

Table of Contents

1. H.H. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal

2. H.H. Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi Mahaswamigal

3. Childhood To Saṁnyāsa: The Spiritual Foundation

4. Haṭha-yoga

5. Devotion and Karma-yoga

6. Exposure to Kuṇḍalinī-yoga

7. Contemplation on the Ātman

8. Initiating Deep Meditation

9. Meditation and Samādhi on Divine Forms

10. Ascent of the Kuṇḍalinī and Descent of Nectar

11. From Divine Forms to the Formless Reality

12. Intense Reflection and Focus on Brahman

13. Enlightenment and Establishment in Brahman

14. The Divine Drama that Followed

Links to Video Clips of Acharyal

Appendix – List of Sanskrit references

# 1. H.H. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal

[The following brief account consists wholly of excerpts from an essay penned in 1993 and a discourse delivered on October 4, 1989, by His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal, the 36th Jagadguru Sankaracharya of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham.]

Our revered Acharyal, who should be thought of at the start of every day, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal shone for thirty five years as the thirty fifth pontiff of the Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham. The holy life of this most illustrious one whose renown spread to the end of the quarters is an ideal for everybody.

This great soul took birth at Bangalore on _Āśvina-kṛṣṇa-caturdaśī_ of the year _Piṅgala_ (November 13, 1917) as the eldest son of a virtuous couple, Kaipu Rama Sastry and Venkatalakshmi, and was named Srinivasa. He, who was endowed from childhood with devotion to God, detachment to sensory objects, fondness for noble people and with good conduct, became the recipient of the unlimited kindness of then pontiff of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the pre-eminent Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi Mahaswamigal, who it was who arranged to bring Him to Sringeri.

His _upanayana_ took place at Sringeri itself. Then, He learnt well from scholars the _Veda_ and Sanskrit literature. When He was going on fourteen, the revered _Guru_ graced Him with the _saṁnyāsa_ _āśrama_ and the _yogapaṭṭa_ of Abhinava Vidyatheertha and nominated Him as His successor to the Peetham. Commencing thereafter the study of the _Nyāya-śāstra_ , He attained extraordinary proficiency in it in a few years and, even as He imparted it to students, His unique intellectual prowess was readily discernible. From the very words of the venerable _Guru_ , who was continuously desirous of His rise, it can be unmistakably understood how much joy He experienced on learning about His mode of studying the _śāstra_. For instance, He has written as follows:

bhavadīyapatrikayā bhavaccharīre nirāmayatāmadhyayanādhyāpanaprakriyāṁ ca

niṣpratyūhaṁ nirvartyamānāṁ viditvā nirargalamānandaṁ samavāpi ।

(I experienced unlimited happiness on learning from Your letter about the healthy condition of Your body and about the mode of Your study and teaching, which are proceeding without any impediments.)

Thereafter, diligently learning the _Vedānta-śāstra_ from His _Guru_ , He acquired excellent proficiency in it too. Having put in much effort to master Sanskrit literature, He was thoroughly versed in Sanskrit, being able to write well in it and to speak it flawlessly. Though not enamoured of composing poems, He did glorify His _Guru_ in beautiful verses. By way of illustration, two of them are given below.

pādaprabhāvinirdhūtāvidyāndhatamasāya te ।

yataye citinirviṣṭacittāyāstu namo mama ॥

(My salutation to the ascetic whose mind is absorbed in consciousness and the lustre of whose feet destroys the blinding darkness of avidyā.)

śrīmatāṁ deśikendrāṇāṁ pādapadme namāmyaham ।

mando'pi vandanādyeṣāṁ vindeta gurutulyatām ॥

(I prostrate before the pair of lotus-like feet of the glorious king of preceptors by paying obeisance to whom even a dullard becomes akin to the Guru.)

Deeply scrutinising _Dharma-śāstra_ texts, He resolved, with citations of authoritative passages and examples, the doubts of disciples on matters of _dharma_ ; He received the praise of His _Guru_ for this. Able to speak fluently in Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada, He also mastered Hindi. North-Indian scholars have been struck with awe on hearing Him discourse in chaste Hindi.

His _Guru_ was generally thoroughly introverted; the _Guru_ 's mind did not incline even a little towards the activities relating to the Math. In obedience to His _Guru_ 's command, He safeguarded the fame of the Math by keeping an eye on all the activities of the Math, ensuring the proper conduct of its functions and granting audience to and communicating with the devotees. "With the _Guru_ 's completion of sixty years as the occasion, some great _yāga_ for the good of the world should be conducted" - giving weight to this prayer of devotees, He conducted, in the year _Vijaya_ (in 1953), a _Sahasracaṇdī-yāga_ in a grand manner.

The first president of independent India, the distinguished Babu Rajendra Prasad, came to Sringeri on August 24, 1954, to have the _darśana_ of the _Guru_. At that time, His Holiness arranged for his audience with the _Guru_ , conveyed to him in Hindi what the _Guru_ spoke in Sanskrit and conveyed to the _Guru_ in Sanskrit what he spoke in Hindi; He thus caused much joy to him and to the _Guru_. That very year, the _Guru_ attained disembodied liberation. Conscious of His duty, though deeply pained, His Holiness performed the _Guru_ 's _ārādhana_ and the like in strict accordance with tradition. He was installed as the pontiff of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham on _Āśvayuja-kṛṣṇa-pañcamī_ of the year _Jaya_ (October 16, 1954).

After His coronation, He dwelt for about one and a half years in Sringeri itself, focussed on His revered _Guru_. Disciples variously requested His Holiness to undertake a _dhārmic-digvijaya_. Acceding to the requests, He set out from Sringeri on a tour in 1956; reaching Kalady, the place where Śaṁkara Bhagavatpāda incarnated, He observed _cāturmāsya_ and _navarātri_ there. Thereafter, He toured South India for six years. Right from the start, there has been the practice in the Sringeri Math of its pontiffs undertaking tours to bless disciples. However, it is hard to identify anyone in the annals of the Math who so extensively and repeatedly toured from Kanyakumari to the Himalayas as did our _Guru_.

He used to discourse in a beautiful and lucid manner. He made people easily comprehend even profound _Vedāntic_ truths. The minds of people underwent a great transformation for the better on hearing His talks; the greatness of the talks was such that the listeners became dedicated to the performance of their duties. Through His discourses, common folk could understand topics of the _Śrutis_ , _Smṛtis_ , _Itihāsas_ and _Purāṇas_ that would have otherwise been difficult for them to comprehend. He was not in the least dogmatic. The ancients held that the earth is fixed while the modern scientists aver that it moves.

purāṇamityeva na sādhu sarvaṁ na cāpi kāvyaṁ navamityavadyam ।

santaḥ parīkṣyānyataradbhajante mūḍhaḥ parapratyayaneyabuddhiḥ ॥

(All that is ancient is not good nor is a work censurable because it is modern. The wise accept an alternative after examination; the unwise are guided by the beliefs of others.)

In keeping with this statement of the pre-eminent poet Kālidāsa, His Holiness subscribed only to the position that the earth moves. He ignored, in this manner, the distinction of ancient and modern in numerous matters and gave weight only to that which was reasonable and accorded with evidence. Broadmindedness such as His was difficult to come by in anyone else.

I do not consider Myself competent enough to adequately speak about His total mastery over the senses, perfect character or high erudition.

śakunīnāmivākāśe jale vāricarasya ca ।

padaṁ yathā na dṛśyeta tathā jñānavatāṁ gatiḥ॥

(Like the footprints of birds in the sky and of fishes in the water, the course of the knowers of the Truth cannot be discerned.)

Our _Guru_ was the foremost of such knowers of the Truth. Having embraced _saṁnyāsa_ at a young age like Bhagavatpāda, He was a stranger to passion; what He was conversant with was _mokṣa_ (liberation).

He told people that while they were welcome to converse with Him on something worthwhile, He would not give room for idle gossip. He said, "Having studied the _Upaniṣads_ , we know that they say:

nānudhyāyādbahūñchabdānvāco viglāpanaṁ hi tat

(One should not think of many words, for that is particularly fatiguing to the organ of speech.)

"So, it is better to remain silent than to waste time in idle speech. By keeping silent, we would at least not be taxing the organ of speech." He held the view that if we wish to speak, we must utter only what is useful. He loved to read and reflect on the teachings contained in Śaṁkara Bhagavatpāda's works. He directed Me, "One should ever contemplate, even when moving about, on the truths expounded by Bhagavatpāda. We have just returned from Śāradāmbā's temple. We prostrated before Her. That is a bodily activity. The inner activity should be the constant contemplation on the Truth taught by Bhagavatpāda. That indeed will make one's birth fruitful."

Kālidāsa has said in the _Raghuvaṁsa:_

dveṣyo'pi saṁmataśśiṣṭastasyārtasya yathauṣadham ।

tyājyo duṣṭaḥ priyo'pyāsīdaṅgulīvoragakṣatā॥

(A good person, though unfriendly, was acceptable to him (King Dilīpa) just as medicine (though distasteful) is to the sick: and even a friend, if wicked, was to be discarded, like a finger bitten by a cobra.)

"We should be like this," He told Me. Our _Guru_ had such characteristics of Dilīpa. He was overflowing with compassion. He regarded life as meant to do good to others. In His natural kindness, He never kept in mind any wrong done to Him by others. He said to Me,

"krutasya pratikartavyam

(One should retaliate)"

– we should not entertain such a notion at all. That is for those of a _rājasik_ nature. We are _saṁnyāsins_." He would immediately forgive any offender and bless him too. I have seen hundreds of such instances. He avoided wounding the feelings of anyone.

At Sringeri, His Holiness initiated numerous projects. There was, earlier, just a single guest-house for housing devotees. His Holiness constructed many buildings such as Shankara Kripa, Shankara Niketan, Jayashankara Niketan, Sharada Niketan and Bharathi Vihar and greatly benefited the devotees. He founded the Sharada Dhanvantari Charitable Hospital. For the protection of cows, He built a huge _gośālā_ (cow-shed) and, for elephants, an elephant-shed. Due to His tireless efforts, various branch Maths, _dharmaśālās_ and _pāṭhaśālās_ came into existence. Many of the already existing ones were developed.

His Holiness was intent on the dissemination of the _Vedas_ and the _śāstras_. Every year, He organised a _vidvat-sadas_ (assembly of scholars) during _Śaṁkara-jayantī_ and _Vināyaka-caturtī_ and honoured the _panditas_. To spread Sanskrit throughout the country, He started an institution called the _Surasarasvatī-sabhā_. Many publications were launched by the Math during His pontificate. He initiated numerous religious activities at various places. For example, He effected the performance of many _Sahasracaṇdī-yāgas_ , _Atirudra-yāgas_ and _koṭi-kumkumārcanās_ at Sringeri. Every work of His is an illustration and a reflection of His foresight and benevolence.

Even while I was a _brahmacārin_ , He had great affection for Me. Once, during the early days of My stay in Sringeri, I went to the other side of the river on a _pradoṣa_ day. That night, while seated for _pūjā_ , He asked, "Did You go to the other side?" "Yes, I did," I answered. He said, "It is enough if You stay in Narasimhavana itself. I will be observing You." From this, I understood the concern and affection that He had for Me. He told Me that there must not be any distraction while studying. "If You develop distracting habits, Your learning will be impeded. Efforts put in by You at a much later stage will not suffice to enable You to become versed in the _śāstras_. If I missed My studies for even a while, My _Guru_ would chide Me," He said.

In this fashion, He narrated His experiences and advised Me about how I should conduct Myself, the traditions of the Math and how to treat devotees. He often said, "Whatever be the attitude of the visitor, We, for our part, should show affection to all. We should not forget this. None should feel that his presence is not liked."

ahameva mato mahīpateriti sarvaḥ prakṛtiṣvapyacintayat ।

(Every subject felt, "I am the favourite of the emperor (Aja).")

This statement of Kālidāsa, the foremost poet, about emperor Aja found fulfilment in His Holiness. Our revered _Guru_ , Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha, the repository of good qualities, the mine of knowledge and the mount of courage, covered the world with His glory like the sun with its rays and attained disembodied liberation on _Bhādrapada-kṛṣṇa-saptamī_ of the year _Śukla_ (September 21, 1989).

jātaḥ piṅgalahāyane yatirabhūdyaśca prajāpatyabhi-

khye'bde pīṭhapatirbabhūva jayavarṣe yaśca śṛṅgācale।

kīrtiṁ prāpya digantagāṁ tanumimāṁ yaśśuklavarṣe jahau

vidyātīrthagururjayatyabhinavo lokān sadā pālayan ॥

(Born in the year Piṅgala (1917), He became a saṁnyāsin in the year Prajāpati (1931) and the pontiff of Sringeri in the year Jaya (1954). Having attained fame that spread to the end of the quarters, He discarded the body in the year Śukla (1989). Triumphant is He, Guru Abhinava Vidyatheertha who ever protects all.)

# 2. H.H. Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi Mahaswamigal

[The following account about Paramacharyal wholly comprises selections from Acharyal's discourses, śrīmukhas and compositions.]

srīcandraśekharabhāratīti-prathita-prātassmaraṇīyanāmadheyā asmadācāryapādāḥ kṛtatapaścaryāḥ sarvatantra-svatantrāḥ śāstropadiṣṭārthānuṣṭhāna-niṣṭhāgariṣṭhā aparokṣīkṛtātmatattvā jīvanmuktā abhūvan ।

(Our revered Acharyal, Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi, whose name ought to be respectfully recalled at the start of every day, had accomplished penance, was beyond the confines of all schools of thought, was an adept at the performance of what is prescribed in the scriptures, had directly realised the Reality that is the Ātman and was a jīvanmukta (one liberated even while living).)

asmad-ācāryapādāḥ brahmaniṣṭhā brahmaparā jīvanmuktāḥ samastānām-āstikānām-ādarśacaritā abhūvan ।

(Our revered Acharyal was ever focused on Brahman, held Brahman as the ultimate and was a jīvanmukta (person who is liberated even while living); His life was an ideal for all āstikas.)

avidyādhvāntānāṁ dinamaṇiranantāntaragato

viṣīdad-vidvaddhṛt-kumudavanarākā-himakaraḥ ।

parādhvāmitrāṇāṁ viṣayagahanānāṁ hutavaho

gurustejorūpo jayati janatā''nandathurayam ॥

(To those in the darkness of ignorance, he is the sun that is infinite as also within. To the multitude of drooping lilies that are the hearts of scholars, he is the moon. To those trapped in the forest of sense objects and without a friend in the path to the Supreme, he is the flaming torch that lights the way. Victorious is the luminous Guru who confers joy on all.)

vande vandārumandāraṁ vandanīyaṁ budhottamaiḥ ।

ānandakandalaṁ tīrthavāridhiṁ deśikottamam ॥

(I prostrate before the greatest Guru, who is a kalpavrkṣa (wish-fulfilling tree) to those who bow, who is worthy of being saluted by pre-eminent knowers of the Truth, who is the fresh sprout of bliss and who is the ocean of the śāstras (or, in other words, is fully conversant with the śāstras).)

My _Guru_ was a knower of _Brahman_ and was not dependent on any effect or cause. In the case of My _Guru_ , His introversion did not stem subsequent to His taking _saṁnyāsa_ , studying the _śāstras_ and practising spiritual disciplines. It manifested right from His birth. Detachment is said to be extreme, middling and mild. What is mild detachment? When some problem crops up, one feels, "What is the need for this world?" Extreme detachment is that in which, owing to the company of a sage, one feels, "The world must be renounced this very instant." If a person has fire on his head, he would rush to put it out. My _Guru_ 's detachment was of this kind. His detachment was so intense that though He dwelt as a pontiff in such a big Math, He did not even have the idea that He lived there.

karatalabhikṣastarutalavāsaḥ

(He receives food as alms in his palms and lives at the bases of trees.)

It was with this mental attitude that He abided in the Math. However, when it came to religious activities and activities relating to the welfare of the devotees, He acted in accordance with the following words of the _Bhagavad-gītā_ :

na me pārthāsti kartavyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu kiñcana ।

nānavāptam-avāptavyaṁ varta eva ca karmaṇi ॥

(O Pārtha, there is nothing in the three worlds that I must do; nor is there anything to be attained that has not been attained. Yet, I engage in actions.)

yadi hyahaṁ na varteyaṁ jātu karmaṇyatandritaḥ ।

mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ ॥

utsīdeyurime lokā na kuryāṁ karma cedaham ।

(O Pārtha, if I do not, without laziness, ever engage in action, men would, in all matters, follow My path. These worlds would be ruined if I did not perform action.)

Keeping others in mind, He opined, "You have all labelled Me a big pontiff. Regardless of whether or not I should perform worship and obtain the fruit thereof, what would you say if I were to abstain from worship? 'Even Swamigal does not perform any worship. Why should we engage in what He Himself is not interested in carrying out?' Therefore, I must perform worship. You people will then act likewise, thinking, 'The great one Himself engages in worship. It may or may not be necessary for Him but we need it. So, we must carry it out.' " That My _Guru_ was a _Mahātman_ (great soul) has been known by experience by those who were His contemporaries and beheld Him.

He was greatly devoted to Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal, My _Paramaguru_. His longing (when He was a boy) was, "How wonderful it would be if I could somehow have the _Guru_ 's _pādukās_ in My house and worship them!" If God is merciful and we have faith and devotion, then what we wish automatically becomes fulfilled. Likewise, by virtue of His faith, My _Guru_ obtained the _pādukās_. He thought, "I was so desirous of the _pādukās_ and they themselves came to Me." Thereafter, He kept up the practice of worshipping them. My _Guru_ 's characteristic was that He used to keep in memory, with great faith, whatever words came from the lips of His _Guru_.

(As a _brahmacārin_ ) My _Guru_ got the opportunity to learn Sanskrit as a student of the Math _pāṭhaśālā_. He made it a point to secure a double promotion every year. If anything was taught to Him once, it was sufficient; He grasped it. After reaching the fourth class of the Math's _pāṭhaśālā_ , apart from studying, He began to teach students of the lower classes. His teacher used to tell Him, "You must take classes. You teach well." Prior to sending Him to Bangalore (for studies while He was a _brahmacārin_ ), My _Paramaguru_ initiated Him into a _mahāmantra_. He then told Him, "For You and for those whom You will teach, this shall constitute the means of earning God's grace."

Before My _Guru_ departed, My _Paramaguru_ advised Him, "You are studying but it must not be for the sake of money. What for then? For the sake of acquiring knowledge. The prime knowledge is the realisation of the _Ātman_. That should accrue to You. That is why I am sending You for the advanced study of the _śāstras_. To acquire the realisation of the _Ātman_ , hearing the Truth from a _Guru_ , reflecting on what is taught and absorption of the mind on the Truth are very essential. However, for the hearing and reflection to bear fruit, the mind must be pure. For the mind to become pure, it is necessary to carry out the scripturally-ordained practices properly. The _Pūrva-mīmāṁsā-śāstra_ is highly helpful in enabling one to understand the scripturally-ordained actions. Therefore, first study the _Pūrva-mīmāṁsā-śāstra_ well as a student at Bangalore."

Accordingly, My _Guru_ spent long hours studying the _Mīmāṁsā_ books, such as the _Bhāṭṭa-dīpikā_. He was taught by Vaidyanatha Sastry, a _Mīmāṁsaka-śiromaṇi_ (crest-jewel amongst those versed in _Mīmāṁsā_ ). He subsequently (after becoming a _saṁnyāsin_ ) arranged for the foremost of _Nyāya_ scholars, Virupaksha Sastry, to take lessons for Him. He learnt _Advaita-Vedānta_ in the mornings and the _Nyāya-śāstra_ in the afternoons. In three years itself, He completed His studies of both the _śāstras_. In the line of pontiffs of the Sringeri Math, there flowed a torrent of knowledge and austerity and He added to it.

When the ( _Vedānta_ ) _śāstra_ is taught, one way is to explain a text line by line. Another is to expound the lines along with one's experience. It was worth seeing this in His teaching; it gave great joy. Even though My _Guru_ was a consummate scholar, He did not have the slightest egoism. However, when someone made a rebuttal imperative, He demonstrated His ability to respond appropriately. On the occasion of the enquiry into the import of _śāstraic_ passages during the annual _vidvat-sadas_ (assembly of scholars), if anyone spoke something new, He used to be immensely pleased. Even if He saw an iota of knowledge in another, He experienced supreme happiness.

My _Guru_ was destined to become a _saṁnyāsin_. One day, Markandeya Brahmachari, Sivananda and My _Guru_ (who was then a _brahmacārin_ ) went for reverentially beholding their _Guru_. He asked them to accompany Him to the Kālabhairava temple. When seated in the temple, He looked at My _Guru_ 's face and chanted three verses.

saṁsāranāmakasarinnāthottaraṇe tavāsti yadi vāñchā ।

bālaka śṛṇu madvacanaṁ śrutimastakasaṁmataṁ hitodarkam॥

pravidhāya saśikhavapanaṁ chittvā yajñārthamādṛtaṁ sūtram ।

svīkṛtapāramahaṁsyaḥ sthiratarasādhanacatuṣṭayopetaḥ ॥

śraddhābhaktiyutātmā pravicāraya tattvamātmanaḥ suciram ।

sadguru-mukhāmbujātasravad-āgamaśīrṣavākyapīyūṣaiḥ ॥

(O child! If you have the desire to cross the ocean of transmigratory existence then listen to My utterance, which is in consonance with the Upaniṣads and is beneficial. Having shaven your head, together with the tuft, and, having broken the sacred thread donned for performing sacrifices, take up paramahaṁsa-saṁnyāsa. Very firmly endowed with the four spiritual means, faith and devotion, enquire for long about the Truth by recourse to the nectar-like utterances of the Upaniṣads flowing from the lotus-mouth of the Sadguru.)

While My _Paramaguru_ did not tell My _Guru_ about His wanting to give Him _saṁnyāsa_ or of His wanting to choose Him as His successor, He chanted the verses containing valuable advice while looking at My _Guru_ 's face. He thereby brought about ripeness in My _Guru_ 's mind. When My _Paramaguru_ felt that His body had served its purpose, He sent word for My _Guru_ (who was at Bangalore for studies). He made the resolve, "I shall give _saṁnyāsa_ to Him." My _Guru_ asked no questions. "My _Guru_ has commanded Me to come to Sringeri. Hence, I must go" - this was all that He felt. "What about My parents?", "What will be My future?" - no such thoughts arose in His mind.

When My _Paramaguru_ was alive, numerous disciples were greatly devoted to Him. Seeing His learning, austerity and compassion, they wondered, "Will such a person ever be seen again? Will the glory of the Peetham remain?" Many had such doubts. However, on observing My _Guru_ , their doubts were set at rest and they felt, "What a scholar! What a person established in the Truth! What a master of His senses! What an inward-turned one!"

Kālidāsa has said:

pravartito dīpa iva pradīpāt

(Just as a lamp lighted from another does not differ from the latter.)

If one lamp were to light another lamp, what would be the difference between the two lamps? Only the one who lit the second lamp would know, "I lit it." To an observer, both would only appear to be lamps, with no distinction discernible. Similar was the case of My _Paramaguru_ and My _Guru_. When people heard the discourses that My _Guru_ gave while He toured, saw His worship of God and so on, they remembered the words of the _Mādhavīya-Śaṁkaravijaya_ :

śaṁbhormūrtiścarati bhuvane śaṅkarācāryarūpā

(The figure of Śiva, Dakṣiṇāmūrti, moves about in the world in the form of Śaṁkarācārya.)

tamāṁsi dhvaṁsante pariṇamati bhūyānupaśamaḥ

sakṛtsaṁvāde'pi prathata iha cāmutra ca phalam ।

atha pratyāsaṅgaḥ kamapi mahimānaṁ vitarati

prasannānāṁ vācaḥ phalam-aparimeyaṁ prasuvate ॥

(Ignorance is destroyed and great tranquillity results. Even a single conversation yields fruits here and in the world attained after death. Close association bestows some form of greatness. The words of the pure ones give rise to limitless fruit.)

I have seen in My _Guru_ 's case all that has been mentioned in the above verse. On several occasions, even without the devotees saying anything about their problems, My _Guru_ used to provide the answers concerned. One day, after He had given clarifications and permitted the devotees to leave, I asked Him, "How is it, O Mahaswami, that when people come to You to seek clarifications, You provide the answers even before they present their requests?" He replied, "There is nothing to it. God is the one who impels Me and I respond in accordance with His wishes. Such being the case, whatever is in His mind automatically comes to My mouth. I need to make no effort." He was a _Mahātman_ who had attained such perfection.

He eradicated the suffering of the distressed, imparted knowledge to the seeker of knowledge, graced the seeker of wealth with affluence and when it came to a knower of the Truth, He considered him as His own. There was no distinction at all between the knower of the Truth and Himself as far as He was concerned. His knowledge, qualities, such as mind control, establishment in the _Ātman_ and compassion to beings serve as ideals. He led His life in such a way that there accrued the welfare of the world.

sadā''tmadhyānanirataṁ viṣayebhyaḥ parāṅmukham ।

naumi śāstreṣu niṣṇātaṁ candraśekharabhāratīm ॥

(I extol Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi who is ever immersed in the contemplation of the Ātman, is withdrawn from sense objects and is well-versed in the śāstras.)

śrīmadviṣṇupadā''lambaṁ vedāntāmṛtavarṣiṇam ।

lokasaṁtāpaśamanaṁ vande'bhrasadṛśaṁ gurum ॥

(I pay obeisance to the cloud-like Guru who abides in (the sky that is) the Supreme Brahman, pours forth the nectar of Vedānta and terminates the sufferings of people.)

guruvaracaraṇau bhaktyā nityaṁ praṇamāmi bhaktakaruṇālū ।

yadbhānuleśapāto hṛdayadhvāntāni santataṁ hanti ॥

(I daily prostrate with devotion before the pre-eminent Guru's feet, which are merciful to devotees and an infinitesimal exposure to whose lustre always destroys the entire darkness (of ignorance) of the mind.)

# 3. Childhood To Saṁnyāsa: The Spiritual Foundation

Sri Srinivasa Sastry, as Acharyal was known prior to His _saṁnyāsa_ , was a helpful and considerate child. While other children of His age unconcernedly engaged themselves in play, He helped His mother. He performed various domestic chores, such as cleansing of vessels and sweeping. He often took care of His younger brother. When asked about this, He said, "My mother is busy in the kitchen and My elder sister is assisting her. Who will attend to this young one? If I do not do so, this task will add to my mother's strain." He was a bright student who unhesitatingly spared time to clear the academic doubts of the students who sought His help.

Once, His friend did not fare well in the examinations. The boy's father resolved to punish his ward. So, he ordered his son to bend and placed a big stone on the lad's back. The boy deserved punishment but not to this extent. Unable to bear the load, he began weeping. Sri Srinivasa Sastry heard the piteous cries and arrived at the spot. Addressing the father, He said, "You are older than Me and wiser too. Your son is writhing in pain. Please let him rest for a while. You may place the stone on My back instead and I shall support it for him." The father was moved by Sri Srinivasa Sastry's heartfelt concern and relieved his son of the burden imposed. He was always ready to put up with suffering for the sake of others.

One day, He and His friends unintentionally consumed a very pungent dish served to them at a house. The friends screamed for water and jaggery. Sri Srinivasa Sastry remained undisturbed. He advised His friends that such longing for jaggery was unnecessary. Their mouths were burning, as it were, and here He was adding fuel to the fire. "You speak thus," they challenged, "Can you eat a handful of chillies without a murmur of protest?" "Yes," was the reply. Immediately, a handful of chillies were brought. One by one the chillies disappeared into His mouth. The boys looked on, more astonished than disappointed. All the chillies were consumed without any trace of discomfort on His face. He then said, "It is not necessary to consume spices like this. You have demanded it and so I ate them to convince you that it is possible to be contented with what food one gets."

He was ever uncomplaining. One day, His friends decided to test the limits of His forbearance. Fetching a stick, they began to beat Him with it. He bore their unprovoked onslaught without a murmur. When the boys stopped, aghast at how far they had gone in testing Him, He won their hearts with kind words. He also told them the following story:

A Buddhist monk was unjustly tortured by a monarch. The king finally softened and, feeling ashamed, begged the monk's pardon. As an act of atonement, he catered to the subsequent needs of the monk. Thus, merely by forbearance, the monk was able to humble the emperor. Sri Srinivasa Sastry's friends hung their heads in shame on hearing the tale.

While personally forbearing, He had the inclination and the courage to intervene to terminate the suffering being inflicted on another. He once beheld a boy catching flying insects, tearing out their wings and throwing the hapless creatures to a dog. Walking up to the boy, He quickly grasped his hands and twisted them. The boy screamed. Relaxing His vice-like grip, Sri Srinivasa Sastry said, "The insects also must feel like this. Just as you have hands, the insects have wings. Abstain from torturing them hereafter." He once had the following conversation with a friend:

**Sri Srinivasa Sastry** : Hunting of animals is improper.

**Friend:** Carnivorous animals prey on weaker creatures. Such being the case, they deserve to be killed.

**Sri Srinivasa Sastry:** God has created some animals as food for the carnivores. This does not entitle man to poke his nose into the ways of nature and indulge in slaughter.

He and His friends used to assemble after play and relate stories. He narrated stories from the _Purāṇas_ , _Mahābhārata_ and the _Nīticintāmaṇi_. When telling the story of Hariścandra, He stressed the importance of veracity and the advantages of being truthful. The dire consequences of attachment illustrated in the story of Jaḍabharata and the soul-stirring devotion of Prahlāda were aptly driven home by Him in some of His presentations.

There was a tank that His friends feared to approach after sunset as it was believed to be infested by ghosts. Sri Srinivasa Sastry had no such fear. In response to a challenge from His friends, He boldly ran to it on a dark _amāvāsya_ evening, washed His hands and feet, rinsed His mouth and returned. On later being asked about His lack of fear, He said, "I was chanting the name of God. How could any evil spirit accost Me?"

One evening, on being asked what He would like to do when He grew up, He said that He would strive to realise God. When a friend asked Him why He opined thus, He said, "For that is what is good." The friend then challenged His conviction that God exists on the ground that neither had He nor those He knew had seen God.

**Sri Srinivasa Sastry:** Can you prove that there is no God? Would you say that something does not exist because you have not seen it? For instance, have you seen Bombay? No. Does it then follow that Bombay is non-existent?

**Friend:** I have not seen Bombay. But I have seen many who have. That is why I believe that Bombay exists.

**Sri Srinivasa Sastry:** Very well. Likewise, our ancient sages who had seen the Lord have given clear indications to that effect. What is wrong if we unreservedly accept their words? Their experience cannot be set aside and so we must concede the existence of God.

He worshipped a small crystal idol of Lord Gaṇapati. One day, His mother had no eatable to give Him to offer to the Lord as _naivedya_ and felt ill at ease about this. Discerning her predicament, He promptly conveyed to her that she need not bother and that He would manage. The Lord has said:

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati ।

tadahaṁ bhaktyupahṛtam-aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ ॥

(Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water - that devout offering made by the pure-hearted man, I accept.)

Sri Srinivasa Sastry satiated Lord Gaṇapati by offering a spoonful of water, with a heart full of love.

With the passage of time, He began to regularly express to His friends His desire to renounce the world. At first, His friends found His longing ridiculous but soon realised that He was firmly resolved. One boy asked Him, "What is the use of becoming a _saṁnyāsin_? By becoming a great king, one attains a very high position." "Do not think thus," He replied, "What long-lasting benefit is there in becoming a king? An emperor can enjoy only when he is at the helm of power. This state must come to an end sooner or later. If, however, I become a _saṁnyāsin_ , I can constantly meditate and be without any worries. There will be a wonderful opportunity to behold God and I shall remain ever protected by Him." He was just thirteen then.

[Shortly after this, Acharyal's upanayana was performed at Sringeri in Śāradāmbā's temple on 4.5.1930. With the express approval and the blessings of Paramacharyal, He stayed on at Sringeri as a student; His parents returned to Bangalore. At Sringeri, Sri Srinivasa Sastry was put up at Narasimhavana itself and not at the Math pāṭhaśālā on the northern side of the river Tuṅgā. He had an orderly schedule and was constantly engaged in His studies. Some students had been selected to attend classes with Him. The following pertains to the year that He dwelt as a brahmacārin there.]

Paramacharyal sometimes asked the boys in general questions such as, "Was the food satisfactory today? What was the menu? Was the food tasty? Was it very salty or too pungent?" While the other students readily voiced their opinions, Sri Srinivasa Sastry invariably remained silent. Paramacharyal, who discerned this, asked Him one day, "Why is it that You make no comment?" Sri Srinivasa Sastry said, "Whatever we get is Acharyal's _prasāda_. As such, it is always tasty." On hearing this, Paramacharyal was pleased; it had been His intention to find out how far the boys were slaves of the tongue.

Paramacharyal found that Sri Srinivasa Sastry was a much better student than the others. He used to take the students with Him on His evening walk to the Kālabhairava temple, situated atop a hill in Narasimhavana. On the way, He got them to chant _antādi_ verses; herein, a verse commences with the syllable with which the previous verse ends. Srinivasa Sastry performed admirably. Further, on several occasions, His ability to interpret verses and to quickly conceive of and advance alternative explanations came to light. One evening, Paramacharyal spoke to the boys about the greatness of Sanskrit and then chanted:

dārā ime me tanayā ime me gṛhā ime me paśavaśca me me ।

itthaṁ naro meṣasamānadharmā memekaraḥ kālavṛkeṇa nītaḥ ॥

(These wives are mine (me), these children are mine (me), these houses are mine (me) and these cattle are mine (me). The man who thus says "me, me" and has the same disposition as sheep (which bleat "me, me") is taken away by the wolf, time.)

The next evening, Paramacharyal instructed the students to recite this verse and then asked them the reason for His having earlier recited it and got them to do so. Sri Srinivasa Sastry said, "This verse illustrates the greatness of Sanskrit. The syllable " _me_ " means "mine". Thus, the verse portrays the play of the ego in man. The syllable also represents the sound made by sheep. Thus, the same sound gives rise to more than one sense." This reply satisfied Paramacharyal.

On another evening, Paramacharyal recited the following verse:

sūte sūkarayuvatiḥ sutaśatam-atyantadurbhagaṁ jhaṭiti ।

kariṇī cirāya sūte sakalamahīpāla-lālitaṁ kalabham ॥

(A sow quickly gives birth to a hundred hapless piglets. After prolonged gestation, a she-elephant produces a single calf that is fondled by kings.)

He then asked the students what they thought was the reason for His chanting it. While the others were puzzled, Sri Srinivasa Sastry said, "A big school may provide instruction to more than a hundred students. However, if they are unable to grasp the substance of the teaching, the instruction will be a wasted effort. A small school may have a single student. However, if that boy is endowed with intelligence and takes maximum advantage of the instruction, he will bring name and fame to the institution."

Paramacharyal was clearly happy to hear this. Nonetheless, He turned to Vaidyanatha Sastry, who taught the students Sanskrit, and asked him for his opinion. Sastry said, "It is given to only one mother to give birth to a child who becomes a Jagadguru worshipped by kings. Other mothers do not get this blessing." The reason for his giving this interpretation was that Paramacharyal had chanted this verse just a few minutes after Sri Srinivasa Sastry's mother had had _darśana_ and left. Later, one of Sri Srinivasa Sastry's classmates asked Him, "Was this verse not applicable to Your mother?" With His characteristic humility, He said, "I could not even think of advancing such a meaning. So, I thought of another one."

About the _Gāyatrī-mantra_ into which one is initiated during _upanayana_ , it is said in the _Sūta-saṁhitā_ :

bahunoktena kiṁ viprā japenāsyāśca homataḥ ।

abhīṣṭaṁ sarvamāpnoti nātra sandehakāraṇam ॥

(What need is there, O Brāhmaṇas, to say much? By the performance of Gayatri-mantra japa and homa, a person gets all that he desires. There is no room here for doubt.)

In the _Manu-smṛti_ , it is said:

sahasrakṛtvastvabhyasya bahiretattrikaṁ dvijaḥ ।

mahato'pyenaso māsāttvacevāhirvimucyate ॥

(He for whom the upanayana has been performed is freed from even a great sin, like a snake from its sloughed skin, by chanting the Gāyatrī-mantra, for a month, together with the Praṇava (Om) and the Vyāhṛtis (Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, Suvaḥ), a thousand times at a place outside the village (such as on the bank of a river or in a forest).)

Sri Srinivasa Sastry used to perform His _nityakarmā_ (scripturally-ordained religious observances to be practised regularly) with meticulous care. Acharyal told me in 1982, "I felt a great fondness for the _Gāyatrī-mantra_ and started chanting it mentally whenever I could, right from the day of My _upanayana_. In about a month's time, I was able to do so even while engaged in My regular activities. I was happy to find that I soon mentally repeated the _Gāyatrī_ during My dreams too. I did not disclose My practice to anyone."

Detachment to worldly and heavenly pleasures is vital for securing enlightenment and liberation. The _Mahānārāyaṇa-upaniṣad_ teaches:

na karmaṇā na prajayā dhanena tyāgenaike amṛtatvamānaśuḥ।

(Not by work (rites), progeny or wealth did they attain immortality. It is by renunciation that some have attained immortality.)

The Lord has said:

ye hi saṁsparśajā bhogā duḥkhayonaya eva te ।

ādyantavantaḥ kaunteya na teṣu ramate budhaḥ ॥

(Since enjoyments that result from contact between the organs and their objects are decidedly sources of sorrow and have a beginning and an end, O son of Kuntī, the wise one does not delight in them.)

śaknotīhaiva yaḥ soḍhuṁ prāk śarīravimokṣaṇāt ।

kāmakrodhodbhavaṁ vegaṁ sa yuktaḥ sa sukhī naraḥ ॥

(One who can withstand here itself - prior to departing from the body - the impulse arising from desire and anger, that man is a Yogin; he is happy.)

asaṁśayaṁ mahābāho mano durnigrahaṁ calam ।

abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate ॥

(O mighty-armed one, undoubtedly, the mind is intractable and restless. But, O son of Kuntī, it can be brought under control through practice and detachment.)

Paramacharyal emphasised detachment to Sri Srinivasa Sastry. One evening, Paramacharyal was proceeding to the Kālabhairava temple taking the students and Vaidyanatha Sastry with Him. Sastry submitted to Paramacharyal that he had noted down some verses uttered by Him when He had been in an inward-turned state. Paramacharyal directed him to recite one of them. In response, Sastry said:

nahi nahi manutāṁ svatvaṁ martyaḥ svīye śarīre'pi ।

pitṛbhūmiśṛgālagaṇāḥ svatvaṁ paricintayanti tatkāle ॥

(A mortal should never have the sense of "mine" with regard to even the body. The packs of jackals in the crematorium deem it to belong to them when the body lies there.)

Then, Paramacharyal proceeded to explain the worthlessness of attachment to the body. He finally chanted:

siṁhāsanopaviṣṭaṁ dṛṣṭvā yaṁ mudamavāpa loko'yam ।

taṁ kālākṛṣṭatanuṁ vilokya netre nimīlayati ॥

(People shut their eyes on seeing him, whom they had felt joy on seeing seated on the royal throne, when he is taken away by Death.)

The following day, Paramacharyal directed Vaidyanatha Sastry to come to Him with just Sri Srinivasa Sastry. When His directive was complied with, He said, "Today, we shall discuss the comparative merits of being a householder and a _saṁnyāsin_. You first explain the advantages of family life." In obedience to the command of Paramacharyal, Sri Srinivasa Sastry and Vaidyanatha Sastry spoke of the plus points of one being a householder. Paramacharyal then detailed the disadvantages of that stage of life. He gave many examples and chanted:

ko hi jānāti kasyādya mṛtyukālo bhaviṣyati ।

yuvaiva dharmaśīlaḥ syādanityaṁ khalu jīvitam ॥

bālye naṣṭaviveko viṣaya-sukhāsvāda-lampaṭastaruṇaḥ ।

parato jātaviveko vṛddho'śaktaḥ kimāpnuyātsiddhim ॥

(Who indeed knows which day shall be his last? Even when young, one should practise righteousness; life is decidedly transient. During childhood, one is bereft of discriminative insight. While a youth, one is engrossed in the experience of sensual pleasures. Later, what success can an infirm old man achieve after the dawn of discrimination?)

