Mantra: Yajur Veda 2.16
chakshushpA agnEsi chakshurmE paahi
O sacchidaananda! You are the protector of our vision. Please protect my vision.
Synopsis
chakshushpA = protector of eyes
chakshuH + pA
chakshuH
Root: chakshing (darshaNE) = vision
Vision is spiritual
pA
Root: pA (rakshaNE) = protect
agnEsi = agnE + asi
agnE = The one who leads us
Root: agi (gatou)
chakshurmE = chakshuH + mE
paahi
Vision
The way I look at the world. The protector is capable of protecting my vision provided the vision is broad. If the vision is not broad, it cannot be protected. It is not stable. Narrow visions keep on changing, because our goals and vision keeps changing all the time.
Broad visions remain the same always. They are worthy of being protected.
In this prayer, by asking agni (sacchidaananda) to protect my vision, we mean to say that I will have such visions (goals) that will not change.
Positive vision (outlook)
It is sure to be beneficial. Such will always be protected. How? Because it will always give welfare and benefits.
Broadest Vision
When the vision looks at the truth, it is said to be the broadest. If we fail to visualize facts/truth, I am in trouble.
What is truth? That which is the same for all, at all times is the truth. That which is unchanging. I cannot mend it.
Realizing Truth is not easy. We have to work for it. Why? There are so many samskaaraas (impressions) that I carry in me. They act as a prejudice. They come in between me and truth. They are a limiting factor. All such samskaaraas have to be brushed aside. I have to look at truth as it is. That is an exercise. We have to do this deliberately, consciously and continuously.
Truth is a search.
Once we realize truth, it is ultimate. If whatever I visualize changes, it means that I have not visualized truth. Because truth is eternal and constant.
Once we realize truth, without knowing we will follow it. It ceases to be an effort.
Once we follow truth, we become strong and pure spiritually.
Where does all this start? My vision. Let it be broad.
chakshushpA agnEsi chakshurmE paahi
Good samskaaraas have to be enhanced. Bad samskaaraas have to be thrown out. This process has to happen parallel to searching for truth. More I realize, the purer I become.
Mahabharata Example:
Once, Drona, the teacher of Pandavas and Kauravas, asked the Kauravas: Go wander the world and come back and report what you have found out. SuyOdhana said, “It is the dirtiest world I have seen. It is cruel. It is horrible.”
He asked Yudhishtira: Yudhishtira said, “It is a wonderful world. There is so much coexistence. It is a wonderful world.
There is no problem with the world. The perception is different. SuyOdhana always looks at things negatively. Yudhishtira always looks at things positively. The world appears good if my vision is good. The world is bad if my vision is bad.
Aren’t there bad things in the world?
Even if we visualize the whole world is good, certainly there will be bad things. But they become manageable when my vision is good.
If my outlook is negative, I will get depressed.
para gun`a paramaan`uun parvatiikrutya nityam nija hrudi vikasamtaha samti santaha kiyantaha
How many noble people are there.
Even if there is a small goodness in somebody, they recognize it and appreciate it. Irrespective of the proportion of goodness. Even if there is a speck of goodness.
How many noble people we were able to find.
That is parvatiikRutya
Every person internally wants recognition. They want recognition. When they get the recognition, whatever goodness is there, even if it is small, they make it more. They improve the goodness.
The starting attractive point is that recognition.
Even if it is small, it doesn’t matter, recognize it and make it bigger. The positivity will grow. It will spread.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 2.19
yajna namaschatE
O sacchidaananda! I surrender (pray) to you
Synopsis:
yajna = Here it refers to sacchidaananda (The one who has the best deeds)
Root: yaja (puja sangati karaNa dAnEshu)
namaschatE = namaH +
namaH = humility, benevolence, pray, surrender
Root: nama (prahvatvE) = benevolence, humility
Another Mantra: Rig 8.62.1
BhadrA indrasya raatayaH
Meaning:
The gifts of god are the richest
Detailed Meaning:
Indra:
Root: idi paramEshwaryE = richest = saccidaananda
raatayaH = Root: raa (dhaane)
bhadraA: Root: bhadhi (kalyANe) = auspicious
Mantra: Yajur Veda 2.19
yajnasya shivE samtishTasva
In that auspicious yajna, be well footed
Being in the yajna mode is definitely well footed
Synopsis:
shivE
Root: shiv (kalyANE) = auspicious
thishTa = stay firm
Root: shTa (gati nivRuttou)
yajna is the only thing, whose result is always auspicious and wonderful. When we get that result, what we have done is a yajna.
The converse is also true. When we don’t get good results, whatever we have performed is not a yajna.
samtishTasva = Make we well founded in that (the yajna = the best deeds)
Mantra: Yajur Veda 2.21
vEdOsi
You are Veda
Synopsis:
vEdOsi = vEdaH asi
asi = You are
vEdaH = the one who has the potential to be knowledgeable, to analyze, think, you are that, to grow
Root: vidhu (gnyAnE) = knowledge
Root: vidhUlRu (lAbhE) = grow
Root: vidhu (vichAraNE) = analyze
Root: vidhu (sattAyAm) = you are that
This mantra is employed in nAma karaNa samskaara. Naming ceremony. A small infant, on the lap of the mother or father is named. Here, the parents speak out in the ear of the child (symbolic). You are vEdOsi, vEdOsi, vEdOsi.
vEdOsi is a general name for all human beings. We all have the capacity to think, analyze. Learn, improve.
