silence! The first emanate sound is a and m- the beginning (open mouth to pronounce a and close the lips to pronounce m!  The universe begins with a and ends with m! The existence (sthiti), maintenance or sustenance depends on h, that makes ah; further, the sound ah when joined  by m becomes ah and am as u and ultimately the primordial gross sound of aum (Om) pervades the universe, throughout its depth and extent far and wide- unlimited! The bhutishakti akasha (sky) is the first to emanate from the sound as it traverses it!  The sound is the subtler aspect, tanmatra, of akasha (space). It is traversed, pervaded by Om as the first creative energy. 'Om' is an insignia, a symbol, of creation, sustainance and disssolution- all-in-one; It has not taken the gross form of an alphabet or akshara since the material world is yet to take a form! The first sound 'ah', full of creative energy is thus formed out of the sound emanating from the vishuddhi chakra, at throat. The sound uh originates at the heart level, in the anahata chakra. Finally ah and am become aum with the sound m joining at the nabhi (navel) manipura chakra. This is narrated by the Adhya Shakti Devi Shree! 
  Devi Shree is the manifest form of Shree Hari Narayana, and as such, She holds all the powers of Narayana. Narayana is parabrahman. He is the 'Silent Ocean of Consciousness' (Shanta mahachitsagara). He is the ultimate, absolute, param padam dhamam. He is adviteeyam and incomparable. He is nishkala (blemishless), tejomaya (Brilliant), and all-pervasive, vishnu.
  "The 'ahanta' (I-hood or I-ness, Shakti) is Lakshmi., the absolute power of Brahmn, the supreme soul (param atman). Devi Shree says, " In order to help all living beings, I voluntarily manifest myself in the form of 'matrika-mantra' containing shabdabrahmn. In the form of the mantra, I follow each particular deity referred to in it.  In the beginning, (the adept) should evoke me in my original tara-form. First, the adept should take the letter dhruva (a), then add the (letter) karna to it (a+u). then he should add the (letter) nabhi (m)to that finally utter them together (a+u+m- OM)"

   "Having thus constructed Om, the adept should first decorate the Brahma-taraka with bindu, thereupon with nada. Thus, as an accompaniment to this taraka he should meditate on the  eternal brahmn made up of these three letters in the vaishnava form (Lakshmi-narayana), the mind following towards it incessantly, like tailadhara, continuous flow of oil!."
  "Here, a is aniruddha; u is pradyumna; m is sankarshana and Om is vasudeva!"
Devi proceeds to say, "O Sureshvara,  the indivisibility (integral nature) of these four letters is the nada. The highest perfection of 'nada' is Me, the 'I-ness', 'ahanta', of Vishnu, brahmn, who is the highest Goddess (Lakshmi) " (Lakshmi Tantra, XXIV 1-10)

What is Liberation?

"Liberation from worldly bondage means that the jiva has been forced from his three limitations - of space (anutva), of knowledge (ajnyana/asarvajnyatva), and of powers to act (anaishvarya)." However, the embedded jiva, engaged in mundane worldly pursuits due to avidya, ajnyana, can overcome these limitations. The means of liberation are: karma, sankhya (jnyan), sanyasa (renunciation) and sharanagati or prapatti. The Bhagavad-Gita gives a detailed account of the karma, sankhya and the sanyasa yoga and these are the traditional ways of attaining liberation, mukti. The principle of sharanagati is the bhagavata sampradaya (bhakti tradition) which demands total abnegation of the Self. It is presumed that the jiva suffers due to ajnyana, avidya, ignorance as to its true nature. The moment the jiva realizes the nature of existence on this earth where everything has a beginning and an end, and understands the process of evolution, as also the purpose of existence there comes enlightenment. Knowledge leads to wisdom and renunciation that paves the way for liberation. It is also very important to know the concept of God or the power that governs the jiva! God is supposed to be the supreme and essential consciousness. Consciousness is at the root of all existence. It is cognitive power without which there comes nothing into jiva's attention. Besides, karma and jnyana there comes dhyana, meditation. The jiva can attain liberation with the help of yoga sadhana under a learned teacher, guru, an attained one!