Finally, Paramacharyal asked, "Now, tell Me. Is it better to become a householder or a _saṁnyāsin_?" Bereft of any hesitation, Sri Srinivasa Sastry averred that taking up _saṁnyāsa_ was, indeed, superior.

One day, He posed some queries to Vaidyanatha Sastry. These were:

(i) I have heard that the eldest son in the family must compulsorily get married. Is it so?

(ii) Our _Guru_ embraced monasticism after becoming highly erudite. Is it obligatory that one acquire a deep knowledge of the scriptures prior to renouncing the world?

(iii) I have heard that when one is born, immediately a set of debts accrue to one. Some of these are repaid by serving one's parents, some by worshipping the _devas_ and yet others by begetting progeny. Is this indeed the state of affairs?

(iv) Is one permitted to enter another _āśrama_ only after dwelling for long as a _brahmacārin_ in the hermitage of the _Guru_?

(v) Can a young boy like Me take up _saṁnyāsa_ if he desires to? Parents may not grant permission. Can _saṁnyāsa_ be taken up without their approval?

Vaidyanatha Sastry was not in a position to reply satisfactorily to Him. Subsequently, Paramacharyal went on His usual evening walk to the Kālabhairava temple with both of them. On the way, He recited the following verse of the _Prabodha-sudhākara_ :

loko nāputrasyāstīti śrutyāsya kaḥ prabhāṣito lokaḥ ।

muktiḥ saṁsaraṇaṁ vā tadanyaloko'tha vā nādyaḥ ॥

(The Veda says that "loka" is not there for one bereft of a son. What is that loka? Is it liberation or transmigration or another world? It cannot be the first one.)

Paramacharyal then asked Vaidyanatha Sastry to recite the next two _ślokas_ of the _Prabodha-sudhākara_ and give the meaning. The verses are:

sarve'pi putrabhājastanmuktau naiva saṁsmṛtir-bhavati ।

śravaṇādayo'pyupāyā mṛṣā bhaveyustṛtīye'pi ॥

tatprāptyupāya-sattvād-dvitīyapakṣe'py-aputrasya ।

putreṣṭyādika-yāgapravṛttaye vedavādo'yam ॥

Sastry gave the overall meaning on the following lines:

It cannot be said that begetting a son confers liberation. This is because not all people who have sons have attained the exalted state. Further, if mere procreation were to yield emancipation, then the cycle of transmigratory existence itself would cease since numerous people do have children. A son cannot necessarily be the cause of happiness in this world and the next. The reason is that to attain a higher world, the _Veda_ prescribes the performance of special rites, such as the _jyotisṭoma_. It does not explicitly declare begetting of progeny as constituting the means. The _Veda_ clearly proclaims that wealth, progeny and the like cannot serve to confer liberation. Only the realisation of the _Ātman_ , by hearing the Truth, cogitating upon It and focusing one's mind on It, yields immortality.

Utterances of the _Śruti_ to the effect that a son is essential should be understood as merely eulogising the performance of sacrifices, such as the _putreṣti_. The _putreṣti-yāga_ serves to obtain a son. To induce people who have a desire for children to perform it, its importance is stressed. The _Veda_ , which is like a mother, certainly does not intend to compel one without desires to perform such sacrifices.

After this, Paramacharyal proceeded to give a detailed exposition. He said that marriage is compulsory only for a person who wants to enjoy sensual pleasures. It is not obligatory on one who has strong dispassion to lead a householder's life. Further, there is no _Vedic_ injunction that a dispassionate one should get married. The _Vedas_ indicate remedies for the removal of desires and never exhort the gratification of longings or procreation. Just as fond parents would only try to save their child from falling into fire and would not induce it to tumble into it, so too do the _Vedas_ indicate the means for people to abstain from bad ways and to proceed in the holy path. In fact, the moment one becomes extremely dispassionate, one can renounce and become an ascetic. Thus, a man can become an ascetic regardless of whether he is a celibate or a householder or a forest-dweller.

Paramacharyal went on to explain the futility of begetting a child. He strengthened His explanations by various citations and firmly drove home His points. For instance, He said that only rarely one happens to get a son who is endowed with all good qualities. Even on such a son being born, if the lad were to be short-lived or diseased or were to later have no children, the parents would have to put up with mental suffering. If a young child were to suffer on account of diseases or planetary influences, the grief of the parents would know no end. If the child were to grow up a little but were to be stupid then too the parents would be far from happy. Further, if after _upanayana_ , the boy were not to become learned or, if learned, he were to refuse to get married, then also the parents would suffer agony.

Paramacharyal explained that _śrāddha_ (a rite performed for the deceased parents) is an obligatory duty that purifies the performer. He emphasised that the manes do not sustain themselves exclusively on the _piṇḍa_ (ball of cooked rice) that is offered during the _śrāddha_ ceremony. He went on to add that the stories found in texts like the _Mahābhārata_ about the necessity of offspring are not meant for advanced spiritual aspirants who have strong dispassion. All the queries raised earlier by Sri Srinivasa Sastry were thus categorically answered by Paramacharyal; neither He nor Vaidyanatha Sastry had mentioned them to Paramacharyal.

At times, nature seemed to aid Paramacharyal's imparting of instructions about detachment. For instance, on one occasion, when Paramacharyal was proceeding to the Kālabhairava temple together with His students, a funeral procession was seen. On beholding the scene, Paramacharyal spontaneously identified the deceased one as a wealthy gentleman and gave out his name. He went on to say that that man was young and had been living in comfort. However, the Lord of Death, Yama, had not chosen to spare him.

At this juncture, Vaidyanatha Sastry cited the following verse that Paramacharyal had composed when in a state of seclusion.

dhanaṁ vā dhānyaṁ vā bhavatu bahuśo bhogyamapi vā

virāme ko brūte nanu ciramahaṁ nirvṛta iti ।

prakopa-prodbhinna-prakaṭayamadaṁṣṭrāṁ tu purataḥ

prapaśyan kiṁ kuryāt prasabham-avasāne prabhurapi ॥

(Though having much wealth, grains or objects of enjoyment, who says at the end of his life that he has been contented for long. On seeing in front of him the teeth of Yama bared in wrath, what can even a king do?)

On hearing this, Paramacharyal said, "There is a verse of Bhagavatpāda in the _Prabodha-sudhākara_ that is appropriate to this occasion and worthy of being cited." All but Sri Srinivasa Sastry remained silent. He chanted:

yo dehaḥ supto'bhūt supuṣpaśayyopaśobhite talpe ।

saṁprati sa rajjukāṣṭhairniyantritaḥ kṣipyate vahnau ॥

(The body that slept on a bed adorned with flowers is now taken, tied by ropes to logs, and consigned to fire.)

Paramacharyal explained the significance of the verse. He pointed out that the dead man had, even on the previous night, been in the midst of all comforts. His heart had suddenly collapsed while he was asleep and so he now lay tied by ropes to bamboos. He was about to be consigned to fire. This would be the fate of all and none was an exception.

nityaṁ sannihito mṛtyuḥ kartavyo dharma-sañcayaḥ

(Death is ever at hand. Hence, one should accumulate dharma.)

gṛhīta iva keśeṣu mṛtyunā dharmamācaret ॥

(One should practise dharma (without delay) as if one's tuft were in the grip of death.)

We should perform our _dharma_ and purify the mind so that we can obtain the realisation of the _Ātman_ and become liberated from all misery. Only then will the goal of our lives have been reached. As He spoke, Paramacharyal's gaze was constantly on Sri Srinivasa Sastry's face. At that juncture, a woman's wail was heard. Seeing the pitiful face of the dead rich man, his mother had given the cry of anguish. "Even the son that I gained after the observance of many a fast and vow has not lasted. Even if he had not been born, I would not have had to suffer my present deep anguish. Having got married, he has now left his young wife a destitute. Is this the only benefit of begetting progeny?" wailed the disconsolate mother. Sri Srinivasa Sastry noted all this. "Is this the worth of ephemeral existence? I do not want this at all," He muttered. These words were heard by Vaidyanatha Sastry. From His facial expression, Paramacharyal could readily comprehend His disciple's state of mind. He felt glad that His teachings were having the desired effect.

On several occasions, Paramacharyal spoke to Sri Srinivasa Sastry in private about detachment and _Brahmacarya_. What follows is a brief account of the advice given in some of the private sessions. [ _They were narrated to me in detail by Acharyal, partly in 1977 and partly in 1984._ ]

(i) No amount of learning, wealth or enjoyment can confer total freedom from sorrow and everlasting bliss. Only the realisation of the Truth can do so. Kingship, divine weapons, heavenly damsels and the power to even create a new universe did not, for instance, free Viśvāmitra from all unhappiness. In the _Chāndogya-upaniṣad_ , it is narrated that though versed in the _Vedas_ and various _śāstras_ , Nārada continued to experience sorrow; he transcended all sorrows only when he received enlightenment from Sanatkumāra.

labdhā vidyā rājamānyā tataḥ kiṁ

prāptā saṁpatprābhavāḍhyā tataḥ kim ।

bhuktā nārī sundarāṅgī tataḥ kiṁ

yena svātmā naiva sākṣātkṛto'bhūt ॥

(So what if learning respected by the sovereign himself has been acquired? So what if unsurpassed affluence has been obtained? So what if a belle has been enjoyed? What is there for him who has not realised his own Ātman?)

Enlightenment dawns only in a very pure mind. Desires are impurities that sully the mind. To render the mind pure and fit for enlightenment, they must be assiduously eradicated.

(ii) Sense objects are not the source of happiness. It is a mistake to think that they are. Were an object intrinsically a source of joy to a person, he ought not to ever find it to be a pain. However, it is well known that objects are sometimes liked and sometimes disliked. For instance, to a person who develops severe nausea during a meal, the very dishes he found delectable appear to be unappealing and a burden to consume. How can an object intrinsically be a source of happiness to a person when, though remaining just the same, it is at times a bane to the very same person?

When a desire for an object arises in the mind, the mind loses peace and the period of longing is not one of joy. When the desired object is obtained, the desire that agitated the mind becomes temporarily quieted. With the calming of the mind, there is joy. Thus, calmness gives happiness and not desire or a sensory object. In deep sleep, when no sensory object whatsoever is apprehended and the mind is in a state of latency, there is very great happiness. The sage whose mind is very calm and focused on the Supreme has unsurpassed happiness.

Stable mental calmness can never be had by the gratification of longings. Though briefly quieting a desire, gratification only leads to the growth of the desire; the desire manifests again later, with increased strength. Desiring and striving for sense objects constitute, therefore, the wrong approach to obtain happiness, which is what all want. By discerning that sense objects are never the cause of happiness, one should develop detachment towards them. The dispassionate one is calm and happy.

(iii) There is great benefit in observing perfect _Brahmacarya_. For this, complete control over the mind is important. To achieve such mastery, one should avoid thinking of sense objects. The reason is that as one thinks of sense objects, one gradually develops a degree of attachment to them. When attachment is allowed to grow, it becomes an intense desire. When a powerful longing is permitted to manifest, it becomes difficult to check and uproot. When a man strongly desires some object or honour and a person or situation thwarts the consummation of his longing, he becomes irritated.

When a man gives way to anger, he loses his power of proper discrimination between right and wrong. It is well known that an irritated man may be disrespectful even to his _Guru_. From delusion, the recollection of what one has been taught regarding righteous conduct is lost. This destruction of memory disrupts the functioning of the _buddhi_ and the man in this state is as good as destroyed. The seed of all this evil is thus thinking about sensory objects. So, if You wish to control Your mind, You must not allow Your mind to cogitate upon the objects of the organs.

(iv) Married life is a big source of bondage. A householder has to cater not only to his own requirements but also to those of his family. Hence, he cannot devote himself entirely to meditation and such spiritual practices. Many are the people who get married and think that that course of life is good for them. Actually, for a discriminating person, family life is so full of misery that it is better to stand on burning coal rather than to get married.

The body is made up of skin, blood, flesh, bones and so on. It contains within it urine and faeces. The body of even the female whom the undiscriminating consider to be extremely beautiful is only of this kind. Bhagavatpāda has taught:

nārīstanabhara-nābhīdeśaṁ dṛṣṭvā mā gā mohāveśam ।

etanmāṁsavasādi-vikāraṁ manasi vicintaya vāraṁ vāram ॥

(Seeing the breasts and the navel region of a woman, do not fall a prey to delusion. The female form is but a modification of flesh, fat, etc. Reflect well thus in your mind, again and again.)

Such recourse to discrimination enables one to combat lust and be established in _Brahmacarya_.

{Acharyal has told me, "My _Guru_ was so kind that even when I was too young to be afflicted by passion, He emphasised the worthlessness of sensory pleasures and stressed the importance of dispassion and thereby precluded any scope for even the seed of passion finding a place in My mind. He rendered Me fit for _saṁnyāsa_."}

In 1931, Sri Srinivasa Sastry developed high fever one night and became delirious. He started to speak incoherently. When the matter was reported to Paramacharyal, He neither authorised medical attention nor did He give sacred ash as _prasāda_ as He had done in the case of the other students when they had taken ill. He, however, specifically instructed Vaidyanatha Sastry to note whatever Sri Srinivasa Sastry uttered while delirious and inform Him. Sri Srinivasa Sastry's words primarily comprised an unusual combination of a dedication to Paramacharyal and a declaration of the Truth. He kept saying:

sadguro śaraṇaṁ śivo'haṁ śivo'ham

(O Sadguru, You are the refuge. I am Śiva. I am Śiva.)

Three days passed without His condition improving. He was awaiting _vibhūti-prasāda_ from Paramacharyal. To assuage Him, Vaidyanatha Sastry told Him a lie to the effect that Paramacharyal would be gracing Him in person. Thereafter, He started to continuously chant:

sadguro pāhi sadguro pāhi

(O Sadguru, protect Me. O Sadguru, protect Me.)

When Paramacharyal was proceeding the next day, an _ekādasī_ , to the river for His afternoon bath, He heard Sri Srinivasa Sastry's chant. After ascertaining that only Vaidyanatha Sastry was around, He abruptly entered the room where Sri Srinivasa Sastry lay. On seeing His _Guru_ , Sri Srinivasa Sastry got up and then prostrated in such a way that His forehead rested on His _Guru_ 's feet. Vaidyanatha Sastry was shocked as it is not the custom for anyone to touch the _Jagadguru_. Paramacharyal, however, showed no signs of disapproval. Gently raising His disciple, He softly said, "Have You still got fever? Do not worry. Go and lie down." Then, He left. Sri Srinivasa Sastry's fever promptly vanished. Following Paramacharyal's touch, He became relatively introverted and avoided casual conversations.

That night and on the succeeding ones, Paramacharyal prayed during His _Candramoulīśvara-pūjā_ :

sarvajñaṁ śrīnivāsaṁ kuru śivadayite satvaraṁ madvinamram

(O beloved of Śiva, quickly make Srinivasa, My disciple, omniscient.)

About a month later, Paramacharyal formally announced that impelled by the will of Śāradāmbā and His _Guru_ , He had decided to initiate Sri Srinivasa Sastry into _saṁnyāsa_ and nominate Him as His successor to the Peetham. The initiation into _saṁnyāsa_ took place on May 22, 1931.

That evening, in keeping with the Math tradition, Paramacharyal and Acharyal were to be taken in golden and silver palanquins respectively through the streets of Sringeri. They were attired in royal robes. Paramacharyal held out His finger and Acharyal grasped it. Paramacharyal led the way till He reached the silver palanquin. Unexpectedly, He withdrew His finger and occupied it. Then, He asked Acharyal to sit in the golden palanquin. This was most unusual.

The scripture says that a disciple should follow his _Guru_ and not go ahead of him. Paramacharyal's command required Acharyal to break this rule. The seat of the _Guru_ is to be respected and not occupied by the disciple; the golden palanquin was the one that Paramacharyal had used for years. Further, people could not be expected to know the reason for Acharyal occupying the golden palanquin and could have censured Him, at least mentally, for this breach of propriety. Notwithstanding such considerations and though He was just thirteen and a half years old at that time, Acharyal experienced no confusion whatsoever. He sat in the golden palanquin. In 1973, I referred to this incident and asked Him, "What did Acharyal feel on receiving such a difficult instruction from Paramacharyal?" "What was there to feel? 'My _Guru_ 's command is inviolable. As a disciple, it is My duty to carry it out.' That was My only thought then," replied Acharyal.

# 4. Haṭha-yoga

[The following conversation took place at Sringeri, in May 1975. There was a prelude to it. I submitted to Acharyal that while at Madras I had, on successive nights, dreams of Acharyal gracing me by teaching me Bhagavatpāda's bhāṣya on the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā . The class in one dream had continued in the next. Till that time, I had not studied Bhagavatpāda's Gītā-bhāṣya.

Acharyal asked, "Do you recall the clarifications that you heard?" "By Acharyal's grace, I remember them fully as also the words of the bhāṣya on the verses dealing with the practice and fruit of meditation," I replied. Acharyal sent for the Gītā-bhāṣya. He then asked me to recount the commentary on the "śanaiśśanairuparamet..." and "yato yato niścarati..." verses. I obeyed. Acharyal read out a passage from Bhagavatpāda's introduction to the chapter and asked me to explain it. Without making any comment on my response, He instructed me to resolve, according to what I had heard, an apparent contradiction in a verse. Finally, He asked me in which of two senses a word had been used in the bhāṣya.

When I finished replying, Acharyal was all smiles. Patting me on my shoulder, He said, "Your answers fully conform to what I would have told you if I were teaching you the bhāṣya now. There is no doubt that God graced you by teaching you through those dreams. Because of your devotion to Me you see Me having effected them but I am just an ordinary man. I can particularly appreciate your experience because I had a similar one when I was young." This is what preceded the conversation given below.]

**Acharyal:** Parameśvara (Śiva) instructed Me about y _oga_ through seven dreams that occurred on successive nights. Each dream was a continuation of the preceding one. Do you want to hear about them?

**I:** Very much.

**Acharyal:** I was exhausted when I retired for the night on the day I was initiated into _saṁnyāsa_. As was usual, I fell asleep almost the moment I shut My eyes. That night I had a dream that I can vividly recall even now. In it, I found Myself on the amazingly scenic summit of a tall, ice-clad mountain.

**I:** What was Acharyal clad in in the dream?

**Acharyal:** An ochre upper and lower garment like the one I am wearing now. Unlike the dress that I was wearing during the day, this had no _zarī_ border. May be the dream reflected My personal preference for a simple ochre attire rather than the costly one that I was required to wear. Two days before taking _saṁnyāsa_ , I had thought, "Dreams are not under My control. Mistakes committed in them do not result in sin. Nevertheless, My renunciation should be so sincere and firm that after being initiated into _saṁnyāsa_ , I should not see Myself in any dream as clad in white as I am now. I love chanting the _Gāyatrī-mantra_. Yet, as _Gāyatrī-japa_ is disallowed for _paramahaṁsa-saṁnyāsins_ , I should not engage in it even in My dreams from the day after tomorrow." By God's grace, till today, this has come to pass.

Though the mountain was icy, I felt no cold. In front of Me, at a distance of about twenty feet, I saw a huge, crystal _Śivaliṅga_. A torrent of water was falling on it in a column from above. I could not see the source of the water. I could hear the chanting in chorus of the _Rudra_ ( _praśna_ ) but no chanter was visible. Suddenly, there was a great flash of light and from the _Liṅga_ , Lord Śiva manifested.

{Here, Acharyal fell silent. He closed His eyes and remained motionless for some time. On opening His eyes, He took in and let out a deep breath. He then continued with His narration.}

As I saw Him then, the Lord had one face and two arms. He was extremely fair and radiant. His hair was matted and was tawny in hue. On beholding Him, I was so struck with awe that I stood unmoving. He smilingly looked at Me and raised His right hand in a gesture of blessing. I felt a great power entering into Me. Automatically, I began to chant the _Praṇava_ mentally. He gestured to Me to sit down. A seat of deer skin with an ochre cloth spread on it appeared where I was standing. I did _namaskāra_ and, in obedience to Him, sat down, even though He was standing.

He came near Me. A big tiger skin appeared on the ground and He sat on it. He positioned His legs in the _padmāsana_ and told Me to do the same. While I knew how to adopt the _padmāsana_ , His approach was particularly graceful and I imitated it as best as I could. Then He assumed the _siddhāsana_. In response to His directive, I copied Him. With His hands, He corrected My posture.

**I:** What was the change?

{Acharyal demonstrated the way He had positioned His legs at first and the change made by the Lord. The correction consisted in adjusting the left heel to be in better contact with the perineum. About this, the authoritative text _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ says:

yonisthānakam-aṅghrimūlaghaṭitaṁ kṛtvā

Having placed the (left) heel firmly against the region between the anus and the penis...}

**Acharyal:** Seated in the _siddhāsana_ , the Lord demonstrated how to perform _prāṇāyāma_. Exhaling the air within, He began to smoothly inhale through the left nostril. On the completion of _pūraka_ (inhalation), He blocked both His nostrils with His fingers and lowered His chin to His chest to form the _jālandhara-bandha_. At the close of _kumbhaka_ (retention), I saw Him deeply pull in and upward His abdomen to adopt the _uḍḍīyāna-bandha._ His body smoothly rose to about a foot above the ground. Raising His head, He exhaled smoothly through the right nostril. As He did so, His body gradually returned to the ground. He then repeated the process by inhaling through the right nostril and exhaling through the left nostril.

{The _Haṭhayoga_ - _pradīpikā_ defines the _jālandhara_ and _uḍḍīyāna_ _bandhas_ thus:

kaṇṭhamākuñcya hṛdaye sthāpayeccibukaṁ dṛḍham ।

bandho jālandharākhyo'yaṁ jarāmṛtyu-vināśakaḥ ॥

_Having_ contracted the throat, the chin should be held firmly at the chest. This is the bandha called jālandhara. It destroys old age and de _ath._

udare paścimaṁ tānaṁ nābherūrdhvaṁ ca kārayet ।

uḍḍīyāno hyasau bandho mṛtyu-mātaṅgakesarī ॥

The abdomen above and below the navel should be drawn against the back. This is the uḍḍīyāna-bandha. It is the lion that kills the elephant of death.

About when the _jālandhara_ and _uḍḍīyāna bandhas_ should be practised during _prāṇāyāma_ , the _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ says:

pūrakānte tu kartavyo bandho jālandharābhidhaḥ ।

kumbhakānte recakādau kartavyastūḍḍiyānakaḥ ॥

The bandha named jālandhara should be practised at the close of inhalation. The uḍḍīyāna should be practised at the end of retention and before the start of exhalation.

The commentary _Jyotsnā_ on this verse clarifies:

uḍḍīyānakastu kumbhakānte kumbhakasyānte kiñcit-kumbhakaśeṣe

recakasyādau recakādau recakātpūrvaṁ kartavyaḥ ।

Uḍḍīyāna should be practised at the 'end of kumbhaka', that is a little before the conclusion of kumbhaka, and prior to recaka.

The _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ 's description of these _bandhas_ and the specification of when they are to be practised during _prāṇāyāma_ tally with those contained in the _Upaniṣads_ , such as the _Dhyānabindu_ , _Yogaśikhā_ and _Yogakuṇḍalī_.}

**I:** Did Bhagavān mention the names of the _bandhas_?

**Acharyal:** No. The Lord did not refer to the _padmāsana_ and _siddhāsana_ by name either.

**I:** Did the Lord speak of the relative duration of _pūraka_ , _kumbhaka_ and _recaka_?

**Acharyal:** No. What need was there for Him to do so for I was able to time them Myself? By seeing the position of His fingers on His nostrils and by observing His midriff, I could judge when He was engaged in _pūraka_ , _kumbhaka_ and _recaka_. As I had told you, following the Lord's blessing, I had spontaneously begun chanting the _Praṇava_. With the number of _Praṇavas_ as basis, I determined that the Lord's _kumbhaka_ lasted four times His _pūraka_ , while His _recaka_ was twice His _pūraka_. I made this determination during His second round of _prāṇāyāma_. Having demonstrated the practice of _prāṇāyāma_ in the _siddhāsana_ , the Lord did it in the _padmāsana_.

When I first taught you _prāṇāyāma_ , I felt that I should do so in imitation of what I had seen in this dream. That is why, I first performed _prāṇāyāma_ , with the _bandhas_ , twice in _siddhāsana_ and then twice in _padmāsana_. The timings of My inhalation, retention and exhalation were the same as those noted by Me in this dream. Where I deviated from the dream was when I told you that you could skip the _uḍḍīyāna-bandha_ and instead just pull in the abdomen to the extent that I then showed you. Can you tell Me what I said at that time about the role of _prāṇāyāma_?

I: cale vāte calaṁ cittaṁ niścale niścalaṁ bhavet ।

(When breath is active, so is the mind. When the breath is still, the mind is calm.)

Acharyal cited this half-verse. Acharyal then said that when the mind is agitated, breathing is not slow and rhythmic. On the other hand, the breathing is gentle and rhythmic when the mind is calm. This common observation suggests that there is a relationship between one's mental state and breathing. Not only does one's mental state influence one's breathing, the converse is also true. Breathing is a gross manifestation of the activity of _prāṇa_. The correlation is fundamentally between the activities of the mind and _prāṇa_. By controlling _prāṇa_ , the mind can be controlled. Through the control of breath, the practitioner of _prāṇāyāma_ checks the activity of _prāṇa_ and thereby that of the mind.

dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ ।

(Then, the mind becomes fit for fixed attention.)

Quoting this _sūtrā_ , Acharyal said that _prāṇāyāma_ facilitates the practice of meditation.

yathā parvata-dhātūnāṁ dahyante dhamanānmalāḥ ।

tathendriyakṛtā doṣā dahyante prāṇadhāraṇāt ॥

(Just as the impurities of ores are burnt by the furnace-blast, the faults of the organs are singed by the restraint of prāṇa.)

Then, having cited this verse, Acharyal freely translated it into Tamil and said that _prāṇāyāma_ is a great purifier.

**Acharyal:** Do you know why I asked you to recount what I had told you then?

**I:** I think it is because that teaching found a place in Acharyal's dream.

Acharyal: Your understanding is correct. After demonstrating the practice of prāṇāyāma in siddhāsana and padmāsana, Bhagavān cited the "cale vāte ..." passage. By His grace, even without His saying anything, the explanation that I gave you started to register in My mind. Till it did so, He was silent. Thereafter, He mentioned the Yogasūtrā and the Śruti passage.

Next, He demonstrated how _prāṇāyāma_ can be done with breathing being suspended after exhalation rather than after inhalation. Finally, He showed Me the various kinds of restraint of _prāṇa_ like _sūryabhedana_ , _ujjāyī_ , _sītkārī_ , _śītalī_ and _bhastrikā_ in such a way that I could clearly understand and distinguish them.

{About _sūryabhedana_ , _ujjāyī_ , _sītkārī_ , _śītalī_ and _bhastrikā_ , the _Haṭhayoga_ - _pradīpikā_ says:

atha sūryabhedanam

āsane sukhade yogī baddhvā caivāsanaṁ tataḥ ।

dakṣanāḍyā samākṛṣya bahiḥsthaṁ pavanaṁ śanaiḥ॥

ā keśādā nakhāgrācca nirodhāvadhi kumbhayet ।

tataḥ śanaiḥ savyanāḍyā recayet pavanaṁ śanaiḥ ॥

Now, sūryabhedana is spoken of. Seated in a firm āsana on a comfortable seat, the yogin should slowly draw in air from outside through the right nostril. He should retain it to the limit till he feels it right from the hair on his head to the tips of his nails. Then, he should slowly exhale the breath through the left nostril.

athojjāyī

mukhaṁ saṁyamya nāḍībhyāmākṛṣya pavanaṁ śanaiḥ ।

yathā lagati kaṇṭhāttu hṛdayāvadhi sasvanam ॥

pūrvavat kumbhayet prāṇaṁ recayediḍayā tathā ।

śleṣma-doṣaharaṁ kaṇṭhe dehānala-vivardhanam ॥

Now, ujjāyī is described. Having closed the mouth, one should draw in air slowly through both the nostrils such that it is felt to be sonorous from the throat to the heart. Then, the breath should be retained as in sūryabhedana and exhaled through the left nostril. This eradicates the defect of phlegm in the throat and intensifies the fire of digestion.

atha sītkārī

sītkāṁ kuryāttathā vaktre ghrāṇenaiva vijṛmbhikām

evamabhyāsa-yogena kāmadevo dvitīyakaḥ ॥

Now, sītkārī is presented. One should inhale through the mouth, making a hissing sound (by placing the tongue between the teeth). Exhalation should be only through the nostril. By practising thus, one becomes attractive like the god of love.

atha śītalī

jihvayā vāyumākṛṣya pūrvavat kumbhasādhanam

śanakairghrāṇarandhrābhyāṁ recayet pavanaṁ sudhīḥ ॥

Now śītalī is spoken of. One should inhale air through the tongue (kept protruding and curled to resemble a bird's beak). Kumbhaka should be done as in sūryabhedana. Then, the wise one should slowly exhale the air through the two nostrils.

atha bhastrikā

samyakpadmāsanaṁ baddhvā samagrīvodaraḥ sudhīḥ ।

mukhaṁ saṁyamya yatnena prāṇaṁ ghrāṇena recayet ॥

yathā lagati hṛtkaṇṭhe kapālāvadhi sasvanam ।

vegena pūrayeccāpi hṛtpadmāvadhi mārutam ॥

punarvirecayettadvat pūrayecca punaḥ punaḥ ।

Now bhastrikā is spoken of. Having properly adopted the padmāsana and kept the body and the neck erect, the wise man should close his mouth and forcefully exhale through the nostril such that there is sound from the heart and throat to the skull. Then, he should rapidly inhale air up the region of the heart. He should repeatedly exhale and inhale in this fashion.}

( **Acharyal:** ) With this, the dream ended and I awakened. The time was about two o'clock in the night. My mental chanting of the _Praṇava_ , which began when the Lord blessed Me, persisted throughout the dream, inclusive of when I heard the passages voiced by the Lord. On waking up, I noticed that I spontaneously continued to recite in My mind the _Praṇava_.

Impelled by some force, I stood up, with My legs somewhat apart. I slightly bent forward and gripped My thighs with My hands. Then, I gradually exhaled and pulled My abdomen towards My back and upwards to adopt the _uḍḍīyāna-bandha_ in a standing posture. Though I could not understand why I was doing all this in the middle of the night, I felt amazed to see the extent to which a deep cavity had formed in the region of My abdomen. After some moments, I gradually exhaled and straightened up.

Directed further by the force, I sat down in the _siddhāsana_ and started to perform _prāṇāyāma_. I inhaled for a shorter duration than had the Lord. This simplified the practice; however, it was not the result of any decision of Mine. At the end of _pūraka_ , I adopted not only the _jālandhara-bandha_ but also the _mūla-bandha_. I had not identified the Lord's performance of the _mūla-bandha_ in My dream and was unfamiliar with it.

{The _Haṭhayoga_ - _pradīpikā_ describes the _mūla_ - _bandha_ thus:

pārṣṇibhāgena saṁpīḍya yonimākuñcayed-gudam ।

apāna-mūrdhvamākṛṣya mūlabandho'bhidhīyate ॥

Pressing the perineum with the heel, one should contract the anus and draw up apāna. This is called mūla-bandha.}

( **Acharyal:** ) My having practised the _uḍḍīyāna-bandha_ in a standing posture facilitated My doing it during _prāṇāyāma_. Though My _pūraka_ was shorter than the Lord's, as in His case, My _kumbhaka_ and _recaka_ lasted four times and twice the _pūraka_. Having performed two _prāṇāyāmas_ in the _siddhāsana_ , I did the same in the _padmāsana_. Throughout, there was no planning on My part and the mental chanting of the _Praṇava_ proceeded without any interruption. After doing _prāṇāyāma_ in the _padmāsana_ , I lay down and fell asleep. I awoke very fresh, well before sunrise.

The dream and the events that followed were crystal clear in My mind. I had no words to express My gratitude to Bhagavān for having extraordinarily graced Me in spite of My being so unworthy and that too on the very day of My new life. I did not have an iota of doubt that the Lord would ever take care of and guide Me. All I needed to do was to not give room to egoism. After spending some minutes practising the different kinds of restraint of _prāṇa,_ such as _śītalī_ , I went for My ablutions. No one knew about My having done _prāṇāyāma_ at night or before daybreak.

**I:** Did the mental chanting of the _Praṇava_ persist spontaneously after Acharyal woke up?

**Acharyal:** No. The Lord had, by His blessing, initiated the chanting and given Me an understanding of how natural, uninterrupted and delightful it can be. I felt that the Lord intended that I should practise such chanting to the extent of it becoming effortless. Accordingly, I began to engage voluntarily in mental _Praṇava-japa_ within a minute of My awakening. By Bhagavān's grace, within a year, such _japa_ became as effortless and uninterrupted as in the special dream. It continued even in dreams and while I conversed.

**I:** Did Acharyal report the events to Paramacharyal that day?

**Acharyal:** No. On that and the next several days, Acharyal spared time to personally familiarise Me with My _āhnika_ and other duties. He also initiated Me into _mantras_ such as the _Śrīvidyā_. I regarded it as inappropriate to take any more of His time by reporting My experiences to Him.

The following night I had a dream in which the Lord continued His teaching. He first gave a demonstration of _kevala-kumbhaka_. His breathing stopped all of a sudden and He remained motionless for some time, with His eyes closed. I began to experience tremendous peace. I think that My breathing too stopped without any reference to the preceding state of inhalation or exhalation. Gradually, the Lord started to breathe again and opened His eyes. As He did so, I realised that this _kumbhaka_ is superior to and is the fruit of the practice of restraint that considers _pūraka_ and _recaka_.

{Mahaṛṣi Patañjali describes _kevala-kumbhaka_ thus in his _Yogasūtrās_ :

bāhyābhyantara-viṣayākṣepī caturthaḥ ॥

The fourth (kevala-kumbhaka) is that which follows when the spheres of the external and internal are transcended.

After detailing the practice of _prāṇāyāma_ in which _kumbhaka_ and _recaka_ are respectively four and two times the _pūraka_ , the _Yogatattva-upaniṣad_ presents and eulogises _kevala-kumbhaka_ thus:

tataḥ paraṁ yatheṣṭaṁ tu śaktaḥ syādvāyudhāraṇe ॥

yatheṣṭa-dhāraṇādvāyoḥ sidhyetkevalakumbhakaḥ ।

kevale kumbhake siddhe recapūravivarjite ॥

na tasya durlabhaṁ kiñcittriṣu lokeṣu vidyate ।

Thereafter, he acquires the capacity to restrain his breath for as long as he wishes. From such stoppage of breath, there accrues the attainment of kevala-kumbhaka. On his attaining kevala-kumbhaka, which is not associated with inhalation and exhalation, nothing in the three worlds is difficult for him to achieve.}

( **Acharyal:** ) Then, during that dream and the ones on the succeeding nights, the Lord demonstrated numerous _yogāsanas_ and _kriyās_ such as _nauli_. There were no repetitions. He performed the _āsanas_ very swiftly but with unmatchable grace and with each step unmistakably clear. No human adept could have performed even a quarter of the number of _āsanas_ in the same time. Bhagavān did not name any _āsana_. Also, He did not direct Me to do any _āsana_ before His passing on to the next. However, whenever He performed one, I automatically understood whether this was just for My information or for My practice later. Purely by His grace, to this day, I can vividly recall His demonstration of any _āsana_ that I wish to see.

On the seventh night, towards the close of His teaching, He threw light on the _khecarī-mudrā_. Sitting in the _padmāsana_ , He stretched out His tongue. In moments, the membrane connecting it with the lower part of the mouth began to give way gradually as if it were being cut with a knife. Simultaneously, the tongue became thinner and longer. Soon, it resembled that of a dog. The Lord turned it upwards. It reached up to the head. I automatically understood that the normal procedure involved cutting the fraenum, little by little, over a long period and elongating the tongue by shaking and pulling it.

Having transformed His tongue into a thin long one, Bhagavān directed His gaze to between the brows. He then turned His tongue backwards and inserted it into the cavity at the back of the throat that leads to the nose. Thereafter, the Lord remained motionless and with no perceptible signs of breathing. At that time, My breathing too stopped. I felt something cool and very pleasant to taste descend into the back of My mouth. It greatly invigorated Me. The understanding dawned that this fluid obviates hunger, thirst, weakness and dullness. As the Lord lowered His tongue, My experience ended. The next moment, His tongue became normal.

{The _khecarī-mudrā_ has been described and eulogised in the _Upaniṣads_ such as the _Yogakuṇḍalī_ and in _haṭha-yoga_ texts. The _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ says:

chedanacālanadohaiḥ kalāṁ krameṇātha vardhayettāvat ।

sā yāvadbhrūmadhyaṁ spṛśati tadā khecarīsiddhiḥ ॥

The tongue should be gradually lengthened by cutting, shaking and stretching till it reaches the middle of the eyebrows. Then khecarī is successfully accomplished.

kalāṁ parāṅmukhīṁ kṛtvā tripathe pariyojayet ।

sā bhavetkhecarī mudrā vyomacakraṁ taducyate ॥

Turning back the tongue, it should be put into the path of the three nādīs (that is, into the cavity in the roof of the palate). This is the khecarī-mudrā that is also known as vyomacakra.

na rogo maraṇaṁ tandrā na nidrā na kṣudhā tṛṣā ।

na ca mūrcchā bhavettasya yo mudrāṁ vetti khecarīm॥

He who knows the khecarī-mudrā is free from disease, death, dullness, sleep, hunger, thirst and clouding of the mind.}

( **Acharyal:** ) Finally, Parameśvara taught Me _nāda-anusandhāna_ (contemplation on the internal sound). With His fingers, He closed His nose, mouth and ears. Then He concentrated on the ocean-like sound heard in the right ear. I comprehended that He was doing so because, without any effort of Mine, My attention locked on to such sound in My right ear. I also got the feeling that with practice one can focus on this sound even without closing the ears. Soon, I heard different sounds in succession. Finally, all sounds ceased and I was overwhelmed with bliss. The next moment, My experience ended. I saw the Lord taking His hands away from His face.

The Lord raised His right hand in a gesture of blessing and got up. I promptly prostrated before Him, placing My head on His lotus feet. As I rose, He walked towards the crystal _Liṅga_ from which He had manifested. A flash of light preceded His disappearance into that _Liṅga_. At this point, My dream ended. The Lord had not left His seat at the close of the preceding six extraordinary dreams. So, when I woke up at My usual time, I knew that this was the last of this series of dreams.

**I:** How many _āsanas_ did the Lord teach?

**Acharyal:** Hundreds. These included all those described in the authoritative works such as _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ and numerous others that I have not come across in any book. I do not think even an expert with a highly supple body can do more than a few of the many _āsanas_ of the latter kind.

**I:** After the first dream, Acharyal had been able to straightaway perform the _siddhāsana_ and _padmāsana_ and, while so seated, do _prāṇāyāma_ with the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍīyāna_ and _mūla-bandhas_. __ Was there any need for practice to accomplish the other _āsanas_ and all the _kriyās_?

**Acharyal:** While I was able to perform the simple _āsanas_ such as _śīrsāsana_ in the first attempt, the tougher ones such as _gheraṇḍāsana_ and _mukhottānāsana_ needed effort and practice. Among the _kriyās_ , Bhagavān did not teach Me _vasti_ and I did not practise it. I have, however, witnessed its performance and know how to do it. Mastering the other _kriyās_ was easy. I practised _dhauti_ , _neti_ and _nauli_ regularly.

