Dakshinamurti Stotram Part 04 on 09 January 2021

Full Transcript(Not Corrected)

Om Jananim Shardam Devim Ramakrishnam Jagadgurum Pada Padmetayo Shritva Pranamami Mohor Moho Om Yo Brahmanam Vidadhati Purvam Yovai Vedam Shchepra Hinoti Tasmai Tamha Devam Atma Buddhe Prakasham Mumoksha Ruhai Sharana Maham Prapadye We are studying the Stotra hymn called Dakshinamurthy Stotra composed by Shankaracharya. This hymn has 10 shlokas, 10 verses. Before going into the real Stotra, there are some commentators who have added some meditational shlokas, dhyana shlokas. This is a very common thing for all of us. Last class, we have taken up the first dhyana shloka which is supposed to have been composed by Sureshwaracharya. And here, the acharya offers namaskaram to, prostrations to Sri Dakshinamurthy. And it is also not only a pranama mantra, but it in a way yields extraordinary advaitic meaning. The shloka goes like this. Mounavyaakhya Prakatita Prabrahma Tattvam Yuvanam Varshishtante Vasat Rishiganaihi Aurutam Brahmanishtaihi Acharyendram Karakalita Chinmudram Anandaroopam Swatmaramam Mudithavadanam Dakshinamurthim Ide Salutations to Sri Dakshinamurthy whose exposition through profound silence is awakening the knowledge of the Supreme Brahman in the hearts of his disciples. Dakshinamurthy is himself youthful but is surrounded by old and great sages who are exclusively devoted to Brahman. The hands of this great spiritual teacher, Dakshinamurthy is having a very special gesture called Chinmudra which symbolizes the knowledge of Brahman and whose appearance is still and blissful and who is rejoicing in his own self which is reflected on his blissful face. Salutations to such a Dakshinamurthy. As I mentioned, it is a most wonderful shloka even though it is supposed to be an auxiliary shloka to the main Dakshinamurthy Stotram. This itself yields us profound and very deep meaning. We will go very briefly. Why do I call it very brief? Because one Subbaraya had written on these ten shlokas two volumes nearly 1500 pages. You can just imagine how profound it should be. The greater the scholarship, the more the meanings that spontaneously come out into the hearts of these people. But we are not going so deep. But we must have sufficient knowledge to understand the very essence of even this meditational shloka. Now here, what is the teacher, Dakshinamurthy? What is he doing? He is explaining. How is he explaining? He is not sitting on a huge platform and then he is not going on talking with microphone, with a very powerful amplifier, etc. Mauna Vyakhya Prakatitam. Prakatita means that which has been made clear, absolutely clear without the least bit of doubt, but through absolute silence. And this word is very important for us. Why it is absolute silence? Why? Because every scripture tells us the supreme reality cannot be described. We also sing every day, Namo Namo Prabhu Vakya Manatita. Many Upanishads, especially Taittiriya Upanishad, puts it so succinctly. It says, from where words come back unable, not only not able to describe, but even to point out. It is very interesting because supposing somebody asks you, I want to meet such and such a person or see such and such a thing, you point out. Every object in this world is only in one particular place of time, point of space and at that point of time. Whereas Brahman is He is all around, above, below as we have seen in Katha as well as Mundaka Upanishads. He is above, he is below, he is in front, he is at back, he is left, he is right and everything is He. If this is true, where are you going to point out? But that's not important. Who is going to point out? Because if there is a second one, only then he can point out. Who is going to point out whom? If there is one, there is no need to point out because he is the only one. If there are two, then it is definitely possible to point out. So the only way, as the Brihadaranyaka puts it, you cannot describe it and yet there must be a way to obtain that, to access that, to understand that. This is the precise meaning of Words can only describe only those things which fall under five categories. This is called Whenever we want to describe something or any object in this world can be conveyed, described, pointed out to someone else only through five means. What are they? This is called What are they? So there is that well-known, everybody knows, sun. There is that moon. So this is called You want to describe a plant. They say, you know, in your village there is a plant. The leaves look like that. A flower also looks like that. You know that fragrant flower. Here it is much more fragrant but slightly different. This is how we describe This is how we can describe He is a driver. He is a cook. He is a doctor. He is a lawyer. This is how through a particular activity we can also