Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Reflections : Names of Durga

One of the verses in the Hymn in Praise of Durga in Atharva Veda, says that there are two great names/descriptions of the deity which are 

(a) Chinmayaathethah & (b) Shoonaya Shakshi 

The meanings of the word Chinmay are :

 Consisting of pure thought, Consisting of intelligence, and Spiritual

Atheethah to my limited knowledge means (a) transcending (b) going beyond. 

Chimayaathethah therefore would mean one which goes beyond/Transcends " Pure Thought/Intellect and perhaps even the term Spiritual"    

The Word Shoonya Shakshi is more obvious : Witness to "nothingness". 

Isn't it a fascinating description? ....( Beyond mind & words .......of the Upanishadic vakhyam is indeed apt, I would imagine) 

Thence to my thought process of the day. 

Shoonya is represented by Zero..... a truly remarkable gem of a gift from our land to the world of mathematics.

I wonder who gave the world ashoonya or Infinity.... I wonder if that is also our contribution but let that pass. 

When all individual  souls finally re-member & merge into a "nothingness"  it is that ''ONE" which is the sole witness and -- "hold on"--  this nothingness is innate in" IT" .  Termed Brahmn- beyond words, thought, mind, and what have you.....by Upanishads..

A witness is needed only when something is not "see-able, visualize-able  or conceivable"  ; Zero/ Nothingness, is one such.......... & the witness to this  is that Universal One, & hence "Shoonya Shaakshi". 

The term ashoonya or infinity is "conceivable" so Transcending every conceivable thought is Chimayaatheethah.  

All that nothingness is in HIM ..... From that innate  nothingness "Creation" happens..... Like without Zero there is no maths, without shoonaya there is no "Creation" : which is from & by itself ....... 

Which gives me my Vichiisms ...........

"I Am HIM" is realization in experience. "I Am" is holding this in consciousness, Beyond both is Brahmn. (Beyond every conceivable stage)          

Ashaanthsya Kathah sukham? (where is happiness for one who is not in Peace)

I will continue with my meandering thoughts I guess.....There are glimpses of what can constitute peace & happiness when i write these. though..... Difficult is what I feel today, apparent impossibility of merger will hopefully only take a little longer ......

Love to all 

Ekalvya alias Vichu

3 comments:

  1. Vichu,

    I have had my own (fanciful?) understanding of the verse you seem to have dwelt upon. If that is right the full verse goes like this.
    " Mantraanam maatrika Devi, shabdaanaam Gnyaanaroopini, Gnyaanaanaam Chinmayaatheetha, shoonyaanaam Shoonyasaakshini".
    Maatrika may be understood as the imperishable source ( Moolaakshara) wherefrom the mantraas came forth. She is that Devi.
    Her "form" is of the knowledge or understanding(gnyaana), underlying or contained in words( shabda).
    The understanding of the last description of Durga that gives me peace is by re arranging it as " Gnyaanaanaam atheetha Chinmaya". It would mean that She is sheer Awareness(Chinmaya) that transcends knowledge or understanding or perception, all of which are suggestive of something other than the ONE about which the ONE can know or understand or perceive. A state beyond Chinmayaa
    (Chinmayaatheetha) kept challenging my understanding until, as I said, I found peace with this interpretation.
    My understanding of "I AM" is the final or eternal state of simply Being in Awareness, not "holding the 'I Am HIM' in consciousness" as it apparently occurs to you.
    "Creation happens out of this innate nothingness" is an insightful understanding where you are virtually quoting Mehr Baba.
    God bless us all.

    Gulpa

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  2. The verse you have quoted ends with

    यस्याः परतरं नास्ति सैषा दुर्गा प्रकीर्तिता।

    These names beyond which there is no superior descriptive word, are the ones by which she is famously known as "durga" ( Is the translation ok?)

    हम वाके ही धन्य हुए।

    The word Paratharam triggered this chain of thoughts on Chinmayaatheethah, and I am indeed happy that you have liked it.

    Thanks

    Vichu

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  3. Yasyaah parataram naasti,saisha Durga prakeertita------The Yasyaah would more correctly attach to Durga since it is in the singular. Hence it does not quite seem to attach to "these names". This statement seems independent after having described Her as the Chinmaya which would translate as sheer or Supreme Awareness beyond all understanding( gnyanaanaam atheetha). A literal and simple translation would be," Beyond whom there is none, That She( Saa yesha) is described ( Prakeertita ) as Durga".

    Gulpa

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