{The six _kriyās_ are _dhauti_ , _vasti_ , _neti_ , _trāṭaka_ , _nauli_ and _kapālabhāti_. These serve to purify the body. The _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ describes their practice thus:

caturaṅgula-vistāraṁ hastapañcadaśāyatam ।

gurūpadiṣṭa-mārgeṇa siktaṁ vastraṁ śanairgraset।

punaḥ pratyāhareccaitaduditaṁ dhautikarma tat ॥

One should slowly swallow, as taught by the Guru, a wet cloth that has the width of four fingers and is fifteen spans long. One should then draw out the cloth. This is the dhauti-kriyā.

nābhidaghnajale pāyau nyastanālotkaṭāsanaḥ ।

ādhārākuñcanaṁ kuryātkṣālanaṁ vastikarma tat॥

One should sit in utkaṭāsana in water reaching up to one's navel with a tube inserted into the anus. Then, one should contract the anus (draw in water and expel it). Such washing is the vasti-kriyā.

sūtraṁ vitasti susnigdhaṁ nāsānāle praveśayet

mukhānnirgamayeccaiṣā netiḥ siddhairnigadyate ॥

One should insert into a nostril, a smooth thread that is a span (or more) long and draw it out through the mouth. The siddhas call this neti.

nirīkṣenniścaladṛśā sūkṣmalakṣyaṁ samāhitaḥ ।

aśrusaṁpātaparyantam-ācāryaistrāṭakaṁ smṛtam॥

One should gaze steadily with a focused mind at a minute object till tears fall. Teachers regard this to be trāṭaka.

amandāvartavegena tundaṁ savyāpasavyataḥ ।

natāṁso bhrāmayedeṣā nauliḥ siddhaiḥ praśasyate ॥

With shoulders lowered, one should rotate the abdomen to the left and right with the speed of a swift eddy. Siddhas reveal this to be nauli.

bhastrāvallohakārasya recapūrau sasaṁbhramau ।

kapālabhātirvikhyātā kaphadoṣaviśoṣaṇī ॥

One should draw in and push out air rapidly like the bellows of a blacksmith. This is called kapālabhāti. It destroys phlegmatic defects.

About His mastering _dhauti_ , Acharyal told me in 1973, "I took a long thin piece of muslin cloth, and swallowed some of it. Then, I gently pulled it out. I did this two or three times. The next day, I swallowed a much greater length. By the fourth day, I could comfortably put as much of the cloth as I wanted into the throat and stomach and slowly pull it out. I found that this _kriyā_ helped to clear any phlegm in the throat."

Describing His practice of _neti_ , He said on the same occasion, "I used My index finger to push a soft cloth or thread into a nostril as far as I could. Closing the other nostril, I inhaled in jerks and exhaled through the mouth. By the suction and the guiding force from outside, the thread went well into the nostril and came down to the back of the mouth. In the initial stages of practice, I found the thread going slightly into the wind pipe or gullet and producing a funny sensation. However, I soon learnt the remedy.

"When the inserted material appeared at the back of My throat, I cleared My throat with a sound. At the same time, I inserted My index finger and thumb into the throat and, grasping the thread, pulled it to make it protrude from the mouth. The pulling should be done slowly to avoid damage to the nasal tissues. Thereafter, I oscillated the cloth or thread by pulling and releasing its opposite ends. This too should be done slowly. After this, I pulled out the thread through the nostril and repeated the whole process through the other nostril. I found this _kriyā_ to be quite useful in clearing the phlegm blocking the nostrils."

After speaking of _neti_ , Acharyal demonstrated how He did _nauli_. He stood with His legs separated and His palms pressed against His thighs. Having fully expelled air from the lungs, He deeply pulled in His abdomen. He then controlled His muscles to make the abdominal region resemble a cavity with a vertical tube in the middle. He then made the tube swing from side to side and execute a churning motion. Finally, He restored His abdomen to its normal form and said, "This used to be My favourite _kriyā_."}

**I:** How many of the _āsanas_ demonstrated by Śiva but not mentioned in books did Acharyal master?

**Acharyal:** Six. Close the door. I will show you one of them and you can see how tough it is.

{The conversation took place in the hall extending from east to west in the upper storey of Sacchidananda Vilas. As directed, I shut the door on the eastern side that led to the stairs. By the time I returned to Acharyal, He had removed His upper garment and was spreading His _dhoti_ on the ground to serve as a mat. He was attired in just an ochre loin cloth. I watched thoroughly spellbound as, step by step, Acharyal assumed an extremely complex, inverted pose. Such was the tight knot into which He tied Himself that it appeared that His body was made of highly elastic rubber and comprised no bones. Having held the final pose for about a minute, Acharyal gradually unwound Himself and put on His lower and upper garments.}

( **Acharyal:** ) The first two times that I tried to do this, I failed. The third time I succeeded only partially. On My next attempt, I somehow managed to adopt the final position but became stuck in it. I found that I was just unable to release the knot that bound My hands and legs. I called to mind Bhagavān's performance of this _āsana_. In imitation of what He had done, I emptied My lungs and used My middle fingers to release Myself a little. The rest was manageable. From the fifth try onwards, I had no difficulty.

**I:** When teaching me _āsanas_ , Acharyal had told me, "When I was young, I asked Kasi Swamigal if I could watch him perform _āsanas_ in order to do them Myself. In those days, _bairāgīs_ (wandering renunciants) used to come to Sringeri, stay for a time and go away. I saw them practising various _āsanas_. My curiosity was aroused and I carefully noted how they performed them. As My body was supple, I did not have difficulty in mastering the _āsanas_ and _kriyās_ that I had observed Kasi Swamigal and the _bairāgīs_ do. Further, I enjoyed doing them and so the learning process was expedited. I used to get clarifications whenever necessary to ascertain that what I was doing was right."

It is now clear to me that Bhagavān had taught Acharyal. I am, however, unclear as to how to reconcile this understanding with Acharyal's earlier statement about Acharyal putting into practice what Acharyal had seen Kasi Swamigal and the _bairāgīs_ do.

**Acharyal:** There is no _āsana_ or Kriya that I ever performed that Śiva had not shown Me in the dreams. However, it is also a fact that I practised the _āsanas_ and _kriyās_ only after learning, as it were, a number of them from Kasi Swamigal and the _bairāgīs_. Further, I did come to know the names of _āsanas_ from Kasi Swamigal and the _bairāgīs_ and, later, from books.

{When interviewed in the 1980s, Kasi Swamigal said that when young Acharyal had approached him and watched him perform the _uḍḍīyāna-bandha_ and _āsanas_ , such as _gorakṣa_. Acharyal did not do the _āsanas_ in his presence. Regarding the _kriyās_ such as _dhauti_ , the Swamigal stated that he did not practise them. Presumably, it was only the _bairāgīs_ who did the _kriyās_ that Acharyal referred to.}

**I:** What was the reason for Acharyal postponing doing _āsanas_ and _kriyās_ till having seemingly learnt many of them from humans?

**Acharyal:** I felt that this is what God wanted Me to do. Because of this, there was no scope for the Math staff and others to wonder how I was abruptly able to practice _haṭha-yoga_ without having been taught. As for _prāṇāyāma_ and the _bandhas_ , I initially did them secretly at about three in the night and then went back to sleep. Subsequently, for some time, I did them privately during My _āhnika_. It is only after having supposedly learnt them from others that I practised them without being secretive. As for _nāda-anusandhāna_ , I did it once a week along with My _āhnika_. I believe, I only did as God intended Me to when I started doing _prāṇāyāma_ with the _bandhas_ after the first dream and _nāda-anusandhāna_ after the seventh dream.

**I:** Were there any _āsanas_ and _mudrās_ that are described in _haṭha-yoga_ texts which Bhagavān did not teach Acharyal?

**Acharyal:** As far as I know, He did not omit any _āsana_. However, He skipped _mudrās_ such as _vajroli_. I never did these.

{As described in the _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ , the practice of _vajroli_ begins with gradually inserting a tube into the penis. Having cleared the passage by blowing, one learns to draw water through it. An aim is to be able to draw ejaculated semen back into the penis.}

**I:** How many _āsanas_ did Acharyal perform every day and how many cycles of _prāṇāyāma_ with the _bandhas_?

**Acharyal:** The number of _āsanas_ varied. Within a few years after _saṁnyāsa_ , I began to devote half an hour exclusively for _āsanas_ and _kriyās_ and half an hour for _prāṇāyāma_. I performed some _āsanas_ , such as _śīrsāsana_ , _sarvāṅgāsana_ , _matsyāsana_ , _paścimottānāsana_ and _ardha-matsyendrāsana_ , and _kriyās_ such as _nauli_ , on all days. Apart from these, to the extent that I could accommodate within the available time, I did other _āsanas_ from My repertoire. I ended with five minutes of _śavāsana_. I required a week to complete one cycle of all the _āsanas_ that I practised.

After _śavāsana_ , I took up _prāṇāyāma_ with the three _bandhas_. I did 16 cycles with _pūraka_ , _kumbhaka_ and _recaka_ lasting for 16, 64 and 32 seconds or eight cycles with the timings being 32, 128 and 64 seconds. Over the course of every week, I also briefly accommodated the forms of restraint of _prāṇa_ such as _śītalī_. After _prāṇāyāma_ , I spent about 15 minutes on stamina and strength building exercises before going for My morning bath.

**I:** Did Acharyal straightaway start doing _prāṇāyāma_ with the retention lasting for over two minutes?

**Acharyal:** No. Over the course of two weeks, I raised the retention time from about a minute to this. Within a month of practice, I could retain My breath comfortably for five minutes. However, the idea of performing _prāṇāyāma_ regularly with so long a _kumbhaka_ did not appeal to Me for, then, I could not have done even four cycles within My scheduled half an hour. Though it is many years since I casually retained My breath for five minutes, I shall demonstrate this to you now.

{A thought crossed my mind whether during such prolonged retention Acharyal would slow down His metabolism and lower His pulse rate. Immediately, Acharyal laughed and said, "You can note My pulse now and in the final minute." I measured His pulse rate and found it to be 67 beats per minute. Then, Acharyal fully emptied His lungs, pressed His nostrils shut and performed the _jālandhara-bandha_. His eyes were open and there was a light smile on His face. At the end of the fourth minute, I began counting His pulse and did so till the end of the fifth minute. His pulse rate was just 29 beats per minute. As I withdrew my hand from Acharyal's wrist, which He had held out to facilitate my measurement, He released the pressure on His nostrils and smoothly took a couple of deep breaths.}

**I:** When did Acharyal switch from the standard 1:4:2 ratio for the relative duration of _pūraka_ , _kumbhaka_ and _recaka_ to the ratio 1:2:2 that Acharyal now favours?

**Acharyal:** That was after Acharyal's return from Kalady (in early 1939). It was He who suggested the new ratio. I considered His hint a sacred directive and implemented it.

**I:** Were there other series of dreams of the kind that Acharyal just spoke of in which God taught Acharyal in depth about _yoga_?

**Acharyal:** Not a series but a single dream that occurred some months later. I shall tell you about it someday.

{After this, Acharyal went for His afternoon bath and _āhnika_. He later gave the following elucidation about guidance and directives received in dreams. It is certain that all that is seen in a dream is false.

na tatra rathā na rathayogā na panthāno bhavanti

There are no chariots, horses or paths there.

māyāmātraṁ tu kārtsnyenānabhivyakta-svarūpatvāt ॥

But the dream creation is a mere illusion on account of its nature of not being manifest with the totality of the attributes (found in the waking state, such as adequate space, time and circumstances and not being nullified).

Nevertheless, what is encountered in a dream may, uncommonly, form a basis for spiritual practice. In the _Yoga-śāstra_ , it is said:

svapnanidrā-jñānālambanaṁ vā ॥

Alternatively, the mind reaches the state of steadiness by having as its object of focus a perception had in dream or sleep.

Explaining this, Vācaspati has said (in his gloss _Tattvavaiśāradī_ ) that a person may see in a dream an exquisite, well-decorated image of Śiva in a forest. After waking up, the person concerned can recall that image and meditate upon it.

Rarely, a person may have a dream in which he receives initiation from God or the _Guru_ into a _mantra_. In the _Mahābhārata_ [in chapters 80 and 81 of the _Droṇa-parvan_ ], there is an account of a dream in which Arjuna received instructions from Śiva. Having vowed to slay Jayadratha by sunset the next day, Arjuna was worried about how he could achieve success. When he fell asleep, he had a dream in which Kṛṣṇa came to him and led him on an aerial journey to the summit of the Kailāsa mountain. There, they beheld Śiva and eulogised Him. In response to Arjuna's prayer, the Lord directed them to fetch His bow, _pināka_ , and His _pāśupata-astra_ from a celestial lake. When they did so, a _brahmacārin_ emerged from Śiva's side and taught Arjuna how to discharge the _pāśupata_ arrow. The Lord also taught Arjuna the _mantras_ for invoking the weapon. Arjuna's memory of the instructions about the use of the _pāśupata_ that he had received much earlier from Śiva was thereby restored. On waking up, he was in a position to invoke with _mantras_ and employ the irresistible _pāśupata,_ if needed.

A dream in which one sees the _Guru_ or God is good and can be viewed as a sign of divine grace. However, one ought not to indiscriminately assume that whatever instruction one has received in the dream is indeed the directive of the _Guru_ or God and blindly carry it out. For instance, it would be a grave error for one to harm another because of having dreamt of being commanded to do so. One should not implement what is contrary to one's _dharma_ nor give weight to a teaching that is discordant with the actual position of the scriptures and one's _Sadguru_.

Rare are the dreams in which one is actually blessed with the instructions of God or the _Sadguru_. A sceptic who hears of a dream of this kind would, perhaps, dismiss it as a fabrication of the narrator or seek to explain it in some other way such as that the apparently new information acquired is actually based on knowledge unwittingly gained earlier. The extraordinary nature of such dreams and the appropriateness and worth of the guidance received through them are, however, generally unmistakable to the one who has them.}

# 5. Devotion and Karma-yoga

[The following conversation took place in October 1987 at the Sringeri Shankara Math, Bangalore. When I went to Acharyal during His morning āhnika to offer my namaskāras, I saw Him wiping tears of joy.]

**Acharyal:** I just completed the _japa_ of the _Narasiṁha-mantra_. Suddenly, I remembered what happened when Acharyal graced Me with initiation into the _Narasiṁha-mantra_ subsequent to His giving Me _saṁnyāsa_. The memory brought tears of joy to My eyes. During the initiation, when Acharyal was about to start voicing the _dhyāna-śloka_ , I found Myself spontaneously visualising Narasiṁha in My heart. As I heard and repeated the _dhyāna-śloka_ , I realised with surprise and happiness that the form of Narasiṁha described therein and the one I was seeing matched.

{The _dhyāna-śloka_ concerned is:

satyajñāna-sukhasvarūpam-amalaṁ kṣīrābdhi-madhyayasthitaṁ

yogārūḍham atiprasanna-vadanaṁ bhūṣā-sahasrojjvalam ।

tryakṣaṁ cakrapināka-sābhayavarān-bibhrāṇamarkacchaviṁ

chatrībhūta-phaṇīndram-indudhavalaṁ lakṣmīnṛsiṁhaṁ bhaje॥

I worship Lakṣmī-nṛsiṁha whose essential nature is absolute existence, consciousness and bliss, who is immaculate, who is established in yoga, whose countenance is very pleasing, who is glorious with numerous ornaments, who has three eyes, who bears (in His four hands) the (sudarśana) cakra, the pināka (bow) and the signs of granting fearlessness and boons, who is lustrous like the sun, who is fair in complexion like the moon, who has (the set of hoods of) the king of snakes (Śeṣa) serving as an umbrella over Him and who dwells in the middle of the ocean of milk.

In 1976, in the course of His evening walk, Acharyal casually chanted this verse and then told me, "God who is formless and of the nature of absolute existence, consciousness and bliss ( _saccidānanda-svarūpaḥ_ ) appears as Śiva, Viṣṇu, Ambā and so on for the sake of His devotees. The form of Narasiṁha described in this _dhyāna-śloka_ is itself suggestive of the actual non-difference between Śiva and Viṣṇu. That Narasiṁha is an incarnation of Viṣṇu is well known. Here, He is spoken of as being with Lakṣmī, the consort of Viṣṇu, as bearing the _cakra_ , the weapon of Viṣṇu, and as having the hoods of Śeṣa as His umbrella, like Viṣṇu. Further, He is said to be in the middle of the ocean of milk. This too fits Viṣṇu. However, Narasiṁha is presented here, like Śiva, as three-eyed. He bears the _pināka_ , the bow of Śiva. Further, like Śiva, and unlike Viṣṇu, Narasiṁha is described as very fair."}

( **Acharyal:** ) The words relating to the _pañcopacāra-pūjā_ (following the _dhyāna-śloka_ ) took only some seconds for Acharyal to utter and for Me to repeat. Yet, I experienced no shortage of time in elaborately worshipping the Lord mentally in My heart with offerings of sandal paste, flowers, incense, lamp, food and so on. I can attribute only to divine grace the irresistible urge that led Me to begin the worship. During _naivedya_ , I served the Lord a variety of dishes in a jewel-studded golden plate, put a little food into His mouth, waited for Him to masticate and swallow and only thereafter offered another morsel. It was as if the several seconds miraculously became extended to over half an hour from My perspective. Even while performing the worship with concentration and dedication, I was able to see Acharyal and repeat His words without delay.

{The words about the _pañcopacāra-pūjā_ are:

laṁ - pṛthivyātmane gandhaṁ kalpayāmi ।

haṁ - ākāśātmane puṣpaṁ kalpayāmi ।

yaṁ - vāyvātmane dhūpam-āghrāpayāmi ।

raṁ - agnyātmane dīpaṁ darśayāmi ।

vaṁ - amṛtātmane amṛtopahāraṁ nivedayāmi ।

saṁ - sarvātmane sarvopacāra-pūjāssamarpayāmi ।

Laṁ (bīja of pṛthvī)! I present sandal paste to Him who is the essence of pṛthvī (earth). Haṁ (bīja of ākāśa)! I offer flowers to Him who is the essence of ākāśa (space). Yaṁ (bīja of vāyu)! I submit the fragrance of incense to Him who is the essence of vāyu (air). Raṁ (the bīja of agni)! I show a lamp to Him who is the essence of agni (fire). Vaṁ (the bīja of āpas)! I serve an offering of divine food to Him who is the essence of ambrosia. Saṁ (the bīja of jagat)! I offer worship with all articles of homage to Him who is the essence of all.}

( **Acharyal:** ) When Acharyal started to utter the _Narasiṁha-mantra_ (after the _pañcopacāra-pūjā_ ), He placed His right palm on My head. He did not do this when He initiated Me into other _mantras_ such as the _Medhā-dakṣiṇāmūrti_ and _Śrīvidyā_.

{The _Mantrarāja of_ Narasiṁha is:

ugraṁ vīraṁ mahāviṣṇuṁ jvalantaṁ sarvatomukham ।

nṛsiṁhaṁ bhīṣaṇaṁ bhadraṁ mṛtyumṛtyuṁ namāmyaham ॥

I salute Nṛsimha, the fierce, heroic, great one who pervades all (Mahā-viṣṇu), the lustrous one with faces everywhere, the fearsome one, the auspicious one and the destroyer of death.

Acharyal once told me, in 1976, "Every word of this _mantra_ is deeply significant. I shall illustrate this by briefly considering three of the words. A term describing the Lord is ' _jvalantaṁ_ '. That Narasiṁha is lustrous is a simple meaning. Consciousness is the light of lights; but for it, no luminary like the sun or a lamp would be visible. Narasiṁha ever shines as the light of consciousness. This is a deeper meaning.

"Another term of the _mantra_ is ' _sarvatomukhaḥ_ '. This literally means that He has faces on all sides. The _Upaniṣads_ teach that though devoid of all organs, the Supreme grasps everything everywhere. In this sense, Narasiṁha is ' _sarvatomukhaḥ_ ' _._

The _mantra_ speaks of the Lord as ' _bhīṣaṇaṁ_ '. The word literally means, 'fearsome'. The _Bhāgavata-purāṇa_ conveys that when Narasiṁha slew Hiraṇyakaśipu and continued to be fierce, the _devas_ and even Lakṣmī feared Him. The term fits the Lord in another way too. The Supreme ordains and enforces order in the universe. The laws of nature are His. It is said, 'Out of fear of this One, the wind blows. Out of fear of Him, the sun rises ( _Taittirīya-upaniṣad_ 2.8).' In this sense, Narasiṁha is ' _bhīṣaṇaḥ_ '. The _Nṛsiṁha-pūrvatāpanīya_ and _Nṛsiṁha-uttaratāpanīya_ _upaniṣads_ deal extensively with this _mantra_."}

( **Acharyal:** ) The moment Acharyal chanted the _mantra_ once and, following Him, I too did so, an amazing event occurred. Acharyal abruptly withdrew His hand from My head, joined His palms and gazed at Me silently with deep reverence. My breathing stopped. The form of Lakṣmī-narasiṁha that I was seeing within Me vanished. However, I began to experience the Lord as My _Antaryāmin_ (Inner Controller), refuge and intimate well-wisher as clearly as one can see a fruit in one's open palm. I ceased to regard the body, _prāṇa,_ organs, mind and intellect as Mine; everything was just His. I do not know how long I remained thus, motionless and immersed in bliss. All along, I did see Acharyal keeping His palms joined and looking in My direction.

Then, the form of Narasiṁha reappeared and My breathing resumed. My mental state reverted to what it had been during My chanting of the _mantra_ but with the difference that I now felt extremely intimate with Narasiṁha. At the same time, Acharyal lowered His hands. He then recited the _mantra_ two more times, giving Me time to repeat His words. After completing the initiation, He said, "After You had said the _mantra_ once, I saw just Narasiṁha in Your place. That is why I jerked back My hand from Your head and offered My salutation to Him. When His form disappeared and You reappeared, I proceeded with the initiation. Dedicate everything to Him." All this came to My mind a short while ago.

{Acharyal stopped speaking and continued with His _āhnika_. I prostrated before Him three times. As I did not wish to disturb Acharyal and take His time further, I did not ask Him about the short-term and long-term impacts of the experiences. As I was starting to leave, He smiled and Himself provided the answer.}

( **Acharyal:** ) Throughout that day, offering everything to Narasiṁha was extremely easy. For instance, when I had My afternoon bath, I automatically felt that I was performing _abhiṣeka_ to Narasiṁha who abided within Me. During _bhikṣā_ , I straightaway visualised Him as accepting from within and eating whatever I put into My mouth. When I read a book after _bhikṣā_ , He appeared to be listening from inside My heart as if I were reading to Him. As I walked, it spontaneously seemed that I was taking Him, who was within Me, for a stroll.

The next day onwards, however, I needed to consciously practise dedicating all My activities and their fruits to Him. I also started spending some time every day just for offering Him mental worship. The experiences of the day of initiation greatly facilitated both these and served as models. In a few months, _karma-yoga_ became natural. From the time of initiation, Narasiṁha became very dear to Me. As I have told you on several occasions, He takes care of Me like a child, guides Me, provides clarifications and sets right all the foolish things I say and do.

Before My _saṁnyāsa_ , Acharyal had told Me about the gracious role of Narasiṁha in the lives of Bhagavatpāda and Padmapāda and about the devotion of My _Parameṣtiguru_ (H.H. Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal) and My _Paramaguru_ (H.H. Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal) to Narasiṁha. He had also instructed Me to memorise some hymns on Narasiṁha such as Bhagavatpāda's " _Lakṣmī-nṛsiṁha-karuṇārasa-stotra_ ". After _saṁnyāsa_ , He extraordinarily initiated Me into the _Narasiṁha-mantra_ as I just told you and then imparted to Me the _Narasiṁha-kavaca_. It is to Him that I owe My intimacy with Narasiṁha.

{In 1977, when I submitted a manuscript to Acharyal, He opened it at random and read the following verse, which is from Bhartṛhari's _Vairāgya-śataka:_

maheśvare vā jagatām-adhīśvare janārdane vā jagadantarātmani

na vastubheda-pratipattirasti me tathāpi bhaktistaruṇendu-śekhare ॥

I have no conception of difference between Maheśvara (Śiva), the Lord of the universe, and Janārdana (Viṣṇu), the inmost Self of the universe. Nevertheless, I am attached to the One who bears the moon in His crest (Śiva).

Then, Acharyal conveyed that Śiva was the _iṣta-devatā_ of Paramacharyal by saying, "This verse applied to My _Guru_. Because of My fondness for Narasiṁha, He sometimes humorously remarked to Me, 'You are a Vaiṣṇava!'," added Acharyal.}
APPENDIX

[The following is an exposition of karma-yoga by Acharyal through parables. It had been penned and included by me in "Edifying Parables" published by the Sri Vidyatheertha Foundation in 1995.]

Three brothers went on a vacation to a hill station and stayed there in a cottage booked by them. One night, when they were fast asleep, a powerful earthquake wreaked havoc in the region. The roof of the cottage fell and would have crushed them to death had not a portion of the roof-beam come to rest on a piece of wooden furniture in the bedroom. From the creaking sounds that the brothers heard, they realised that, in moments, the roof would descend on them. There was simply no question of their remaining where they were till help arrived.

They turned towards the two doors that led out of the room. Due to an electric short-circuit, a fire had started near one of them. The flames were spreading. The way to the other door was strewn with glass pieces from the shattered window panes. One of the brothers ran towards the door where the fire was. He managed to escape through it but suffered severe burns and had to be hospitalised for weeks. The second brother recognised the danger of passing through the flames and so moved as swiftly as he could to the second door. His soles were pierced at several spots by the glass pieces on the way. He had to be hospitalised for two days.

The third brother thought, "It is madness to remain here. Heading towards the spreading flames is foolish, for severe burns will be inevitable. So, I must escape through the other door. However, I must first do something to protect my feet from the glass pieces." He tore his bed-spread and wrapped a piece of cloth on each foot. He worked fast and so the whole process took only seconds. Then, he headed for the door chosen by him. He escaped unhurt.

A person cannot remain without performing some action or the other just as the brothers were not in a position to remain where they lay in the bedroom. All his acts do have consequences. If he engages in _adharma_ , he will experience much suffering in future, in hell or on earth. His behaviour would be on par with that of the brother who headed towards the door engulfed by fire. He who performs meritorious deeds experiences happiness for some time in heaven or acquires a good birth on the earth. In any case, he has to be reborn. Thus, even the acquirer of _puṇya_ does suffer the bondage of transmigration. His conduct is comparable to that of the second brother. The path to the fiery door was easy to tread as is the path of evil; the way to other door was difficult as is the path of _dharma_ , to go along which one has to restrain the mind and the senses.

The Lord has explained how a person may perform actions but avoid being bound by them. A person should dedicate all his actions and their fruits to God and discharge his duties without hankering for the results. This means of performing actions but escaping bondage is called _karma-yoga_. The performer of _karma-yoga_ is like the third brother, who escaped through the very door through which the second brother had left (without suffering any injury). The most intelligent of the brothers protected his feet with bandages; the _karma-yogin_ protects himself by dedicating his actions and their fruits to God.

A person had the practice of performing _pūjā_ to God and offering Him fruits and other eatables. After his worship, he used to partake of an offered fruit as God's _prasāda_. An agnostic friend of his mockingly told him, "Your practice of performing _naivedya_ is silly. The fruit that you place before your God remains exactly at the same spot where it was kept. It undergoes no physical change either. Further, it is not the God you worship but you who consumes it."

The devotee responded with a smile, "I submit a fruit to God with the firm conviction that, in keeping with His statement in the _Bhagavad-gītā_ , He will accept it. Having received it, He is free to do whatever He pleases with it. Since He is omnipotent, He is perfectly capable of making it vanish or leaving it behind in its entirety after having consumed it. I believe that it is He who leaves behind the fruit for me after partaking of it in a humanly-inconceivable way. As far as I am concerned, what I consume after _naivedya_ is the remnant of what God has eaten.

"Recently, when your political leader came to your town, you and numerous others received him and offered him garlands. He certainly did not and could not wear all of them. He then gave you one of the garlands that he had received and you accepted it joyfully. As he walked through the large crowd of his supporters, he tossed some garlands to them and the crowd cheered. It is possible that a supporter got back the very garland that he had given. Just because your leader does not retain the garlands presented to him, you people do not abstain from the practice of garlanding him; you derive joy in honouring him and do not tell him what he should do with the garlands that you give him. Why then are you uncomfortable with my sincerely offering God fruits and feeling happy? When your leader can return a garland to you, why should God not be free to give me back the submitted fruits with His blessings? A _karma-yogin_ , in fact, offers to God not just eatables but all his thoughts, words and deeds."

A man had two servants. One of them was particular about eulogising his employer but not in executing his master's instructions. The other sincerely carried out the tasks assigned to him; he also held his master in high esteem. The employer obviously preferred the second servant to the first. A devotee who, like the second servant, sincerely performs the duties ordained for him by God and specified in the scriptures and, further, does so in a spirit of dedication, pleases God greatly and receives His grace in abundance. By the Lord's grace, his mind becomes very pure. In due course, he realises the Truth and gets liberated.

A woman doted on her young son and took great care of him. One day, she woke up with an intense headache, fever and nausea. Nevertheless, she attended to the child's morning requirements without any laxity. That day, she found the rice prepared by her to be slightly overcooked. Promptly, she started to cook some more. Her husband noticed this and told her, "You are sick and in pain. Why do you want to strain yourself? The rice that is ready is quite eatable." "I want to give my son only the kind of rice that he is used to and likes. As for the overcooked rice, I shall consume it," replied the wife. Out of deep love for her child, the woman did her very best for him. Likewise, a _karma-yogin_ , by virtue of his devotion to God, performs his duties to the very best of his ability and refrains from _adharma_.

Two students appeared for an examination. In spite of having prepared well, they fared badly because the questions were very tough and some of them fell outside the scope of the prescribed syllabus. One of them, who did not practise _karma-yoga_ , became highly dejected because of his inept performance. When he went home and sat down to prepare for the next day's subject, his mind kept reverting to that day's question paper. His worry greatly hampered his preparation. The other boy, being a practitioner of _karma-yoga_ , did not experience the least anxiety. This is because, in the examination hall itself, he had dedicated his performance and its fruit to God. After returning home, undisturbed by worry, he focused his attention on the next day's subject.

On the following day, the first boy became flabbergasted on encountering a tough question. The _karma-yogin_ read the question carefully and answered it to the best of his ability without getting perturbed in the least. It is hardly surprising that the first boy secured a lower rank than his friend. This example shows that the efficiency of a _karma-yogin_ exceeds that of a person who acts with a longing for the fruits of his actions.

The Lord has declared in the _Bhagavad-gītā_ , "Perform your prescribed duties, for action is superior to inaction. Moreover, even the maintenance of your body will not be possible through inaction. Man becomes bound by all his actions except those done by him for the sake of God. O son of Kuntī, perform actions for the sake of God, without being attached... By performing his duty without attachment, a person attains liberation (through the purification of his mind)."

# 6. Exposure to Kuṇḍalinī-yoga

[The following conversation took place in May, 1978 at Sringeri. Acharyal sent for me in the afternoon. He was seated alone upstairs in the eastern side of Sacchidananda Vilas. He gave me two books in English in which the authors had written about experiences associated with the arousal and ascent of the kuṇḍalinī-śakti. Acharyal had first enlightened me about kuṇḍalinī-yoga in 1973 and had subsequently thrown further light on it on some occasions. He asked me to read the books and give Him my comments on the contents. Then He queried, "Is there anything you would like to ask?"]

**I:** Would Acharyal please tell me about Acharyal's first experience of the _kuṇḍalinī_ and the _cakras_?

**Acharyal:** This took place a few months after My being initiated into _saṁnyāsa_ (on May 22, 1931). I had just finished My morning _āhnika_ and was about to get up. Without premeditation, I joined My palms and said,

"śrī śāradāyai namaḥ।

(Obeisance to the glorious Śāradā.)"

Abruptly, I felt an upsurge of joy and stopped being aware of My surroundings. It began to seem that My body was becoming transparent and that I was seeing My backbone from some vantage point in front of My chest.

**I:** Did Acharyal apprehend the backbone together with the rib cage, internal organs and so on?

**Acharyal:** No. It was the backbone that stood out, whitish in colour, with the silhouette of the body appearing dark like a shadow. The backbone then seemed to become translucent to reveal a canal in its interior. In moments, the canal's width became greatly magnified. I could then see a tube, red and bright like fire, traversing the length of the canal. A mellifluous female voice announced,

"iyaṁ suṣumnā nāḍī ।

(This is the suṣumnā-nāḍī.)"

**I:** Could Acharyal perceive the speaker of the words?

**Acharyal:** No. I just heard the words. The width of this fiery canal then expanded and a section along the length vanished to reveal another canal within. This one was coloured like the sun half an hour after sunrise. I heard the words,

"iyaṁ vajrā nāḍī ।

(This is the vajrā-nāḍī.)"

The width of this canal too abruptly increased and a section along the length faded away. A pale tube looking like the moon seen through a thin layer of cloud became visible within the earlier tube. At this juncture, the words that I heard were,

"iyaṁ citriṇī nāḍī । atra brahmanāḍī vartate । sā suṣumnetyapi vyapadiśyate ।

(This is the citriṇī-nāḍī. The brahma-nāḍī is here. It is even termed suṣumnā.)"

The meaning that flashed in My mind was that the pale tube was called _citriṇī_ , its hollow interior formed the _brahma-nāḍī_ and that the name _suṣumnā_ has been employed even to denote the _citriṇī_ or _brahma-nāḍī_. The fiery, sun-like and pale canals did appear to form a unit.

The scene underwent a change. I could then discern that the triad of _nāḍīs_ stretched from between the anus and the penis on the lower side to above the level of the eyebrows, into the head, on the upper side. Next, there appeared a moon-like tube that was distinctly coupled to the triad both at the base of the latter and between the eyebrows. On its upper side, this tube continued from the junction between the eyebrows to the left nostril. On its lower side, it ended at the right testicle. Between the two junctions, it formed arches on the triad's left and right sides, with the crossovers occurring at the levels of the throat, chest, navel and genital. For a moment, this shape was replaced by one in which the tube formed a bow-like arch between the lower and upper junctions and towards the body's left side. I felt that both the forms may be met with.

After the earlier shape was restored, I heard the words,

"iyaṁ iḍā nāḍī ।

(This is the iḍā-nāḍī.)"

Something appeared to be moving through this tube in synchrony with My breathing, which, I somehow felt, was taking place through just the left nostril. Also, the flow within this tube seemed to have a cooling effect.

In moments, this tube disappeared. Instead, another tube manifested that was red and bright. This too was clearly coupled to the triad between the brows and at the lower end of the triad but, unlike the _iḍā_ , continued to the right nostril and the left testicle. Between the upper and lower junctions, it formed arches on the sides of the triad, with crossovers at the levels of the throat, chest, navel and genital. However, wherever the previous tube traversed from left to right this crossed from right to left and vice versa. Then, for a moment, the shape changed and the tube resembled a bow between the upper and lower junctions, lying on the right side of the triad.

The words I then heard were,

"iyaṁ piṅgalā nāḍī ।

(This is the piṅgalā-nāḍī.)"

I began to feel that My breathing was taking place through just the right nostril. In synchrony with the breathing, I could apprehend something moving through this tube. The flow seemed to have a heating effect.

A few moments later, the moon-hued tube that had disappeared again came to sight. I could then see both the arching tubes simultaneously. Next, My breathing shifted from the right nostril to the left nostril and, with this, I noticed the activity in the reddish tube giving way to that in the moon-hued tube. Shortly, I felt that breathing was taking place through both the nostrils; I could then apprehend activity in both the tubes.

{Later, Acharyal said, "Three shapes of the _iḍā_ and the _piṅgalā_ have been spoken of. The first is characterised by each of the two _nādīs_ forming arches alternately on the left and right of the _suṣumnā_. The second form is that of a near straight line from the base of the _suṣumnā_ to the middle of the brows; the _iḍā_ remains on the left, while the _piṅgalā_ lies on the right of the _suṣumnā_. The third shape is roughly like that of a bow in the chest lying on one side of the _suṣumnā_. The first and the third shapes are the ones that are poles apart: the second can be regarded as a variant of the third in which the bow's curve is negligible with respect to its length." Acharyal then read the following portion of Kālicaraṇa's commentary on the first verse of the _Saṭcakra-nirūpaṇa_.

taduktaṁ yāmale-

iḍā ca piṅgalā caiva tasya vāme ca dakṣiṇe ।

ṛjvībhūte śire te ca vāma-dakṣiṇa-bhedataḥ ।

sarvapadmāni saṁveṣṭya nāsārandhragate śubhe ॥ iti ।

atra śire te ca ityatra cakāro vārthaḥ । etenānayoḥ sthityāṁ dvividhaḥ kalpo darśitaḥ । anyatrānayordhanurākāreṇa sthitiruktā । tadyathā - viddhi te dhanurākāre nāḍīḍāpiṅgale pare ॥ iti ।

It is said in the Yāmalā, "The iḍā and piṅgalā are on its left and right. These two either proceed straight up to the nostrils, or do so by alternating from the left to right and from the right to left and going round all the cakras."...By this, two positions of the iḍā and piṅgalā have been shown. The occurrence of a shape resembling the curvilinear part of a bow has been stated elsewhere. For instance, it is said, "Know the iḍā and piṅgalā nādīs to be shaped like a bow."}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** The scene soon underwent a change and centred on the lower end of the triad of tubes. There, I could see a beautiful lotus with four petals that were deep red in colour. The voice announced,

"idaṁ mūlādhāra-cakram ।

(This is the mūlādhāra-cakra.)"

At the pericarp of the lotus, there was a _Śivaliṅga_. A cobra lustrous like lightning lay with its body making about three and a half turns around the _Liṅga_. The serpent's hood rested on the upper end of the _Liṅga_ and its mouth effectively blocked the passage to the triad of tubes.

The serpent was motionless and appeared to be fast asleep. Yet, it was somehow unmistakable that it was the embodiment of unbounded power. I was told that this was the _kuṇḍalinī_.

Then, for a few moments, I saw on each of the four red petals, a distinct, bright golden letter; the letters were vaṁ, śaṁ, șaṁ, and saṁ. Simultaneously, I could apprehend a yellow, square region enclosing the pericarp. Inside this yellow square was an inverted red triangle; the kuṇḍalinī lay in the red triangle. The letter laṁ appeared in the square accompanied by the smell of the earth at the start of a spell of rain.

**I:** Did Acharyal feel that the lotus itself smells like freshly wet earth?

**Acharyal:** No. From the appearance of the _pṛthvī-bīja_ ( _laṁ_ ) and the smell, I just understood that the _mūlādhāra-cakra_ is associated with the element _pṛthvī_ (earth), which is characterised by the quality of smell.

Then, there manifested within the yellow square a white elephant with multiple tusks. On it was seated a _deva_ with four arms, holding a thunderbolt in one of them. I further saw a swan on which sat a _deva_ with four heads. A red-eyed _devī_ with four arms was also visible. From the voice, I learnt that the elephant was Airāvata and the divinity on it was Indra; the other _deva_ was Brahma, while the _devī_ was Dākinī. The divinities then disappeared and I could see just the lotus with the _Liṅga_ and _kuṇḍalinī_.

**I:** What was the overall impression that formed in Acharyal's mind?

**Acharyal:** I got the feeling that the _kuṇḍalinī_ was primary and that a way of contemplating on the _mūlādhāra-cakra_ was in association with the letters and divinities as seen by Me.

Thereafter, the scene shifted up the _suṣumnā_ to around the level of the root of the penis. There, I beheld a lotus with six vermilion-hued petals. The voice said,

"idaṁ svādhiṣṭhāna-cakram ।

(This is the svādhiṣṭhāna-cakra.)"

The central region of the lotus was white and comprised a figure resembling the crescent-moon. Then, the letter _vaṁ_ manifested briefly in that region and, simultaneously, I felt the taste of water. The _āpo-bīja_ ( _vaṁ_ ) and the taste led Me to understand that the _svādhiṣṭhāna-cakra_ is associated with the element _āpas_ (water) characterised by the quality of taste.

Simultaneously, there appeared on the six vermilion petals, one bright letter each; the letters were _baṁ_ , _bhaṁ_ , _maṁ_ , _yaṁ_ , _raṁ_ , and _laṁ_. In the white zone, I could see a crocodile on which was seated a _deva_ with a noose. Further, I beheld the figure of Viṣṇu seated on an eagle and bearing in His four hands, a conch, _cakra_ , mace and lotus. A dark, three-eyed _devī_ was also visible. The voice informed Me that the _deva_ on the crocodile was Varuṇa and that the _devī_ was Rākinī.