   'Samadhi' and 'samyama' are the two ways of Meditation. In the first, the jiva enters samadhi and merges into the absolute state of brahmn, become one with IT. In fact, the jiva existed in this state of brahman prior to its embodiment! Hence, it reverts to its, to its original pure and pristine form! This is called 'pratyabhijnya hrudyam', remembering its past. This is achieved by introspection, savikalpa samadhi yoga, samyama. 

   Worship of God according to pancharatra agama shastra is supposed to be the most pleasing one to Devi, Shakti. This will enable the devotee to get instant mukti also due to Her grace! Even a side glance of Devi Shree is enough! The jiva is cleansed of all ts blemishes, karma kleshas, rendered free to attain jnyan, bhakti, vairagya and mukti! This is the best way to practice since it also gives what all one desires in life and liberation at one's will by the grace of Devi Shree! So many devotees take to worship of Devi in all Her power and glory! They adopt the mantra shastra for worship and chakra dhyana and celebrate the Devi's festivities and enjoy all the goodies of life as well. (LT. XVI 32, 40). There a re elaborate means of creating the icons, idols and methods of worship and the rules and regulations to be followed. This is not an easy task!

    However, a word of caution: These are to be undertaken under a well trained acknowledged priest and a guru. Any deviation in the right path will bring catastrophic results!

The Predicament of the Jiva and Liberation in Lakshmi Tantra

'Lakshmi tantra' is a very important source of knowledge about the nature of the jiva and its predicaments, and means of liberation. Accordingly, "The jiva, an animate thing, is the 'self-imposed limited  state of the absolute consciousness' which is God's essence." The five koshas viz, anna, prana, manas, vijnyana, and ananda are the sheathes that cover the Atman (Soul, the Self).These are the maya kosha and the jivakoshas since there are annam (food and drinks) as the basis or support of the physical body, without which the jiva will not survive beyond a few days! And, then there are the subtle forces such as prana and manas that are beyond the control of the jiva. Thus, life is governed by many subtle forces that are beyond the control of the person.  

   Lakshmi tantra explicitly states that "Three primary divine pairs- Brahma-trayi, Vishnu-Lakshmi, and Rudra-Gouri, and all God's incarnations manifested within the cosmic embryo possesses transcendental bodies." All  that exist, starting from the subtler energy aspects, Shakti or Deities like hari hara virinchi down to the germs, viruses and insects, all the different subtle, gross forms of existence are conscious beings, from celestial gods to plants,  have material bodies acquired due to their actions and the results of actions as karma phala. "Jiva is not different from Shakti". Just as Shakti creates the universe from itself as its own support (svayambhu), i.e., 'self-existent', so also does the jiva manifests the universe reflected on him the same way as a  mirror reflects a mountain. (LT XIII 24). This principle is also found in Chandogya Upanishad VI. 2. I."It  is like seeing the universe in one's body, o  the ocean in a drop of water.

   Further, Lakshmi tantra goes on to say, "The jivas, like Shakti, too have five functions. His cognition of objects is his creative functions; his attachment to material objects is his function of sustenance; his satiation by these objects is his destructive function; and his desire for material objects is his function of delusion. And, finally, his detachment from that desire is the function of divine grace. Some jivas are fettered to worldly existence; some are liberated from that bondage; and, some are 'ever free'!

    Jiva's liberation always depends on Shakti's compassion,which persuades her to bestow her divine grace on the initiate. This occurrence, happening, is called "shaktipaata'.,  .

(to be contd.)

"Lakshmi Tantra"

    We have an invaluable source of material regarding the creation, nature of the jiva and the universe and many a beautiful techniques to live successfully, happily, joyfully, peacefully, and even gracefully exit. This ancient scripture was found in a village Kalale, near Najangud (Mysore) in Telugu language. This was traced by Prof. Sanjukta  Gupta, teaching in Oxford, formerly at university of Utrecht, Netherlands. She has given the English translation of the verses, published by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi 2007. The beauty of these verses is that they go to the root words, syllables and sounds that emanated from Divine Mother Devi Lakshmi. It is a dialogue between Shakra (Indra) and Lakshmi, the power and glory of Shree Hari Narayana. Shakra asks a number of questions regarding the creation, the nature and predicaments of the living beings (jiva), the means of liberation, and other questions about devi devata and their powers, including Her own powers and relationship with Narayana! and the powers inherent in them. Lakshmi explains all the secrets in this ancient scripture, one of the two hundred pancharatra samhita. 

