vedabhASya - Vedic Studies

  Happy Gokulashtami.. A translation of Adi Shankaras ‘Vasudeva sutam devam..’, sung in tamil, essence in english.. mahAperiyavA says, since it’s not feasible to realize the unlimited form, we have a limited form on which we develop devotion. This devotion on limited form (bhakti) should lead to tattva of the unlimited form (jnAnA). Krishna is said to be the Upanishadic sArAMsa. If Yashoda tied Krishna to a tree/mortar, does it mean she tied the upanishadic sArAMsA to tree or mortar..? This concept is espoused beautifully in Krishnashtakam, wherein Adi Shankara depicts the beauty of limited form of Krishna but bows down to him as Jagad-guru. In matter domain, Shiva is Energy, Vishnu is mass. In biological domain, Shiva is consciousness, Vishnu is the ‘manas’. Vishnu descends into several avatars in terms of particles with mass or biological beings with manas. rAma tattva is manas with beautiful thoughts, no fear or arrogance, extremely kind, follows dharma. Krishna tattva is Ultimate ‘

Background Shiva is Energy. Shakti is momentum. They cannot be separated. What we perceive is momentum. From this we infer that there is energy behind that triggers this momentum. If we remove shakti/momentum, there is no Shiva there. This is what Adi Shakara says in Soundarya Lahari. Shiva is the puruSa, the observer or witness component that does not change ever. Shakti makes the prakRti, the matter forms, that keep evolving. Shiva is consciousness. Shakt is the signaling that happens due to consciousness. Even in the RNA world, as RNA replicated, we infer there is a consciousness behind that triggers this replication. If we remove this Shakti the signaling or replications, then there is no Shiva/consciousness there.  Shiva is the puruSa, the observer or witness component that does not change ever. Shakti makes the prakRti, the biological beings, that keep evolving. Evolution of prakRti in matter domain When energy (shiva) represented by momentum (shakti) manifests in different force

We often think kalinga nartanam is the mercy shown by krishna on vrndavan residents.  I see it as mercy shown by krishna on kaliya, the serpent. kaliya was afraid of garuda. This fear lead him to live in depths of the lake, develop wrath as a tool to keep away from everyone. Krishna danced on kaliya's hoods, removed his fears, reduced his wrath and made him go back to his original habitat. It is Krishna's blessings on kAliya. Our fears make us develop wrath on others. If we allow Krishna to dance on our hoods, he will drive away our fears, remove our wrath, will enable us live with our svadharma, in our original habitat. It's all about krishna's mercy on kaliya, on us.

Background There are three aspects of suffering undergone by beings with consciousness.  The first aspect is they 'realize' (dukha dukha) that they are suffering (unlike those without consciousness). This is called dukha-dukha. The second aspect is any change (evolution, parinAma) causes suffering. If there is no change, beings get adjusted to the suffering and no longer realize it. But then change and evolution are constant. Every change (be it good or bad) brings in suffering. This is called viparinama dukha. The third aspect is actions performed by beings to cause prosperity or subdue pain (zam kara) also causes suffering. This suffering is called zam-kara dukha. Buddhism and many other philosophies of the day recognized these three types of suffering that all beings with consciousness undergo. Shankara offers a solution to alleviate this suffering based on vedanta. Veda-anta means end/essence/residue or the final jist  (anta) of vedas. Shankara offers this brahma jnAnA as t

Background Shiva is Energy. Shakti is Momentum. Shiva-Shakti is the Energy-Momentum (EM) couple. Shakti, the Momentum is what is seen outward. Shiva, the property of energy is implicit and perceived explicitly through shakti, the momentum. Shiva is consciousness. Shakti is the signaling. Shiva-Shakti is the Consciousness-Signaling (CS) couple. Shakti, the Signaling is what is seen outward.  Shiva, the consciousness is implicit and perceived explicitly through shakti, the signaling. This EM or CS couple is depicted as 'ardha-nareeswara', the half-female, half-male version.  dakSina, the right and vAma, the left The right side of ardha-nareeswara is depicted as the 'Purusha' the male version, which is the implicit form. The left-side of ardha-nareeswara is depicted as the 'Prakrti', the female version, which is the explicit form. The right side Purusha, which is the implicit Energy or Consciousness is the 'Observer' or the 'Witness' that does not t

Background Shiva is Energy in matter domain. Shiva is consciousness in biological domain. In matter domain, Shakti is the momentum through which Shiva, the energy, is expressed or perceived. In biological domain, Shakti is the 'Signaling' through which Shiva, the consciousness is expressed or perceived. In matter domain, Shakti and Shiva are Energy-Momentum couple. They are ardha-nArIsvara. They cannot be separated.  In biological domain, Shiva and Shakti are the consciousness-signaling couple. They cannot be separated. Vid means to know. Vidya is that is known or learnt. mahA-vidyAs are 'greatly known' or 'well learnt' forms of Shakti. Shodasi In matter domain, Shiva-Shakti, the Energy-Momentum couple fills this  three dimensional empty space that is common to all the three worlds. Hence Shakti is called tripura-sundari.  This tripura-sundari is perceived in 16 different ways. Hence she is called Shodasi. In biological domain, Shiva-Shakti is also the Conscious

Background This post is a summary of understanding of my analysis of scriptures, surfing across them at a top-level. I had made a detailed post on understanding of matter domain, in depth earlier.  This is my understanding in broader terms. Divinities represent a design pattern In my understanding, there is a design pattern in evolution across matter domain and biological/consciousness domain. Several of our vedic divinities just represent the design pattern. This design pattern is probably causing the confusions or the multiplicity in our understanding, as the design pattern straddles multiple domains. Energy and consciousness are not different. They represent the same fundamental unit of design pattern. Energy is the underlying property of physical Universe. Consciousness is underlying property of biological beings.  Of course the biological/consciousness domain evolves on top of the matter domain. But both are Shiva. Shiva just indicates this design pattern. Mass and Manas are not d