point out or Brahman, unfortunately, is not available for any of these verbal descriptions. Therefore, it can only be revealed through silence. Then there is a second understanding we have to get. Every word can have two types of meanings. The first in Vedanta is called and the second is called Say for example, it is a very well-known example used by almost all people. We say he is a lion or he is a pillar of a particular organization. Now a pillar means we know that which supports a house, a hall, etc. We should not take the word pillar. Here is an iron pillar supporting this hall. Then we can understand exactly what it means. It is a pillar. It is a support for holding up the roof. But when we use that word pillar in relationship with a human being, that means he is a very important person because of whom that particular organization is not only standing, it is being supported and it is enthusiastically spreading all over. That is the meaning of means intended meaning or direct translation of the words. Now applying this principle to Brahman, Brahman can never be pointed out this is a pillar like that. But it can be pointed out What is it? That from which the whole universe has come and because of which it is living, moving forward and in the end that which merges completely that is called Brahman. This is how, this is Lakshya Artha. We have to, intended meaning we have to use. That is another meaning of Mounavyaakya, silence. Now we also have to understand something very important here. Is it possible to communicate anything to Mauna? Yes, Shri Ram Krishna gives us a beautiful example. Many of his very ordinary statements are revealing to us these profound truths. Only he never says this is what Upanishad means, this is what Vedas mean. Simple example, there was a girl, she was to be married, a bridegroom has come along with his friends. He was sitting and chit-chatting with them and this girl also has some friends, girlfriends. Now his girlfriends never saw this bridegroom and then they go on asking, pointing out at somebody where the bridegroom was sitting is that your would-be husband? The girl simply says no, no, no. They all point out to everybody and when it comes to one particular young man, is that your husband? Instantaneously, she bends her head down, smiling. She is not saying anything but then immediately others infer that oh, that must be the only one. Why? Because he is the only remaining one. Everyone has been it has been denied and we know the famous analogy there are ten pots, the sun is shining. How many suns are there? Eleven suns. One original, ten reflections, etc. We will come to this in the really Dakshinamurthy, in the very first shloka Vishwam darpanadrushyamana nagarithulyam where the whole universe is compared to a pratibhimba. In Advaita Vedanta, there are three theories are there. One is called limited theory, another is called reflection theory. Bhimba pratibhimba vada. So this particular first verse actually is referring to that. We will come to that at that time. But what we have to see is to describe something is not possible. But through mauna it is quite possible. There is a beautiful saying in English language. Do you agree with what we say? And simply there would be a smile on the person who was asked. This is called maunena sammathe. Agreement simply keeping quiet. But at other times if he doesn't agree, he says no, no, no, no. No, no, he will say. But when you ask something or make a statement, simply he smiles. Thereby he gives his consent. Similarly, we have got this beautiful divine vision of Sri Ramakrishna in the realm of the indivisible. Sri Ramakrishna saw had a divine vision. Seven Rishis sitting. One small baby went through its hands round the neck of a Rishi. One of the Rishis there and without any verbal communication I am going down. You have to come along with me. And the Rishi also has consented not through any verbal expression but simply through silence. And that was the future Swami Vivekananda. Mauna can also give lot of meanings. Mauna means silence can also give us, save us from lot of time, energy and expenditure and everything can be done. It is a day-to-day affair where we do it. If somebody says and it is delicate to say no outright, then we simply keep quiet and smile. And then we know. The other person also knows. This person doesn't have any idea etc. But in spiritual life it is possible. Coming back to Holy Mother Sri Ramakrishna Swami Vivekananda. I will just mention a little incident. Swami Vivekananda when he was preaching in USA often used to take classes on various subjects especially on Raja Yoga. Then many times he says let us meditate and then he plunges into deep state of absorption. The body becomes like absolutely like an image. The same thing happened long before to