   In Her own words, "Devi Shree (addressing Shakra)- Listen to the description of the three states of existence viz,gross, subtle, and absolute (states) of (the shakti), which is the supreme science (i.e., mantra) called Tarika, the savior (of the devotee from the sufferings of) existence. The gross form (of Tarika, who is identical with) me, contains five sounds- hreem (is adorned with the sound called 'naada' after the 'bindu' which resembles the tingling sound of a bell, otherwise it is just four letters), or (sometimes) four; my subtle form possesses three sounds ('Im' or 'eem'); and (my) absolute form consists of (the sound called) vishnu (I or ee). Further, Devi Shree states: "Each of these three states of mine (That is of Tarika) is again subdivided into three conditions. The absolute condition in the gross state contains (the sound) 'paramatman' (ha), joined with (the sounds) 'asheshabhuvanaadhaara' (ra), vishnu (I or ee), and vyapin (hreem). This state contains both the enjoyer and the object of enjoyment. [Sanjukta Gupta: Lakshmi Tantra Ch.XXII verse 1-3).

   This is how the Tarika mantra 'hreem' has come to be very important in the tantric world!
  However, this should not be treated as a very simple and easy technique to practice for ordinary mortals. Let's see what Devi Shree says regarding this. "The true form of the jiva" is given Ch. XIII. Devi Shree says, "Broiling in their own deeds (they) are in the very center of the hot coal that represents mundane life; they inadvertently seek happiness, but  (instead), owing to ignorance, get crushed by misery." Further, She says, "As movable and immovable beings they continuously pass through an endless chain of births. Inextricably enmeshed in the miseries of body, senses, mind, and intelligence through the results caused by certain deeds, (jivas) are ever subjected to recurrent birth and death, and undergo affliction through systematic exertion or its absence (i.e., attempts to avoid misery or to pursue happiness, as the case may be). (These considerations engender (in Me) endless compassion for these jivas. I obliterate their sins, and I, Shree, ensure that (such) jivas escape beyond the clutches of misery. (This act of compassion of mine) is called 'anugraha', which is also referred to as the 'descent' of the supreme Shakti. Further, even this is not so simple! Devi Shree says, "Having received My Grace. they (such of the fortunate jivas who received it) are absolved from their karman (i.e., extinction of consequences of their actions). The jivas infused with My grace possess My 'apaschima' (non-phenomenal), a pure or sattvika body transcending the material body. 
   Thus, it is essential to attract the grace of the Devi by constantly chanting Her mantra! (ibid, Ch. XIII 4- 9)

The Sound of Breath.