The scene shifted farther up the _suṣumnā_. At the level of the navel, I could see a lotus with ten petals that were dark like rain-bearing clouds. In the interior region, there was an inverted red triangle. The words I heard were,

"idaṁ maṇipūra-cakram ।

(This is the maṇipūra-cakra.)"

On the ten petals flashed blue letters _ḍaṁ, ḍhaṁ, ṇaṁ, taṁ, thaṁ, daṁ, dhaṁ, naṁ, paṁ_ and _phaṁ_. The appearance of the _agni-bīja_ , _raṁ_ , within the red triangle together with a sensation of heat led Me to understand that this _cakra_ is associated with the element fire that is characterised by heat and form. I also saw in the red region a _deva_ with four arms seated on a ram, Rudra smeared with ashes and seated on a bull and a dark _devī_ with three faces wearing a yellow dress. I was told that the _deva_ on the ram was Agni (Fire) and that the _devī_ was Lākinī.

**I:** Was there anything explicit to convey that the _kuṇḍalinī_ can rise from the _mūlādhāra_ to the _svādhiṣṭhāna_ and then to the _maṇipūra_?

**Acharyal:** No, but there was the hint provided by the shift of focus up the _suṣumnā_ from one _cakra_ to the next. At any rate, of its own accord, a conviction arose on beholding the _svādhiṣṭhāna_ that this was a centre to which the _kuṇḍalinī_ could ascend through the _brahma_ - _nāḍī_. A similar certitude arose about the _maṇipūra_.

From the _maṇipūra_ , the scene shifted up the _suṣumnā_ to the level of the chest. I could see a lotus with twelve red petals. The voice informed Me,

"idam anāhata-cakram

(This is the anāhata-cakra.)"

In the interior, there was a smoke-coloured, hexagonal region formed by an upright and an inverted triangle. An inverted triangle lay within this and contained a lustrous _Liṅga_. This _cakra_ with a _Liṅga_ seemed to be a pure and sacred place. A non-vocal, internal sound became audible. I spontaneously felt that sound that was in an undifferentiated form in the _mūlādhāra_ passed on to a slightly less subtle state in the _maṇipūra_ and then reached the stage prior to spoken and heard speech here.

After this, the letters _kaṁ, khaṁ, gaṁ, ghaṁ, ṅaṁ, caṁ, chaṁ, jaṁ, jhaṁ, ñaṁ, ṭaṁ_ and _ṭhaṁ_ manifested for a few moments on the petals. In the hexagonal region, I saw the _vāyu-bīja_ , _yaṁ_ , and simultaneously felt a slight breeze. This led Me to understand that the _anāhata-cakra_ is associated with _vāyu_ (air) characterised by the quality of touch. I further saw in the hexagonal region, a four-armed _deva_ of a smoky hue seated on an antelope, a very attractive three-eyed _deva_ displaying the _abhaya_ and _varada-mudrās_ (symbols of granting fearlessness and boons) and a _devī_. The voice announced that the _deva_ on the antelope was Vāyu, the other _deva_ was Iśa (Śiva) and that the _devī_ was Kākinī.

The focus shifted farther up the _suṣumnā_ to the level of the throat. There, I beheld a lotus with sixteen petals that were smoky in hue. The voice stated,

"idaṁ viśuddha-cakram ।

(This is the viśuddha-cakra.)"

In the interior, there was a white circular region. For a few moments, the vowels manifested in red on the petals. The appearance of _haṁ_ , the _bīja_ of _ākāśa_ , in the circular region accompanied by the feeling of My being in vast expanse led Me to comprehend that this _cakra_ is associated with _ākāśa_ (space).

In the interior region, I also beheld a _deva_ seated on a white elephant, Śiva with five faces and ten arms together with Pārvatī, and a _devī_ clad in a yellow dress. The voice announced that the _deva_ was Ambara, that the Lord was here as Sadāśiva and that the _devī_ was Śākinī. This _cakra_ gave the impression of being an exalted centre.

The scene moved even farther up the _suṣumnā_ to the level of the eyebrows. I could see a glorious lotus with two white petals. The voice informed Me,

"idam ājñā-cakram ।

(This is the ājña-cakra.)"

In the central region, there was an inverted triangle wherein there was _Linga_. Above the triangle was a crescent. Then, the letters _haṁ_ and _kṣaṁ_ manifested in the two petals and the _Praṇava_ in the interior region. The _m_ of the _Praṇava_ was above the cresent, in _bindu_ form. I could also see a _devī_ with six faces. I was told that she was Hākinī. Beholding this _cakra_ itself gave great joy.

Then, above the end of the _suṣumnā_ and within the head, I saw a lotus with very many white petals hanging downward and arranged in multiple layers. All the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet could be seen here. The voice told Me that this was the thousand-petalled _sahasrāra_. At the pericarp of the lotus was a region that resembled the full moon and shed nectarine rays. Inside this was a bright triangle. I heard the words,

"atra paramaśivaḥ sthitaḥ ।

(Herein abides Paramaśiva.)"

While I could somehow sense the presence of a few zones between the _ājña_ and the _sahasrāra_ , I did not directly apprehend them. Even without hearing any words to that effect, I felt certain that the ascent of the awakened _kuṇḍalinī-śakti_ ended at the _sahasrāra_ , wherein Śakti united with Paramaśiva.

At this point, My experience ended. As I opened My eyes, I was a bit bewildered whether I had been dreaming or vividly hallucinating or had had a divine experience. Without giving the matter any further thought, I got up and left for Acharyal's presence as it was time for Me to offer My obeisance to Him.

**I:** How long did the experience last?

**Acharyal:** What do you think would have been the duration?

**I:** Between half and one hour.

**Acharyal** ( _laughing_ ) **:** It lasted less than five minutes.

{Clearly amused at my surprise on hearing this, Acharyal asked, "What is the time now?" Looking at my wrist watch, I said, "4.43." I was seated cross-legged in front of Acharyal with my arms resting on my legs and with my palms joined. Acharyal leaned forward and grasped my joined palms in His right hand. Closing His eyes, He said, "Ambā (Mother)!" Suddenly, all that Acharyal had described began to unfold before me with great clarity. I even heard the voice that Acharyal had spoken of. My experience ended where Acharyal's had.

I regained awareness of my body and surroundings and saw Acharyal withdrawing His hand from mine. "What is the time now?" He asked. After checking, I reported that it was 4.46. "As you can see, less than five minutes has passed," remarked Acharyal, with a smile. He then instructed me, "Describe what you saw in the hands of Hākinī in the _ājña-cakra_." As the vision had been very clear and the memory fresh, I promptly said, "The _abhaya-mudrā_ , the _varada-mudrā_ , a book, a skull, a _ḍamaru_ (small drum) and _rudrākṣa_ rosary."

With a nod, Acharyal said, "Yes, that is just what I saw then. I asked you about what I had not described earlier to confirm the similarity of our visions. They being similar, it would be reasonable to take it that both lasted for the same time rather than that your vision lasted for three minutes and Mine for half to one hour."}

**I:** Had Acharyal read about the _kuṇḍalinī_ and the _cakras_ before this experience? Had Paramacharyal spoken to Acharyal about them?

**Acharyal:** Neither. I was thoroughly unfamiliar with _kuṇḍalinī-yoga_ at that time. If someone had asked Me then, "What do You know about the _kuṇḍalinī_?" perhaps I would have just said that it is a name occurring in the _Lalitā-sahasranāma_!

{For the next 45 minutes, He granted audience to and blessed the devotees who had come for His _darśana_. He would have thereafter started for His evening walk but as it was raining, He did not do so. He indicated that if I wished to ask Him anything, I could do so.}

**I:** Did Acharyal narrate what transpired to Paramacharyal? What did He say?

**Acharyal:** While I performed My _namaskāras_ to Acharyal, He continued with His _āhnika_. He gave no indication of having noticed My presence. Not wanting to disturb Acharyal, I started to leave quietly. Abruptly, He looked up at Me and said, "Yes, tell Me." I submitted, "A few minutes ago, I had an unexpected experience that seems to be of the nature of a divine teaching. However, I am not certain that it was not a day-dream or hallucination." Acharyal's gaze was upon Me but He said nothing. So, I proceeded to give the details. When I finished, He said, "All right," and readied Himself to perform _daṇḍa-tarpaṇa_. Feeling happy that Acharyal had graced Me with the opportunity of making My submission, I left.

That day, the morning _Candramoulīśvara-pūja_ was performed by Acharyal, not the _arcaka_. In the afternoon, after _bhikṣā_ , Acharyal sent for Me. When I went to Acharyal's presence and paid obeisance, He gestured to Me to sit down. He said, "You had sensed something moving in the _iḍā_ and _piṅgalā_ _nāḍīs_ in association with breathing through the left and right nostrils. The movement was that of _prāṇa_. Your feeling that sound that is in an undifferentiated state in the _mūlādhāra_ acquires a less subtle state as it reaches the _maṇipūra_ and then attains a stage prior to articulated speech at the _anāhata_ was correct.

" _Śabda_ is said to have four forms; _parā, paśyantī, madhyamā_ and _vaikharī_. Each form is grosser than the preceding one. Articulated speech is of the fourth kind. The _Veda_ instructs us:

catvāri vākparimitā padāni tāni vidurbrāhmaṇā ye manīṣiṇaḥ ।

guhā trīṇi nihitā neṅgayanti turīyaṁ vāco manuṣyā vadanti ॥

(Four are the definite grades of speech. Those brāhmaṇas who are wise know them. Three are deposited in secret and are motionless. Men speak the fourth grade of speech.)

" _Vāyu_ arising from the _mūlādhāra_ ascends through the levels of the navel, heart and throat and produces audible sound. At these four levels, it has the appellations _parā, paśyantī, madhyamā_ and v _aikharī._ The _mūlādhāra_ and the other _cakras_ that You saw have been spoken of in the _Upaniṣads_ and the _Tantras_. For instance, the _Yogacūḍāmaṇi-upaniṣad_ teaches:

caturdalaṁ syādādhāraṁ svādhiṣṭhānaṁ ca ṣaḍdalam ॥

nābhau daśadalaṁ padmaṁ hṛdayaṁ dvādaśārakam ।

ṣoḍaśāraṁ viśuddhākhyaṁ bhrūmadhye dvidalaṁ tathā ॥

sahasradala-saṅkhayātaṁ brahmarandhre mahāpathi ।

(In the brahma-nāḍī, the great path, there are the mūlādhāra with four petals, the svādhiṣṭhāna with six petals, the ten-petalled lotus at the navel, the twelve-petalled lotus of the heart, the six-petalled one called viśuddha, the one with two petals between the eyebrows and the one with thousand petals.)"

Then He picked up a book and told Me, "This is the _Saṭcakra_ - _nirūpaṇa_ , a chapter in a work authored by a _tāntrika_ named Pūrṇānanda. As is discernible from the title, it delineates the _cakras_. I shall read out and briefly explain the three verses about the _maṇipūra_. You will find that what You saw is in conformity with what is described here."

{Having narrated these words of Paramacharyal, Acharyal read to me the verses He had heard from Paramacharyal and succinctly clarified them. About His explanation, He remarked, "This is what Acharyal told Me that day." The verses are:

tasyordhve nābhimūle daśadalalasite pūrṇameghaprakāśe

nīlāmbhojaprakāśairupahitajaṭhare ḍādiphāntaiḥ sacandraiḥ ।

dhyāyed-vaiśvānarasyāruṇa-mihirasamaṁ maṇḍalaṁ tattrikoṇam tadbāhye svastikākhyaistribhirabhilasitaṁ tatra vahneḥ svabījam ॥

Above the svādhiṣṭhāna, at the root of the navel is a lotus with ten petals having the colour of dense rain-bearing clouds and containing blue-lotus-hued letters beginning with ḍaṁ and ending with phaṁ. One should meditate there on the triangular region of fire that is like the rising sun. Outside this is a triad of svastikā signs and within it is Fire's bīja (raṁ).

dhyāyenmeṣādhirūḍhaṁ navatapananibhaṁ vedabāhūjjvalāṅgaṁ

tatkroḍe rudramūrtirnivasati satataṁ śuddhasindūrarāgaḥ ।

bhasmāliptāṅga-bhūṣābharaṇa-sitavapurvṛddharūpī trinetro

lokānām-iṣṭadātā'bhaya-lasitakaraḥ sṛṣṭisaṁhārakārī ॥

One should meditate on Fire, who is like the sun at dawn, has a lustrous body with four arms and is seated on a ram. Ever abiding in his bosom is Rudra, whose complexion is that of pure vermilion, who is smeared with ashes and appears white, who is fully grown, has three eyes, displays with His hands the varada and abhaya mudrās and is the destroyer of creation.

atrāste lākinī sā sakalaśubhakarī vedabāhūjjvalāṅgī

śyāmā pītāmbarādyairvividha-viracanālaṅkṛtā mattacittā ।

dhyātvaitannābhipadmaṁ prabhavati nitarāṁ saṁhṛtau pālane vā

vāṇī tasyānanābje nivasati satataṁ jñānasandohalakṣmīḥ॥

Lākinī, who does good to all, has a bright body with four arms, is dark in complexion, wears yellow clothing, is adorned with various ornaments and is ecstatic, dwells here. By meditating on this lotus at the navel (maṇipūra), a person gets the power to protect and to destroy. Sarasvatī, with the wealth of the totality of knowledge, ever abides in his mouth.}

**(Acharyal:)** I could realise that what I had seen of the _maṇipūra-cakra_ tallied with the description contained in the text. Two doubts arose in My mind. Are the _cakras_ actual constituents of the gross body that can be seen within it, by surgeons, like flesh and bones? Have some aspects of the _cakras_ and the forms of the divinities to be contemplated therein been described in authoritative texts in more ways than one? What prompted the second doubt was that I had perceived the _iḍā_ and _piṇgalā_ in two forms each. Even without My asking anything, Acharyal Himself said, "The _cakras_ are subtle and cannot be seen with our eyes. They and the _kuṇḍalinī_ can, however, be apprehended in meditation by adepts. There do exist some differences in the descriptions of the _cakras_ and the _devatās_ therein. It is not necessary to consider them now."

**I:** Did Paramacharyal say anything about the cause of Acharyal's unexpected experience and its having the nature of a teaching?

**Acharyal:** Since you want to know, I will tell you even about this. After clearing My unvoiced doubts, He lightly patted Me on My left cheek and said, "You are blessed. Śāradāmbā has directly taught You today and that too of Her own accord. I am reminded of the fact that She had Herself expounded _yoga_ to Acharyal (H.H. Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamigal). Paramacharyal (H.H. Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamigal) had earlier told Him that She would do so. Acharyal (H.H. Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamigal) has explicitly stated in His ' _Śrī-Śāradā-śataślokīstavaḥ_ ':

ājñāsīdgauravī me tava khalu karuṇāvāridhi śāradāmbā

sāṣṭāṅgaṁ yogamārād-upadiśati bhavānaurasaḥ sūnurasyāḥ ।

(My Guru's authoritative utterance to Me was, "Your Mother Śāradā, the ocean of mercy, will definitely instruct You soon about yoga, which has eight limbs. You are Her own child.")

"You are Her very own. So, it is but fitting that She chose to instruct You. She will teach You further. Acharyal (H.H. Sacchidananda Siva-bhinava Nrisimha Bharati Mahaswamigal) used to receive Her guidance not only when awake but also in dreams. You too shall do so."

{While Paramacharyal did not make any mention of even His having been directly taught by Śāradāmbā, this fact is clear from the following verse of His own composition, " _Śrī-śāradā-stuti-mañjarī_ ":

āgacchantī sadanamadasīyaṁ purā śāradāmbā

tāṭaṅkāḍhyā muditavadanā svapna evaṁ hyapaśyam ।

kāle kāle bahulakṛpayā śabdayantī svanāmnā

hvāyaṁ hvāyaṁ sakalamapi me bodhayāmāsa devī ॥

Earlier, I beheld Śāradāmbā in a dream as coming to My abode adorned with earrings and with a joyful face. At all times, the Goddess has, with great compassion, again and again called Me, uttering My name, and made known everything to Me.}

**I:** Was there anything else Paramacharyal said pertaining to Acharyal's experience?

**Acharyal:** No, I have told you everything.

**I:** Paramacharyal stated that Ambā would teach Acharyal further and even made a reference to guidance in dreams. Was there any such sequel to the experience of that morning?

**Acharyal** ( _laughing_ ) **:** Just as I had guessed, this has not missed your attention. Yes, there was such a sequel. I will tell you about it tomorrow.

{The rain had stopped a few minutes earlier. Acharyal got up and, gesturing to me to follow, went for a walk. The following conversation took place the next day prior to Acharyal going for His afternoon bath.}

**Acharyal:** In the night following the experience that I spoke of yesterday, I had a dream. It began with My being alone in the sanctum of Śāradāmbā. Ambā manifested in the place of the idol and She seated Me on Her lap. Then in front of Us, I saw a boy who looked like Me. He was seated in the _padmāsana_ and was wearing just an ochre loin cloth. Somehow, I could see his _kuṇḍalinī_ , in the form of a coiled serpent, asleep in his _mūlādhāra-cakra_. Ambā lightly touched him with Her right hand on his back in the region of the _mūlādhāra-cakra_.

Immediately, the sleeping _kuṇḍalinī_ awoke and, hissing, raised her hood. The four petals of the _cakra_ that were drooping earlier turned upward. The lotus now appeared to be in full bloom, with the letters on the petals bright and visible. Abruptly, the scene changed. I again saw the _kuṇḍalinī_ asleep. This time Ambā touched the boy between the eyebrows. The _kuṇḍalinī_ awakened as before. I understood that the _kuṇḍalinī_ can be awakened by the touch of the _Guru_ and that the portion of the back corresponding to the _mūlādhāra_ and the region between the eyebrows are among the places where such touch is particularly effective in doing so.

As this understanding dawned on Me, I could again see his _kuṇḍalinī_ lying asleep. Ambā now raised Her right hand in a gesture of blessing. She did not touch the boy. This time also his _kuṇḍalinī_ awakened. I realised that the _Guru_ can arouse the _kuṇḍalinī_ even by a mental blessing. Next, the boy began to perform _prāṇāyāma_ , together with the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍiyāna_ and _mūla_ _bandhas_.

**I:** By looking at the boy's neck and abdomen, Acharyal could have readily made out that he was performing the _jālandhara_ and _uḍḍīyāna bandhas_. How did Acharyal conclude that he was contracting his anus and thereby performing the _mūla-bandha_?

**Acharyal:** This is a legitimate question. At that time, I found Myself spontaneously performing the _mūla-bandha_ and there simply arose a conviction in My mind that the boy was doing the same. I saw a fire building up in the boy's _suṣumnā_ and its flames beginning to lick his sleeping _kuṇḍalinī_. I could feel the heat of that fire. As the flames heated her, the _kuṇḍalinī_ abruptly woke up and hissed fiercely. Then, she began to ascend the _suṣumnā_. I understood that the practice of _prāṇāyāma_ together with the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍīyāna_ and _mūla bandhas_ serves to awaken the _kuṇḍalinī_.

The scene underwent a change and I saw the _kuṇḍalinī_ asleep yet again. It seemed to Me that I could now experience whatever was going on in the boy's mind. I sensed that he was visualising the _mūlādhāra_ and contemplating on the _devatās_ therein. Then, he mentally worshipped the _kuṇḍalinī_. Thereafter, he conceived of the _kuṇḍalinī_ being reverentially led by him to the _svādhiṣṭhāna-cakra_. There, he clearly visualised the _svādhiṣṭhāna_ and concentrated on the _devatās_ therein. Having done so, he offered worship to the _kuṇḍalinī_. This worship was patently a continuation of the worship that he had commenced at the _mūlādhāra_. The conviction arose in My mind that such visualisation of the _cakras_ , meditation on the _devatās_ in them and worship of the _kuṇḍalinī_ help to awaken and raise the _kuṇḍalinī_. The whole process delighted Me.

The scene changed once again. I saw the _kuṇḍalinī_ on the verge of moving up the _suṣumnā_. There appeared to be some obstruction to the ascent. The _kuṇḍalinī_ , however, forced her way up. I heard Ambā telling Me,

"brahma-granthiṁ bhitveyamūrdhvaṁ gacchati ।

(Having pierced the brahma-knot, she is moving upwards.)"

It seemed to Me that the boy was willing the _kuṇḍalinī_ to rise and that this exercise of will power was making a positive contribution. As the _kuṇḍalinī_ reached the _svādhiṣṭhāna-cakra_ , that lotus fully bloomed. She soon reached the _maṇipūra-cakra_. Then, instead of moving upwards, she gradually descended to the _mūlādhāra-cakra_ and remained inactive there. I comprehended that it is possible for the awakened _kuṇḍalinī_ to travel partially up the _suṣumnā_ , descend and become dormant.

In a few moments, I again witnessed the arousal and ascent of the boy's _kuṇḍalinī_. This time there appeared to be no obstacle to her upward movement from the _mūlādhāra_ to beyond the _maṇipūra_. It was at the region of the _anāhata-cakra_ that she seemed to encounter an obstruction. She, however, burst her way through it and caused the _anāhata-cakra_ to bloom. Ambā told Me,

"viṣṇu-granthiśchinnaḥ।

(The viṣṇu-knot has been cut.)"

Continuing through the _viśuddha-cakra_ , the _kuṇḍalinī_ came to the _ājña-cakra_. Here too, she overcame some obstacle and moved upwards. Ambā stated,

"rudragranthibhedo jātaḥ ।

(The piercing of the rudra-knot has occurred.)"

Finally, the _kuṇḍalinī_ reached the pericarp of the _sahasrāra_. Ambā said,

"kuṇḍalinī paramaśivena yuktā ।

(Kuṇḍalinī is united with Paramaśiva.)"

The boy's face showed signs of his being in a state of bliss. His body was motionless and from My position on Ambā's lap, I could not discern his breathing. At this point, My dream ended and I woke up.

{About the locations of the triad of _granthis_ (knots), Acharyal has stated as follows. There is some direct evidence in the minor _Upaniṣads_ that the _brahma_ , _viṣṇu_ and _rudra_ _granthis_ are at the lower end of the _suṣumnā_ , the chest and between the brows, which is where the _mūlādhāra_ , _anāhata_ and _ājñā_ _cakras_ are located. As the _iḍā_ , _piṅgalā_ and _suṣumnā_ unite at the _mūlādhāra_ and at the _ājñā cakras_ , it is understandable that the first and third of the triad of _granthis_ be associated with these _cakras_. The _Yoga-kuṇḍalī_ -upaniṣad says:

prasārya svaśarīraṁ tu suṣumnāvadanāntare॥

brahmagranthiṁ tato bhitvā rajoguṇa-samudbhavam ।

suṣumnāvadane śīghraṁ vidyullekheva saṁsphuret ॥

Straightening her (coiled) body into the mouth of the suṣumnā and then piercing the brahma-granthi, which stems from rajas, the kuṇḍalinī quickly shines within the mouth of the suṣumnā like a streak of lightning.

The opening of the _suṣumnā_ is at the _mūlādhāra_. The other _cakras_ are higher up the interior of the _suṣumnā_. So, according to the _Upaniṣad_ , the _brahma_ - _granthi_ is at the _mūlādhāra_ and not at or near some higher _cakra_.

viṣṇugranthiṁ prayātyuccaiḥ satvaraṁ hṛdi saṁsthitā ।

ūrdhvaṁ gacchati yaccāste rudragranthiṁ tadudbhavam ॥

bhruvormadhyaṁ tu saṁbhidya yāti śītāṁśu-maṇḍalam ।

The kuṇḍalinī then rapidly moves upwards to the viṣṇu-granthi and becomes positioned at the heart. She proceeds upwards to where the rudra-granthi, which has that (the ājñā-cakra) for its root, is located, to the middle of the brows, and splitting this goes to the region of the moon.

What the _Brahmavidyā_ -upaniṣad __ says is:

brahma-granthirakāre ca viṣṇugranthirhṛdi sthitaḥ ॥

rudragranthir-bhruvormadhye bhidyate'kṣaravāyunā ।

The brahma-granthi is in 'A' (in the mūlādhāra). The viṣṇu-granthi is located in the heart. The rudra-granthi is in the middle of the brows (in the ājñā-cakra) and is pierced by means of the haṁsa-wind.

However, the _Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā_ hints and the commentary _Jyotsnā_ on it [on verses 4.70, 4.73 and 4.76] explicitly states that the _brahma_ , _viṣṇu_ and _rudra_ _granthis_ are in the _anāhata_ , _viśuddha_ and _ājñā_ _cakras_ respectively. As for Bhāskararāya, he contends, in his commentary on the _Lalitā-sahasranāma_ [on the names 100-104], that associated with each _cakra_ is a pair of _granthis_ , one below and the other above the _cakra_ , and that the _brahma_ , _viṣṇu_ and _rudra_ _granthis_ are the pairs of knots associated with the _svādhiṣṭhāna_ , _maṇipūra_ and _anāhata_ _cakras_ respectively.

A practitioner of _kuṇḍalinī-yoga_ should strive to arouse the _kuṇḍalinī_ and raise her all the way to the _sahasrāra_ , overcoming any obstruction in her path regardless of where it may be encountered. He does not have to take radically different steps to pierce a _granthi_ than to raise the _kuṇḍalinī_ from one _cakra_ to the next. Further, the way to deal with a particular _granthi_ , say the _viṣṇu-granthi_ , does not change regardless of whether it be associated with the _anāhata_ , _viśuddha_ or _maṇipūra_ _cakras_. Hence, the lack of uniformity in the specification of the locations of the _granthis_ is not of practical consequence to a spiritual aspirant.}

**I:** Some years ago, Acharyal had told me about the series of seven dreams had by Acharyal when young in which Śiva expounded _haṭha-yoga_. At that time, Acharyal had mentioned having experienced a single dream also of such a kind. Is this that dream?

**Acharyal:** Yes, it is. I remember having said then that I would tell you about this someday.

**I:** Did Acharyal feel that Ambā wanted Acharyal to practice _kuṇḍalinī-yoga_ as a principal spiritual practice?

**Acharyal:** No. Even during the dream, I unambiguously realised that though Ambā was Herself making known this form of _yoga_ to Me, She did not intend that this be My principal _sādhanā_ at all. It was, however, not as though I looked upon what I had been taught as having no practical relevance to Me.

Prior to these two experiences itself, I had been practising _praṇāyāma_ with the three _bandhas_. After the dream, I started the practice of visualising the _mūlādhāra-cakra_ , contemplating on the deities therein as they had been shown to Me and then worshipping the _kuṇḍalinī_. Next, I conceived that in response to My request, the _kuṇḍalinī_ was rising to the _svādhiṣṭhāna-cakra_. I visualised that _cakra_ clearly, focused on the _devatās_ there and continued My mental worship of the _kuṇḍalinī_. In this fashion, I carried forward the worship in the higher _cakras_. Wherever appropriate, I saw the _kuṇḍalinī_ in the form of Goddesss Pārvatī.

**I:** In which _cakra_ did Acharyal mentally adorn Śakti with ornaments and in which _cakra_ did Acharyal offer _dīpārādhanā_ ?

**Acharyal:** The _maṇipūra_ and the _ājña_ _cakras_. At the _sahasrāra_ , I just imagined that Śakti and Śiva had become one.

**I:** Did Acharyal engage in the new practice with any specific aim, such as the arousal and raising of the _kuṇḍalinī_?

**Acharyal:** No. I was not motivated by the desire for any result. The contemplation and worship that I had partially witnessed in the dream appealed to Me. Hence, I started to devoutly perform these.

**I:** How much time did Acharyal spend on such contemplation and worship?

**Acharyal:** Fifteen to twenty minutes a day, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

# 7. Contemplation on the Ātman

[The following is a translation made by me of a portion of Acharyal's benedictory address delivered in Kannada at the Sringeri Shankara Math, Bangalore, on September 5, 1987. This discourse was the last of a series of six by Acharyal on Paramacharyal. The occasion was a "Smaraṇa-Saptāha (A week of Recollection)" organised at the Math in which various speakers talked about Paramacharyal.]

When staying in Narasimhavana with My _Guru_ , I used to go every evening to behold Śāradāmbā and remain there for up to an hour. On My return, He once asked Me, "You have crossed the river and come. What thought arose in Your mind?"

"What thought?" I wondered and replied, "There were various objects which I saw."

"What was new?"

"Nothing. I saw what was visible."

"Must You see whatever is in the range of Your vision?"

"If the eyes are kept closed, it is not possible to walk."

"You must see and yet not see."

"How is that possible?"

To this, He said, "This is how we should ever conduct ourselves:

ātmāmbhodhes-taraṅgo'smyahamiti gamane

{This occurs in Bhagavatpāda's _Śataślokī_. The complete verse is:

ātmāmbhodhestaraṅgo'smyahamiti gamane bhāvayannāsanasthaḥ

saṁvitsūtrānuviddho maṇirahamiti vā'smīndriyārthapratītau।

draṣṭā(dṛṣṭo)'smyātmāvalokāditi śayanavidhau magna ānandasindhau

antarniṣṭho mumukṣuḥ sa khalu tanubhṛtāṁ yo nayatyevamāyuḥ ॥

When Acharyal first told me, in 1980, about the advice He had received based on this verse, He said that " _draṣṭā'smi_ " and " _dṛṣṭo'smi_ " were alternative readings. Paramacharyal had Himself referred to them.}

"When we get up from a seated position and start walking, the feeling should not be, 'We are walking and going somewhere.' In the big ocean - the _Ātman_ \- a wave has arisen. That wave is moving forward. This is the supposition. There is no difference between the wave and the ocean. Yet, because one walks (and thus moves forward like the wave), one should think of oneself as the wave. When the occasion to walk arises, one should contemplate, 'I am a wave in the ocean of the bliss, in the ocean of the _Ātman_."' His advice surprised Me. He went on, "At all times - even when You talk to someone - repeat this idea in the mind." With practice, one uninterruptedly carries on this repetition even while speaking. Experience confirms this.

What should be the thought when one is seated? He advised:

... bhāvayannāsanasthaḥ

saṁvitsūtrānuviddho maṇirahamiti vā'smī

In the thread of knowledge, a gem has been strung. The gem cannot be removed; the thread is made of unbreakable consciousness. I am that gem. Contemplation must be done in this manner.

...indriyārthapratītau।

draṣṭā(dṛṣṭo)'smyātmāvalokāditi

Whenever some object is seen, the reflection should not be, "This object is now visible." One must think, "Aha! Objectless consciousness has now become associated with objects. The _Ātman_ was manifest earlier but now its manifestation has increased." On receiving a blow, we become markedly aware of the body; do we not? We normally do have awareness of the body but this awareness increases when we are beaten. Similar is the case here. Accordingly, even when perceiving some external object, one should cogitate that apprehension of the _Ātman_ has occurred.

śayanavidhau magna ānandasindhau

Do not just fall asleep. When lying down, contemplate, "I am now immersed in an ocean of bliss" and, with this feeling, begin to sleep. It is very good. Whoever wants can test the difference between simply lying down and going to sleep and sleeping after voluntarily eradicating all thoughts from the mind while lying down, generating a feeling of bliss and retaining it for some minutes till sleep overtakes one. The great joy that this approach to sleep yields becomes apparent once it is experienced for a few days.

antarniṣṭho mumukṣuḥ sa khalu tanubhṛtāṁ yo nayatyevamāyuḥ ॥

He who spends his life in this fashion is, amongst people, the firmly inward-turned one desirous of liberation. Therefore, when walking, sitting, standing and even when lying down, this is how we must conduct our life. This is the advice My _Guru_ gave Me.

[When Acharyal told me, in 1980, about this advice of Paramacharyal, He gave the following additional information.]

**Acharyal:** I was seated in front of Acharyal when He gave this explanation. No sooner had He completed His instruction about the attitude to be maintained when seated than I strove to put this teaching into practice. I did not think it appropriate to delay doing so even slightly. However, though I promptly generated the thought, "I am a gem strung in the thread of consciousness," the intensity of My contemplation was poor. A reason was that I was then primarily concentrating on what Acharyal was telling Me about the attitudes relating to perception and sleep. Further, while _karma-yoga_ and _japa_ had become effortless for Me at that time, such contemplation was new to Me. As I walked to My room after Acharyal had finished, I contemplated, "I am a wave in the blissful ocean that is the _Ātman_." The intensity of this contemplation was much better.

While I sincerely strove to practice what Acharyal had taught Me, I did experience a couple of difficulties. This contemplation clashed now and then with My _karma-yoga_ (involving dedicating all actions and their fruits to God). Acharyal resolved this difficulty by telling Me two days later, "The time has come for You to go beyond the stage of _karma-yoga_ , which You have mastered. Now, direct Your efforts to contemplating on the _Ātman_."

Another difficulty I had was that this contemplation partially came in the way of My enjoying the presence of Ambā in the temple, mentally worshipping Narasiṁha and the like. This is because I did these while seated and now I had been advised to contemplate when seated that I am a gem strung in the thread of consciousness. Acharyal Himself clarified, "While the knowledge of the _Ātman_ of a _jīvanmukta_ (one liberated while living) remains undisturbed by any thoughts and bodily activity, the case of contemplation by a spiritual aspirant is different. So, for the present, do Your mental worship and the like as before and practice contemplation on the _Ātman_ at other times."

Though I no more had any fundamental problems, My contemplation suffered from occasional discontinuities. Such breaks mainly occurred when I was speaking and when I got carried away by the beauty of the river and the surroundings. One evening when I went to Acharyal's presence, He asked, "Where are You coming from?" "From Ambā's temple," I replied. "What did You see on the way?" He queried. A break had occurred in My contemplation while crossing the Tuṅgā. Understanding the thrust of His question, I said that I beheld fish playing in the Tuṅgā. "Did You contemplate correctly at that time?" was Acharyal's next query. "I was contemplating before and after that but for a few moments, the process became disrupted," I admitted. Acharyal said, "Never give room for such breaks."

I hung My head in shame and resolved that I should not be such a useless disciple. Thereafter, by Acharyal's grace, such discontinuities in contemplation did not occur. In a few months, the four forms of contemplation became effortless.

{About the difference between the knowledge of the Truth and contemplation on the Truth, it is said in the _Pañcadaśī_ :

vastutantro bhavedbodhaḥ kartṛtantram-upāsanam ॥

Knowledge is dependent upon the thing to be known; contemplation is dependent upon the person who contemplates.

vicārājjāyate bodho'nicchā yaṁ na nivartayet ।

svotpattimātrāt saṁsāre dahatyakhila-satyatām ॥

Knowledge is born of enquiry; not wishing for it will not prevent it. By just its dawn, knowledge (of the Truth) burns away (the delusion of) any reality in the phenomenal world.

puruṣasyecchayā kartum-akartuṁ kartum-anyathā ।

śakyopāstirato nityaṁ kuryātpratyaya-santatim ॥

Depending upon the wish of a person, contemplation can be done, not done or done in some other way. Therefore (to contemplate), he must constantly repeat the thought (of the object of contemplation) so as to maintain continuity.

brahmajñānāyate sākṣānnirguṇopāsanaṁ śanaiḥ ॥

Contemplation on the unqualified Brahman gradually turns into the direct knowledge of Brahman.}

I: In which year did Paramacharyal teach Acharyal about the "ātmāmbhodhe:..." verse?

**Acharyal:** _Āngīrasa_ (April 7, 1932 to March 27, 1933).

**I:** When did the contemplation become natural?

**Acharyal** (after a few moments of thought) **:** It was some time before My birthday ( _Āśvina-kṛṣṇa-caturdaśī_ ) in the year _Śrīmukha_.

{Acharyal completed 16 years of age in the year _Śrīmukha_ (1933-34) on October 18, 1933.}

[In the course of the benedictory address cited earlier, Acharyal went on to detail the following teaching of Paramacharyal. I learnt from Acharyal, in 1988, that this teaching was also given in the year Āngīrasa.]

My _Paramaguru_ had great faith in reading _Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa_ on every _pradoṣa_ day. My _Guru_ too had that practice. Contemplation on the verses of that poem gives, to a great extent, the experience of the _Ātman_.

(The _Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa_ is an ecstatic outpouring in the _āryā_ metre of the great _jīvanmukta_ and _yogin_ , Śrī Sadāśiva Brahmendra.) ****

During My _Guru_ 's lifetime, if I failed to read _Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa_ on any _pradoṣa_ , He would ask whether I had read it and would then tell Me to do so. Once, He asked Me to give the meaning of:

Janiviparīta-kramato buddhyā pravilāpya pañcabhūtāni ।

pariśiṣṭam-ātmatattvaṁ paśyannāste muniśśāntaḥ ॥

(After dissolving, by the intellect, the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and ākāśa) in the sequence that is the reverse of that of their origination, the sage remains calm, beholding the Ātman, which is the residue.)

pravilāpya pañcabhūtāni

This means, "Having dissolved the five elements." Sugar (which is a modification of the element "earth") can be dissolved (in water), but stone, mud, cloth and so on (which, like sugar, are modifications of earth) cannot be so dissolved. This is what is superficially discernible. Recognising this, My _Guru_ Himself explained the purport. He quoted the following verse (of Bhagavatpāda's _Brahmānucintana_ ):

pṛthivyapsu payo vahnau vahnirvāyau nabhasyasau ।

nabho'pyavyākṛte tacca śuddhe śuddho'smyahaṁ hariḥ ॥

(Earth is to be dissolved in water, water in fire, fire in air and air in ākāśa. Ākāśa, in its turn, has to be merged in the unmanifest cause of the five elements and that unmanifest must be merged in the pure Absolute. I am that pure Absolute, the One who dissolves all.)

Mud does not dissolve in water. However, this is not the dissolution that is spoken of. What else? In the reverse order of the origination of the five elements of the universe, an effect merges into its cause; that cause, in its turn, merges into its cause.

{Acharyal has further clarified as follows. Earth has no existence apart from its cause, water, just as a pot has no existence apart from its cause, mud. This understanding is what characterises the dissolution of earth in water that is spoken of in the _Brahmānucintana_ verse and indicated in the _Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa_ verse. Water, in its turn, has no existence apart from its cause, fire. This recognition marks the dissolution of water in fire.}

Finally, only the _Ātman_ , which is the ultimate cause, remains as the residue of the dissolution process. It is such understanding of the _Ātman_ that is referred to in the words:

pariśiṣṭamātmatattvaṁ paśyan

One should think of the _Ātman_ as the ultimate residue. What is the consequence of thinking in this fashion?

{It is said in the _Brahmānucintana_ :}

kṣaṇaṁ brahmāhamasmīti yaḥ kuryād-ātmacintanam ॥

tanmahāpātakaṁ hanti tamaḥ sūryodayo yathā ।

(If, even for an instant, a man thinks of his Ātman as, "I am Brahman," that thought destroys his greatest sin, just as sunrise dispels darkness.)

He advised Me, "Think in the way taught (in the _Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa_ )." By His explanation, He created interest in it.

# 8. Initiating Deep Meditation

[The following conversation took place at Sringeri, in June 1976. Referring to a procedure to facilitate meditation that Acharyal had taught me three years earlier, I asked whether it could be used to advantage by all practitioners of meditation. Acharyal replied in the negative. He said that in His opinion, it ought to be practised only if advocated by the Guru. Those for whom it is unsuited would not derive benefit from it. Moreover, they may even experience negative effects, such as poorer meditation and headache. Acharyal added that when He was young Paramacharyal had taught the method to Him.]

**I:** Would Acharyal please tell me the details of Paramacharyal's teaching and of Acharyal's putting it into practice?

**Acharyal:** One morning, when I went to offer My _namaskāras_ to Acharyal during His _āhnika_ , He asked Me, "When performing various _japas_ during Your _āhnika_ , You contemplate in accordance with the _dhyāna-ślokas_. Do You not?" I answered that I did. "How do You begin?" He questioned. The significance of the question was not clear to Me as I was not aware of any special prelude to imagining a divine form in the heart-lotus. I replied, "I take up the rosary and commence a _japa_ , keeping My eyes partially or fully open. Simultaneously, I just imagine the form described in the _dhyāna-śloka_ concerned as present in My chest in a red lotus with eight petals."