Sri Ramakrishna even much more deeper. Through his own descriptions we come to know about it. But then the point is then other devotees or followers were also fidgeting trying to sit still in his presence and most of them could not sit for more than 20 minutes for two reasons. Naturally they were restless. Second, their minds used to be uplifted so high they could not bear it. So they had to run away from that higher experience. Anyway, what was Swami Vivekananda doing? Conveying something? Yes. Direct spiritual experience by his very presence. Am I telling this? No. Swamiji himself told that. He said his disciple Sharath Chakravartey Do you think I only gave lectures? I gave them something concrete and they also knew that they have received something from me. Mouna Vyakhya Prakatitham Then there is a story and I will just give you briefly that story how this came about explaining this Dhyana Shloka. It is said Brahma first undertook the creation and he had created four what is called spiritual sons mental sons Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana Sanatana etc. and then he commanded them continue the act of the Srishti creation. But they were so pure because they were the first creations that they refused to obey their father ran away in search of Brahman and they were searching for a Guru and they went on searching. Shiva out of his infinite grace one day sat near a banyan tree and then these disciples instinctively knew that this is the only Guru Jagat Guru, Loka Guru and they approached him and sat in front of him and Shiva was plunged in meditation and they have received what we call the realization of Brahman through everything. That is being reflected here Mauna Vyakhya Prakatita Brahma Tattvam but there is something very special here you will have to understand that one. To whom is this person expounding and who is he? He is Yuvanam. What is he doing? Parabrahma Tattvam The truth of the highest reality he was expounding by Mauna because there is no other way and then what is his age? Yuvanam Yuvanam means youth a very young man perhaps 16 years old Why do we say? Because Shuka Brahma considered to be 16 years old but every world can have one Vakshayartha and another Lakshayartha Here Yuvanam means youth Youth means what? Full of happiness Full of energy and the real meaning is unchanged As we grow older our body also changes perhaps mind also changes to great extent for good or for better or worse we don't know but a youth is supposed to be fresh absolutely as if he is a newly minted coin That is the meaning of Yuvanam Why? Because he understood I am the changeless so he remains absolutely changeless Supposing I and you come across this Dakshinamurthy This teaching was given at the beginning of creation to the four mental sons or Manasika Putras or Brahma That must have been how many thousands of Yugas Suppose we approach Why do we say we approach? Because that Shiva, that Dakshinamurthy is everywhere there only if we open our eyes Supposing we come across such a Dakshinamurthy how many aeons have passed how many Janmas we have taken but what do you think about him? He will be absolutely the same youth without the least bit of change Why? He is what is called changeless Changeless means beyond time and space and causation Desha, Kala, Nimitta, Atitha but who are these great souls? He was completely surrounded Surrounded by whom? Surrounded by very old people Munis, Rishis Now what is this Rishi business we are talking about? We have to understand very clearly These Rishis are nothing but those who are completely devoted only to one and one subject how to realize Brahman and they were old because they have been practicing since many aeons spiritual disciplines they have become what is called mature, oldness here indicates maturity of the mind they have done Upasana they have done Nishkama Karma their minds have become pure and they were endowed with what nowadays we call many times we discussed about it they were completely endowed with all these qualities and that is why they are mature people old people means what? we have to understand, mature people and then what? means old people who are they? Rishis who is a Rishi? means not a realized soul but those who are keen on the realization of God Avarutham he was Dakshinamurthy completely surrounded and here also there is a spiritual truth now many devotees might complain I want to progress in spiritual life I don't get a fit guide for us, here is the spiritual law as Swami Vivekananda says, when you are ready God is ever ready these Rishis, they got the greatest person, just as Dottapuri took one look at Sri Ramakrishna and said you are a fit Sanyasi, interesting he did not say, was I a fit Sanyasi at this age? he did not say at all but about Sri Ramakrishna there was absolutely