   The scriptures assert that "The vibrant energy that pervades the universe as 'chit-shakti', 'Consciousness', is the breath of the Lord". It is said, "He, the Lord breathes unto us without Himself breathing"! All that breathes here is the creative energy of the vital airs, 'prana-shakti', the breath of the Lord. It is He who is seated in us as 'antaryamin', the Self' of all, that breathes. As humans or animals, we have absolutely no control over it. If it stops, it stops. Nothing can be done about it!
  Breathing is an action that produces sound 'sa' in in-breath and 'ha' in out-breath. Everything is sustained by the syllables 's', 'h' supported by 'r' and 'i'. The term 'Shri' is the name and function of the creative power Devi Adhya Shakti. She breathes unto us without Herself ever breathing! She is the power and glory of the Lord! It is called in the female gender since it the power of creation. All creations are thus the 'Sound' of Her breath, the creative energy of the Lord. The sound that we hear traverse the space and it has the potential to create anything and everything!
   The English alphabets called the vowels a, e, i, o, and u are the potential sounds and the same akshara (syllables) are the powerful sounds in samskruta bhasha, as well! However, it must be noted that there are no upper case capital letters in the devanagari. In fact, use of capital letters for proper nouns are also prohibited for they will give different sounds with different power of creation. The samskruta vidwan, pundits, give special importance to phonetics in uttering the mantra. The mantra have the power of creation, sustenance, transformation, as well as dissolution. Mantra protects us from dangers! trayate iti matra | The single sound that creates us is 'shreem' and that protects us is 'hreem'. The tarika mantra that protects us is 'hreem' the deity of which is tara. The power of creation is inherent in the sound- 'aim', pronounced as 'eye m'. The syllable 'm' has the power of joining, uniting, merging, anything with anything! We close the lips to pronounce this syllable (sound) 'm'. The jiva (u) is united by 'm' with paramatman (a) when the mantra 'aum' is uttered in dhyan.
  The world comes into existence with the sound of the  'aum'. These  three sounds of a, u, and m have their source in the sound of our breath originating from the navel, heart, and the throat, respectively. The creative potential is in the sound of the syllable 'a' and the creative energy as a dynamic force comes from the heart, almost ending with the sound of 'm' at the throat that tries to escape from the mouth, but prevented to sustain the creation by closing the lips! Hence whatever we speak, opening our mouth lose all their power of creation, the sat and chit aspect of the supreme Creatrix. The great sages always keep quiet, 'mum' for fear of losing their power of askesis, tapas. They are called 'muni'. 
   The sound of every syllable of the alphabets have thus inherent power of creation without exception! The most powerful of them are, however, so important that the entire universe is created, sustained and dissolved by them These are: ya, ra, la, va, sa, ha, sha, pa, pha, bha, ma, ka, and ksha. Even the space, air, fire, water, land, and life are created by the sound of these syllables! All that we breathe is producing these sounds by the circulation of the in-breath and the out-breaths. The jiva stops functioning with the departing out-breath never to come back, and it is not in our hands to get it back once it leaves! Now, the secret of creation is revealed by none other than the deities called by different names like lakshmi, parvati, durga, kali,sharada, saraswati, Ila, bhu, etc.   

Vayu (Air) and Agni (Fire)

Vayu manifests from Akasha; agni manifests from both akasha and vayu. Thus, vayu is fifty percent of akasha and, agni is one-third akasha and one-third vayu. These elements are generated from the creative power of the syllables like a+k='ak' (agni, where 'a' the potent energy joining k takes the form g to create fire), va+y+u (vayu/air). Similarly, 'jal' (water) is formed when the syllable 'l' (the water principle) is joined ja, becomes jal (gross liquid form of water is created! Thus, the three elements (bhuti - air, fire and water come into existence from space (akasha), rather, appear as if coming one out of one another! One may ask, "How does one come out of the other? Well, it seems, the other was already there before come out of it, as if One comes out of zero, nothing and two comes out of one by one becoming one more! However, it is stated in the scriptures that the syllable  'a' is brahmn (bruhat), vast that holds everything, Akasha! It is 'akshara brahma'. The syllable a is potent enough to create everything! When brahmn the vast  becomes reduced (as if Shiva desired)(kanchuki) to a concise form or compressed form to the size of a small particle, condensed into a bindu (a point) iota, or 'ion', it becomes consonant 'k'. Thus, a becomes k and together 'k+a' in the process is generated enormous heat due to compression, condensation like the potential energy (a) converted into kinetic energy (k). Thus, we find heat, fire, agni emanating along with vayu ('sa' or 's+ha') making it A+ka=sha (Akasha).Thus, Akasha (Space) contained vayu and agni. In other words, the principal elements of air and fire emanated in space! Interestingly, the scientists also speak in the same tome and have given the names of the persons who discovered it. The invisible particle that was all energy without mass discovered by the French scientist Fermi came to be known as fermion and the particle that obtained mass from it due to condensation as discovered by Bose and Einstein came to be known as bosons! Both are 'ion' (eye on) since their eyes fell on it? Any wonder how the material made its appearance from almost a state of nothing! All the sub-atomic particles like the Guam, Electrons, Protons, Neutrons, quarks are the energy particles!
   Rk Veda proclaimed everything is Agni (Fire) 'Energy'. The 'tribhandu' (three brothers) are surya, soma, and anala, different forms of agni. The Sun, the Moon, the Earth, and all that we find here, are the forms of Energy. There are the coal, oil,natural gas that are flammable! There is fire hidden in the dry sticks, stones (just not coal but radio-active minerals included), atomic energy, water power (hydel and wave energy), air (Wind energy), and everything that can be named can be harnessed! We are yet to develop the full potential of huge waste of bio-fuels?