Acharyal said, "Your mind does not wander when You contemplate. However, You are aware of Your body and surroundings. Am I correct?" I answered in the affirmative. "Independent of the requirements of Your _āhnika_ , would You like to practice deep meditation on divine forms?" He queried. I expressed My keenness on doing so.

Having instructed Me to sit down, Acharyal told Me, "I will tell You a simple method that will help You to start any meditation that You wish to do. During meditation, there is no need for You to use a rosary. Instead of straightaway picturing a _devatā_ in Your heart, first direct Your gaze to the middle of Your eyebrows. While doing so, You could chant a _mantra_ such as the _Praṇava_." Acharyal then focused His eyes on the space between His brows. He remained thus for a few moments.

{At this point, Acharyal demonstrated what Paramacharyal had done.}

( **Acharyal:** ) He then said, "Turning the eyes upwards can well be done with the eyelids partially closed. I have found this to be more convenient, but equally effective. You will experience a tingling sensation between the brows. After You mentally apprehend a light in that region for some time, picture the divine form that You wish to meditate on. Then, focus on that form. You can, when You feel like it, use this method even in connection with the visualisation of a form during Your usual _japa_." A question that arose in My mind was, "What is the difference between picturing a form before and after directing the eyes to between the brows for some time?" Other queries were about what kind of light I would see between the brows and why. However, as Acharyal had commenced a _japa_ , I did not pose them.

Deciding to try out what Acharyal had taught Me, I went a little later to Śāradāmbā's temple. There, I sat next to the sanctum, facing Her. As I looked at the idol, a jewel on the face glittered in the light of the oil lamps. From My position, it appeared bluish. When I shifted My face a little, it appeared green. Many would have come across Śāradāmbā's jewels shining in various colours. After seeing the blue light for a short while, I half-closed My eyelids and directed My eyes towards the space between My brows. Simultaneously, I mentally chanted the _Praṇava_ repeatedly in a slow, lengthened manner.

In a matter of seconds, I could feel a tingling sensation between My brows. This gradually increased in intensity. I also began to see an attractive, blue disc of light. This resembled the light from the jewel on the Mother's face. The main difference was that this was diffused. I then visualised a diminished version of Her idol emerging from the disc and occupying the lotus of My heart. The great clarity of the image in My heart and the readiness with which I had been able to visualise it pleasantly surprised Me. I focused on the form. My chanting of the _Praṇava_ stopped.

Moments later, I opened My eyes. Actually, about half an hour had passed. During this time, I was unaware of the surroundings and My body. I realised that while it is perfectly possible to picture a form without adopting the procedure taught by Acharyal, the latter facilitates the visualisation of, and focus on, the form. Further, I understood that the light apprehended mentally can be related to the light seen before gazing at the space between the brows.

That evening, I went to the Kālabhairava temple. After prostrating before the idol, I sat down facing east. In front of Me, I could see the clear blue sky. I directed My eyes, with partially closed eyelids, to the middle of the brows. Simultaneously, I mentally chanted the _Bālā-mantra_. This time, following the onset of a tingling sensation, I beheld a luminous expanse of blue. I first visualised in My chest the heart-lotus, in bloom. Then, I imagined the form of Bālā described in the ' _aruṇakiraṇjālaih..._ ' _dhyāna-śloka_ condensing from the blue light and entering My heart. The form was clear. As for My _japa_ , it automatically stopped. This time too, I lost awareness of My body and surroundings. I remained in meditation for about 45 minutes.

{The _Bālā_ - _Tripurasundarī_ - _mantra_ is:

aiṁ klīṁ sauḥ sauḥ klīṁ aiṁ

The _dhyāna-śloka_ referred to by Acharyal is:

aruṇakiraṇajālairañcitāśāvakāśā

vidhṛtajapapaṭīkāpustakābhītihastā ।

itarakaravarāḍhyā phullakalhārasaṁsthā

nivasatu hṛdi bālā nityakalyāṇaśīlā ॥

May Bālā, the ever-auspicious one abiding in a blooming lotus, who spreads golden rays and bears in Her hands a rosary, a book and the signs of granting fearlessness and boons, ever abide in the heart.}

On both these occasions, the light mentally apprehended between the brows had semblance to that seen outside earlier. I decided to test whether I would mentally apprehend any light and, if so of what kind, if I were to begin My meditation in a dark place. So, that night, I woke up at about two o'clock. In a seated posture, I directed My gaze to between the brows, while mentally chanting the _Praṇava_. I promptly felt a tingling sensation there. In a few seconds, I could see a disc of blue light akin to what I had perceived in Śāradāmbā's temple. I did not proceed further. I reasoned that one's earlier experience can well serve as a basis for the apprehension of light between the brows. An extraneous light is not a requirement. I then lay down and went back to sleep.

The next day, I examined whether I would necessarily apprehend a light of the colour seen before meditation. For this, I sat facing the evening sun and began My meditation. The light that made its appearance then was not orange, but blue. I understood that past experience can be an overriding factor. I assumed that a person may, on the first occasion, even see a colour that he expects to see and thereafter this experience can influence the succeeding ones. Over the next few days, I perceived not only a blue light but also a green one. The size, shape and intensity were not always the same. However, such differences did not affect My subsequent visualisation of a divine form and concentration on it.

In this period, I also reflected on the possible reasons why the new procedure facilitated concentration. I knew, from experience and observing others, that the eyes move not merely when one deliberately shifts one's gaze but also involuntarily when one is looking at an object that is not minute and when one thinks. Prior to _saṁnyāsa_ , I had noted that the eyeballs of even a person whose eyelids are closed and who is asleep may move, and quickly too. I conjectured that such movement is associated with dreams. I now know that eye movements have been recorded by scientists in persons who are dreaming. I reasoned that as eye movement is associated with shifting of attention, arresting of eye movement by looking fixedly at the middle of the brows could help in arresting attention. The analogy that came to My mind was the checking of the mind through the control of breath.

When an ant or mosquito bites, one's attention is drawn to the site of the bite. The rest of the body is momentarily ignored to a greater or lesser extent. Likewise, the tingling or slightly painful sensation arising between the brows could help in drawing attention away from the surroundings and the rest of the body. This was another reason that came to My mind.

One can comfortably do _japa_ with the eyes open. However, it takes some practice to keep repeating a _mantra_ mentally while talking to someone. This suggests that a verbal activity especially interferes with a concomitant verbal, rather than visual, activity. So, mental chanting of a _mantra_ while looking at the space between the brows ought not to disrupt the apprehension of a light there. However, it should impede one's thinking about some conversations or mentally talking to oneself and thereby becoming distracted. Likewise, the apprehension of a light between the brows should act against one becoming distracted by recollecting or imagining some visual situations. I thought that in these two ways also, the procedure could favour meditation.

At that time, I did not think of whether it is relevant that the _ajñā-cakra_ is located in the region towards which the eyes are directed. At any rate, I was certain that in My case the primary reason for the effectiveness of the method was that Acharyal had, with His blessings and grace, taught it to Me.

**I:** Did Acharyal start using this method prior to every one of the usual _japas_ performed by Acharyal during the morning _āhnika_?

**Acharyal:** Not with all but with two or three. I regularly resorted to it before commencing the _japa_ of the _Nārāyaṇa-aṣṭakṣarī_. In the case of the other _mantra_ s, I used it before one _mantra_ on one day and before another _mantra_ on another day.

{The _Nārāyaṇa_ - _aṣṭākṣarī_ - _mantra_ is:

oṁ namo nārāyaṇāya

Om. Obeisance to Nārāyaṇa.

This _japa_ of this _mantra_ forms a part of the _āhnika_ of not merely the pontiffs of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham but also other _paramahaṁsa-saṁnyasins_.}

**I:** What advantage did this method give in such cases where Acharyal rolled a rosary to keep count of the _japa_?

**Acharyal:** The visualisation of the forms described in the _dhyāna-ślokas_ concerned was facilitated. However, because of the need to use a rosary, I did not focus on the forms with such intensity as to forget the body and the surroundings. Further, I ensured that there was not even a temporary pause in My chanting of the _mantras_.

{In 1980, Acharyal told me, as recorded earlier, that Paramacharyal instructed Him about contemplation on the _Ātman_ in the year _Āngirasa_. He also said that such contemplation became effortless some time before His Vardhanti in the year _Śrīmukha_ (October 18, 1933, on which day He completed sixteen). Subsequently, I asked Acharyal whether Paramacharyal taught Him the procedure involving gazing at the space between the brows before or after the contemplation had become natural. Acharyal replied, "He taught Me this some months afterwards, a month or two before the close of _Śrīmukha_." The year _Śrīmukha_ ended on March 15, 1934.}

# 9. Meditation and Samādhi on Divine Forms

[The following conversation took place in March 1981, at Sringeri. It started at the Kālabhairava temple, continued on the way back from there to Acharyal's abode, Sacchidananda Vilas, and ended at Sacchidananda Vilas when Acharyal went for His evening bath. One evening Acharyal walked to the secluded Kālabhairava temple, situated on the top of a hill in Narasimhavana. He took me with Him, as He often did. There, after prostrating before the deity, He sat down facing east. The sky was visible through the open door. Having directed me to sit, He said, "Let us remain in nirvikalpa-samādhi (the acme of yoga) for some time."

Acharyal then started to meditate. As had happened in the past, purely by the power of His presence and grace, I automatically became thoroughly absorbed in indescribable, non-dual bliss. When I regained awareness of the body and opened my eyes, I saw Acharyal opening His. In the past too, whenever He had asked me to meditate with Him, He had compassionately ensured that I emerged from samādhi at the same time as He did. Acharyal remained silent for some time. Then, He said, "This is where I first started meditating in the evenings. This is also where I first attained savikalpa-samādhi (the exalted stage of yoga preceding nirvikalpa-samādhi)." I requested Acharyal to tell me about His attaining savikalpa-samādhi and the meditative practices that led up to this. Acharyal condescended to do so.]

**Acharyal:** After Acharyal taught Me the way to begin meditation, I started meditating every day. On the day I learnt about directing the gaze to between the brows, I focused on Śāradāmbā in the morning and on Bālā-Tripurasundarī in the evening. Śāradāmbā's temple being very sacred, I started My serious practice of meditation next to Her sanctum. At that time, other than My attendant and the temple staff, there happened to be no one else in the temple. From then on, I normally meditated in solitude.

For about a fortnight prior to Acharyal's teaching, I had, in response to an inexplicable urge, been doing prolonged _japa_ of the _Bālā-mantra_ in the mornings. While engaged in such _japa_ with My eyes open, I had, on some days, imagined Her form as remaining in My heart facing in the same direction as Myself. On others, I had imagined a bigger version of the same form as present in front of and facing Me. The special attention that I had been paying to Bālā's _mantra_ and form motivated Me to meditate on Her on My first engaging in meditation here (the Kālabhairava temple).

Initially, I meditated twice a day; in My room in the afternoon and here (the Kālabhairava temple) in the evening. The idea of meditating just before or immediately after My morning _āhnika_ and of going for My bath earlier than usual to facilitate this appealed to Me. However, I did not implement it for a couple of weeks. The reason was that I was not in a position then to predict or regulate the duration of meditation. I used to go to Acharyal's presence after My morning _āhnika_ to offer _namaskāras_ and I did not want to take the risk of becoming delayed because of unintentionally meditating for too long.

With regard to the estimation and regulation of the duration of meditation, I reflected, "Once I lose awareness of the body and the surroundings and My mind locks on to the divine form, I have no awareness of the passage of time. So, I am not in a position then to decide how long more I am to continue meditating. Even during deep sleep, I am unaware of the passage of time and am in no position to determine how long more to remain in that state. Yet, it is not as though the duration of My sleep is quite unpredictable. Further, it is not that I cannot, on My own, alter the time for which I normally sleep.

"Habit influences how long a person sleeps at night. Other factors being the same, he is likely to sleep at night for as many hours as he usually does. Moreover, if he has the habit of sleeping for half an hour every afternoon, he is likely to awaken on his own after a half-an-hour siesta. Presumably, if I were to regularly meditate for fixed periods in the mornings, afternoons and evenings, My mind will spontaneously emerge from deep meditation at the end of these periods. Just as one can choose to go back to sleep, I should be able to revert to a state of deep concentration. By doing so for some days, I should be able to increase the time before which My meditation tends to lighten.

"When, on some night, I decide before sleeping that I must get up at a particular time, I awaken at that time on My own notwithstanding My having slept much less that night than usual. In like manner, I should be able to influence the duration of a session of meditation by making a resolve about the duration before beginning to meditate."

My experiences of the first two weeks accorded with this analysis. Confident that I could now estimate and regulate the duration of My meditation, I ceased to have any inhibition about having a session of deep meditation even before going for Acharyal's _darśana_. So, I began to regularly meditate before starting My morning _āhnika_ procedures; apart from this, I continued to meditate in the afternoon and evening, as before.

Before I became a _saṁnyāsin_ , I had heard a person say, "I went to get my eyes tested. At some distance in front of me, there was a chart with letters of different sizes. I found that the letters in the bottom were hazy and unreadable. The doctor put a spectacle frame on me. I immediately felt that I could see the chart better and told him so. I was surprised when the doctor smilingly said that he was yet to put any lens into the frame." A little later, for the fun of it, I had thought, "Let Me try to imagine that there is a leaf in front of Me on the road." Having done so for a few seconds, I had told Myself, with as much conviction as I could muster, "There is a leaf there that I am seeing." This had somehow facilitated the visualisation.

Recalling all this, I reasoned "It should be better to regard the form meditated upon in the heart as present there and visible like an external object rather than as something that one has to try to imagine and keep conceiving. God is indeed present in the heart of every one and, though intrinsically formless, can manifest there with a form for the sake of His devotee. _Mantras_ have the power to reveal their _devatās_. The _dhyāna-ślokas_ describe the divine forms associated with the _mantras_. Sages have chanted _mantras_ , meditated on the prescribed divine forms and thereby obtained, in due course, the direct vision of God in such forms. There is thus additional justification for one to feel, 'God is indeed present in my heart in the scripturally-prescribed form in which I meditate on Him.' Moreover, one would feel more drawn to a form deemed divine and real than to one regarded as fanciful."

Having thought on these lines, I adopted two means to facilitate My viewing the form meditated upon as realistic and divine. I sought to see the form as emerging from the light apprehended by Me on My directing My gaze to between the brows. Even when I initiated My practice of meditation at Śāradāmbā's temple, I deliberately visualised a small version of Her idol as manifesting from the blue disc of light that I perceived between My brows. Another practice I resorted to was to deem that My eyes were looking inwards and perceiving the form as it emanated from the light and as it entered and abided in the lotus of My heart. I incorporated this in My meditation on the day following the one on which Acharyal instructed Me about meditation.

**I** : Did Acharyal have any difficulty in regulating the mind, with dullness or wandering acting as an obstacle?

**Acharyal:** No. Right from the start, I was able to concentrate very easily and awareness of the body and surroundings invariably faded away.

**I** : What would Acharyal attribute that to?

**Acharyal** (smiling): Acharyal's grace was on Me and I suppose that I must have acquired suitable tendencies by My practices in My previous births. What else can I say other than that meditation progressed without any problem whatsoever?

**I** : Would Acharyal please tell me further about the first few months of meditation?

**Acharyal** : All right. After meditating here in the evenings for over a month, I started doing so on the top of a nearby hill. (Acharyal gestured to indicate the direction in which that hill, which was not visible, was situated.) From there, the Malahānikareśvara temple (situated atop a hill in the town of Sringeri) can be seen.

On the day I first went there to meditate, it was about half an hour before sunset. As I sat down facing west, I thought, "I have been meditating on Narasiṁha as shining just by His own lustre. I could try to see Him today in the light of the setting sun." I started by first focusing on Him as usual. I then pictured Him graciously curtailing His brightness. He now resembled the moon seen through a thin cloud. After this, I visualised Him being bathed in the orange glow of sunset. The meditation went on smoothly and lasted an hour. This experience led Me to understand that at the commencement of deep meditation, the luminosity of the divine form focused upon and the intensity and colour of the background lighting, if any, can be comfortably adjusted. I confirmed this in My subsequent sessions of meditation.

A few days later, after perusing a text, I reflected, "At any instant, the portion of the page that I focus on appears far clearer than the portion distant from it. While meditating, I seek to apprehend a divine form as if I were seeing it with My eyes. So, the portion towards which My attention is particularly directed, such as the face, is presumably clearer to Me than a portion that is removed from it." In the next session of meditation, I found that such was actually the case. It was not as though any portion was unclear; only, a portion was clearer. When I tried to remedy the situation by simply trying to see every part of the form equally clearly, I experienced difficulty in doing so.

I completed that session by meditating as I usually did. I then thought, "Rather than forcefully attempt to grasp the complete form with uniform clarity, let Me expand the particularly clear zone in stages. To facilitate this, I could rid Myself of the notion that during meditation My vision is subject to the same limitations as when perceiving an external object. Next, I could increase the intensity of My concentration. This should enhance the clarity of the other portions of the form." Over the next three sessions, by implementing what I had planned, I learnt to see the entire divine form in the heart with total clarity.

It then occurred to Me, "I have so far been meditating only on a _devatā_ 's full form. I can now try to meditate not just on the complete form but also on parts of it, such as the feet. This should be straightforward because I am already used to thinking of just Narasiṁha's feet when I wash them while mentally worshipping Him every day."

The next time I meditated, I first visualised Narasiṁha as I normally did. I then focused exclusively on His feet. Promptly, they occupied the entire range of My vision. As I had already learnt to see the full form with uniform clarity, seeing the feet in the same manner required no special effort. Though I saw just the feet, I did not forget that they were a part of Narasiṁha. Towards the end of My meditation, I again visualised Narasiṁha's full form. Thereafter, the session ended. Following this, I sometimes meditated on parts of a _devatā_ 's form too. However, whenever I chose to do so, I always started and ended with the complete form.

All these days, I had been meditating only on the forms of Bālā and Lakṣmī-Narasiṁha and that too in keeping with the _dhyāna-ślokas_ of their _mantras_. This is because I felt that it would be inadvisable for Me to take up other divine forms till I acquired proficiency in meditation by repeatedly concentrating on these two. I was sure that when My preparations were adequate, God would, in some way, make this known to Me. I received such a sign soon. One evening, without any premeditation or effort on My part, the form of Kṛṣṇa emerged from the light that I apprehended between My brows and entered My heart. Clad in a yellow vestment, He wore the _vaijayantī_ garland. Peacock feathers adorned His crest and flowers His ears. He held a flute to His lips and was breathtakingly attractive.

I felt, "The charming form would be even more attractive, if it were bigger." So, I promptly imagined that His feet rested not in a lotus in the chest but in one at the level of My navel. Then I pictured the Lord's body as expanding till His crest was at the level of My neck. As the intensity of My concentration increased, I beheld His complete form with uniformly great clarity and much joy.

{Later that year, I asked Acharyal whether the form beheld by Him tallied with that described in the following verse of the _Bhāgavata_ that I had come across in an essay penned by Him in the 1950s:

barhāpīḍaṁ naṭavaravapuḥ karṇayoḥ karṇikāraṁ

bibhradvāsaḥ kanakakapiśaṁ vaijayantīṁ ca mālām ।

randhrān veṇoradharasudhayā pūrayan gopavṛndai-

rvṛndāraṇyaṁ svapadaramaṇaṁ prāviśadgītakīrtiḥ ॥

With peacock feathers forming a head ornament, karṇikāra flowers on His ears and wearing a golden yellow vestment and the vaijayantī garland, He (Kṛṣṇa), whose body is like that of an excellent dancer and whose glories are sung by the throng of cowherds, entered Vrindavan, made lovely by His footprints, while filling the openings of His flute with the nectar of His lips.

Acharyal said, "Yes, it did."}

( **Acharyal:** )

karāravindena padāravindaṁ mukhāravinde viniveśayantam ।

vaṭasya patrasya puṭe śayānaṁ bālaṁ mukundaṁ manasā smarāmi ॥

(I call to mind the child Mukunda (Viṣṇu) who is lying in the concavity of a fig-leaf, putting His lotus-like foot into His lovely mouth by means of His beautiful hand.)

The next morning, I spontaneously beheld the form described in this verse emerging from the light between the brows and occupying My heart-lotus. The Lord as a child filled Me with _vātsalya_ (parental love). That afternoon too, a divine form manifested without any volition on My part. It was that of Viṣṇu with eight, rather than four, arms. The Lord displayed in His four right hands the _sudarśana-cakra_ , a rosary, the _kaumodakī_ mace and the symbol of granting fearlessness. In His four left hands, I saw the _pāñcajanya_ conch, the _śārṅga_ bow, the _nandaka_ sword and the symbol of granting boons. He was adorned with various ornaments, such as a diadem, armlets and bracelets, and wore a garland.

For some time, I found Myself mentally chanting the _Nārāyaṇa-aṣṭakṣarī_. Thereafter, My mind locked on to just the form. By the time I regained some awareness of My body, over an hour had passed. Even after I got up, I continued to see the form in My heart. That evening, I meditated on this form itself. The next morning, as I started My meditation, I found this form, which I had been perceiving since the previous day, replaced by one in which the Lord held just a rosary. His visage was extremely calm and He radiated peace. I continued to apprehend the new form in My heart even after My meditation ended.

That afternoon, at the start of meditation, the form underwent a change and I now saw Him not merely without weapons but also without ornaments, such as a diadem. My evening meditation began with My focusing on this form. Abruptly, My attention was drawn to just His smiling face. Up to almost the close of the hour-long session, My focus was exclusively on this. Till I completed My bath the next morning, I could see in My heart, the Lord as bereft of ornaments and weapons and holding just a rosary. The form then vanished.

When I reported My experiences with the forms of Viṣṇu to Acharyal, He said nothing. However, a little later, He sent Me a copy of the _Viṣṇu-Purāṇa_ in which He had kept an empty sheet of paper. In the portion indicated, I found verses describing the very forms that I had seen and advising meditation on them.

{Later, in response to my request, Acharyal read out the verses concerned of the _Viṣṇu-purāṇa_. They are part of the advice given by sage Keśidhvaja to Khānḍikya. The verses are:

kirīṭahārakeyūrakaṭakādivibhūṣitam ॥

śārṅga-śaṅkha-gadā-khaḍga-cakrākṣavalayānvitam ।

varadābhayahastaṁ ca mudrikā-ratnabhūṣitam ॥

cintayettanmayo yogī samādhāyātmamānasam ।

tāvadyāvaddṛḍhībhūtā tatraiva nṛpa dhāraṇā ॥

vrajatastiṣṭhato'nyaddhā svecchayā karma kurvataḥ ।

nāpayāti yadā cittātsiddhāṁ manyeta tāṁ tadā ॥

The yogin should, O king, concentrate His mind thoroughly on the Lord as adorned with a diadem, garland, armlets, bracelets and the like, as having in His (eight) hands, the śārṅga (bow), conch, mace, sword, discus, rosary and the signs of granting boons and fearlessness and as wearing rings of gems in His fingers till his attention becomes steady there. Success is to be understood as achieved when this thought does not leave the mind even when walking, standing or engaging in some activity of choice.

tataḥ śaṅkha-gadā-cakra-śārṅgādi-rahitaṁ budhaḥ ।

cintayed-bhagavadrūpaṁ praśāntaṁ sākṣasūtrakam ॥

Thereafter, the wise man should contemplate the form of the Lord as tranquil, with a rosary, and bereft of a conch, mace, discus, śārṅga and so on.

sā yadā dhāraṇā tadvad-avasthānavatī tataḥ ।

kirīṭa-keyūra-mukhairbhūṣaṇai rahitaṁ smaret ॥

tadekāvayavaṁ devaṁ cetasā hi punarbudhaḥ ॥

After that focus becomes as firm as before, he should think of God as devoid of adornments, such as the diadem and armlets. Next, the wise man should fix his mind on a prominent part of the Lord.

The _Bhāgavata-Purāṇa_ records that after telling Uddhava that one should meditate on the full form of the Lord, Kṛṣṇa said:

tatsarvavyāpakaṁ cittamākṛṣyaikatra dhārayet ।

nānyāni cintayedbudhaḥ susmitaṁ bhāvayenmukham ॥

Then one should concentrate the mind that is distributed all over My body on one part and think of nothing else but the smiling face.}

( **Acharyal:** ) After these experiences, I did not deliberately limit My meditation, as I had done earlier, to just the forms of Bālā and Narasiṁha. I started meditating on other divine forms too. For example, I focused on Śiva as seated with Pārvatī, as Ardhanarīśvara, as Dakṣināmūrti and as Natarāja; on Viṣṇu with four hands bearing the _sudarśana-cakra_ , _pāñcajanya_ conch, _kaumodakī_ mace and a lotus; on Rāma; and on Gaṇapati.

I found that short _mantras_ such as the _Praṇava_ are more convenient to chant mentally while directing the eyes to between the brows than long ones like the _Śrīvidyā_. The length of a _mantra_ hardly made any difference after My conceiving a divine form. Hence, I often commenced My meditation with the _Praṇava_ and then switched to the _mantra_ of the _devatā_ meditated upon. The chanting of the _mantra_ occasionally persisted till the end of a session of meditation but generally it automatically stopped after a short while and, thereafter, only the form remained.

Whenever I did not go in the evening for meditation to the Kālabhairava temple or to the nearby hill, such as during the _Śaṁkara-jayantī_ celebrations and _cāturmāsya_ , I largely compensated by meditating more in the mornings and afternoons. It was during the _cāturmāsya_ that I gained proficiency in readily setting, at the time of beginning to visualise a form, the level of My concentration.

{In the year _Bhava_ , the _Śaṁkara-jayantī_ celebrations were from 14.5.1934 to 18.5.1934 and the _cāturmāsya_ was from 26.7.1934 to 23.9.1934. Acharyal was then going on seventeen.}

( **Acharyal:** ) Let Me give you an example. **** I could adjust the intensity to block out the sound of a loud peal of thunder or to allow it to be heard but not the sound of rain or a not-so-loud peal of thunder. If I felt like chanting a _mantra_ throughout a session of meditation, I pegged the intensity of concentration on the form at a lower level than otherwise. I did not, however, normally curtail the depth of My meditation.

I had heard people say that their minds wander when they perform _japa_ or when they try to meditate on a form. Since the time I began meditating, I had not experienced this difficulty. To appreciate the problem of mental wandering, I once experimented, during the _cāturmāsya_ , with progressively lowering My level of concentration on the form. I found that when the concentration fell to a level far below that during My normal meditation, My mind started to wander a little to extraneous sounds. By deliberately keeping the intensity of focus low enough to allow some distractions, I determined, during a couple of sessions, over a dozen aids to deal with the disturbances. Chanting the _mantra_ with greater vigour, temporarily holding the breath and stressing the importance of meditation were some of them.

About a year passed. One morning, when I was about to visualise the form of Lakṣmī-Narasiṁha, the form of Bālā made its appearance. I meditated on Her. That afternoon, I felt a strong urge to meditate upon Her as remaining in front of and facing Me and did so. It was months since I had focused on Her in this fashion. After the session, I thought, "Today, God is especially and explicitly determining the form I am to meditate upon just as He had done nearly a year ago when He had caused Me to focus on Kṛṣṇa with the flute, child Mukunda and Viṣṇu with eight arms." I somehow felt sure that the evening session would be extraordinary.

When I commenced My evening meditation at the Kālabhairava temple, in response to a powerful urge, I thought of Bālā in the same way as I had done in the afternoon. That day, when I was focusing as usual on the full form of Ambā, My mind suddenly locked on to Her feet. I had always been seeing Her form clearly. However, the experience of that day was quite extraordinary. I saw Her feet throbbing with life. I beheld Ambā Herself and not merely the form that I was visualising earlier. The sense of reality of the vision was highly profound and left no room for doubts. This was My first experience of _savikalpa-samādhi_. During the _samādhi_ , I almost totally forgot Myself and that I was meditating; Ambā's feet alone manifested.

{Mahaṛśi Patañjali has aphorised in his _Yogasūtras_ :

deśabandhaścittasya dhāraṇā ॥

Dhāraṇā (concentration) is the binding of the mind to one place.

tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam ॥

Dhyāna (meditation) is the continuance there of the presented idea.

Tadevārtha-mātra-nirbhāsaṁ svarūpa-śūnyamiva samādhiḥ ।

The same (dhyāna) when shining forth as the intended object alone and, as it were, devoid of itself is samādhi.

Explaining the scriptural position, Acharyal has said, "As the name implies, _savikalpa-samādhi_ is _samādhi_ with _vikalpa_. _Vikalpa_ here refers to the triad of the concentrator, concentration and the object of concentration. In this _samādhi_ , while the object of concentration manifests clearly and steadily, an awareness of the form, 'I am meditating' is almost, but not totally, absent. The awareness of the distinction of the concentrator, concentration and the object of concentration is thus not fully obliterated. On the other hand, in _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ , the object alone shines and there is then no awareness of form, 'I am meditating.'"}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** After about one and a half hours, I regained awareness of the body and opened My eyes. I could literally see Ambā in front of Me within the temple. I reached out and touched Her feet with My hands. A few moments later, She disappeared.

Such was the will of God that the forms that constituted the objects of the four _savikalpa-samādhis_ following this one were those of Lakshmi-Narasiṁha, Kṛṣṇa with a flute, child Mukunda and Viṣṇu with eight arms. The significance of this order should be obvious to you. Thereafter, I was easily able to attain _savikalpa-samādhi_ with any form of My choice as the object.

{Acharyal's first _savikalpa-samādhi_ as also the next four _savikalpa-samādhis_ occurred months before Acharyal completed eighteen on October 26, 1935.}

**I** : Did Acharyal try out anything novel in the weeks following the first _savikalpa-samādhi_?

**Acharyal:** Yes, I did. I was used to meditating in only a seated posture. One morning, I thought of testing whether I could readily experience _savikalpa-samādhi_ while lying down. So, when doing _śavāsana_ (in the course of which one lies flat on one's back), I pictured My heart-lotus as facing upwards rather than towards My head and then visualised Lakṣmī-Narasiṁha as seated in it. Thus, while I lay supine, I saw Him as seated with His back vertical. I concentrated on Him and quickly went into _savikalpa-samādhi_.

The next day, while performing _śavāsana_ , I conceived of the heart-lotus and Narasiṁha's back as being in line with My body, as usual, but to avoid any sense of oddity, I deliberately ignored My horizontality. I kept in mind only the position of Narasiṁha relative to My head. In moments, I was in _savikalpa_ _samādhi_. These two experiences convinced Me that, by God's grace, I was in a position to readily experience _savikalpa-samādhi_ even while lying down.

A few days later, I thought, "While I am in _samādhi_ , My back and neck remain erect. It is likely that even if I were to enjoy _samādhi_ while in _śīrśāsana_ (wherein one stands on one's head), My back and neck will remain in a line." I performed _śīrśāsana_ near a wall to arrest a fall, if it occurred during meditation. Then, I visualised Narasiṁha as seated normally in an upward-facing lotus in My chest and attained _savikalpa-samādhi_. When I regained awareness of the body after some time, I found that I remained in _śīrśāsana_ exactly as before.

On the next day, without any precaution to cater for a fall, I performed the _śīrśāsana_. Then, I deliberately ignored My being inverted and meditated on Narasiṁha as seated in My heart-lotus with His head towards Mine, as usual. In moments, I was in _savikalpa-samādhi_. I did not bother to go into _samādhi_ in _śīrśāsana_ in the future.

**I** : Did Acharyal keep Paramacharyal regularly posted about the various experiences and experiments with meditation?

**Acharyal:** I reported to Him on several occasions. In the periods when He was in His state of seclusion, I did not disturb Him by talking about My meditation.

**I:** How did Paramacharyal respond to Acharyal's reports?

**Acharyal:** He normally expressed His satisfaction and approval.

{That meditation on the Supreme as possessed of attributes such as a form leads to the realisation of the Supreme bereft of the superimposition of attributes is clear from scriptural declarations such as:

umāsahāyaṁ parameśvaraṁ prabhuṁ trilocanaṁ nīlakaṇṭhaṁ praśāntam ।

dhyātvā munirgacchati bhūtayoniṁ samastasākṣiṁ tamasaḥ parastāt ॥

Having meditated on the highest Lord (Śiva) who is powerful, has three eyes and a blue neck and is allied to Umā, the sage reaches Him who is the source of all, the witness of all and beyond avidyā.

In the _Vedānta-kalpataru_ , it is said:

vaśīkṛte manasyeṣāṁ saguṇabrahmaśīlanāt।

tadevāvirbhavet sākṣād-apetopādhi-kalpanam ॥

When their minds are brought under control by meditation on Brahman as possessed of qualities, that very Brahman will directly manifest Itself divested of the superimposition of limiting adjuncts.}

# **10. Ascent of the Kuṇḍalinī** **and Descent of Nectar**

[The following conversation took place at Sringeri, in March 1981, a few days after Acharyal graced me with the details of His first attainment of savikalpa-samādhi.]

**I:** Some years ago, Acharyal told me about the dream that Acharyal had a few months after _saṁnyāsa_ in which Śāradāmbā threw light on the arousal and ascent of the _kuṇḍalinī_. When did Acharyal first experience the ascent of the _kuṇḍalinī_ to the head in the waking state?

**Acharyal:** It was some time during the _cāturmāsya_ of the year _Yuva_ (1935-36), few months after My first experience of _savikalpa-samādhi_. As you know, even without any explicit experience of the arousal and ascent of the _kuṇḍalinī_ , it is quite possible for a _vedāntin_ or for a practitioner of _pātañjala-yoga_ to attain _samādhi_. He may or may not have an explicit experience of the ascent on some later occasion. In My case, I did.

{In 1935, the year in whose first half Acharyal's first _savikalpa-samādhi_ occurred, the _cāturmāsya_ was from July 16 to September 12.}

**I:** Would Acharyal please tell me about the experience?

**Acharyal:** One morning, I sat in the _siddhāsana_ and did four _prāṇāyāmas_ with the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍiyāna_ and _mūla_ _bandhas_. Then, I began My meditation as usual by directing My gaze to between My eyebrows and mentally chanting the _Praṇava_. As happened generally, a blue hue manifested. Before I visualised any form, I felt something like an electric shock at the middle of My soles. As the sensation started to move upwards, diffusing through the body, I felt intense heat. My body jerked sharply. Then, My breathing abruptly stopped. In moments, the sensation travelled up My back and into My head. I plunged deeply into _savikalpa-samādhi_.

**I:** How did the legs feel after the sensation started to move up the back?

**Acharyal:** I stopped being aware of them. I ceased to be conscious of the portion of the body below whatever level the sensation reached in My back.

**I:** Was the ascent swift or slow?

**Acharyal:** The movement from the soles to the base of the back was very quick. It was almost instantaneous. From the base of the back to a little below the navel, the ascent was slower but, nonetheless, swift. Thereafter, it was like that of an ant.

**I:** Did Acharyal apprehend the _cakras_?

**Acharyal:** Yes. When the sensation arrived at the base of the back, I momentarily beheld the lotus of the _mūlādhāra_ in bloom. Very shortly thereafter, I had a fleeting view of the _svādhiṣṭhāna_. Just before the sensation ascended My back to the level of My navel, I beheld the lotus of the _maṇipūra_ facing downwards, with the petals almost fully closed. The lotus became upright and bloomed when the sensation reached it. Similar was the case with the _anāhata_ , _viśuddha_ and _ājña_ _cakras_.

**I:** What experience preceded Acharyal's _savikalpa-samādhi_ and what constituted its object?

**Acharyal:** After I had briefly seen the _ājña-cakra_ in bloom, I experienced a bright flash of light like lightning. Next, I saw a charming, luminous, tiny blue orb. My attention locked on to it and as I could then behold only that orb, its smallness was no more apparent. Thereafter, within it, I apprehended the forms of Śiva and Pārvatī. The blue orb with the forms of Śiva and Pārvatī constituted the object of My _savikalpa-samādhi_.

**I:** Would Acharyal please describe the descent from _samādhi_?

**Acharyal:** Śiva and Pārvatī disappeared and, subsequently, so did the blue orb. I then felt as though I was moving downwards together with a divine power. Leaving behind the _ājña_ , _viśuddha_ , and _anāhata_ _cakras_ one after the other, I came to the _maṇipūra-cakra_. Without sensing any further descent of the power, I gained partial awareness of the body; the portion below the level of the navel was, as it were, missing. As I became aware of the rest of the body too, I realised that I had adopted the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍiyāna_ and _mūla_ _bandhas_. I had no idea when I had done so, involuntarily. I released the _bandhas_ and started to breathe normally. When I opened My eyes, I noticed that My legs were bluish. In moments, they became normal.

{Acharyal has clarified, "Some hold that the arousal of the _kuṇḍalinī_ and its ascent to the _svādhiṣṭhāna-cakra_ are likely to be accompanied by a temporary manifestation of intense sexual desire. It is also contended that the piercing of the _brahma_ , _viṣṇu_ and _rudra_ _granthis_ by the _kuṇḍalinī_ on its way from the _mūlādhāra_ to the _sahasrāra_ is accompanied by much pain and even sickness. The laudable course is for one to first cultivate intense dispassion and to purify the _nādīs_. Only _Sattvik_ food should be consumed. Further, _kuṇḍalinī-yoga_ should be practised under the guidance of an adept and not by just referring to books. For one who ensures all this, the arousal and ascent of the _kuṇḍalinī_ are definitely not accompanied by lust, pain and sickness."}

**I:** When did Acharyal's next direct experience of the ascent of the _kuṇḍalinī_ to the head occur? Was that experience the same as this one?

**Acharyal:** It took place the very next day and differed from this in some ways. Since a few months after My _saṁnyāsa_ , I used to mentally offer worship to the _kuṇḍalinī_ in the various _cakras_. I continued the worship done in one _cakra_ in the next higher _cakra_ after conceiving that I reverentially led the _kuṇḍalinī_ there. I performed such worship on Tuesdays and Fridays, in the mornings. The day following the one on which I had the experience I spoke of was a Tuesday. I began My worship as usual in the _mūlādhāra-cakra_ and continued it in the _svādhiṣṭhāna-cakra_. When I imagined that the _kuṇḍalinī_ ascended to the _maṇipūra-cakra_ , My breathing spontaneously stopped and I automatically adopted the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍiyāna_ and _mūla_ _bandhas_.

I then experienced an upward movement of the _kuṇḍalinī_. Simultaneously, I felt that the elements _pṛthvī_ (earth), _āpas_ (water) and _agni_ (fire) had become sequentially absorbed into the _kuṇḍalinī_ together with the divinities of the _mūlādhāra_ , _svādhiṣṭhāna_ and _maṇipūra_ _cakras_. I also felt a great infusion of power into Me. In a serpentine manner, the _kuṇḍalinī-śakti_ soon reached the _anāhata-cakra_. The element _vāyu_ (air) and the _devatās_ of the _anāhata_ appeared to become absorbed into the _kuṇḍalinī_.

From the _anāhata-cakra_ to the _viśuddha-cakra_ , the ascent of the _kuṇḍalinī_ was not serpentine but instantaneous. I felt that the element _ākāśa_ (space) and the _devatās_ of the _viśuddha-cakra_ became merged into the _kuṇḍalinī_. The next moment, the _śakti_ was at the _ājña-cakra_. I got the feeling that all the organs became absorbed into the _kuṇḍalinī_ there. Then, I had a vision of Śiva as Dakṣiṇamūrti.

The upward movement of the _kuṇḍalinī_ from the _ājña-cakra_ to the _sahasrāra_ was not instantaneous but was swift. I obtained just a fleeting, indistinct, view of some centres in between and felt that the mind and intellect were absorbed by the _kuṇḍalinī_ _en route_. At the pericarp of the _sahasrāra_ , I had the vision of a nectar-shedding, moon-like region. This contained a triangular zone, lustrous like lightning, with a minute, apparently empty, space within. I then spontaneously went into _samādhi_. The object of My focus was God as inhabiting the tiny space.