no doubt at all so Rishiganai Avarutham means surrounded by because they were Rishis and their Guru was also, I should not say was, Guru is ever present, even today that Dakshinamurthy is there whoever comes and initiates us, he is the Dakshinamurthy and only if we are not pure, we will not accept it. Brahmanishtayi who are they? Brahmanishtas that means they were I want only Brahman, I don't want anything else and they are called Sanyasins whether externally they have taken to the life of Sanyasa or not, their mind is described in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, there were such Brahmanas, here Brahmana means not Brahmana Jati, those who are devoted to Brahman and what did they do? What are we going to do with this world? This is why the world of wife the world of son and the world of all the material objects, Daraishana, Putraishana Pithaishana, we have nothing to do, we who are living in Atmaloka in the world of Atman before realization, these are called Brahmanishtayi and is it possible the life of Sri Ramakrishna is the greatest example for understanding this Dakshinamurthy Stotram, Swami Sharda Anandaji so graphically describes, as soon as Sri Ramakrishna attained Nirvikalpa Samadhi and after the Totapuri had left them for six months continuously he dwelled in that state and then by the will of the Divine Mother he received a commandment, you now reside in what is called Bhavamukha that is you will be in between this elevated world Brahma Satyam, Jagat Satyam world, sometimes you see Brahman, sometimes you see the same Brahman but with names and forms this is called Bhavamukha and then his mind came down, it is a big story, we will not go into it but what was important, as soon as he, Sri Ramakrishna used to finish a particular path of sadhana and the spiritual aspirants treading that particular path hundreds of them attracted by an unknown force used to come to Dakshineshwar and then taking advantage of Sri Ramakrishna's guidance because he knew from the beginning to the end all the secrets, shortcuts etc. he used to inspire them, remove their obstacles and incite them to greater effort and with that power transformation he used to send them off, so this Advaita Vedanta was practiced, hundreds of Paramahamsas used to flock, attracted by some unknown power and then Sri Ramakrishna said they are not fake sannyasins but genuine Paramahamsas and day and night discussions used to go through, now what are we talking about we should never forget, here may be hundreds of such Brahmanistas have surrounded this Dakshinamurthi because when the field is ready the seed also must come, so this Dakshinamurthi was surrounded by whom? Not Tom, Dick and Harry, Brahmanista they are not Brahmacharis they are not Sagrihastas they are not even Vanaprasthis their only goal is Brahma Nishta means firmly established in Brahman then further description of Dakshinamurthi Acharya Indram he is the best of the Acharya he is the Lokaguru, Jagadguru what is he doing? Karakalita Chin Mudram Ananda Rupam Karakalita, when anybody looked at his hands his hands assumed a very special posture that posture is called Chin Mudra Chit means Gnanam Mudra means a particular pose or gesture of the hand Chin Mudram or it is called also Gnanamudra we get it in many pictures of many saints then Ananda Rupam his face is beaming is the embodiment of bliss, he has become one with Satyam Gnanam Anantham or Sat Chit Ananda Rupam and Swatmaramam, where from is he getting that Ananda, not from any outside object which is called world but from within Swatmaramam this word Swatmaramam is a very beautiful word because Swamiji had given this title to Sri Ramakrishna because when nobody was there Sri Ramakrishna used to be merged in himself and when you look at Sri Ramakrishna's face you will not look a single photograph which doesn't have that beautiful smile which nobody could have described that was what Swami Sharda Ranji was describing there is a very sweet smile which no photographer can catch but we can get a little bit of the hint if you just look at the left side of Sri Ramakrishna's lips slightly they are extended and curved Swatmaramam, Mudita Vadanam and his face Vadanam means face, Mudita it is full of joy this we get whoever came to Sri Ramakrishna they were uplifted, who were within certain radius of Holy Mother Swami Vivekananda, Shudhiram, they used to be lifted up, I also remember Ramana Maharshi is practically a Dakshinamurthy he used to talk very little but in his presence everything used to be lifted up, people used to get indescribable bliss in his presence, now I have left out one word because I wanted to deal with it Chin Mudra or Gnana Mudra what is it, if you look at my hand probably you will see it, you see this is called the big finger Angushta and