The resultant manifestation is considered as the feminine principle, as mother, as nature, and is termed ‘Prakriti’. The English word ‘create’ or ‘creative’ is undeniably linked to the Sanskrit ‘Kriti’.
As we have seen, this principle is also called ‘Narayani’ and is thought of as a sister of ‘Narayana’. What does this relationship between Narayani and Narayana symbolize?
It means they are children or offshoots of the same source. This source is Brahman. If Narayani represents the Universe then what does Narayana represent?
Narayani is inherently ‘Gunamayi’ or a product of the Gunas which represent Karmas or Vasanas. Narayana is also manifestation but He is free of Karmas and Vasanas.
Narayani is the conditioned guna-filled karma-ful or vasana-ful Brahman. Narayana is unconditioned guna-less karma-less or vasana-less Brahman.
Narayani is the ever-present ever-changing Universe. Narayana is that rare extremely infrequent pure manifestation of Brahman and hence as a principle is unchanging and permanent.
That is why Narayana is considered extremely rare and precious when it occurs. This occurrence of Narayana is called the ‘Avatarana’ or ‘descent’ of Brahman in its pristine unconditioned form right in the midst of Narayani or Prakriti. Brahman appears as Narayana endowed with all the three attributes of body, mind and soul but without karmas. He is therefore also called ‘Pranava Swarupa’ or ‘Of the form of the Pranava or Omkara’.
Such is the nature of the Avatara Purusha extolled in Indian thought. The appearance of the Avatara or Narayana takes place as manifestation evolves. The earliest Avataras are in the form of animals, the ‘Matsya’ or Fish incarnation in the Sathya Yuga, followed by the ‘Kurma’ or Tortoise (amphibian) incarnation, followed by the Narasimha (half man , half lion ) incarnation. The pinnacle of manifestation, the human being was on the anvil when the Vamana (dwarf) incarnation appeared, followed by Sri Rama (the full human of gigantic build) in the Tretha Yuga and then by Sri Krishna, born in royalty, grew up amidst farmers and cowherds, and transformed the world of His time in the Dwapara Yuga.
Pure unconditioned Brahman has thus descended or appeared at various times during the evolution of life forms in a Mahayuga which is itself a part of a Manvantara. In all cases and especially in the appearance as human beings (Vamana, Sri Rama and Sri Krishna) they were born to human beings, grew up as human beings and lived and worked as human beings subject to all the challenges, tribulations and circumstances of human beings in their respective times. But in their lives there were moments when they rose above circumstances and displayed the characteristics of omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence which distinguished them from their peers, astonished the world of their time and has remained deeply etched in human memory.
The most recent of the appearances, that of Sri Krishna about 5010 years ago is extensively recorded by Sri Veda Vyasa and his spiritual disciples and descendants. The Mahabharata, containing the Bhagavat Gita and the Vishnu Sahasranama as its core, and the Srimad Bhagavatham containing the record of all the earlier incarnations are still extant in their pristine form.
The life and teachings of Sri Rama are recorded in the Ramayana of Sri Valmiki Maharishi. He (Valmiki) was an ordinary human being called Ratnakara who eked out a precarious existence as a dacoit. By a strange circumstance, a chance remark of his wife transformed him and through intense efforts he realized Brahman, recognized Sri Rama as an Avatara Purusha and was inspired to set out Sri Rama’s life and teachings in exquisite Sanskrit. It is still extant and continues to inspire people the world over.
The Narayana Principle is in no way different from Brahman except that it is with form. So it is called ‘Sa - guna’ meaning ‘with form and attributes’. Brahman is termed ‘Nir - guna’ meaning formless or without attributes and qualities.
The Vishnu Sahasranama is a beautiful exposition of one thousand attributes of Narayana. It is set in the Mahabharata of Sri Veda Vyasa and is expounded by Sri Bhishma as he lies on his death bed of arrows on the battlefield. The names are a remarkable admixture of human and superhuman attributes establishing that Narayana is unconditioned Brahman with a form.
The earliest extant commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranama is by Sri Sankara, the exponent of the concept of Advaita. It is also said to be Sri Sankara’s very first treatise.
Indian spiritual thought abounds with illustrations of formful unconditioned Brahman. The Dattatreya tradition expounds the case of the son of the great Rishi Atri and his spouse Anasuya. Many people consider the Buddha as a divine incarnation.
In the last century, there have been many teachers of rare divine endowment who have spoken of the unity of all spiritual paths. Sri Ramakrishna practiced the tenets of Islam and Christianity, in addition to his practice of various forms of Hindu tradition and proclaimed that all paths lead to the same truth. Swami Vivekananda recognized his teacher Sri Ramakrishna as a divine incarnation.
Sri Saibaba of Shirdi, both in his life and his teachings, espoused all religions, especially Islam and Hinduism.
Today in an obscure corner of South India called Puttaparthi, Sri Sathya Sai Baba exhorts all human beings to accept the five universal Vedic values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence ( Sathya Dharma Shanthi Prema Ahimsa).
This month on November 23, 2010, Sri Sathya Sai Baba commences the 85th year of his life. Millions of people all over the world believe that He is a Poorna Avatara Purusha and that this birthday will be a major turning point for the world. He preaches Divine Love or Prema as the key factor that will benefit all humanity and this planet, transcending all divisions that have come to influence human civilization.
In his Bhashya on the Vishnu Sahasranama Sri Sankara defines the appellation ‘Narayana’ as the principle that derives from the root ‘Nara’ which means Brahman.
Sri Sankara opens his famous treatise ‘Viveka Chudamani’ with the sloka:
Jantunam Nara Janma Durlabham
Meaning
Amongst (living) creatures the human life is (extremely) fortunate.
It is remarkable that the term Nara means both human and Divine.
This means that the human and the Divine are identical. The apparent difference is only an illusion. Nara and Narayana are identical.
It is this identity, this unity of Divinity and Humanity that is the core of human existence. Such is the nature of ‘A - Dwaita’ or ‘Not Two’. The human and the Divine are not two but One.
May the bliss of this truth pervade the universe!!!!
On Friday November 5, 2010 we celebrate the festival of Deepavali all over the world. It is called the festival of lights and it is traditional custom to light lamps around one's dwelling and at the entrance. It celebrates the dawn of knowledge and spirituality in the world, the awakening of the inner light. Old clothes are discarded and the house is cleaned and decorated and new clothes are worn. Crackers and sparklers are lit to dispel ignorance and the world is full of sound and light. Many people consider it the dawn of a new year. Businessmen close their old books of accounts and open new ones. In some parts of India people pray to Mahalakshmi as the provider of the means of sustenance,as Srimayi the symbol of auspiciousness. It is a time of celebration and we wish all of you a very Happy Deepavali !
Warm regards and God Bless
Nirmala and Mohan
We acknowledge with thanks the above Deepavali pictures from:
http://bbs.in2english.com.cn/archiver/showtopic-10888.aspx
http://explorersoflight.blogspot.com/2008/10/happy-deepavali-festival-of-lights.html
A magnificent description of 'Narayana' and pranams to all our dear Gurus, who have inspired and guided us throughout our journey of self-discovery!
ReplyDelete