As I emerged from _samādhi_ , I felt Myself descending rapidly with the _kuṇḍalinī_. At the _ājña_ , _viśuddha_ and _anāhata_ _cakras_ , what had merged into the _kuṇḍalinī_ during the _kuṇḍalinī_ 's ascent through these _cakras_ reappeared. When the _anāhata-cakra_ was reached, I gained mild awareness of the body. I noticed that My tongue was folded backwards and felt the descent of a few cool drops of a uniquely tasty fluid into the back of My throat. Finally, I opened My eyes.

**I:** On Acharyal's doing so, what was the condition of Acharyal's body below the level of the _anāhata-cakra_?

**Acharyal:** It was normal. Unlike on the previous occasion, My legs were not bluish for a while. Also, this time, I straightaway regained awareness of the full body and not merely of its upper half.

**I:** Did Acharyal recognise the fluid descending into the back of the throat to be nectar from the _sahasrāra_?

**Acharyal:** Yes, and without any delay. I remember telling you some years ago about the series of seven extraordinary dreams in which the Lord taught _haṭha-yoga_ to Me. During Śiva's demonstration of the _khecarī-mudrā_ , I had experienced the descent of a fluid into the back of My mouth and understood that this removes hunger, thirst and dullness. You would remember My having told you about this. The taste that I experienced became imprinted in My mind. The taste of the fluid that I noticed on becoming mildly aware of the body was the same as that taste. The invigorating effect too tallied with what I had experienced in the dream; this one lasted for two days.

In the dream in which Śāradāmbā taught Me about the arousal and ascent of the _kuṇḍalinī_ , I saw the moon-like region at the pericarp of the _sahasrāra_ shedding nectar. What I beheld in that dream matched what I apprehended in My meditation. So, I had no difficulty in identifying the fluid as one stemming from the _sahasrāra_. An experience that I had three days later supported My conclusion.

That morning, as I was about to visualise and focus on a divine form in My heart, My tongue folded backwards. Then, for a moment, I saw the form of Ambā as seated in the _sahasrāra_ and pouring down nectar. I decided to meditate on Her in this very fashion. So, I conceived of Her as I had glimpsed Her and focused on Her. I was soon in _savikalpa-samādhi_. When I regained awareness of the body, I felt a few drops of fluid descending into the back of My throat. The taste, coolness and invigorating effect were the same as on the previous occasion.

{The _Lalitā-sahasranāma_ of the _Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa_ speaks as follows of the Mother being present in the _sahasrāra_ and raining nectar.

sahasrārāmbujārūḍhā sudhā-sārābhivarṣiṇī ॥

She who has ascended the sahasrāra lotus; She who rains torrents of nectar.

In a benedictory address to a mammoth gathering on December 21, 1982 at Paramahamsi-Ganga-Ashram in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Acharyal spoke of how people can achieve their various cherished ends by suitably concentrating on the Mother. Concerning the desire of people to have a long life, He cited the following authoritative verse:

śīrṣāmbhoruhamadhye śītala-pīyūṣavarṣiṇīṁ bhavatīm ।

anudinam-anucintayatām-āyuṣyaṁ bhavati puṣkalam-avanyām ॥

The life-span on earth of those who contemplate every day on You (Mother) as present within the lotus of the head and raining cool nectar becomes great.

Acharyal then said, "The scripture and even our experience reveal that there is a lotus in the head; just as there is nectar in a common lotus, there is nectar in this ( _sahasrāra_ ) lotus too. Its nectar is savoured in _lambikā-yoga_. _Lambikā-yoga_ involves making one's tongue very thin and long, inserting it into the passage at the back of the mouth and taking it upwards to the head. When one remains with the tongue thrust up to the head, one tastes the nectar that flows __ there. Long life is acquired by those given to drinking nectar thus. This is a means taught in the _Yoga-Śāstra_."

Acharyal went on to explain, in the light of the cited verse, a course that can be adopted by a devotee of the Mother who is unfamiliar with _lambikā-yoga_ but who seeks to transcend phenomenal existence or to have a long life. He said, "The Mother is meditated upon in the six _cakras_ ( _mūlādhāra_ , _svādhiṣṭhāna_ , _maṇipūra_ , _anāhata_ , _viśuddha_ and _ājña_ ) and in the _sahasrāra_. The _sahasrāra_ is the topmost of these centres.

śīrṣāmbhoruhamadhye

Within the lotus of the head.

Mother, You are seated there. With both Your hands, You are pouring down nectar. That is descending to and filling My stomach.

śītalapīyūṣavarṣiṇīṁ bhavatīm ।

You who rain cool nectar.

The nectar is cool. You are indeed raining the ambrosia of the gods. I contemplate on You in this fashion."

Having presented the meditation specified in the first half of the verse from a practitioner's perspective, Acharyal did so in the form of a teaching. He said, "Close the eyes. Think of the _sahasrāra_ lotus. Then, conceive of the Mother as seated there and pouring down nectar. Feel that the nectar is descending and filling the stomach.

"What is a fruit of contemplating thus?

anudinam-anucintayatām-āyuṣyaṁ bhavati puṣkalam-avanyām ॥

The life-span of those who meditate thus every day becomes great.

"You can attain long life."

Shortly after delivering the half-an-hour-long benedictory discourse, Acharyal told me in private, "When I cited the ' _śīrṣāmbhoruhamadhye_...' verse, I was reminded of the related experience that I had as a boy. That was one reason for My mentioning that the scripture as also experience reveal the presence of the _sahasrāra_ lotus and the nectar there."}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** As I engaged in My morning _āhnika_ after the _samādhi_ , it seemed to Me that something was beginning to ooze from the crown of My head. This caused Me no discomfort. I pushed back My upper garment from over My head and felt the spot concerned. I determined that a fluid was indeed slowly emerging from there. It looked like pure water and flowed down the side of My head. In about a minute, the oozing stopped. About a spoonful of liquid had come out by then.

On the preceding few days, Acharyal had been somewhat withdrawn. However, that day, when I had His _darśana_ after My _āhnika_ , He gave Me an opportunity to briefly report My experiences. He confirmed that what I had felt at the back of the throat was nectar from the _sahasrāra_. He then revealed to Me that, at times, He had spontaneously experienced the descent of this nectar and that in His case its effect had lasted for one to three days.

He further said, "Some water oozed from the crown of My head either before or after the descent of nectar. The descent of nectar and the oozing of water are not related as cause and effect. The water can be perceived and accessed by others. However, though the descent, taste, coolness and invigorating effect of the nectar can be clearly experienced by one, it is impossible for another to perceive or collect it. No examination of the interior of the head, throat or stomach will show up the presence of any nectar."

{Acharyal had graced me with clarifications about _lambikā-yoga_ , the descent of nectar and the oozing of water some years earlier. At that time, while He stated that Paramacharyal had direct experience of nectar, He did not mention that He too had a similar experience. In September 1979, during Navaratri, Acharyal sent for me one morning at 6.30; I normally had His _āhnika_ - _darśana_ after 8 o'clock. He, who was about to commence a _japa_ , told me, "I have a feeling that water will ooze from My head in a few minutes. I thought that you would like to see it." I completed my _namaskāras_ and waited.

Acharyal pushed back His upper garment from His head. Less than a minute thereafter, I saw a drop of liquid make its appearance at the crown of His head. The rest of Acharyal's head was dry. The weather was cool and Acharyal was not sweating. Slowly, some more liquid oozed out at that very spot. Acharyal bent forward and neatly collected the entire quantity in His _uddharaṇi_ (spoon for taking up water). I saw that the amount collected was about 10 ml. It was colourless.

Acceding to my request, He poured the liquid into my cupped right palm. I noted that it was odourless and seemed to be water. Regarding the fluid as sacrosanct, I wanted to drink it after leaving. However, Acharyal said, "Throw it away and wash your hands. It has come out like sweat. Being impure, it is unfit to be drunk." He did not mention nectar on this occasion.}

# 11. From Divine Forms to the Formless Reality

[The following conversation took place at Sringeri in August 1989. Of His own accord, Acharyal told me,"Over the years, either on My own or in response to your questions, I have given you the details of My spiritual life. If there is anything else about it that you would like to know, ask Me without any hesitation. I do not want to keep any aspect of it a secret from you." Acharyal shed His human form the following month.]

**I:** In 1935, Acharyal was enjoying _dhyāna_ and _samādhi_ on several forms of Īśvara. Yet, Acharyal suddenly switched from meditation on forms to that on the Formless and quickly attained _nirvikalpa-samādhi._ Was there anything special that prompted Acharyal to make the change?

**Acharyal:** Yes. I have not given even a hint about this to anybody so far. Now, I shall tell you everything. This shall be the first and the last time that I shall be doing so. So long as I am alive, nothing of this should be mentioned by you to anybody.

It was a _śukla-dasamī_. That day, I felt like spending some more time than usual in meditation on the hill. As I was preparing to set out for My meditation spot so as to begin My meditation about one and a half hours before sunset, I was informed that Acharyal had summoned Me. I promptly went to Acharyal. He was seated alone. I prostrated before Him. He gestured to Me to sit down. On My doing so, He asked, "Were You about to leave for meditation?" I answered in the affirmative. He smiled. Then, for a minute, He said nothing but looked fixedly at My face. Smiling again, He said, "I am glad. You can start." I prostrated. As I did so, He leaned forward and placed both His hands on My head. He then uttered the _mantra_ ,

"oṁ namaḥ śivāya ।

(Obeisance to Śiva)"

somewhat loudly, three times while His hands were still on My head. This was unusual. As I got up, I strongly felt, "Today, I must meditate on Śiva."

I went to My room, picked up My _āsana-vastra_ (cloth spread on seat) and started for the hill. My attendant followed. I was only a short distance away from Sacchidananda Vilas when I heard Acharyal's clap. It sounded as if it was coming from outside the building. I turned around and noticed that Acharyal was standing in front of Sacchidananda Vilas and looking in My direction. I was about to run towards Him when He gestured that I should proceed as I was doing before. He, however, beckoned to My attendant. I walked rapidly - in those days My walk was almost like a run - and soon reached the base of the hill. I turned to see if the attendant was trying to catch up with Me but he was nowhere around.

The idea of meditating in complete solitude appealed to Me. I quickly climbed the hill. There, as usual, I sat down, facing west. The Malahānikareśvara temple was directly in the line of My sight. The sky was clear, without even the trace of a cloud. Both the sun and the moon were clearly visible. The whole scene was very pretty. Charmed by it, I chanted the ' _bhūrambhāṁsi_..' verse of the _Dakṣiṇāmūrti-stotra._

{The verse concerned is:

bhūrambhāṁsyanalo'nilo'mbaramaharnātho himāṁśuḥ pumā-

nityābhāti carācarātmakam-idaṁ yasyaiva mūrtyaṣṭakam ।

nānyatkiñcana vidyate vimṛśatāṁ yasmāt parasmādvibho-

stasmai śrīgurumūrtaye nama idaṁ śrī-dakṣiṇāmūrtaye ॥

Obeisance to Him whose eight-fold form is all this moving and unmoving universe, appearing as earth, water, fire, air, space, the sun, the moon and the soul; beyond whom, Supreme and All-pervading, nothing else exists for the discerning; to Him who is incarnate in the glorious form of the Guru; to that resplendent Dakṣiṇāmūrti (Śiva.)}

( **Acharyal:** ) Having adopted the _siddhāsana_ , I mentally offered My _namaskāras_ to Acharyal and Śiva before commencing My meditation. I directed My gaze to the space between My eyebrows. Keeping My eyes fixed, I mentally chanted " _oṁ namaḥ śivāya_ " That day, I did not chant just the _Praṇava_. As usual, I felt a strong tingling sensation between My eyebrows. I soon began to behold an attractive and soothing moon-like disc of light within Me in that region. Such a disc had made its appearance only on a few earlier occasions. What manifested often was a blue hue; much less frequently, a green hue used to manifest. With the mind having become very calm and attentive, I imagined my heart-lotus in full bloom. In it, I visualised, in accordance with the ' _śāntaṁ padmāsanasthaṁ_...' _dhyāna-ślokā,_ Śiva in association with Pārvatī and possessed of five heads and ten arms.

{The complete verse is:

śāntaṁ padmāsanasthaṁ śaśadharamakuṭaṁ pañcavaktraṁ trinetraṁ

śūlaṁ vajraṁ ca khaḍgaṁ paraśumabhayadaṁ dakṣabhāge vahantam ।

nāgaṁ pāśaṁ ca ghaṇṭāṁ pralayahutavahaṁ sāṅkuśaṁ vāmabhāge

nānālaṅkārayuktaṁ sphaṭikamaṇinibhaṁ pārvatīśaṁ namāmi ॥

I salute the Lord of Pārvatī who is tranquil, seated in padmāsana, has the moon in His crest, has five faces (four in the four directions and one upward-turned), has three eyes (per face), bears a trident, thunderbolt, sword, axe and the symbol of granting freedom from fear (open upraised palm) in the (five hands on the) right side and bears a snake, noose, bell, the fire of cosmic dissolution and a goad in the (five hands on the) left side, is variously adorned and resembles (in complexion) a crystal gem.}

( **Acharyal:** ) As I focused on the form, My awareness of the surroundings and the body vanished. Soon, My mental chanting of the _Pañcakṣarī-mantra_ ( _oṁ namaḥ śivāya_ ) came to a stop and My mind thoroughly locked on to the divine form in the heart. Suddenly, the form became extraordinarily vivid. No effort to concentrate was needed any more. I could then literally experience the immediate presence of Śiva. The affection and smile that I beheld in the Lord's _īśāna-mukha_ (upward face) in particular still enthral Me. I was overwhelmed with joy.

After about one and a half hours, as I discerned later but what then seemed to Me to be just a moment, I became lightly aware of the body. I opened My eyes. I could see the sun close to the horizon and feel a gentle breeze. I could, at the same time, clearly apprehend the Lord associated with Ambā in My heart-lotus. The Lord appeared to be emerging from within and expanding. A deep long sound of _Oṁ_ was audible. I then definitely beheld Śiva in front of and facing Me. Oh, what a glorious sight that was!

{At this point, Acharyal fell silent for a while, His face flushed with happiness. After over a minute, Acharyal continued but His voice dropped to a whisper and showed unmistakable signs of His entrancement with delight.}

( **Acharyal:** ) Tears of joy flowed from My eyes and My hairs stood on end. The Lord's lips moved and I heard His very sweet voice. His words were:

vatsa śvaḥprabhṛtyatra nirākāre pare tattve manaḥ samādhatsva । acireṇa brahmasaṁstho bhaviṣyasi ।

(O, child, from tomorrow, fix Your mind on the Formless, Supreme Reality here. You will soon become established in Brahman.)

Then Śiva blessed Me by placing His hand on My head. Having done so, He disappeared. How compassionate He is to grace in such abundance one so insignificant and lacking in devotion as I!

No sooner had He vanished than there was a drizzle. In a matter of seconds, the sun set; simultaneously, the light rain stopped. As I have already stated, the sky was quite clear when I sat for meditation. Even when the sun set, clouds were not apparent. The sun having been quite visible when it rained there, to Me it appeared that the Lord was blessing Me with a light bath in the Gaṅgā.

{In 1975, one evening, when Acharyal was taking a walk in the fields of Narasimhavana, it started to drizzle. Acharyal broke into a smile and exclaimed, "Gaṅgā _-snāna_ ". He then explained to me that it has been said that getting wet in rain that falls when the sun can be seen is like bathing in the holy Gaṅgā.}

( **Acharyal:** ) In a state of ecstasy, I began to pay obeisance to and extol Parameśvara through verses that occurred to Me spontaneously. My voice kept choking and had any musician been around, he would have been appalled at My unmusical singing. (Acharyal laughed as He said this.)

**I:** Would Acharyal grace me with those verses?

**Acharyal:** I never bothered to put down those verses in writing and do not remember them either. Not attaching any importance to them, I did not subsequently think of and memorise them. They were, after all, just the prattle of an ignorant boy and not the compositions of any _mahātman_ or of literary value. All I am in a position now to tell you about the verses is that there were ten of them and that they were in the _bhujanga-prayāta_ metre. (The _bhujanga-prayāta_ metre comprises four _pādās_ of 12 letters each. The letters of every _pādā_ occur in the repeating sequence "short syllable, long syllable, long syllable".)

After uttering the verses, I felt an urge to meditate again. As the Lord had directly instructed Me as a _Guru_ , I thought of meditating on Him as __ Dakṣiṇāmūrti, the Teacher. Mentally chanting the _Medha-Dakṣiṇāmūrti-mantra_ , I visualised Him, in My heart-lotus, with four hands bearing a rosary, a vessel of nectar, a book and the symbol of knowledge.

{The _Medha_ - _Dakṣiṇāmūrti_ - _mantra_ is:

oṁ namo bhagavate dakṣiṇāmūrtaye mahyaṁ medhāṁ prajñāṁ prayaccha svāhā ।

The _Dakṣiṇāmūrti-upaniṣad_ gives the following _dhyāna-śloka_ for this:

sphaṭika-rajatavarṇaṁ mauktikīm-akṣamālā-

mamṛtakalaśa-vidyā-jñānamudrāḥ karābjaiḥ ।

dadhatam-uragakakṣyaṁ candracūḍaṁ trinetraṁ

vidhṛta-vividhabhūṣaṁ dakṣiṇāmūrtim-īḍe ॥

I adore Dakṣiṇāmūrti who is of crystal and silver complexion, holds in His lotus-like hands a rosary of pearls, a vessel of nectar, a book and the symbol of knowledge (characterised by the tips of the thumb and index fingers touching and the other three fingers held straight), has a serpent for His girdle, has the moon in His crest, is three-eyed and has donned various ornaments.

_Kakṣaṁ_ appears in place of _kakṣyaṁ_ in the third _pāda_ of the same _śloka_ as given in verse 31 of chapter 19 of the _Śāradā-tilaka,_ an authoritative _Tāntric_ treatise. The meaning of the verse does not change because of this.}

**I:** Did Acharyal commence the meditation on Dakṣiṇāmūrti by first directing the eyes to between the eyebrows?

**Acharyal:** No. I directly visualised His form in My heart-lotus. Awareness of the surroundings and the body ceased. Subsequently, the mental chanting of the _mantra_ automatically came to a stop and My focus was just on the form. There were no distracting thoughts of any kind. The meditation was deep, with the form quite clear. When I regained consciousness of the body and opened My eyes, I found no trace of sunlight. The place was, however, illumined by the light of the moon. Stars were visible.

It was only a few moments later that I realised that there was something on My neck. A big cobra had loosely coiled itself around My neck. Its upraised hood was near My right shoulder, facing away from Me. I had meditated on Bhujaṅga-bhūṣana (an epithet of Śiva meaning, "He who has a snake for an ornament") and now a snake was on My body as an ornament. Taking this as a sign of the Lord's grace, I felt very happy. I stroked the cobra gently. It seemed to like this and rested its head against My right cheek. After some time - maybe five minutes - the snake slowly uncoiled itself and went away. I got up and walked down the hill, seeing My way in the light of the moon.

At the base of the hill, I found My attendant waiting with a lamp. This was unprecedented, for, on earlier occasions, I was followed up the hill without any lamp by the attendant on duty. On My way back, in response to My question, he said that after calling him, Acharyal had instructed him to wait for Me, with a lamp in hand, at the base of the hill, after two and a half hours. He had been waiting only for some minutes when I descended. It was obvious to Me that Acharyal had accurately foreseen the time I would be spending on the hill. I also discerned that My second session of meditation, which was totally unplanned, must have lasted for almost an hour.

I desired to report the events to Acharyal but since the normal time for My having His _darśana_ would only be the next day after My morning _āhnika_ , I returned to My room. However, in a few moments, I received the message that Acharyal was calling Me. I learnt that Acharyal was engaged in His evening _āhnika_. I went to His presence and prostrated. After that, I stood silently. He was midway through the performance of a _japa_. On completing it, He looked at Me with a smile and said, "Today, You have received the very special grace and instruction of Parameśvara. Finally, for a while, You were a _bhujaṅga-bhūṣaṇa_. Is it not?" I answered in the affirmative and added that all this was the consequence of Acharyal's blessing bestowed before I had left.

As Acharyal had just unmistakably revealed that He was quite aware of what had transpired at the hill, it would have been unwarranted for Me to give any details. Acharyal said, "It is getting late for Your evening bath. You can go for it now and proceed with Your _āhnika_." I prostrated and went straight for My bath.

That night, I had a dream in which I beheld Śiva dancing magnificently as Natarāja, with Ambā looking on. After some time, this scene was replaced by one in which Śiva appeared in conjunction with Ambā as Ardhanārīśwara. In the dream itself, I venerated Śiva-Śaktī by chanting Bhagavatpāda's _Ardhanārīśvara-stotra_. Thereafter, the scene changed and I lay prostrate before the Lord as Dakṣiṇamūrti seated at the base of a big fig tree. I found Myself merging into the Lord. With My becoming one with the Lord, the dream ended and I woke up. The time was 4.30 in the morning. In the evening of that _ekādaśī_ , I commenced My meditation on the Formless in accordance with the command that I had received from the Lord.

# 12. Intense Reflection and Focus on Brahman

[During His camp at Mysore in the last week of October 1981, Acharyal told me, "Some months ago, I told you all that I could recall about My attainment of samādhi on the saguṇa (with- qualities) aspect of the Supreme. With that, as far as I know, I have completed revealing to you practically everything about My ādhyātmika-sādhanā (spiritual practices to attain the Truth), except for the details of its final phase. I had not thought of those events of My boyhood for so many years. I feel that God wanted Me to recall them and used you as an instrument to induce Me to do so.

"I know how very much you have enjoyed receiving such information from Me on every occasion. I shall, on My own, tell you about the final phase too. Before that, for the fun of it and to clarify My recollection, I would like to duplicate what I did then. After hearing the details from Me, you too do so and report to Me."

In January 1982, while at Chennai (then Madras), Acharyal detailed much of the final phase of His divine drama of ādhyātmika-sādhanā. As He had a very tight schedule, He did so in short private sessions. The dialogues relating to the sādhanā up to the final three days have been merged and given in the sequel.]

**Acharyal:** One evening, I went to the hill, about an hour before sunset. Till then, I had been meditating there on the Supreme as possessed of a form, such as that of Śiva, Viṣṇu or Ambā. That evening, however, I intended to focus My mind on the Supreme without superimposed forms and activities. I sat down in the _siddhāsana_ , facing west. Then, with the words of the scripture as basis and reasoning as an aid, I readied Myself to meditate on the Supreme.

brahmavidāpnoti param

(He who knows Brahman attains the highest.)

ānandaṁ brahmaṇo vidvān । na bibheti kutaścaneti ।

(On realising the bliss of Brahman, the enlightened man is not afraid of anything.)

yadā hyevaiṣa etasminnudaramantaraṁ kurute ।

atha tasya bhayaṁ bhavati ।

(For, when this (ignorant) man perceives even the slightest variety in Brahman, then (because of that perception of difference) fear arises in him.)

I recalled these passages and reflected on the following lines. From these scriptural declarations, it follows that on realising _Brahman_ , I will attain unity with _Brahman_ , the highest. On the other hand, as long as I do not realise _Brahman_ and I perceive duality, bondage will not cease. Knowledge does not actually make or modify an object. It only removes the ignorance relating to the object. So, even now, I am indeed _Brahman_ and the world has no existence apart from It. It is only because of ignorance that I seem to be otherwise and perceive duality. Else, there is no question of My realisation of _Brahman_ leading to My becoming _Brahman_ and to the cessation of diversity as declared by the scripture.

This body, made up of skin, blood, flesh, bones and the like, is dependent on food and is inert. It is perceivable like an external object, such as a stone. What is inert and perceivable is different from that which is conscious and perceives it. I am conscious and perceive the body; as for My consciousness, that is self-evident. So, I am not the body. Likewise, I am not the _prāṇas_. The organs are, in themselves, inert and are merely the instruments of perception and activity. As such, the possibility of My being the organs does not arise.

The mind is changeful and comprises thoughts and emotions that arise and disappear. I am aware of the thoughts and emotions. How can I be the mind, for it is but an object of consciousness, as is a stone? It cannot be that a second thought, and not consciousness other than the mind, is necessary or sufficient to reveal a thought. This is because another thought would be needed to reveal the thought that reveals the first one; yet another thought would be needed to reveal that thought and so on. There would be the fallacy of infinite regress.

_Sāttvik_ food conduces to mental purity and calmness, while _rājasik_ and _tāmasik_ food affect the mind adversely. It is well known that the thinking of a person heavily under the influence of liquor is impaired. Affected by what is ingested, the mind is a material entity, notwithstanding its subtlety. Though it appears to be conscious, the mind, which is material, is inert. I who am patently not inert cannot be the inert mind.

The agent denoted by 'I' in notions such as, "I see this," "I feel dull" and "I do this" manifests in the states of waking and dream but disappears with the onset of deep sleep. One would not be in deep sleep at all if one were to have any notion at that time like, "I am fast asleep." I, however, do exist not only in the states of waking and dream but also in deep sleep. This is confirmed by the ready recognition on awakening, "During deep sleep, I slept happily. I did not know anything at that time." As the agent disappears during deep sleep but I persist therein, I cannot be this agent marked by the I-thought.

Agency involves change and pertains to the intellect. Though reflecting the light of the sun and appearing bright, a mirror is intrinsically not a source of light. Likewise, though appearing to be intrinsically conscious, the intellect, being a material entity like the organs, is inert. I am the witness of even the intellect and, so, distinct from it.

mahābhūtānyahaṅkāro buddhiravyaktameva ca ।

indriyāṇi daśaikaṁ ca pañca cendriyagocarāḥ ॥

icchā dveṣaḥ sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ saṅghātaścetanā dhṛtiḥ ।

etatkṣetraṁ samāsena savikāramudāhṛtam ॥

(The great elements (space, air, fire, water and earth), egoism, intellect, the Unmanifest itself; the ten organs and the mind; the five objects of the senses (sound, touch, form, taste and smell); desire, aversion, happiness, sorrow, the aggregate (of the body and organs), sentience and fortitude – this is a brief account of the field, together with its modifications.)

From these words of the Lord, it is clear that the body, senses, mind and intellect are all inert objects of knowledge. Characterised by consciousness and being the one who illumines them, I am surely distinct from them.

The states of waking, dream and deep sleep are neither natural to Me nor absolutely real. This is because while I persist unchanged in all these three states, the state of waking is absent during the states of dream and deep sleep; the dream state is absent during the states of waking and deep sleep; and deep sleep is absent during waking and dream. What appears and disappears like a mirage cannot be absolutely real. Being subject to annulment, the states of waking, dream and deep sleep are false. I am unstained by them like the desert by mirages.

Various objects are illumined by the sun, which is distinct from them and is one. Likewise, the objects encountered in the waking state are diverse and undergo changes but the consciousness that illumines them is distinct from them and is one. As in the waking state, the changeful, diverse objects seen in the dream state are revealed by consciousness that is constant and one. In deep sleep, consciousness reveals ignorance. There is no ground to presume either that there is any difference in the consciousness that shines in the three states or that it is subject to any change. Certainly, the objects revealed cannot establish any change in what reveals them. Further, consciousness cannot witness any change in itself. This unchanging consciousness cannot be other than Myself. On the authority of the _Śruti_ , I am the Supreme _Brahman_.

About _Brahman_ , the _Śruti_ says:

satyaṁ jñānam-anantaṁ brahma ।

(Brahman is truth, knowledge and infinite.)

Only that which never gets annulled at any time, past, present or future, is s _at_ or _satya_. What is subject to change cannot be defined as being _satya_. _Brahman_ , thus, ever was, is and will be changeless. It is absolute Existence. _Brahman_ is said here to be _jñāna_ , knowledge, rather than to be _jñātṛ_ , a perceiver. It is thus of the very nature of consciousness. What is delimited by time, space or objects is not unconditionally _ananta_ , infinite. As the _Śruti_ declares that _Brahman_ is _ananta_ , It cannot be conditioned by time, space or objects. Thus, there is no time when It is absent, there is no place at all where _Brahman_ is not present and there is no object whatsoever that exists apart from _Brahman_.

That everything is rooted in _Brahman_ is clear from the words:

tasmādvā etasmādātmana ākāśaḥ saṁbhūtaḥ । ākāśādvāyuḥ ।

vāyoragniḥ । agnerāpaḥ । adbhyaḥ pṛthivī ।

(From that Brahman indeed, which is this Ātman, was produced space. From space emerged air. From air was born fire. From fire was created water. From water sprang up earth.)

yato vā imāni bhūtāni jāyante । yena jātāni jīvanti ।

yatprayantyabhisaṁviśanti । tadvijijñāsasva । tadbrahmeti ।

(Seek to know well that from which all these beings take birth, that by which they live after being born and to which they go and into which they merge. That is Brahman.)

As _Brahman_ is changeless, there is no question of It actually becoming transformed into the element space or of It actually producing space like a potter making a pot. Space and the other elements ought, therefore, to be appearances in _Brahman_ , like a mirage in the desert. They have no existence apart from _Brahman_.

sa yaścāyaṁ puruṣe । yaścāsāvāditye । sa ekaḥ ।

(He that is here in the human person and He that is there in the sun are one.)

sarvabhūtastha-mātmānaṁ sarvabhūtāni cātmani ।

īkṣate yogayuktātmā sarvatra samadarśanaḥ ॥

yo māṁ paśyati sarvatra sarvaṁ ca mayi paśyati ।

tasyāhaṁ na praṇaśyāmi sa ca me na praṇaśyati ॥

(He whose mind is absorbed in yoga and who has the vision of sameness everywhere sees the Ātman as abiding in all beings and all beings as abiding in the Ātman. He who sees Me in everything and sees all things in Me – I do not go out of his vision and he also is not lost to My vision.)

Accordingly, _Brahman_ , which is absolute existence, pure consciousness and infinite, shines as the self of every being. Though appearing as the world, It is non-dual and unaffected in any way. As taught by the scripture, I am indeed the Supreme _Brahman_ , the _Ātman_ of all. I never was, am or will be otherwise. By the grace of Acharyal and God, My reflection that day resulted in great clarity of understanding, freedom from doubts and conviction regarding this.

ahameva paraṁ brahma vāsudevākhyam-avyayam ।

(I am indeed the Supreme Brahman, the One free from decay and known as Vāsudeva (He who resides in and shines in all).)

These words that accurately portrayed the conclusion I had arrived at came to My mind. I felt ready to deeply focus on the Supreme.

{The term Vāsudeva has been used in the scripture with reference to the Supreme as has been done in the verse of Bhagavatpāda recalled spontaneously by Acharyal. The Lord says in the _Bhagavad-gītā_ :

bahūnāṁ janmanāmante jñānavānmāṁ prapadyate ।

vāsudevaḥ sarvamiti sa mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ॥

At the end of many births the man of knowledge attains Me, (realising) that Vāsudeva is all. Such a great one is very rare.

In the introduction of His _Gītā-bhāṣya_ , Bhagavatpāda writes:

paramārthatattvaṁ ca vāsudevākhyaṁ parabrahmābhidheyabhūtaṁ

viśeṣato'bhivyañjayat gītāśāstram ।

The Gītā scripture specially expounds the subject that is the absolute Reality, the Supreme Brahman known as Vāsudeva..

In the _Mokṣadharma_ of the _Mahābhārata_ , there occur the following words of the Lord:

chādayāmi jagadviśvaṁ bhūtyā sūrya ivāṁśubhiḥ ।

sarvabhūtādhivāsaśca vāsudevastataḥ smṛtaḥ॥

Like the sun with its rays, I cover the entire universe with My glory. Also, I reside in all beings. Hence, I am known as Vāsudeva.

In the _Viṣṇu-purāṇa_ , it is said:

sarvāṇi tatra bhūtāni vasanti paramātmani ।

bhūteṣu ca sarvātmā vāsudevastataḥ smṛtaḥ ॥

All beings abide in the Supreme Ātman and He, the Ātman of all, abides in all beings. Therefore, He is called Vāsudeva.}

**I:** Had Paramacharyal expounded the _Taittirīya-upaniṣad_ and Bhagavatpāda's _bhāṣya_ on it to Acharyal before this?

**Acharyal:** No. I, however, knew the _Taittirīya-upaniṣad_ by rote, having learnt it along with the _Rudram,_ _Camakam_ , _Sūktas_ and the _Mahānārāyaṇa-upaniṣad_. Acharyal took classes for Me on the _Upaniṣad_ , _Gītā_ and _Brahmasūtra_ _bhāṣyas_ only years later.

**I:** Why, then, did Acharyal base the reflection on the _mantras_ of the _Taittirīya-upaniṣad_?

**Acharyal:** I just felt impelled and guided to do so. Though I was conversant with Sanskrit, it was primarily because of divine grace that at that time I correctly understood the import and implications of the teachings of the _Upaniṣad_. Only when Acharyal taught Me the _Taittirīya-upaniṣad-bhāṣya_ , I fully recognised that My understanding of the passages had been in strict accordance with the _bhāṣya_.

**I:** How long did the reflection preceding the meditation last?

**Acharyal:** Perhaps for about 45 minutes. During that time, though I did specifically keep My eyes closed, I hardly noticed the surroundings. I had come to the hill about an hour before sunset. Before starting My meditation, I looked towards the Malahānikareśvara temple and the sun. It seemed that the sun would set in about 15 minutes.

I initiated My meditation as usual by gazing at the space between the brows and chanting the _Prāṇava_. I apprehended a blue hue, just as I often did. At this point, instead of conceiving any divine form, I mentally uttered once the words:

ahameva paraṁ brahma vāsudevākhyamavyayam ।

(I am indeed the Supreme Brahman, the One free from decay and known as Vāsudeva (He who resides in and shines in all).)

Then, without repeatedly chanting the words like a _mantra_ , I strongly held on to the idea conveyed. Immediately, I felt Myself expanding and becoming pervasive like space. A great wave of joy arose and submerged Me. After what seemed a trice, I gained mild awareness of the body; actually, about 30 to 45 minutes had passed.

**I:** What effect did the sense of becoming pervasive have on Acharyal's contemplating as specified in the _Brahmānucintana_ verse?

**Acharyal:** By countering the notion of My being limited by the body and the like, it greatly intensified My contemplation. While feeling omnipresent like space, I did not have any apprehension of either darkness or light. Such was the intensity of the focus that ensued that I remained, as it were, as just objectless consciousness and bliss.

**I:** Would Acharyal classify the state attained as _samādhi_?

**Acharyal:** No. The state was only that of deep meditation. The need for effort to hold on to the idea of being _Brahman_ did not vanish. Further, I did continue to have some awareness that I was meditating. Though it was not _samādhi_ , the experience did have the effect of strengthening the conviction produced by My earlier reflection.

I mentally repeated the enquiry of the evening twice in the course of the next day. That evening, after sitting down at My meditation spot on the summit of the hill, I pondered, "Thoughts of objects and the 'I' thought arise in the mind and highlight objects and the agent respectively. Happiness, sorrow and the like too are only mental modifications as are the transformations of the mind in the form of external objects. The agent and the 'I' thought are relatively fundamental and not characterised by the great diversity of the thoughts of objects. Nonetheless, even agency and the sense of 'I' pertain to the mind and not to the _Ātman_.

"The _Ātman_ is pure consciousness and is ever changeless. Being of this kind, the _Ātman_ can neither be the mind nor be affected in any way by the mind. Yet, having falsely identified the _Ātman_ with the mind, one deems oneself to be an agent and treats as valid notions such as, 'I see this,' 'This is mine,' 'I am happy' and 'I am unhappy.' Decidedly, only right knowledge can annul ignorance and misunderstanding. Yesterday, to gain right knowledge, I recalled the words of the scripture and used reasoning to rid Myself of doubts and clarify My understanding. Then, I voluntarily thought of My true nature as discerned by Me and retained that notion. Fortunately, no other thought cropped up and impaired My meditation."

At this juncture, it struck Me that like using a thorn to remove a thorn that has pierced one's sole, I could well use even unwanted mental activity as a means to direct My attention to the _Ātman_. I reflected, "Per se, the _Ātman_ is objectless, absolute consciousness and is none other than _Brahman_. With respect to the 'I' thought as also other thoughts, It is their witness. So, instead of giving importance to any thought that arises or actively quelling it, I could contemplate on the _Ātman_ as being the witness of that thought. The thought would then serve as a pointer to the _Ātman_ rather than as a distracter.

"If I stand back from a thought as a disinterested witness, the thought would be deprived of stimulation and should soon die out. Hence, My using a thought to turn to the _Ātman_ ought not to have the undesirable consequence of making the thought persist. It is not as though the meditation would grind to a halt when the mind becomes completely still. This is because My aim is not to watch thoughts but to abide as the _Ātman_ , which shines on Its own without any dependence on the mind."

I thought in this fashion for two or three minutes. To try out what I had planned, I needed some thought in the mind in the early phase of My meditation. However, My mind was simply not given to wandering during meditation. I decided that instead of voluntarily generating some thought, I would employ My eagerness to meditate without delay as the requisite prop. Just as when one eats, one's desire to have a meal becomes quieted, the desire to meditate would automatically disappear with My engaging in meditation. So, I would just not be faced with the problem of the thought persisting. I reminded Myself that I am pure consciousness unlimited by space, time and objects and started My meditation.

**I:** Did Acharyal skip directing the gaze to the space between the brows and allowing a hue to be apprehended there?

**Acharyal:** Yes, for I wanted to make immediate use of the desire to meditate that I had willingly entertained at that time. I experienced no difficulty in initiating contemplation on the _Ātman_ as the witness of this desire. Almost immediately thereafter, the mental activity serving as the object vanished. An essentially isolated 'I' thought remained. I maintained the attitude of being a witness characterised by pure, unlimited consciousness. Very soon, even the sense of 'I' almost completely faded away. The mind was then quite still and no effort was needed to keep it so.

Consciousness shone clearly without any object and without limitations. I was overwhelmed by bliss, which was far greater than on the previous evening. The awareness of any distinction between the bliss and Myself was almost absent. About an hour passed thus but I was totally oblivious of the passage of time. I then emerged from _savikalpa-samādhi_ and gradually became aware of the body.

{The _Muktika_ - _upaniṣad_ defines _savikalpa_ / _saṁprajñāta_ _samādhi_ on the _Ātman_ - _Brahman_ as:

Brahmākāra-manovṛtti-pravāho'haṅkṛtiṁ vinā ।

saṁprajñāta-samādhiḥ syāddhyānābhyāsa-prakarṣataḥ ॥

The flow, without egoism, of mental transformations (vṛttis) of the form of Brahman constitutes saṁprajñāta-samādhi. It stems from excellence in the practice of meditation.

In the _Sarva_ - _vedānta_ - _siddhānta_ - _sāra_ - _saṅgrahaḥ_ attributed to Bhagavatpāda, it is said:

jñātrādyavilayenaiva jñeye brahmaṇi kevale ।

tadākārākāritayā cittavṛtteravasthitiḥ ॥

sadbhiḥ sa eva vijñeyaḥ samādhiḥ savikalpakaḥ ।

mṛda evāvabhāne'pi mṛnmayadvipabhānavat ॥

sanmātravastubhāne'pi tripuṭī bhāti sanmayī ।

samādhirata evāyaṁ savikalpa itīryate ॥

The continuance of the transformation of the mind in the form of Brahman, the Absolute, without the dissolution of the distinction of the one who knows, the act of knowing and the known is indeed known by the wise as savikalpa-samādhi. Because, though Brahman of the nature of absolute existence manifests, the awareness of the distinction of the one who knows, knowing and the known is present, this samādhi is termed savikalpa.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** When I opened My eyes, I noticed that it was about half an hour before sunset. After remaining mentally quiet for a few minutes, I thought, "I am now in a position to take advantage of the presence of some thought or feeling at the start of meditation to focus on the _Ātman_ and attain _samādhi_. There is, however, no necessity for Me to rely upon what is basically a source of distraction. Instead, I could commence My meditation by directly generating and intensifying the notion that I am not the body and the like but am _Brahman_ , which is of the nature of absolute existence, consciousness and bliss. This is what I did yesterday. Further, the pertinent notion is indeed in keeping with the teaching of the scripture and My conviction."