How far does the child understand? It cannot acknowledge. But the child is capable of grasping. A child can grasp even when it is in the womb of the mother. Around the 6th month, the brain cells develop. At that time itself it is capable of grasping. Whatever impression it carries at that time, will be visible at a later time. It would have observed everything, but could not express. But the ability to refer to the experience is there.
The surname that is common to all human beings is vEdaH
Naming should also be done specific to a person. Everyone can’t be called vEdaH. That name is given next.
The whole process of naming is explained in another important Veda Mantra in the naama karaNa samskaara.
Over a period, the child links himself/herself to that name and realizes, “I am that”.
Mantra: Yajur Veda 2.23
kastva vimunchati
Who will release you from all the bondages
sattva vimunchati
He will release you from the bondages
Synopsis:
Vimunchati = remove/release from bondages
vi + munchati = release from bondages
Root: muchUlRu (mOchanE)
kastva = who will?
sattva = sacchidaananda
bondage = bondage in the circle/cycle of birth and death
mOksha
A state where we are released from the cycle of birth and death. mukti.
Who is capable of getting me that?
sattva = sacchidaananda
How?
There is an established system that already works. If we understand the system and work according to the system, automatically we get released.
In the puranas we have heard that if we do tapas, God will come and release you. That is not true. Nothing like that will happen.
We have to put in the effort. We have to follow the system. Follow the path.
Death
In one life, I know very clearly that it is not going to be eternal. Death is cutting down of all bondages. With man, material, place, etc. All cut down in one stroke. I am alone. My relationship with sacchidaananda alone exists. But for that all other relationship will get severed in a flash.
My body (machine) has become old. I am going to get a brand new fresh machinery to continue my process further. This is a cause for celebration. Not anxiety.
Ask Children: Are you happy when you get a new dress? Yes
Ask the elders: You are living in an old house. Someone comes and gives you a new house. Are you happy? Yes
This is death. Throwing out the worn out body and getting a new body. When you go from old to new, you should be happy. There is nothing to cry about.
That celebration when shifting is the real release (muncchati). If I still keep thinking about my old clothes or old house, that is bondage.
Whether I like it or not, that bondage will be severed one day.
Who is the one who will sever all relationships?
He (sattva)
How?
He has a wonderful process. Called death.
When that mRutyu arrives, the bondages are gone.
Such a person, who is responsible for taking us from one life to another, through death is called yama.
Mantra: Atharva Veda 6.63.2
namOstutE nirrRutE tigmatEjaha ayasmayaan michRutaaha Bhandhapaashaan |
yamOmahyam punaritvaa dadaati tasmi yamaaya namOstu mRutyavE ||
This Mantra also explains the same principle:
mRutyOho paDviishamavamunchamaanaha
Break the shackles of death
Meaning:
namOstutE nirrRutE tigmatEjaha
Salutations to you, the powerful one who brings a halt to movement and change
ayasmayaan michRutaaha Bhandhapaashaan
O Death! Because of you, all these iron shackles of bondage will break
yamOmahyam punaritvaa dadaati
Again and again he (death) presents himself to me.
tasmi yamaaya namOstu mRutyavE
Salutations to that yama and you also death!
NOTE: Refer to Veda Class 2017-03-26 for detailed explanation of the above Mantra
Note: This is not the puranic yama. It is only another name for sacchidaananda (who is formless).
Anyhow these bondages are going to be cut, how should we be our relationships?
More strong the bondages, the tougher it will be when they are severed. More we are attached, when it is pulled out, more will be the pain.
But relationships are necessary. Ok. Have it. But don’t be too stuck to it. Don’t be bound too hard to it. How much ever is necessary, maintain the balance.
If we are not attached (internally), life becomes easy, death also becomes easy.
The more we are attached to men and material, life is also a problem, death is also a problem.
ayasmayaan: To bind ourselves with shackles of steel.
If we do that, while cutting it will be very painful.
Have relationships as though you are attached, but internally be detached. When severed, it will become so painless and easy. Death will also become a celebration.
To take death, as a celebration is the greatest achievement we can have. Preparing for a painless happy celebrating death is living life.
If we have led our life well, we will not be afraid of death. If we live our life well here, we are assured of a better life.
How to make death a celebration? Life this life well
If we have lived our life horribly, of course we will be afraid of the next life. How will my next life be? That will be the anxiety. I will not be given even fraction of a second more in this life. I have to go. I have to leave this body. I have not done well with this opportunity. That will be the anxiety.
Understanding all this in the right sense will make my relationships and bondages so light. Who has given us this knowledge? sacchidaananda.
Every moment is precious
Death is certain. Every moment available to me is so certain. Next moment could be the last moment. I am talking today. This moment is fine. Tomorrow I may not be there. It is normal. Any moment, we may die and sever all these relationships.
What have I been doing when I had all the relationships? That is MOST important. Every moment is precious. Let me make the best use of what is available every moment. The seriousness of living every moment becomes the focus when I understand the value of this life properly.
Death is a sambrama = celebration (as though we celebrate a festival)
kastva vimunchati
Who will release you from all the bondages
sattva vimunchati
He will release you from the bondages
Spend 5-10 minutes everyday thinking about this because it takes practice for all this to sync in.