    This is not all. The process of creation continued. There appeared water and earth from these space, air and fire! Water, as we all know is compound of Hydrogen and Oxygen that existed in air. Vayu (air) contained the life-force prana (oxygen) and hydrogen was already there in the Sun (agni / Fire). The alphabets 'sa' and 'ha' (of A ka sha) represent the Life-force as our own in-breath and out-breath! Thus, we the humans breathing and living here are also the product of this chain process of creation and our body is made of all these pancha mahabhuta (five elements - the space, air, fire, water and earth). The alphabet 'ka' also represents the jiva or prani.

Space (Akasha)

   Space is the most intriguing of all creations! Who created Space? What is Space? What are the dimensions of Space? But, surprisingly, we are told that there is One who rolls it and carries it away under His arms! Yes, it is the most intriguing thing. 

   The scriptures state that 'Space' is an illusion. It is beyond our ability to think about space since it is so vast that it will not come within the grasp of our comprehension. It is there, it is not there! We do not know what is this space that accommodates everything, imagined  unimagined or ever imagined! It is flexible. It expands or contracts as we deem fit or as we desire, or for that matter, as is our mind.Our Mind is the space! Thre is nothing that exists outside of us and, as such, the space exists within us. 

  What is 'space'? Is it matter or spirit? Spirits, too, exist in space. Space is everything and there is nothing that exists outside of space. Whatever exists is covered by space  The space is both matter and spirit; it is visible and not visible. It is paradoxical that we create space and we are within space, rather limitation of space. Space creates time and time creates space. Both space and time exists within us! Space is the first creation of mind and mind is nothing but space! The scripture called space as brahmn. Kham brahma | Brahmn is the creator and He only manifests as space. All that we see or perceive is brahman! sarvam kahaluvidam brahma  There is nothing that is not brahmn|

   Thus, space is the first manifest form of the supreme Lord. It is His energy aspect and all objects that fill it are a form of energy only, a vibrant energy, waves of different frequency, intensity, and wavelength. All objects become gross when they are lose their energy by radiation like Uranium becoming lead. Even the Stars become planets or dud at the end when they lose all the energy since the energy is transformed from subtle to gross state. Space is thus energy. It is elastic. It expands to accommodate everything that is created by itself. 

    Space is an invisible screen. All objects are presented on this screen as their background. Objects disappear if the background, the screen, is removed. So also, the mind screen, whatever we see as objective phenomenal  world is that which is presented on the mind screen. If the Mind is not interested, even that which we see or hear, touch or smell will not be experienced! This world of experience is not even there if we do not exercise any interest or desire in it! Hence anything that is in space is within us only and the mind is the repository of all memories. The mind has the capacity to dwell deep into its deep subconscious layers and retrieve from memory what all it desires. Henc the Mind-space is much deeper and vast as one can imagine.

    The most beautiful secret about creation of space is that Light creates it. Light is the first emanate of the star, the sun, for all practical purposes for us. The moment Light is emitted by the Sun as electromagnetic waves of radiation, they start creating space. Light travels at a speed of 180 000 miles per sec. and there is no limit to its journey unless something intervenes! Hence the space is limitless and light creates it as its path of journey, Further, with the creation of space comes its companion 'Time'. Time begins the moment Light begins its journey from the point of its source, the star! Thus, we, the earthlings are in a wonderland of illusory creation, a product of time, space and light. The Space is indeed dark and full of dark matter. Light flickers here and there as a result of galaxies and stars appearing in space. We cannot see light even if it is present since light is its own Self and cannot be seen without its reflection or refraction by objects. All objects are thus created by light, time, and space. This takes us into a different world, beyond senses, mind, intellect and ego.  .