I decided to implement the procedure right then. So, I repeated what I had done on the previous evening, inclusive of employing the words:

ahameva paraṁ brahma vāsudevākhyam-avyayam ।

(I am indeed the Supreme Brahman, the One free from decay and known as Vāsudeva (He who resides in and shines in all).)

This time, I promptly attained _savikalpa-samādhi_. The experience was essentially the same as that of the preceding _savikalpa- samādhi_. This one also lasted about an hour. After getting up, I returned to Narasimhavana.

{Here, Acharyal told me, "Try imitating, as closely as possible, what I had done. This will enable you to have a better idea of My experience than you have now based on My account. Report to Me tomorrow. Take care to see that you limit the intensity of your focus to stop at the level of _savikalpa-samādhi_. Else, you will pass on into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_." By His grace, I had no difficulty at all in carrying out His command.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** The next morning, on apprehending a green hue, instead of conceiving a divine form as had been My practice, I directed My attention to the _Ātman_ as being the witness of this hue. The hue soon faded away. Next, the sense of 'I' well-nigh vanished and _savikalpa-samādhi_ ensued. At the end of the session, I recognised that I could comfortably use the hue rather than a voluntarily stimulated thought or feeling to initiate contemplation on the _Ātman_ as a witness and attain _samādhi_.

That afternoon, I reflected on the Truth by deeply considering the passages of the _Pañcīkaraṇa_. Perhaps that is why the words that came to My mind that evening, on the summit of the hill, after the manifestation of the hue, were:

nityaśuddhabuddhamuktasatyasvabhāvaṁ paramānandādvayaṁ

pratyagbhūtacaitanyaṁ brahmaivāhamasmi ।

(I am none other than Brahman, which is eternally pure, ever enlightened, eternally free, absolute existence, absolute bliss, non-dual and the innermost consciousness.)

I had barely recalled these words when, effortlessly and without any delay, I was in _savikalpa-samādhi_. I remained in that state for about 45 minutes.

**I:** Would Acharyal attribute the ease and swiftness in the attainment of _samādhi_ to the intensity of the conviction that had developed about the Truth and to the earlier abidance in _samādhi_ thrice?

**Acharyal:** Yes. This is what I did on that day too. I, however, had no doubt that the divine grace rather than My effort or competence was primarily responsible for the conviction and all the _samādhis_.

A few minutes after emerging from _samādhi_ , I thought as follows. With the aid of a mental _vṛtti_ (modification of the mind) in the form of a desire to meditate or a hue, I have earlier focused on the Supreme. I should be able to become absorbed in the Supreme even by considering any external object. After all, the Supreme is not merely the witness of mental states but is also the real substratum of everything.

yacca kiñcijjagat-sarvaṁ dṛśyate śrūyate'pi vā ।

antarbahiśca tatsarvaṁ vyāpya nārāyaṇaḥ sthitaḥ॥

(Whatsoever there is in the entire world that is seen or heard of, all that is pervaded by Nārāyaṇa, within and without (like a bracelet and other golden ornaments by gold, their material cause).)

An earthen pot has a rotund form, has the name, 'pot', and is made of mud. It is apprehended as something that exists, as "is"; it is the object of the notion of existence ( _sadbuddhiḥ_ ). What is responsible for the pot's being or existence? Decidedly, its name and form do not lend any being to it. Other than as clay, its material cause, the pot has no existence; it has existence only as clay.

vācārambhaṇaṁ vikāro nāmadheyaṁ mṛttiketyeva satyam ॥

(A modification (of clay, such as a pot or jar,) has speech as its origin and exists only in name; as clay alone, it is real.)

Can clay, per se, account for the being of the pot? No, for clay has no existence apart from the particles of which it is made; the name and form of clay do not make it existent. Nothing that is an effect has existence apart from its material cause; only as the cause, does an effect exist. Thus, no intermediary member of the causal chain headed by the pot, clay and particles can account for the pot's being. Only the ultimate cause, if it be intrinsically existent, can adequately do so. The scripture teaches that _Brahman_ is the ultimate cause, the substratum of all, and that It is of the very nature of absolute existence.

Thus, in the final analysis, a pot has existence only as _Brahman_ ; apart from _Brahman_ , it is simply non-existent. The name and form of the pot are but its false or illusory aspects. Similarly, every object has existence only as _Brahman_ ; the name and form of the object are its illusory aspects. Were such not to be the case, the scripture would not have emphatically taught that on knowing _Brahman_ , everything becomes known, just as on knowing clay, all products of clay become known.

In the past, whenever I have wanted to, I have been able to readily ignore the name and form of an object, such as an earthen pot or a golden vessel, and to apprehend the object as being just the substance of which it is made, such as clay or gold. Now, I should go much further. I should thoroughly discriminate the name and form of any selected object from its being, disregard them, and understand that the object is actually just its ultimate basis, absolute existence.

Having reflected in this manner, I started My meditation, taking the sun as the object of relevance. I gazed at the sun, which was to set in about half an hour and was pleasant to behold. With effort, I increasingly ignored everything about the sun, such as its shape, size and brightness, and focused on just its being. Soon, nothing mattered except the bare existence of the sun; indifference to the illusory aspects became well established and effortless. I cannot say whether thereafter My eyes were fully open, partially closed or fully closed. Abruptly, I almost totally forgot Myself. Just unqualified being, unrelated to space, time and objects, remained and that too not as an inert entity but as objectless consciousness.

When My mind descended from this _savikalpa-samādhi_ , I found that the sun had already set and that the place was illumined by the moon. I estimated that My _samādhi_ would have lasted for nearly an hour. I then left for Narasimhavana.

The next morning, the external object I considered to facilitate My meditation on the Supreme was the wall in front of Me. With hardly any effort, I was able to disregard all illusory aspects and focus on just the being of the selected object. I attained _savikalpa-samādhi_ in moments; the experience was the same as what I had had on the previous occasion.

{Here, Acharyal instructed me, who was seated in front of Him, to move to His side and face the same direction as Him. He then said, "In the evening, use the sun as an object and focus on the Truth, the way I did. Right now, let us both enter _savikalpa-samādhi_ for some time with the wall in front serving as the object to initiate the meditation." Such was the power of Acharyal's presence and grace that, even without any effort, I went into, experienced and emerged from _savikalpa-samādhi_ in the same manner as and together with Acharyal. Acharyal Himself confirmed that what I had experienced was similar to what He Himself had experienced. Acharyal then said that He would continue His account the next day.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** In the evening, I went to My usual place of meditation. After taking My seat, I reflected, " _Brahman_ is of the nature of absolute existence and is the substratum on which this illusory world of names and forms is superimposed. Even as I perceive what is external, I could, instead of considering a specific external object, use words to this effect to direct My attention fixedly to the Truth. This would be equivalent to My earlier using, when inward-turned, words of the _Brahmānucintana_ and the _Pañcīkaraṇa_ to become absorbed in the Supreme."

Without shutting My eyes, I mentally said to Myself:

sarvādhiṣṭhānabhūta-sanmātra-brahmāsmi ।

(I am Brahman of the nature of absolute existence, the substratum of everything.)

I intensified the resulting notion by disregarding names and forms in general. As I proceeded to do so, the diversity, rooted in names and forms, of the world seemed more and more to be superficial and irrelevant. Everything appeared to become stripped to bare being, without attributes. My sense of individuality faded. An upsurge in the intensity of concentration resulted in _savikalpa-samādhi_ that was akin to the preceding ones. About one and a half hours passed before My mind descended from _samādhi_.

**I:** Was Acharyal familiar at that time with the scriptural account of the two _dṛśyānuviddha_ (associated with a perceptible object) and two _śabdānuviddha_ (associated with a sound) kinds of _savikalpa-samādhis_?

**Acharyal:** No. I read the verses concerned of the _Sarasvatī-rahasya- upaniṣad_ and the _Dṛg-dṛśya_ - _viveka_ much later. Only when I did so did I come to know that there were these varieties of _savikalpa-samādhi_ and that I had properly practised all of them.

{dṛśyaśabdānu-vedhena savikalpaḥ punardvidhā ॥

Savikalpa-samādhi is of two kinds by virtue of its association with a perceptible object or a sound.

kāmādyāścittagā dṛśyāstat-sākṣitvena cetanam ।

dhyāyed-dṛśyānuviddho'yaṁ samādhissavikalpakaḥ ॥

Desire and the like, which are located in the mind, are perceptible objects. One should thoroughly concentrate on consciousness as their witness. This constitutes savikalpa-samādhi associated with a perceptible object.

asaṅga-saccidānandassvaprabho dvaitavarjitaḥ ।

asmīti śabdānuviddho'yaṁ samādhissavikalpakaḥ॥

I am unattached, of the nature of absolute existence, pure consciousness and ultimate bliss, self-luminous and free from duality. Meditating thus constitutes savikalpa-samādhi associated with sound.

hṛdīva bāhyadeśe'pi yasmin kasmiṁśca vastuni ।

samādhirādyassanmātrān-nāmarūpapṛthakkṛtiḥ॥

Savikalpa-samādhi associated with a perceptible object can occur with regard to any external object just as it can with regard to what is in the mind. In this, name and form are separated from pure being.

akhaṇḍaikarasaṁ vastu saccidānanda-lakṣaṇam ।

ityavicchinnacinteyaṁ samādhirmadhyamo bhavet ॥

There is just Brahman, the indivisible, homogeneous entity of the nature of absolute existence, pure consciousness and ultimate bliss. Such an uninterrupted thought constitutes savikalpa-samādhi associated with a sound.}

( **Acharyal:** ) The next morning, after the apprehension of a hue, I did not explicitly recall any passage about the Truth. I did not select the hue or any feeling to initiate My meditation either. Since the previous evening, attention to the Truth had been persisting effortlessly. Even during dreams, this had been uninterrupted. I just intensified it. Promptly, I became absorbed in the Supreme and was in _savikalpa-samādhi_.

When I regained awareness of the body and opened My eyes, I could see My _āhnika_ room. However, apart from bare being, nothing else seemed to be of any consequence. I ignored names and forms further. Straightaway, I was once more in _savikalpa-samādhi_. That evening I transcended the stage of _savikalpa-samādhi_ and attained _nirvikalpa-samādhi_.

# 13. Enlightenment and Establishment in Brahman

[The sequel comprises the conversations covering the culmination of Acharyal's divine drama of sādhanā. They took place at Chennai (then Madras), in January 1982, at Paramahamsi Ganga Ashram, Madhya Pradesh, in December 1982 and at Sringeri, in April 1984. The conversations have been combined.]

**Acharyal:** Based on the words of the scripture and with the aid of reasoning, I had developed the conviction that I am not the body, organs, mind and intellect and that I am _Brahman_ apart from which the world has no existence. The two forms of _savikalpa-samādhi_ experienced by Me on that _pourṇamī_ morning significantly enhanced it. In the afternoon, I read and pondered on the verses of the _Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa_. They made a greater impact on Me that day than before. I recalled the words:

vigalita-sarvavikalpaḥ śuddho buddhaścakāsti paramātmā ॥

(The Supreme Ātman shines pure, enlightened and devoid of all variety.)

Considering the word

"vigalitasarvavikalpaḥ

(Devoid of all variety)",

I reflected as follows. Even in _samādhi_ , I have not realised the _Ātman_ as shining totally free from diversity. After all, the sense of "I" and the awareness of the distinction of the concentrator, concentration and the object of concentration also shine, no matter how feebly. I do understand from the words of the scripture, supportive reasoning and My _savikalpa-samādhis_ that I am pure consciousness. Were the appearance of even the vestige of duality to vanish during _samādhi_ , leaving just the _Ātman_ as residue, that would greatly facilitate the ripening of My present understanding and conviction into firm realisation.

A weary traveller may hear from a trustworthy person familiar with the region that the water he is seeing in the desert is a mirage. He may then reason that such should be the case. Yet, his wanting to assuage his thirst may impede his firmly realising that only desert sand stretches in front of him. Were he to move on to a new position and the sun were to be temporarily blocked by a thick layer of clouds, he might see just sand where he once saw the mirage. He might begin to perceive the mirage again a little later. Nonetheless, the temporary disappearance of the mirage would highly facilitate his firmly realising the truth of what he had been told and reflected upon. The thorough vanishing of duality during _samādhi_ would, for Me, be helpful, like the temporary disappearance of the mirage for this hypothetical traveller.

Further, while I almost become identified with bliss in _samādhi_ , nonetheless, I do, to a minute degree, stand apart from it as the one who enjoys it. Infinite bliss is, on the authority of the scripture, My very nature. What is My very nature cannot, undoubtedly, be known objectively by Me. It is _avidyā_ that conjures diversity in the Truth, which is non-dual. Thus, no matter how great it may be, bliss that is experienced by Me as an object lies in the realm of _avidyā_. It must not be savoured but transcended."

{It is taught in the _Chāndogya-upaniṣad_ :

yo vai bhūmā tatsukham

That alone which is Infinite is happiness.

yatra nānyatpaśyati nānyacchṛṇoti nānyadvijānāti sa bhūmā'tha

yatrānyatpaśyaty-anyacchṛṇoty-anyadvijānāti tadalpam ॥

The Infinite is that where one does not see anything else, does not hear anything else and does not understand anything else. Hence, the finite is that where one sees something else, hears something else and understands something else.

Gaudapādācārya has said in His _karikas_ on the _Māndūkya-upaniṣad_ :

nāsvādayet sukhaṁ tatra niḥsaṅgaḥ prajñayā bhavet ।

One should not enjoy happiness in that state but should become unattached through the use of discrimination.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** I should, during My meditation this evening, prevent Myself from being overwhelmed by the bliss of _savikalpa-samādhi_. Then, by impressing upon Myself that I am bliss itself and not one who enjoys it, I should focus My mind more thoroughly on the _Ātman_. Once My mind were to become fully established on the _Ātman_ and devoid of every transformation of a form other than that of the _Ātman_ , how can any distinction between bliss and the one experiencing bliss or, for that matter, any other subject-object distinction and the sense of individuality show up at all? By establishing the mind on the _Ātman_ and remaining without any thought, I would be acting in accordance with the instruction:

śanaiśśanair-uparamed-buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayā ।

ātmasaṁsthaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet॥

(One should gradually withdraw with the intellect endued with firmness; making the mind established in the Ātman, one should not think of anything.)

{Bhagavatpāda has concluded His commentary on the above verse by writing that this is the highest instruction about _yoga_.

The _Maitrāyaṇī_ - _upaniṣad_ teaches:

yathā nirindhano vahniḥ svayonāv-upaśāmyati ।

tathā vṛttikṣayāccittaṁ svayonāv-upaśāmyati ॥

Just as a fire bereft of fuel disappears into its source, on the termination of vṛttis, the mind disappears into its basis (the Ātman).

layavikṣeparahitaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā suniścalam ।

yadā yātyamanībhāvaṁ tadā tatparamaṁ padam ॥

When, having made the mind free from sleep and distractions and very steady, one attains the condition of mindlessness, then one reaches the supreme state.

tāvadeva niroddhavyaṁ hṛdi yāvatkṣayaṁ gatam ।

The mind should be restrained only till it wanes away in the Ātman.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** I then opened the _Vivekacūdāmaṇi_ at random. My eyes fell on a verse in which _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ is spoken of. I read it as also the succeeding three verses; they too deal with _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. My reading enhanced My keenness on going beyond the stage of _savikalpa-samādhi_.

{At this point, Acharyal picked up the _Vivekacūdāmaṇi_ and chanted the following verses.}

nirantarābhyāsa-vaśāttaditthaṁ

pakvaṁ mano brahmaṇi līyate yadā ।

tadā samādhiḥ sa vikalpavarjitaḥ

svato'dvayānanda-rasānubhāvakaḥ॥

(When thus purified (of misunderstanding and the like about the Truth) by continuous practice, the mind merges in Brahman (by remaining without any thought, in the form of Brahman), then there is nirvikalpa-samādhi, which brings about the effortless experience of non-dual bliss.)

samādhinānena samastavāsanā-granthervināśo'khila-karmanāśaḥ ।

antarbahiḥsarvata eva sarvadā svarūpa-visphūrtirayatnataḥ syāt ॥

(By this samādhi, there occurs the destruction of the knot of impressions (rooted in ignorance), the annihilation of all one's actions (leading to rebirth) and the manifestation, without effort, of one's true nature, within and without, everywhere and for ever.)

śruteḥ śataguṇaṁ vidyānmananaṁ mananādapi ।

nididhyāsaṁ lakṣaguṇam-anantaṁ nirvikalpakam ॥

(Reflection (on the Truth) is a hundred times superior to hearing (the Truth). Meditation (on the Truth) is a hundred thousand times greater than reflection. Nirvikalpa-samādhi is infinitely superior to that.)

nirvikalpakasamādhinā sphuṭaṁ

brahmatattvam-avagamyate dhruvam ।

nānyathā calatayā manogateḥ

pratyayāntara-vimiśritaṁ bhavet ॥

(Brahman, the Reality, is realised clearly, with steady certitude, by means of nirvikalpa-samādhi but not otherwise, for, then, because of the inconstancy of mental activity, the realisation would be mixed up with other notions.)

I reached My place of meditation on the hill around one and a half hours before sunset. Sitting in the _siddhāsana_ , I performed two cycles of _prāṇāyāma_ together with the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍiyāna_ and _mūla bandhas_ to promote mental tranquillity. Then, as usual, I directed My gaze towards the centre of My brows and chanted the _Prāṇava_. That day, I beheld an unbounded expanse of blue, resembling the sky.

The notion, "I am the non-dual _Brahman_ apart from which nothing whatsoever exists" that was prominent and naturally persistent since the previous evening had been intensified by My _savikalpa-samādhis_ of the morning and by My reading and reflection of the afternoon. So, I did not have to cultivate it. I had barely seen the soothing expanse of blue when it vanished. I felt Myself expanding and becoming like space. The sense of 'I' nearly vanished and My mind entered _savikalpa-samādhi_.

The bliss was very great. However, with effort, I restrained Myself from being overwhelmed by it and thought, "I am not the one experiencing bliss but am bliss itself." In a trice, a sharp change occurred. Awareness of the distinction of the concentrator, concentration and the object of concentration completely disappeared. No more was there any sense of individuality or of space, time and objects. Only _Brahman_ , of the nature of absolute existence, pure consciousness and ultimate bliss, shone bereft of the superimposition of even a trace of duality.

After about two hours, the mind descended to the level of _savikalpa-samādhi_ and mild awareness of the distinction of the concentrator, concentration and the object of concentration reappeared. Though the bliss of _savikalpa-samādhi_ was by far greater than the joy of any worldly enjoyment, it was nothing compared to the absolute, non-dual bliss of _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. Gradually, I became lightly aware of the body and of the build up of breathing that must have almost totally stopped earlier.

{The _Maitrāyaṇī_ - _upaniṣad_ declares:

samādhi-nirdhūta-malasya cetaso niveśitasyātmani yatsukhaṁ bhavet ।

na śakyate varṇayituṁ girā tadā svayaṁ tadantaḥkaraṇena gṛhyate ॥

The bliss that is had by the mind that has been cleansed of impurities by samādhi and which is absorbed in the Ātman cannot be described in words. It is experienced by the mind itself at that time.

About the highest _samādhi_ , the Lord says in the _Bhagavad-gītā_ :

yatroparamate cittaṁ niruddhaṁ yogasevayā ।

yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ paśyannātmani tuṣyati ॥

sukhamātyantikaṁ yattadbuddhigrāhyamatīndriyam

vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ sthitaścalati tattvataḥ ॥

At the time when the mind restrained through the practice of yoga gets withdrawn, and just when, by seeing the Ātman by the purified mind, one remains contented in the Ātman alone; when one experiences absolute bliss, which can be intuited by the intellect and which is beyond the senses, and being established thus, this person does not swerve from the Reality...

Anandagiri differentiates _saṁprajñāta_ / _savikalpa_ and _asaṁ-prajñāta_ / _nirvikalpa_ _samādhis_ thus in his gloss on Bhagavatpāda's _bhāṣya_ on verse (VI.20) of the _Bhagavad-gītā_ :

dvividhaḥ samādhiḥ saṁprajñāto'saṁprajñātaśca dhyeyaikākārasattvavṛttirbhedena kathañcijjñāyamānā saṁprajñātaḥ samādhiḥ kathamapi pṛthagajñāyamānā saiva sattvavṛttirasaṁprajñātaḥ samādhiḥ

Samādhi is of two kinds; saṁprajñāta and asaṁprajñāta. The pure vṛtti (modification of the mind) of the form of just the object meditated upon constitutes saṁprajñāta-samādhi if it is somehow apprehended apart from its object. That very vṛtti constitutes asaṁprajñāta-samādhi when it is, in no way, apprehended apart from its object.

In the _Sarva_ - _vedānta_ - _siddhānta_ - _sāra_ - _sangrahaḥ_ attributed to Bhagavatpāda, it is said about _nirvikalpa_ - _samādhi_ on _Ātman_ - _Brahman_ :

Jñātrādibhāvam-utsṛjya jñeyamātra-sthitirdṛḍhā ।

manaso nirvikalpaḥ syāt samādhiryogasaṁjñitaḥ ॥

jale nikṣipta-lavaṇaṁ jalamātratayā sthitam ।

pṛthaṅ na bhāti kintvambha ekamevāvabhāsate ॥

yathā tathaiva sā vṛttirbrahma-mātratayā sthitā ।

pṛthaṅ na bhāti brahmaivādvitīyam-avabhāsate ॥

jñātrādikalpanā'bhāvānmato'yaṁ nirvikalpakaḥ ।

That is nirvikalpa-samādhi, which is termed yoga, wherein the mind, bereft of the modes of the knower, knowing and the object of knowledge, remains firmly established as the object (Brahman). Salt put in water remains as one with the water and does not manifest separately. Only water manifests. In like manner, the mental vṛtti (of the form of Brahman) remains as one with Brahman and does not manifest separately. The non-dual Brahman alone manifests. Due to the absence of the conception of the knower, known and object of knowledge, this samādhi is called nirvikalpa.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** When I opened My eyes, I could see the scene in front of Me and yet did not see it, for I was quite indifferent to the apparent diversity rooted in names and forms. So clear was the realisation that I was of the very nature of absolute existence that I apprehended nothing whatsoever as existing apart from Me. Everything was like bubbles on the ocean that was Myself. When I rose after some time, My body felt light like cotton wool and as I walked down the hill, it seemed as if I were on a moving canoe.

After about an hour the apprehension, "I am the Supreme _Brahman_ other than which there is nothing" started to slowly weaken from being on par with perceiving a fruit in one's open palm. However, even when its attenuation stopped, it was much stronger than it had been when I had sat down to meditate.

That night, when it was time for Me to go to sleep, I readied Myself to meditate. Even before a hue manifested, the notion, "I am _Brahman_ " became greatly intensified. Without any effort, I shot past the stages of deep meditation and _savikalpa-samādhi_ and entered _nirvikalpa-samādhi._ By divine grace, attaining _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ had become very easy for Me. I remained in it for over three hours. Then, though I felt fresh, I lay down and slept for a while. I got up at My usual time of awakening.

In the last of the seven dreams in the course of which I received instructions about _yoga_ from Śiva, the Lord had taught Me _nāda-anusandhāna_. After that, I began to practice it for some minutes, once a week. I have told you about this. That morning, as usual, I closed My ears, nose and mouth with My hands to commence My contemplation on the sound heard in the right ear. The ocean-like sound that I heard abruptly grew in intensity. Then, in quick succession, I heard a variety of sounds. These included those of a drum, a flute and a _vīṇā_.

{The _Nādabindu_ - _upaniṣad_ teaches:

ādau jaladhi-jīmūta-bherī-nirjhara-saṁbhavaḥ ।

madhye mardala-śabdābho ghaṇṭā-kāhalajastathā ॥

ante tu kiṁkiṇī-vaṁśa-vīṇā-bhramara-niḥsvanaḥ।

At first, the sounds are like those proceeding from the ocean, clouds, kettle-drum and a waterfall. In the middle stage, they are like those from a mardala (a musical instrument), bell and horn. In the final stage, the sounds are like those of tinkling bells, a flute, a vīṇā and bees.

vismṛtya sakalaṁ bāhyaṁ nāde dugdhāmbuvanmanaḥ ।

ekībhūyātha sahasā cidākāśe vilīyate ॥

Having become insensible to everything external, the mind unites with the sound focused on, like water with milk. Then, it quickly dissolves in the space that is consciousness.}

Each sound lasted for only a few moments before being replaced by the next. I had heard the same sounds, in the same sequence, when the Lord had demonstrated _nāda-anusandhāna_ in the dream. When the last of the sounds ended, there was just silence. My mind became extremely tranquil and suffused with bliss. The sense of "I" rapidly faded away completely and _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ ensued. Only non-dual, objectless consciousness remained. About an hour passed before the mind descended from _samādhi_.

**I:** Did Acharyal keep the ears, nostrils and the mouth closed for the entire duration?

**Acharyal:** No. After having practised _nāda-anusandhāna_ a few times, I had started using My hands to block My ears, nose and mouth for only less than a minute. Once I heard the internal sound and focused on it, I was able to continue to hear it clearly even if I lowered My hands. On this occasion, I must have, by force of habit, stopped closing My ears and nose shortly after beginning My meditation. When I emerged from _samādhi_ , My hands were not in contact with My face at all; they were resting on My lap.

**I:** Before this, had Acharyal attained _samādhi_ with some internal sound as the object just as Acharyal had with a divine form as object?

**Acharyal:** No. Only months later, for the fun of it, I engaged in such _samādhi_ and also experimented with _nāda-anusandhāna_ the way I had done with focusing on a divine form.

**I:** Such being the case, what was the reason for Acharyal resorting that day to _nāda-anusandhāna_ to attain _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ on the Absolute?

**Acharyal:** There was no premeditation on My part in this regard. The Lord had demonstrated _nāda-anusandhāna_ to Me and it was His will that I experience the culmination of this form of _laya-yoga_ that day. I do not have any other explanation.

{The _Yogatattva_ - _upaniṣad_ teaches:

yogo hi bahudhā brahmanbhidyate vyavahārataḥ ।

mantrayogo layaścaiva haṭho'sau rājayogataḥ ॥

O Brahma, with regard to practice, yoga is diverse; there is mantra-yoga, laya-yoga, haṭha-yoga and rāja-yoga.

layayogaścittalayaḥ koṭiśaḥ parikīrtitaḥ ।

Laya-yoga is characterised by the absorption of the mind. Myriad forms of it are spoken of.

Bhagavatpāda says in His _Yogatārāvali_ :

sadāśivoktāni sapādalakṣalayāvadhānāni vasanti loke ।

nādānusandhāna-samādhimekaṁ manyāmahe mānyatamaṁ layānām ॥

There are, in the world, a lakh and a quarter forms of laya (absorptive) attentions that have been spoken of by Sadāśiva. We regard only samādhi stemming from contemplation on nāda to be the worthiest among the layas.}

( **Acharyal:** ) That afternoon itself, I once again attained _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ on the Supreme, this time through _kuṇḍalinī_ -centred _laya-yoga_. I have told you about all My experiences related to the _kuṇḍalinī_ that took place earlier. You would have discerned that they were unpremeditated and occurred with almost no effort of Mine. This one too was like them. I believe that Ambā, who had Herself taught Me about the _kuṇḍalinī_ a few months after My _saṁnyāsa_ , straightaway vouchsafed those experiences and, that afternoon, their culmination.

I had just apprehended a hue between My brows when, involuntarily, I adopted the _jālandhara_ , _uḍḍiyāna_ and _mūla_ _bandhas_ and My attention turned to the _anāhata-cakra_. I apprehended the _kuṇḍalinī_ there. It seemed that the elements earth, water and fire had become absorbed in the _kuṇḍalinī_. As the divine _Śaktī_ headed rapidly to the _sahasrāra_ , leaping, as it were, from one _cakra_ to the next higher one, air, space and the organs too duly merged into her.

When the _kuṇḍalinī_ reached the _sahasrāra_ , all duality, inclusive of the sense of "I" and awareness of the distinction of the agent of meditation, meditation and the object of meditation, thoroughly vanished. Just objectless consciousness of the very nature of bliss shone. This _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ lasted for about an hour. As the mind lightly came out of _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ , the descent of the _kuṇḍalinī_ from the _sahasrāra_ , through the _ājñā-cakra,_ to the _viṣuddha-cakra_ was discernible. I regained mild awareness of the body without sensing any further descent of the _Śaktī_ and opened My eyes.

Though the approaches were different, there was no difference between the state I attained then and those I attained on the previous evening at the hill, at night and in the morning through _nāda-anusandhāna_. On all these occasions just the non-dual Truth remained, without any appearance of duality. It was now quite clear to Me that consciousness does shine in all its glory without any object whatsoever and that the _Ātman_ is of the nature of consciousness.

Shortly after My _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ of that afternoon, I reflected on the following lines. Suppose the _Ātman_ were knowable like an object. The question would then arise as to who can know the _Ātman_. The answer cannot be that the _Ātman_ is known objectively by Itself, for it is impossible for any entity to be both the subject and the object of a cognition. The _Ātman_ cannot be known by the intellect, mind, organs, body and objects, for they are all inert. Moreover, the _Ātman_ is the unchanging witness of the presence and the absence of thoughts. When the intellect and mind are themselves just objects witnessed by the _Ātman_ , how could they be the perceivers of the _Ātman_? The scripture declares that the _Ātman_ is _Brahman_ and there is no knower other than the _Ātman_ - _Brahman_. Thus, the _Ātman_ is just not knowable like some external object.

{The _Kena-upaniṣad_ teaches:

anyadeva tadviditāt

It is surely different from the known.

It is said in the _Bṛhadāraṇyaka_ - _upaniṣad_ :

yenedam sarvaṁ vijānāti taṁ kena vijānīyāt

Through what should one know That owing to which all this is known.

na vijñātervijñātāraṁ vijānīyāḥ

You cannot know That which is the knower of (mental) knowledge.

nānyadato'sti vijñātṛ

There is no other knower but This.}

Though not knowable like an inert object by any means of knowledge, the _Ātman_ , which is none other than _Brahman_ , is not unknown either. What is other than oneself and inert may be unknown. The _Ātman_ , however, is one's very self and is of the nature of consciousness. Consciousness is what reveals objects and never needs to be revealed by anything else. It is presupposed in every act of knowing and is ever self-established.

The agent of even the act of knowing, which has a beginning and an end, cannot but be subject to change. Further, only an entity subject to change can experience pleasure and pain. As the _Ātman_ is changeless, It is neither the agent of any act, inclusive of that of knowing, nor is It subject to pleasure and pain. Agency, suffering, enjoyment of pleasure and the like belong to the changeful intellect. However, owing to _avidyā_ , one mistakenly superimposes these that belong to the intellect on the _Ātman_. Also, though the intellect is inert, the consciousness of the _Ātman_ is wrongly ascribed to it and the intellect-centred "I" passes off as a conscious agent and experiencer.

The scripture advocates realisation of _Brahman_ not in the sense of knowing what is unknown but in the sense of getting rid of the _avidyā_ -based superimposition on It. Whether focused on the _Ātman_ or distracted, the mind is but an inert entity illumined by the _Ātman_. However, the mental _vṛtti_ of the form of _Brahman_ destroys, as declared by the scripture, _avidyā_ that rests in and veils _Brahman_ and presents It wrongly.

{Bhagavatpāda writes in His _bhāṣya_ on verse (XVIII.50) of the _Bhagavad-gītā_ :

...avidyādhyāropaṇa-nirākaraṇamātraṁ brahmaṇi kartavyaṁ natu brahmajñāne yatno'tyanta-prasiddhatvāt । avidyā-kalpita-nāmarūpa-viśeṣākārāpahṛta-buddhitvād-atyanta-prasiddhaṁ suvijñeyam-āsannataram-ātmabhūtam-apy-aprasiddhaṁ durvijñeyam-atidūram-anyadiva ca pratibhāty-avivekinām । bāhyākāra-nivṛttabuddhīnāṁ tu labdha-gurvātma-prasādānāṁ nātaḥ paraṁ sukhaṁ suprasiddhaṁ suvijñeyaṁ svāsannamasti ।

What is to be undertaken is only the elimination of the superimposition on Brahman through avidyā, but no effort is needed for knowing Brahman, for It is quite self-evident. It is because the intellect is distracted by particular appearances of name and form imagined through avidyā that Brahman, even though self-evident, easily realisable, nearer than all else and identical with oneself, appears to be concealed, difficult to realise, very far and different. But to those whose intellect has become freed from external appearances and who have obtained the grace of the Guru and serenity of the mind, there is nothing more blissful, manifest, well known, easily realised and nearer than this.

In His _bhāṣya_ on _Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad_ (III.5.10), Bhagavatpāda writes:

etāvaddhi brāhmaṇena kartavyaṁ yaduta sarvānātma-pratyaya-tiraskaraṇam-etatkṛtvā kṛtakṛtyo yogī bhavati ।

All that one who has understood Brahman from the words of Guru and the scripture needs to do is to eliminate all notions of the non-Ātman. Having done so, he becomes a yogin who has accomplished his task.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** I went on to reflect as follows. Suppose a person, who is adept at _yoga_ , feels he is established in the _Ātman_ when he is in _samādhi_ but that he deviates to some extent from the Reality when he emerges from _samādhi_ and engages in activity. Such a person is not free from _avidyā_.

_Samādhi_ and distraction are conditions of the mind and not of the _Ātman_. The _Ātman_ is ever changeless and of the nature of consciousness. _Samādhi_ and distraction do not affect it in any way. It is because this _yogin_ is not free from identification with the mind that he sees himself as influenced by changes in the state of the mind. He who has fully realised that he is the changeless Reality remains established in the Reality and unaffected regardless of whether his mind is in a focused, agitated or dull condition.

prakāśaṁ ca pravṛttiṁ ca mohameva ca pāṇḍava ।

na dveṣṭi saṁpravṛttāni na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati ॥

(O son of Pāṇḍu, he (who has gone beyond the three Gunas) neither dislikes illumination, activity and delusion (the effects of sattva, rajas and tamas respectively) when they appear, nor does he long for them when they disappear.)

I should conform to these words of the Lord and not become attached to _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ under the delusion that for its duration I become one with _Brahman_.

{Bhagavatpāda's _bhāṣya_ on the _Gauḍapāda-kārikā_ (II.38) runs, in part, as follows:

...yathā'tattvadarśī kaściccittam-ātmatvena pratipannaścittacalanam-anucalitam-ātmānaṁ manyamānastattvāccalitaṁ dehādibhūtam-ātmānaṁ kadācinmanyate pracyuto'ham-ātmatattvādidānīm-iti । samāhite tu manasi kadācit-tattvabhūtaṁ prasannātmānaṁ manyata idānīmasmi tattvībhūta iti । na tathā''tmavidbhavet । ātmana ekarūpatvāt-svarūpa-pracyavanāsambhavācca । sadaiva brahmāsmīty-apracyuto bhavet...

He who has not realised the Reality accepts the mind as the Ātman and thinks the Ātman to be changing in accordance with the states of the mind, or, at times, accepts the body and the like to be the Ātman and thinks, "I am now alienated from the reality that is the Ātman." When at times the mind becomes concentrated, he thinks himself to be united with the Reality and in peace under the belief, "I am now identified with the Reality." The knower of the Ātman should not be like that because the nature of the Ātman is ever the same and because it is impossible for anything to change its nature. He should for ever be unwavering from the Reality, with the conviction, "I am Brahman."}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** Perception of the world could affect the vision of the Truth of one who ascribes reality to duality but not of one to whom names and forms are illusory. He who firmly knows that what lies in front of him is dry sand is not affected by the appearance or disappearance of a mirage there. Likewise, he who knows that there is nothing whatsoever apart from _Brahman_ cannot be affected either by the appearance of the mirage-like world of names and forms or its disappearance during _samādhi_ or deep sleep.

jīvabhāva-jagadbhāva-bādhe svātmaiva śiṣyate ॥

nāpratītistayorbādhaḥ kintu mithyātvaniścayaḥ ।

no cet-suṣupti-mūrcchādau mucyetāyatnato janaḥ ॥

paramātmāvaśeṣo'pi tatsatyatva-viniścayaḥ ।

na jagad-vismṛtirno cejjīvanmuktirna saṁbhavet ॥

When the existence of the Jīva (individual self) and the existence of the universe are negatived, one's Ātman alone remains. Their negation is not their non-perception but only a firm conviction that they are unreal. If it were not so, people would attain liberation without any effort in the states such as of deep sleep and unconsciousness. The realisation of the residuary nature of the Supreme Ātman is also only the firm conviction about Its Reality. It is not forgetfulness of the world. If this were not the case, jīvanmukti (liberation from bondage even while living) would not be possible.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** In support of My conviction about the illusory nature of the world and that there exists nothing apart from the non-dual Reality, I reflected on the similarity between the states of waking and dream. I also thought of how the states of waking, dream and deep sleep rule each other out and of the persistence in all of them of consciousness, their witness.

In the evening, at about the same time as on the previous evening, I went to My place of meditation on the hill. There, I entered _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ exactly as on the previous night. After about an hour, I opened My eyes. The falsity of names and forms was crystal clear and so was the certainty that there was nothing that was other than consciousness. Shortly, even without My shutting My eyes or making any effort, I plunged once again into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. This time too the _samādhi_ lasted for about an hour.

{The _Sarasvatī-rahasya_ -upaniṣad speaks of two kinds of _nirvikalpa-samādhi,_ one related to the external and the other to the internal. The verses concerned appear in identical form in the _Dṛg-dṛśya-viveka_.

svānubhūti-rasāveśād-dṛśya-śabdāvupekṣya tu ।

nirvikalpassamādhissyānnivātasthita-dīpavat ॥

Nirvikalpa-samādhi is that in which the mind becomes steady like a lamp kept in a windless place and in which one becomes indifferent to (internal) objects and sounds on account of complete absorption in bliss.

sthabdhībhāvo rasāsvādāt-tṛtīyaḥ pūrvavanmataḥ ।

The insensibility, on account of bliss, of the mind (to external objects), akin to that in savikalpa-samādhi, is designated as nirvikalpa-samādhi.}

( **Acharyal:** ) Except for an hour, during which I slept, I spent the rest of the night in _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. It was not as though I was particular about doing so, for, by then, there was essentially no difference for Me between _samādhi_ and the perception of the world as regards My abidance in _Brahman_. As I was feeling very fresh, instead of lying down, I casually sat cross-legged. Suddenly, My mind plunged into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_.

The next day, I went into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ in the morning and in the afternoon for an hour each. The conviction about the falsity of duality and of My being of the nature of changeless consciousness was so strong and steady that almost no _avidyā_ -based notions of the non- _Ātman_ cropped up. Those few that did were neutralised swiftly. The knowledge that _Brahman_ alone is all this had almost fully fructified. This was My state when I went in the evening to the summit of the hill one and a half hours before sunset.

I directed My gaze to between the brows and, without any premeditation, chanted, " _oṁ namaḥ śivāya_ " rather than just the _Prāṇava_. Soon, I beheld a moon-like disc of light between My brows. The mind became increasingly quiet, the sense of "I" faded away and, effortlessly, _nirvikalpa_ - _samādhi_ ensued. When I opened My eyes, the sun was about to set. Two birds were seated on My shoulders.

That _Brahman_ is all was as clear as a fruit in one's palm. My mind automatically went into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ once again a few minutes later and remained in that state for nearly an hour. Shortly after I regained awareness of the body and the surroundings, a big monkey bounded up to Me and positioned itself on My lap. After being cuddled for a while by Me, it left. I walked down the hill and found My attendant waiting there with a lamp.

By the grace of Acharyal and God, the

"svanubhavo brahmātmanā saṁsthitiḥ

(direct realisation of Brahman and firm establishment in Brahman)",

spoken of in the _Vivekacūdāmaṇi_ (in verse 2) occurred at one stroke that evening. To this day, there has been no deviation from the Reality.