this is called Tarjini or index finger, this is called middle finger, this is called ring finger, this is called little finger, five fingers are there just notice this is the most wonderful finger what is the difference between every other animal in the world and human being it is this, because this has enabled human being to communicate with others to catch things without this man is completely what we call useless, he is powerless, animals also have got, monkeys also have got many animals have got but this is something very special not only in the physical sense but also in the spiritual sense but before I go into it I will tell you one incident in the life of Swami Vivekananda, there was one great soul in South India, Kerala he was called Narayana Guru Swami Vivekananda met him and he specifically asked 2-3 questions, one of the questions is about this Chin Mudra and then Narayana Guru explained this I don't know whether Chinese physicians have found it out, Ayurveda people they know a little bit about it but then Narayana Guru explained, when these two fingers are put together then the whole of this nervous system they gets connected with each other, circuit is complete then if it is really complete, then the mind of any person just by using this Mudra this is called Chin Mudra then the mind itself is ready to receive something higher of course supported by various other disciplines, not merely that one, now you see what do these three really represent there are various interpretations are given, Sattva Rajas and Tamas this represents the entire creation and this Jeevatma is making house, married as it were to these four he is completely separated from the Paramatma, this stands for Paramatma, this big finger Angushta is representative of Paramatma this is Jeevatma in ordinary affairs also we always point out me like that, this is why it is called index finger, you like that these three, Sattva, Guna and Rajas, also Sthula Sukshma, Karana Sharira and also Sthula Prapancha and then Sukshma Prapancha and Karana Prapancha this also represents mind speech and also the action, you can derive so many of the connotations from here what is bondage? Jeevatma forgetting its identity with the Paramatma is now identified this Sthula Sukshma Sharira he gets a particular name called Jeevatma, after many years of leading a most virtuous life, he gets that inquiry I am tired, I had enough of this world, how to get out of this world, then by the grace of God, through the medium of a Guru he will get that knowledge and then by practicing Shravana, Manana and Nidhidhyasana he becomes completely unified with Paramatma, then what happens what happens to these three one of our Swamis used to make fun Sthula Sharira, Talak Sukshma Sharira, Talak and Karana Sharira, Talak they will be there but now he is not bound, if he is a Jeevan Mukta, living free then he will continue to see the world there will be a body, there will be a mind, there will be the Karana Sharira, but he is no longer bound by it, that's why he is called living free or Jeevan Mukta this is the Tattva, now is there any Upanishadic support for this, yes in Katha Upanishad we get Angusta Matraha Purushaha Sharire, the Paramatma in the cave of one's own purified Buddhi which is compared to a cave there resides, resides means not that he is limited resides means is available like a rich man he can be anywhere in his Jamindari, but most often people have to meet him in his visitor's room, so the heart is the place where we can understand the Paramatma communicate with him that's why we are supposed to meditate in the heart of our hearts Angusta represents our way of communicating with that Paramatma who is none other than our own selves through the Guru's teaching and grace, through Sadhana when this index finger represented by Jeevatma comes and then attains Ikea, Jeeva Ishwara Ikea, then he knows that that Paramatma is none other than me, this is how Dakshinamurthy is trying to convey that highest knowledge to all the disciples who are mature in understanding, they know this world is unreal they are not running after this any object they are not being tempted by anything in this world they do not desire anything they want only one thing that is Brahman, Brahma Gnanam that's why they are called Brahmanistas devoted exclusively to Brahman and these are the Rishis Ramakrishna used to tell us in his gospel, these Rishis of the old used to get up early in the morning and then they go into the nearby forest in a solitary spot from before sunrise to sunset, they will be meditating and Swami Kananda said, if you can for one minute put yourself in the place of that Rishi for one minute you will be burned like dried paper, you cannot stand that state, come back in the evening and eat some roots and fruits and somehow spend their time and again morning they should, these are called Brahmanistas and these Brahmanistas are what is being described here and this Dakshinamurthy who is none other than Shiva and that is why we say he is the person who gives us his Brahma Gnana especially in Kashi and Kashi is considered Brahmapuri in many Puranas and other things, what is Brahmapuri where a person is likely to get Brahma Sakshatkara that is called Brahmapuri just stay there and you will get it, why? because of Dakshinamurthy who is Dakshinamurthy? one of the forms of Shiva Sadashiva, this is what we are talking about, this we have to meditate upon it, that if we can become like that Rishis only devoted to God the God himself will come in the form of a teaching and then that teaching is called Dakshinamurthy but he is the greatest Guru Jagadguru, Jananim Sharadam Devim Ramakrishnam Jagadgurum, why Jagadguru? because he is God why is he God? Ramakrishna is an Avatara, he doesn't come to preach a partial philosophy, neither Dwaita nor Visishta Dwaita nor Advaita nor Christianity or Hinduism and not only for Sanyasins but for all the four stages of life to the students and that is a wonderful topic by itself Ramakrishna as a student, as a Brahmachari, Ramakrishna as a householder, Ramakrishna as an what is called Vanaprastha all these incidents we can come but above all Ramakrishna as a greatest Sanyasi and Swami Sharadamji goes into ecstasy saying the Ganga Nadi, the Ganges River, on the night that Ramakrishna was going to take Sanyasa, as if it was flowing after a long time one of the greatest Sanyasins in this whole world is about to re-establish the ideal of a Sanyasa which is nothing but the ideal of Vedanta that is the four stages of spiritual progress in life and he is going to demonstrate what a true Sanyasin should be like that and just for your information there are varieties of Sanyasins, there are Tridandi, there are Hamsas there are Paramahamsas and Sri Ramakrishna belongs to which category Paramahamsa, what does it mean he was not practicing how to be naked without cloth he says the cloth naturally drops off, this is not an artificial gesture, I can never keep my cloth because I feel no identity with the body, a child you try to put a cloth around him and then he will rebel against his Acharyendra and he is wearing his Chinmudra when all the time how can he keep up, don't ask silly questions, it is not gesture of the body, it is the gesture of the state of realization and his Ananda Rupa is nothing but the very embodiment of Ananda Swatma Ramam, where from is he getting, he is getting all the joy from within himself that's why his face is beaming and this was what Swami Sharda Nandaji says, nobody could capture that great joy that was trying to come out of the face of Shri Ramakrishna, no photograph can ever do justice even to the smallest extent such a Dakshinamurthy here Dakshinamurthy, forget about it if you are listening from the west, Dakshinamurthy that is not Dakshinamurthy he is Parabrahma in this particular name and form every day I meditate upon him, I him with this, why him? that him is not going to do the least good to any of them when you are praising Shri Ramakrishna every day through this Khandana, Om Hreem Ritam etc, he is not getting any benefit, it is for our meditation, in fact our Khandana Bhava Vandana is a Dhyana Shloka before we go into meditation, similarly Om Hreem Ritam also, so I have taken time only because the important point is the higher the truth, it can be only described as in through silence, but an idiot putting on silence because he is complete illiterate, ignorant fellow and here these great people, the whole face itself shows what a great joy is there and that great joy cannot be produced artificially by any amount of thinking, it must come only through direct experience and how is he telling, one expression is Mauna Vyakhya, he is expounding that highest truth through silence, but he is also expounding it through Chin Mudra this is my children, this is what you have to do, just I will insert a small note, there is a literature called Sutra literature, for example Adhato Brahma Jignasa Adhato Yoga Yogam Yakhyasyamaha so there also we see the Sutra literature makes no meaning unless the Guru has expounded it, some Guru or other has expounded it and as a mnemonic mnemonic means a way of keeping it in memory, as soon as we hear this mnemonic the whole explanation comes tumbling down it is like a small key to open the biggest room with all these thousands of explanations, this Chin Mudra and this Mauna Vyakhya and there is nothing called young or old, there is nothing to do with body and youth means changeless and old age means maturity this is what we have to understand this is how we have to meditate upon, now we will move on into the second one Vata Pitapi Samipi Bhoomi Bhaage Nishannam Sakala Muni Jananam Gnanadatharam Arat, Tribhuvana Gurum Esham, Dakshinamurti Devam, Janana Marana Dukhas Cheda Daksham Namame, sitting on the ground near the banyan tree were all the Munis who were sitting near that Dakshinamurti who is the bestower of knowledge, who were nearer to the Guru of the three worlds a lord himself personified as Dakshinamurti Deva and these disciples sitting near to such a one who is an expert in severing the sorrows resulting from the cycles of births and deaths I bow down to that Dakshinamurti I bow down, Dakshinamurti Devam, that is a common thing we will get in all the almost all the Dhyana Shlokas now let us go into it what a Vriksha means a banyan tree, now what is the greatness of banyan tree if you refer to the Kata Upanishad we have got and if we get to Mundaka Upanishad Samane Vriksha Vah Suparna Sahaja Sakaya Samane Vriksha and the 15th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita Urdhva Moola Matashyakam in many Upanishads this banyan tree is taken or sometimes peepal tree also Ashwatha also taken peepal tree is taken and fig tree is also taken in different Upanishads, here is a huge banyan tree, what does this tree represent? Samsara what does the tree represent in 15th chapter? Samsara, what does the tree represent in Kata Upanishad as well as in the Mundaka Upanishad yes Samsara, that's all in this huge tree Samsara representing Samsara Veetapi Sameepe, very near in front of him Bhoomi Bhage, perhaps there is an elevated space like the Panchavati is covered where people could sit, Nishannam means sad sitting and absolute bliss, Nishannam means sitting we also sit and Dakshinamurthy is also sitting, but how is he sitting? Nishannam means so happy, what does sitting means? See, supposing you have gone on some work, you have roam around, you have gone here and there and you became tired then you see a place, there is a tree and there is lot of shade is there, what do you do? You sit near the tree that means this person has completed all the what is called ups and downs of Samsara and he is sitting and he got complete rest, that is the meaning of sitting Bhoomi Bhage, there is an even place or could be even a little bit elevated space, Nishannam, sitting who is sitting? Dakshinamurthy so what is he doing? Sakala Muni Jananam all the Munis who is a Muni, Maunath Munihi Ityuchyate or Mananath Munihi Ityuchyate, two meanings are given when a person stills all his thoughts, he is called Muni, when a person continuously thinks Mananasili, thinks does Japa, thinks of God in various forms he is also called a Muni Sakala Muni Jananam because Dakshinamurthy will be useless for a person whose mind is wandering here and there, Sakala Muni Jananam, in front of or in front of the Dakshinamurthy these people surrounded him and sitting there just as he is sitting there and what is he doing? Gnana Dataram, who is he? Datara, Datara means a giver, bestower, what is bestowing? Gnanam, what is the Gnanam? Remember, we have to earlier Dhyana Mantra Chinumudra, he is only giving Gnanam, knowledge how? Just by this he is conveying that wonderful message, in my last class I have given you the experience of Shri Ramakrishna regarding Trilinga Swami somebody asked him, Sir how can I realize God? Suddenly he burst into uncontrollable sobs going on sobbing and after one or two minutes he went on laughing uproariously and Shri Ramakrishna is explaining whether that questioner really understood the significance of or not Shri Ramakrishna is explaining if you can weep, I want nothing else but you, like a child weeps, only I want mother after the play is over and nothing else, he cannot be consoled by anything, I will give you play things I will give you chocolates he says no, I want only my mother and that was what Shri Ramakrishna demonstrated, especially we get it after the sunset how he used to sob when that person is sobbing like that, then immediately the mother comes running and that is called Jnana Dhataram, he gives that knowledge, what is that knowledge? you do not need to worry you yourself are that Tattvamasi, Arath Arath means what? One meaning is immediately, another meaning is directly another meaning is without any effort, three meanings are there without effort, directly and immediately Sakshat, Aparokshat Brahma, these two words we get in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad when Totapuri gave that Mahamantra, Aham Brahmasmi we belong to Shukla Yajurveda so our Mahamantra is, Mahavakya is Aham Brahmasmi as soon as he uttered and said now you close your eyes and realize this truth, of course the Guru did not have that confidence in Shri Ramakrishna at the beginning he thought my disciple is fit but like me he will take 40 years but what happened instantaneously Shri Ramakrishna plunged into unconscious meditation three days later he was found exactly in the same way and his Guru was astounded and said Kya Daivi Maya Hai I took 40 years and Shri Ramakrishna took instantaneously this is called Gnanatataram Arath Sakshat, Aparokshat Brahma, thou art that and such a person who can give such a type of knowledge only God can give a Guru is nothing but God this is the idea specially brought out in this second Dhyana Shloka that he is Tribhuvana Guru Jagat Guru, Jananem Sharadam Devem Ramakrishnam Jagat Guru who is Ramakrishna, our Dakshinamurthy he is the Jagat Guru and not only this Jagat, there are three worlds are there, Tribhuvanam Gurum, Isham because he is the Guru and a Guru always commands the disciples a Guru represents knowledge he is the ruler ruler means not taking a rod and ruling like the most loving mother come my child the moment she says, the child just tries to run into the lap of the mother because Dakshinamurthy knows you and I are not separate at all Tribhuvana Gurum, Isham means a ruler Dakshinamurthy Devam that Tribhuvana Guru in the form of Dakshinamurthy and we also mentioned Dakshinaha, Dakshaha Samarthaha Samarthaha what? Srishti Stithilaya what is Srishti Stithilaya? he is the master of Maya he is the maintainer of Maya he is also the destroyer of Maya and that is what God is doing Devam, he is the Divine Lord and what do I get out of it? all for people who are ignorant Janana, Marana, Dukha, Cheda, Daksham Daksham he is completely skillful that's why in my last class I described about Shiva and one devotee very kindly reminded me you have not spoken about Trishula, the symbolism of Trishula, I sometimes forget Shula means a sharp iron knife like that with one pointed knife, Trishula why Trishula? Three pronged is weapon why three pronged? because every Jeeva, even including a mosquito is nothing but having a Karna Sharira Sukshma Sharira and Sthula Sharira so with one stroke he removes Maya or with one stroke he destroys Sattva, Rajas and Tamas these three bodies are nothing but the outcome of manifestation of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas this is the symbolism of course you remember Chandradeva represents time therefore he is the master of time that's why he is called Mahakala that's why Kala condensation of Kala is called Kali and that's why Kala as we understand it must come out of must be sustained supported only by timelessness, Mahakala that's why always underneath the feet of Kali we always get only Mahakala time must stand on timelessness this Dakshinamurthy what can he do? Janana Marana, Dukha, Cheda Daksham, Namami salute that greatest skillful Guru who can at one stroke destroy Dukha now this is very important word because, so supposing you are a Naira Brahma Jeevan Mukta, would you care whether to have body or not to have body that's why it is said a real devotee of God neither prays for continuance nor prays for death because whatever he is so happy, if you are happy does it matter whether you are dead or whether you are alive, what we want is only happiness if we are happy, we want to live if we are not happy we want to die, but here is a person, he is always happy, how does he remove this? Tritapanashakaha and Shiva is also called Tripurantakaha and Trilokapalakaha etc, this Triloka means cross body, subtle body and causal body, this is Janana Marana Dukha Cheda Daksham, Daksham means he alone is capable, I salute that means every Guru must be looked upon by the disciple who is initiated who took shelter at the feet of the Guru do not have any doubts that is my Guru really enlightened, because what you are thinking about is only the body, mind of the person in front of you, real Guru is Dakshinamurthy, Lord himself the grace of the Lord comes through the medium of the Guru, if we can entertain, that is why Madhguruhu Mannadaha Jagannadaha, Madhguruhu Jagadguruhu, Madhatma Sarvabhutantaratma this is the correct spiritual view, so let us consider our own Gurus as none other than Bhagawan himself and he created the world and he alone is capable of destroying the world only when we surrender completely ourselves to him, that is what index finger must completely become united, that means the Jeeva should give up Jeevabhava and dependence upon the world and totally surrender and merge himself in that ocean of Satchitananda, that then only all the Trithapas all the sufferings come to an end these are beautiful shlokas we will take it up in our next class May Ramakrishna, Holy Mother and Swami Vekananda bless us all with bhakti today happens to be very special day for all the devotees of Sri Ramakrishna, today is the janma tithi of Mahapurush Maharaj Swami Shivanandaji Maharaj may he also bless us all with bhakti.