{Bhagavatpāda has said in His _Brahmasūtra-bhāṣya_ :

...sarvaduḥkha-vinirmuktaikacaitanyātmako'ham-ityeṣa ātmānubhavaḥ । na caivamātmānam-anubhavataḥ kiñcid-anyatkṛtyam-avaśiṣyate ।

"I am of the nature of consciousness, one and free from all miseries" - such is the realisation of the Ātman. There is nothing else that needs to be done by the one who realises the Ātman thus.

About _svanubhavaḥ_ (realisation of _Brahman_ ) and _brahmātmanā_ _saṁsthitiḥ_ (firm establishment in _Brahman_ ), which characterises _jīvanmukti_ (liberation while living), occurring at one stroke for a renunciant, it is said in the _Vāsanākṣayaprakaraṇa_ of the _Jīvanmukti-viveka_ :

tatropāsya-sākṣātkāraparyantām-upāstiṁ kṛtvā yadi jñāne pravarteta tadā vāsanākṣaya-manonāśayordṛḍhataratvena jñānādūrdhvaṁ vidvatsaṁnyāsa-jīvanmuktī svata eva sidhyataḥ । tādṛśa eva śāstrābhimato mukhyo vidyādhikārī ।

In the case of the person who has performed meditation to the extent of realising the prescribed object of meditation [such as a form of God] and thereafter strives for the knowledge of the Truth, by virtue of his firm obliteration of mental tendencies and dissolution of the mind, the renunciation of a knower and jīvanmukti occur automatically on the dawn of the realisation of the Truth. Such indeed is the person who is pre-eminently fit for enlightenment and considered by the scripture.

About _jīvanmukti_ being a fact, Bhagavatpāda has written in His _Brahmasūtra-bhāsya_ on _sūtra_ (IV.1.15):

api ca naivātra vivaditavyaṁ brahmavidā kañcitkālaṁ śarīraṁ dhriyate na vā dhriyata iti । kathaṁ hyekasya svahṛdaya-pratyayaṁ brahmavedanaṁ dehadhāraṇaṁ cāpareṇa pratikṣeptuṁ śakyeta? śrutismṛtiṣu ca sthitaprajñalakṣaṇa-nirdeśenaitadeva nirucyate ।

Furthermore, no difference of opinion is possible here as to whether or not the body is retained for some period (after enlightenment) by the knowers of Brahman. For, when somebody has the conviction in his heart that he has realised Brahman and yet retains the body, how can this be denied by anybody else? This very fact is elaborated in the Upaniṣads and Smṛtis in the course of determining the characteristics of a sthitaḥ-prajña (the man of steady knowledge of the Truth).

Bhagavatpāda has said in His _Upadeśasāhasrī_ :

ārabdhasya phale hyete bhogo jñānaṁ ca karmaṇaḥ ।

avirodhastayoryukto vaidharmyaṁ cetarasya tu ॥

It is reasonable that, being the consequences of actions of past births that have begun to fructify and yielded the present body, knowledge of Brahman and the experience of pleasure and pain are not incompatible. Other kinds of actions (of the past that have yet to begin to yield results and those done after enlightenment) are different (and are destroyed by knowledge).

dehātmajñānavajjñānaṁ dehātmajñānabādhakam ।

ātmanyeva bhavedyasya sa necchannapi mucyate ॥

He who has the knowledge of the Ātman that negates the erroneous notion that the body is the Ātman and is as firm as the erroneous notion of the common folk that the body is the Ātman is liberated even without his wishing for it.

The Lord has said in the _Bhagavad-gītā_ :

kāmakrodha-viyuktānāṁ yatīnāṁ yatacetasām ।

abhito brahmanirvāṇaṁ vartate viditātmanām ॥

For the monks who have control over their mind, who are free from desire and anger and who have realised the Ātman, there is absorption in Brahman (liberation) whether they are living or dead.

In the _Brhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad_ , the _jīvanmukta_ is eulogised thus:

sa brāhmaṇaḥ kena syādyena syāttenedṛśa eva ।

How does that knower of Brahman behave? Howsoever he may behave, he is just such.

Further,

eṣa nityo mahimā brāhmaṇasya na vardhate karmaṇā no kanīyān ।

This is the eternal glory of a knower of Brahman; it neither increases nor decreases through (good or bad) action.}

{ **Dates of the major events of the final phase of Acharyal's** sādhanā

**Vision and blessing of Śiva** :

5.12.1935, Thursday, _Yuva Mārgaśira śukla daśamī_

**Commencement of** nirguṇa **-** dhyāna **after scripture-based reflection:**

6.12.1935, Friday, _Yuva-mārgaśira-śukla-ekādaśī_

**Attainment of** savikalpa **-** samādhi **on** Brahman **:**

7.12.1935, Saturday, _Yuva-mārgaśira-śukla-dvādaśī_

**Attainment of** nirvikalpa **-** samādhi **on** Brahman

10.12.1935, Tuesday, _Yuva-mārgaśira-pourṇamī_

Final realisation of and establishment in Brahman

12.12.1935, Thursday, _Yuva-mārgaśira-kṛṣṇa-dvitīyā_ **}**

# 14. The Divine Drama that Followed

[The following conversation took place in August 1989. It is a continuation of the one recorded earlier in which Acharyal revealed about His vision of Śiva; Śiva told Acharyal to focus on the formless Absolute and blessed that Acharyal would soon become established in Brahman.]

**I** : Did Acharyal inform Paramacharyal about the consummation of Acharyal's _sādhanā_ as foretold by the Lord?

**Acharyal:** No. Being My _Guru_ and an excellent _śrotriya-brahmaniṣṭha_ (sage versed in the scriptures and established in _Brahman_ ), He had the authority and the competence to decide upon not only the initiation and form of My _sādhanā_ but also its progress and culmination.

eṣa brahmalokaḥ samrāḍenaṁ prāpito'sīti hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ

(This is the world of Brahman, O Emperor. You have attained this. Thus said Yajñavalkya.)

Yajñavalkya, the _Guru_ , was the one who confirmed that Janaka, his disciple, had realised _Brahman_ and become a _jīvanmukta_. It is possible for a disciple to have the delusion that he has realised the Truth though he is yet to do so. Did not Nārada mistakenly take it on knowing _prāṇa_ that he had known the Truth and stop requesting Sanatkumāra for further instructions about the _Ātman_? As a worthy _Guru_ would, Sanatkumāra corrected Nārada and led his disciple to the Truth.

yadi manyase suvedeti

(If you think that you have known Brahman well ...)

The _Guru_ may even challenge the disciple's understanding like this so as to ensure firm, flawless realisation of the Truth.

{Bhagavatpāda's _bhāṣya_ on the segment of the dialogue between Sanatkumāra, the _Guru_ , and Nārada, the disciple, referred to by Acharyal and occurring in the _Chāndogya-upaniṣad_ is:

sa eṣa nāradaḥ sarvātiśayaṁ prāṇaṁ svamātmānaṁ sarvātmānaṁ śrutvā nātaḥ paramastītyupararāma । na pūrvavatkimasti bhagavaḥ prāṇādbhūya iti papraccha । yatastamevaṁ vikārānṛta-brahmavijñānena parituṣṭam-akṛtārthaṁ paramārtha-satyātivādinam-ātmānaṁ manyamānaṁ yogyaṁ śiṣyaṁ mithyāgrahaviśeṣād- vipracyāvayannāha bhagavān-sanatkumāraḥ ।

Having heard of that prāṇa which transcends everything, which is to be seen as one's self and which is the self of all, Nārada stopped as he thought "There is nothing superior to this." He did not ask, on the lines of his having done earlier, "O venerable sir, does anything exist that is greater than prāṇa?" Having found Nārada satisfied thus with this Brahman (prāṇa) that is a modification and is unreal and regarding himself as having realised the highest Truth and so transcendent in speech but actually not having accomplished the highest end, Sanatkumāra spoke to his competent disciple and drew him away from his specific false notion.

Introducing the passage of the _Kena-upaniṣad_ cited by Acharyal, Bhagavatpāda has written in His _Vākya-bhāṣya_ :

viditāviditābhyāṁ nivartya buddhiṁ śiṣyasya svātmany-avasthāpya tadeva brahma tvaṁ viddhīti svārājye'bhiṣicyopāsya-pratiṣedhenāthāsya buddhiṁ vicālayati yadi manyase suvedāhaṁ brahmeti । sā punarvicālanā kimarthetyucyate pūrvagṛhīte vastuni buddheḥ sthiratāyai ।

Having turned away the mind of the disciple from what is known (such as a pot) and what is unknown, fixed it upon his own Ātman and crowned him in the kingdom of his Ātman by negating Brahman's being an object of contemplation with the words, "Know that to be Brahman ...", the teacher shakes the understanding of the disciple by saying, "If you think that you know Brahman well ..." What, then, is the purpose of such shaking? The answer is, "For ensuring firm realisation of the Truth grasped earlier."}

**I:** When and how did Paramacharyal react to Acharyal's establishment in the Absolute?

**Acharyal:** As I was returning from the hill, I saw Acharyal standing outside Sacchidananda Vilas and looking in My direction. He beckoned to Me and went inside. When I went to His presence, He was alone. Even before I could prostrate before Him, He rushed to Me and embraced Me. Then, holding Me by My shoulders, He said, "I am so very happy."

bhidyate hṛdayagranthiśchidyante sarvasaṁśayāḥ ।

kṣīyante cāsya karmāṇi tasmindṛṣṭe parāvare ॥

(When the supreme Ātman, which is both high and low, is realised, the knot of the heart (comprising the host of tendencies and impressions of ignorance in the form of desires) is destroyed, all doubts come to an end and one's actions become dissipated.)

atha martyo'mṛto bhavatyatra brahma samaśnute

(Then, he who was subject to death, becomes deathless and attains identity with Brahman while living in this very body.)

yastvātmaratireva syādātmatṛptaśca mānavaḥ ।

ātmanyeva ca saṁtuṣṭastasya kāryaṁ na vidyate ॥

(But that man who rejoices only in the Ātman, is satisfied with just the Ātman and who is contented in just the Ātman - for him, there is no duty to perform.)

Acharyal cited these passages and said, "Such declarations of the _Śruti_ and _Smṛti_ are applicable to You who abide as the Supreme _Brahman_." Altering the words of Gauḍapādācārya a little, He told Me:

tattvam-ādhyātmikaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ tattvaṁ dṛṣṭaṁ tu bāhyataḥ ।

tattvībhūtastadārāmastattvād-apracyuto bhavān ॥

(The Reality has been seen (by You) in the context of the individual and in the external world. You have become identified with the Reality. You rejoice in the Reality. You are undeviating from the Reality.)

{The original verse of Gauḍapādācārya, which is in the form of a teaching, is:

tattvam-ādhyātmikaṁ dṛṣṭvā tattvaṁ dṛṣṭvā tu bāhyataḥ ।

tattvībhūtastadārāmastattvādapracyuto bhavet ॥

Having examined the Reality in the context of the individual and in the external world, one should become identified with the Reality, should have one's delight in the Reality and should not deviate from the Reality.}

( **Acharyal:** ) On Acharyal's letting go of My shoulders, I prostrated before Him for long, placing My hands and head on His feet. Such was Acharyal's greatness that He highly appreciated anything positive in another. His instructions, blessings and grace were responsible for My _sādhanā_ and whatever I achieved. Yet, Acharyal did not take any credit. He was so thoroughly free from egoism. Where can one now find the likes of Him?

[The following conversation took place at Sringeri, in August 1989 a day after the preceding one.]

**I:** Were Acharyal's firm establishment in _Brahman_ and confirmation of the same by Paramacharyal on that evening followed, in the next few days, by major behavioural changes?

**Acharyal:** Yes, but they were not the consequences of the knowledge of the Truth. Since that evening, _samādhi_ ceased to have any role as an aid to realise _Brahman_. However, I had been repeatedly abiding in _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ since _pourṇamī_ (the day of the full moon). _Nirodha-saṁskāras_ (impressions stemming from the interception of the mind) had, consequently, become intense. Because of this and utter indifference to names and forms, My mind subsided readily and on its own into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. Such abidance in _samādhi_ made the mind even further disposed to reposing in _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ and disinclined towards everything else.

{In the _Pañcadaśī_ , it is said:

niścitya sakṛdātmānaṁ yadāpekṣā tadaiva tam ।

vaktuṁ mantuṁ tathā dhyātuṁ śaknotyeva hi tattvavit ॥

upāsaka iva dhyāyan laukikaṁ vismaredyadi ।

vismaratyeva sā dhyānādvismṛtirna tu vedanāt ॥

dhyānaṁ tvaicchikametasya vedanān-muktisiddhitaḥ ।

Having once acquired firm knowledge of the Ātman, the knower of the Truth is certainly able to talk about It, think about It and to meditate upon It whenever he wants to do so. If it be said that he would forget worldly dealings while meditating like a practitioner of meditation, the response is that he indeed does so but that forgetting is the consequence of meditation and not that of knowledge. Meditation is, however, optional for him since liberation has already been secured by knowledge.

About the _nirodha-saṁskāras_ referred to by Acharyal, Vyāsa writes in his _bhāṣya_ on _Yogasūtra_ (I.51):

nirodhasthiti-kālakramānubhavena nirodhacittakṛta-saṁskārāstitvam-anumeyam ।

The existence of nirodha-saṁskāra generated by the interception of the mind is to be inferred by the experience of increase in the duration for which the state of interception persists.

Vacaspati Miśra clarifies in his gloss, _Tattva-Vaiśāradi_ :

etaduktaṁ bhavati – vairāgyābhyāsa-prakarṣānurodhī nirodhaprakarṣo muhūrtārdhayāmādi-vyāpitayā'nubhūyate yoginā

What is said is that the intensity of the interception of the mind is in accordance with the intensity of detachment and practice and is experienced by the yogin by the extension of interception for increasing periods of time, such as for a muhūrta (48 minutes), ardha-yāma (96 minutes) and so on.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** That night, no sooner did I lie down than I went into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. By the time I emerged from it, the night had passed. When I completed performing My _āsanas_ and readied Myself to start _prāṇāyāma_ , My mind again plunged into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. It remained in that state for about half an hour. Another session of _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ , which occurred spontaneously during My _āhnika_ , preceded My usual Friday-visit to the temples.

**I:** Did Acharyal experience the same indifference towards Śāradāmbā as towards names and forms in general?

**Acharyal:** No. As I silently stood before Her, tears of joy flowed from My eyes.

{It is recorded in the _Bhāgavata-purāṇa_ :

śaunaka uvāca

sa vai nivṛttinirataḥ sarvatropekṣako muniḥ ।

kasya vā bṛhatīmetām-ātmārāmaḥ samabhyasat ॥

Śaunaka asked, "Decidedly, that sage (Śuka) was intent on withdrawal, indifferent to everything and revelled in only the Ātman. How then did he master this voluminous work?

sūta uvāca

ātmārāmāśca munayo nirgranthā apyurukrame ।

kurvantyahaitukīṁ bhaktim-itthambhūtaguṇo hariḥ ॥

harerguṇākṣiptamatirbhagavān-bādarāyaṇiḥ ।

adhyagānmahadākhyānaṁ nityaṁ viṣṇujanapriyaḥ ॥

Sūta said, "Even sages who revel in only the Ātman and are without any bond (or, have given up even the study of texts) are devoted, without any expectation whatsoever, to the Lord. Such is the excellence of God. The heart of the blessed sage, the son of Vyāsa, was captivated by the glories of the Lord and he ever loved devotees of God. So, he learnt this great work.}

**I:** How did Acharyal's deep introversion affect Acharyal's attending to Sri Ramachandra Sastry's _Tarka_ lessons that day?

**Acharyal:** Though it was not _anadhyayana_ (the period when traditional classes are not conducted), I had no classes on that day; this was the case even on the preceding day and on the next three days. That afternoon, I did make an attempt to revise what I had been taught but failed because My mind soon went into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_.

By the evening, I was in a position to perform only what I was habituated to doing and which did not involve fresh application of the mind. Also, emerging from _samādhi_ became difficult. The _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ of the night stretched on to cover even the period when I would have normally performed My _āsanas_ and _prāṇāyāma_. Had it lasted any longer, My morning bath would have become delayed. While I omitted nothing of My morning _āhnika_ , because of introversion, My performance was like that of a sleepy person doing _pūjā_.

By the afternoon, the impact of the _samādhis_ had become so much that I succeeded in doing My _āhnika_ only poorly and was hardly aware of partaking _bhikṣā_. After _bhikṣā_ , I remained in My room in _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ till My evening bath, to complete which I needed some assistance. The mind was so intoxicated with bliss that the evening _āhnika_ fared far worse than the afternoon one. I did not partake of anything before retiring to My room that night as I felt too disinclined to do so. There, I sat down and straightaway went into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_.

I descended from _samādhi_ on becoming vaguely aware of the intonation of the _Praṇava_ in Acharyal's voice. When I opened My eyes, I beheld Acharyal Himself. He was seated next to Me and was gently stroking My head with His hand. "Taking care to avoid any further _samādhi_ , finish Your bath and _āhnika_ and come to Me," He said and immediately left. I obeyed.

**I:** Did Acharyal have much difficulty in doing so?

**Acharyal:** No. Acharyal's word was final for Me. There was no way that the tendency to repose in _samādhi_ , no matter how powerful, could stand against the tendency to obey Acharyal. When I went to Acharyal and offered _namaskāras_ , He directed Me to sit down. Then, He said, "I knew that Your mind was becoming more and more absorbed in _nirvikalpa-samādhi_. Though You have transcended any need for _samādhi_ , I did not interfere. Last night, however, the Lord made it clear to Me that Your _samādhi_ had become so intense that You would not emerge from it on Your own. Unless aroused from _samādhi_ , You would remain in it till physical death.

"As impelled by Him, I came to Your room before the night ended. Telling Your attendant to remain outside, I entered alone. The Math staff have been under the impression that You have been unwell since yesterday. So, the attendant assumed that I had come to check on Your condition. I found You seated motionless, deep in _samādhi_. With great difficulty, I succeeded in awakening You. Regulate Your _samādhi_ and the introversion of the mind. Else, today itself, Your _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ will become such that You cannot be aroused from it at all by anybody. Do not leave Me by entering irreversible _samādhi_ and discarding Your human form. There is so much to be done by You for Me, for others and for the Math."

{The _Yoga-vāsiṣṭha_ delineates seven _jñāna_ - _bhūmikās_ (planes of knowledge). About these, Śrī Vidyāraṇya has written in the _Svarūpasiddhiprayojana-prakaraṇa_ of the _Jīvanmukti-viveka_ :

atra bhūmikā-tritayaṁ brahmavidyāyāḥ sādhanameva na tu vidyākoṭāvantarbhavati ।

Herein, the first three planes are only the means to the realisation of Brahman and do not belong to the class of realisation.

...brahmātmaikya-sākṣātkāraścaturthī bhūmikā phalarūpā sattvāpattiḥ ।...so'yaṁ caturthīṁ bhūmikāṁ prāpto yogī brahmavid-ityucyate । pañcamyādayastisro bhūmayo jīvanmukteravāntara-bhedāḥ । te ca nirvikalpasamādhyabhyāsa-kṛtena viśrānti-tāratamyena saṁpadyante । pañcamabhūmau nirvikalpakāt svayameva vyuttiṣṭhate । so'yaṁ yogī brahmavid-varaḥ । ṣaṣṭhabhūmau pārśvasthairbodhito vyuttiṣṭhate । so'yaṁ brahmavidvarīyān ।...turīyābhidhāṁ saptamīṁ bhūmiṁ prāptasya yoginaḥ svataḥ parato vā vyutthānameva nāsti । ... so'yamīdṛśo yogī...brahmavidvariṣṭha ityucyate ।

The fourth plane termed sattvāpatti (attainment of sattva) is of the form of the fruit of the first three and is characterised by the direct realisation of the unity of the self and Brahman...The yogin who has reached the fourth plane is termed a brahmavid (knower of Brahman). The fifth plane onwards are variants of jīvanmukti. They stem from the gradations in repose effected by engagement in nirvikalpa-samādhi.

In the fifth plane [called asaṁśakti (detachment)], one emerges from nirvikalpa-samādhi on one's own. This yogin is called a brahmavidvara (great knower of Brahman). In the sixth plane [termed padārthābhāvanā (absence of objects)], one emerges from nirvikalpa-samādhi only when awakened by the persons nearby. Such a yogin is termed a brahmavidvarīyān (greater knower of Brahman)... The yogin who has reached the seventh plane called turīya never emerges from nirvikalpa-samādhi either on his own or in response to the efforts of another. Such a yogin is called a brahmavidvariṣṭha (best knower of Brahman).

The _Yoga-vāsiṣṭha_ records that Vasiṣṭha told Rāma that, after enlightenment, Prahlāda went into _nirvikalpa-samādhi_ and continued to remain in it for long. So deep was his _samādhi_ that he could not have descended from it on his own. Finally, for the good of the world, the Lord aroused him from it by blowing His _pāñcajanya_ conch. After hearing the story of Prahlāda, Rāma asked Vasiṣṭha how it was possible for Prahlāda to be aroused from his state of absorption in _Brahman_. Vasiṣṭha replied:

bhraṣṭa-bījopamā bhūyo janmāṅkuravivarjitā ।

hṛdi jīvadvimuktānāṁ śuddhā vasati vāsanā ॥

There is in the mind of jīvanmuktas pure vāsana (latent impression of past experience, seed of thoughts and feelings) that is akin to a burnt seed and which does not give rise to the sprout of rebirth.

api varṣasahasrānte tayaivāntaravasthayā ।

sati dehe prabudhyante kuto'tyucchūnayā śanaiḥ ॥

It is through the gradual waxing, by some means, of this indwelling vāsanā that, even after the passage of a thousand years, subject to the survival of the body, jīvanmuktas become awakened (from nirvikalpa-samādhi).}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** I eschewed _samādhi_ in its entirety that day and slept during the night. By the next morning, I was once more in a position to determine the duration of My _samādhi_ and, as intended, remained in it for an hour. When I had Acharyal's darśana after My morning _āhnika_ , He said, "It was in obedience to the directive of Paramacharyal (H.H. Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal) that Acharyal (H.H. Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal) checked the overpowering urge to be absorbed in _yoga_. I am happy that, in deference to My wish, You have regulated Your _samādhi_ and can emerge from it by Yourself after a predetermined duration.

"While You can now manage to perform Your routine activities, Your mind is still too introverted to engage in the serious study of the _Tarka_ and other _śāstras_. Only tranquillity and happiness can be seen in Your face. Even if I, to whom You are deeply devoted, were to cast off My body right now, Your facial expression would not change. No matter how much You be provoked, not a trace of anger would be visible. Nothing of the world interests You at all. Such readily noticeable, rock-like imperturbability and disinterestedness in everything would be unexceptionable if You were an independent _saṁnyāsin_. On You, however, rests the future of this great Peetham.

"Acharyal (H.H.Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal) was ever established in _Brahman_. He had nothing whatsoever to gain or lose by anything. Yet, enacting His role to perfection, He wept when Paramacharyal (H.H. Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal) shed the body, rejoiced when the _Candramoulīsvara-liṅga_ was recovered, evinced deep interest in promoting the study of the _Vedas_ and _śāstras_ , appreciated the good efforts of people and expressed disapproval of their straying to the path of _adharma_. He captivated the hearts not merely of spiritual aspirants and _mahātmans_ but of all. He was an unmatched master of the _śāstras_ whom even the most erudite looked upon with awe. He brought immeasurable glory to the Peetham. It is like Him that You must be.

"Accordingly, though unswervingly established in _Brahman_ , You should study diligently and master the _śāstras_. Further, You should learn to show, whenever appropriate, interest, appreciation, concern, anger, curiosity and the like in Your dealings with devotees, Math staff and others."

antaḥ saṁtyaktasarvāśo vītarāgo vivāsanaḥ ।

vahiḥ sarvasamācāro loke vihara rāghava ॥

(Sport in the world, O Rāghava, internally bereft of all longing relating to the future, without attachment to anything current and devoid of tendencies born of the past, but externally conforming to all the observances.)

bahiḥ kṛtrima-saṁrambho hṛdi saṁrambha-varjitaḥ ।

kartā bahirakartāntarloke vihara rāghava ॥

(Sport in the world, O Rāghava, with assumed attachment, anger, etc., on the outside but without any turbulence in the heart, as a doer externally but internally not a doer.)

bahistapto'ntarā śīto loke vihara rāghava ॥

(Sport in the world, O Rāghava, hot without and cool within.)

Citing these verses, Acharyal said, "These verses occur in the _Yoga-vāsiṣṭha_ and constitute the advice given by Vasiṣṭha to Rāma. Be as prescribed in them. You must be an ideal for others. Appreciate the condition of others, conduct Yourself suitably and do good to them."

{That the great serve as ideals for others is stated by the Lord as follows:

yadyadācarati śreṣṭhastattadevetaro janaḥ ।

sa yatpramāṇaṁ kurute lokastadanuvartate ॥

Whatever a great person does, that is what another does. Whatever he upholds as authority, the world follows.

About the advisable conduct of a _jīvanmukta_ towards the ignorant, it is said:

avidvadanusāreṇa vṛttirbuddhasya yujyate ।

stanandhayānusāreṇa vartate tatpitā yataḥ ॥

It is but appropriate that the enlightened one behaves in conformity with the ignorant just as a father of a babe in arms behaves in conformity with it.

yenāyaṁ naṭanenātra budhyate kāryameva tat ।

That acting ought certainly to be done by which the ignorant man will get enlightenment.

In the _Yoga-vāśiṣṭha_ , it is reported that after Vasiṣṭha enabled Rāma to become established in the Truth and then advised Him to avoid remaining for ever in _samādhi_ and, instead, strive to make people happy, Rāma said:

na vidhirna niṣedhaśca tvatprasādādahaṁ punaḥ ।

tathāpi tava vākyaṁ tatkaraṇīyaṁ ca sarvadā ॥

vedāgamapurāṇeṣu smṛtiṣvapi mahāmune ।

guruvākyaṁ vidhiḥ prokto niṣedhastadviparyayaḥ ॥

By your grace, I am beyond injunctions and prohibitions. Nevertheless, your word should always be carried out by Me. In the Vedas, Āgamas, Purāṇas and Smṛtis, it is said, O great sage, that the word of the guru is what should be carried out and what is opposed to it must be eschewed.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** To implement Acharyal's directives, I ignored the prevailing disinterest and revised My _Tarka_ lessons. Over the next week, I gradually regenerated the interest in _śāstraic_ studies that had vanished. Acharyal graciously expedited the process by intensely examining My progress and chiding Me on any inadequacies. Displaying emotional responses proved tougher to achieve. The mind felt just peace and bliss and the emotions that had been so readily experienced in the past seemed no more than a vague, distant dream. Laughable though it sounds, the _sādhanā_ that followed the vision of Śiva was simpler and smoother than learning afresh to display anger or anxiety. (Pointing to Himself and laughing:) This short-tempered tiger was a very gentle cow at that time!

It was clear to Me that Acharyal did not intend that I learn to pretend to be pleased, concerned and the like, without such feelings arising in the mind at all. I recognised that I would be a deceiver if, while being thoroughly disinterested, I were to make a person think that I wish that he come again soon or that I am interested in what he is showing Me or that I am displeased that he has not done something important. Moreover, consistently and adequately exhibiting the physical signs associated with strong emotions, such as a flushed face with wrath, would be very difficult when the mind is thoroughly tranquil and unconcerned. I could also see that such deception, even if diligently practised, would undoubtedly come to light sooner or later. In any case, there was no question of Acharyal advocating hypocrisy and deceit.

To facilitate interpersonal dealings, the mind could learn to accommodate fleeting emotions as opposed to gaining proficiency in deceiving others. Appearance of thoughts and feelings merely when necessitated by and as appropriate to situations would enable effective and totally unpretentious functioning while leaving the mind basically silent. Further, such mental activity would be powerless to cause any bondage as misidentification of the _Ātman_ with the mind had already ceased once and for all and there was no forgetfulness of the falsity of the mind either. I did not have any difficulty in clearly comprehending thus the thrust and mode of implementation of Acharyal's directives.

{Śrī Vidyāraṇya has written in the _Vāsanākṣayaprakaraṇa_ of the _Jīvanmukti-viveka_ :

nanu jñānino rāgādyabhyupagame dharmādharmadvāreṇa janmāntara-prasaṅga iti cenmaivam adagdhabījavad-avidyāpūrvaka-kāmādereva mukhyarāgāditvena punarjanma-hetutvāt । jñāninastu dagdhabījavad-ābhāsamātrā eva rāgādayaḥ ।

Objection: If attachment and aversion are admitted in a knower of the Truth, then, on account of the resulting merit and demerit, there would arise the contingency of his being reborn after death. Answer: Such is not the case. Likes and dislikes that are akin to uncooked seeds (capable of sprouting) and foreshadowed by avidyā (and, so, by the erroneous identification of the Ātman with the mind) are the ones that, by virtue of their constituting the primary variety of attachment and aversion, cause rebirth. The attachment and the like of the knowers of the Truth are, however, like burnt seeds (which are incapable of sprouting) and merely have the appearance of the primary ones.

Acharyal referred not only to the cessation of the misidentification of the _Ātman_ with the mind but also to the absence of forgetfulness about the falsity of __ the mind. About the latter, it is said in the _Jīvanmukti-viveka_ , subsequent to the passage cited earlier:

...tatkāle mukhyavadevābhāsamānānāṁ bādhakatvāt rajjusarpo'pi mukhya-sarpavadeva tadānīṁ bhīṣayannupalabhyate tadvat । tarhyābhāsatvānusandhānānuvṛttau na ko'pi bādha iti cecciraṁ jīvatu bhavān । iyamevāsmadabhimatā jīvanmuktiḥ ।

Though they be mere appearances of the primary likes and dislikes of the ignorant and incapable of contributing to rebirth) the likes and dislikes of the knower would, while they last, cause trouble like the primary likes and dislikes. A false snake seen in the place of a rope causes, for the time being, fear just like a real snake. The case of the apparent likes and dislikes is like this. Objection: There would be no trouble at all (even temporarily) if the falsity of the apparent likes and dislikes were kept in mind. Answer: May you live long! This (keeping in mind the falsity) is what we regard as marking jīvanmukti.

The possibility of apparent erroneous notions causing transient delusion in a knower of the Truth is stated by Bhagavatpāda as follows in His _Brhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad-bhāṣya_ on the passage (I.4.10):

.. .na ca viparītapratyayo vidyāvata utpadyate ।.. .kvacittu vidyāyāḥ pūrvotpanna-viparītapratyaya-janita-saṁskārebhyo viparīta-pratyayāvabhāsāḥ smṛtayo jāyamānā viparītapratyaya-bhrāntim-akasmātkurvanti । yathā vijñātadigvibhāgasyāpy- akasmāddigviparyaya-vibhramaḥ ।

Erroneous notions (such as that one is an agent and that one experiences pleasure and pain) cannot arise in the knower of the Truth...Sometimes, however, recollections that stem from the impressions formed by the erroneous notions that arose prior to enlightenment and which have the appearances of erroneous notions crop up and suddenly delude him as to their being actual erroneous notions just as even one who knows the directions well sometimes suddenly becomes confused about them.

In the _Pañcadaśī_ , it is said:

bhogakāle kadācittu martyo'hamiti bhāsate ॥

naitāvatā'parādhena tattvajñānaṁ vinaśyati ।

jīvanmukti-vrataṁ nedaṁ kintu vastusthitiḥ khalu ॥

Sometimes, during the period of enjoyment, the idea, "I am a man" may seem to be. By this much defect, the knowledge of the Truth will not perish. This (the eradication of such notions) is not any vow of jīvanmukti (to be observed by the enlightened one without any slip whatsoever). On the other hand, this is actually how the matter stands.}

**I:** Over the years, has intense anger, worry or grief appeared in Acharyal's mind unaccompanied, even for a while, by the awareness of its falsity.

**Acharyal:** No, never. Even during excruciating pain, there has been the clear awareness that it pertains only to the illusory mind and that I am the changeless witness of the nature of pure consciousness. All this is solely due to the grace of Acharyal and God. Else, where was the question of even one so ordinary as I becoming unswervingly established in _Brahman_ and functioning in the world as I was directed to?

Though Acharyal was the one who uplifted Me, because of His total freedom from egoism and extraordinary fondness for Me, He went to the extent of averring, prior to sending Me to Bangalore (in 1936), "I know that You are God Himself and ever perfect. Your engaging in _sādhanā_ and apparently attaining enlightenment were only a part of Your divine sport. Your vision of Śiva and Your receiving His blessings and instruction a few days before Your taking Your _sādhanā_ to its culmination were on the same footing as the vision, blessings and instruction of Śiva obtained by Kṛṣṇa."

{At this point, Acharyal's face became flushed with emotion, Joining His palms, He turned towards a photograph of Paramacharyal.}

( **Acharyal:** ) **** Who can be like Him? I am so fortunate to be His disciple.

{The following are three of the verses composed by Paramacharyal about Acharyal; the period of composition is given by Him as the month of _Aśvina_ of the year _Subhānu_ (30.9.1943 - 29.10.1943}.

dayāsāndraṁ bālaṁ nikhilajagatīrakṣaṇacaṇaṁ

harantaṁ vighnādriṁ vimalavimalairvīkṣaṇacayaiḥ ।

parabrahmākāraṁ praṇavaviditaṁ śāntamanasaṁ

guruṁ vidyātīrthaṁ kalayata budhāścittakamale ॥

O, Wise people! Hold in the heart-lotus the Guru, Vidyatheertha, the young one with tranquil mind, who is exceedingly compassionate, who destroys the mountain of impediments by His extremely pure glances, who is skilled in protecting the whole world, who is known by means of the Praṇava, Om, and who is the manifestation of the Supreme Brahman.

śarīrendriyacittānāṁ śuddhaye kalpitā mahāḥ ।

bahavo gurudevānāṁ tatphalaṁ bhavatāṁ tanuḥ॥

Numerous rites and festivals relating to the Gurus and the Divinities have been created to purify the body, the organs and the mind. Your body is their fruit.

vāṇī lakṣmīstathā gaurī tiṣṭhantaṁ nidrayā yutam ।

gacchantam-upaviṣṭañca pāntu tvāṁ guruśekharam ॥

May Vāṇī, Lakṣmī and Gaurī guard You, the foremost Guru, while You sleep, sit, stand and walk.

After giving the verses to Acharyal, Paramacharyal said, "I have written only what I definitely know to be true about You. There is no encomium here."

Paramacharyal explicitly told some devotees that Acharyal was God Himself and that they should not think that He was just a young _saṁnyāsin_.}

# Links to Video Clips of Acharyal

Link to a Sample Video Clip of Acharyal in Nirvikalpa-samādhi

Link to a Sample Video Clip of Acharyal's Sacred Speech

Link to a Sample Video Clip of Acharyal in Pūjā

# Appendix – List of Sanskrit references
# Notes

[←1]

1. H.H. Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigal

भवदीयपत्रिकया भवच्छरीरे निरामयतामध्ययनाध्यापनप्रक्रियां च  
निष्प्रत्यूहं निर्वर्त्यमानां विदित्वा निरर्गलमानन्दं समवापि ।

(Letter from Paramacharyal to Acharyal)

[←2]

पादप्रभाविनिर्धूताविद्यान्धतमसाय ते ।  
यतये चितिनिर्विष्टचित्तायास्तु नमो मम ॥

(Verse composed by Acharyal on Paramacharyal)

[←3]

श्रीमतां देशिकेन्द्राणां पादपद्मे नमाम्यहम् ।

मन्दोऽपि वन्दनाद्येषां विन्देत गुरुतुल्यताम् ॥

(Verse composed by Acharyal on Paramacharyal)

[←4]

पुराणमित्येव न साधु सर्वं न चापि काव्यं नवमित्यवद्यम् ।

सन्तः परीक्ष्यान्यतरद्भजन्ते मूढः परप्रत्ययनेयबुद्धिः ॥

(Malavikāgnimitra I.2)

[←5]

शकुनीनामिवाकाशे जले वारिचरस्य च ।

पदं यथा न दृश्येत तथा ज्ञानवतां गतिः ॥

(Mahābhārata, Gita Press Edition, 12.181.19)

[←6]

नानुध्यायाद्बहूञ्छब्दान्वाचो विग्लापन हि तत्

(Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad IV.4.21cd)

[←7]

द्वेष्योऽपि संमतश्शिष्टस्तस्यार्तस्य यथौषधम् ।

त्याज्यो दुष्टः प्रियोऽप्यासीदङ्गुलीवोरगक्षता ॥

(Raghuvaṁsa I.28)

[←8]

अहमेव मतो महीपतेरिति सर्वः प्रकृतिष्वप्यचिन्तयत् ।

(Raghuvaṁsa VIII.8)

[←9]

जातः पिङ्गलहायने यतिरभूद्यश्च प्रजापत्यभि-  
ख्येऽब्दे पीठपतिर्बभूव जयवर्षे यश्च शृङ्गाचले।  
कीर्तिं प्राप्य दिगन्तगां तनुमिमां यश्शुक्लवर्षे जहौ  
विद्यातीर्थगुरुर्जयत्यभिनवो लोकान् सदा पालयन् ॥

(Verse composed by His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal on Acharyal in the year 1989)

2. H.H. Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi **Mahaswamigal**

[←10]

श्रीचन्द्रशेखरभारतीतिप्रथितप्रातस्स्मरणीयनामधेया अस्मदाचार्यपादाः कृततपश्चर्याः सर्वतन्त्रस्वतन्त्राः शास्त्रोपदिष्टार्थानुष्ठाननिष्ठागरिष्ठा अपरोक्षीकृतात्मतत्त्वा जीवन्मुक्ता अभूवन् ।

(Acharyal's preface to Vivekacūḍāmaṇi with the commentary of Paramacharyal)

[←11]

अस्मदाचार्यपादाः ब्रह्मनिष्ठा ब्रह्मपरा जीवन्मुक्ताः समस्तानामास्तिकानामादर्शचरिता अभूवन् ।

(Śrīmukha to Śrī-Jagadgurucaritāmṛta by Bhashya Swamigal)

[←12]

अविद्याध्वान्तानां दिनमणिरनन्तान्तरगतो  
विषीदद्विद्वद्धृत्कुमुदवनराकाहिमकरः ।  
पराध्वामित्राणां विषयगहनानां हुतवहो  
गुरुस्तेजोरूपो जयति जनताऽऽनन्दथुरयम् ॥

(Verse composed by Acharyal on Paramacharyal)

[←13]

वन्दे वन्दारुमन्दारं वन्दनीयं बुधोत्तमैः ।  
आनन्दकन्दलं तीर्थवारिधिं देशिकोत्तमम् ॥

(Verse composed by Acharyal on Paramacharyal)

[←14]

करतलभिक्षस्तरुतलवासः

(Mohamudgara 16)

[←15]

न मे पार्थास्ति कर्तव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु किञ्चन ।

नानवाप्तमवाप्तव्यं वर्त एव च कर्मणि ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā III.22)

[←16]

यदि ह्यहं न वर्तेयं जातु कर्मण्यतन्द्रितः ।  
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā III.23)

[←17]

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोका न कुर्यां कर्म चेदहम् ।

(Bhagavad-gītā III.24ab)

[←18]

संसारनामकसरिन्नाथोत्तरणे तवास्ति यदि वाञ्छा ।  
बालक शृणु मद्वचनं श्रुतिमस्तकसंमतं हितोदर्कम् ॥  
प्रविधाय सशिखवपनं छित्त्वा यज्ञार्थमादृतं सूत्रम् ।  
स्वीकृतपारमहंस्यः स्थिरतरसाधनचतुष्टयोपेतः ॥  
श्रद्धाभक्तियुतात्मा प्रविचारय तत्त्वमात्मनः सुचिरम् ।

(Composed by His Holiness Sri Sacchidananda

Sivabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamigal)

सद्गुरुमुखाम्बुजातस्रवदागमशीर्षवाक्यपीयूषैः ॥

[←19]

प्रवर्तितो दीप इव प्रदीपात्

(Raghuvaṁsa V.37cd)

[←20]

शंभोर्मूर्तिश्चरति भुवने शङ्कराचार्यरूपा

(Mādhavīya-Śaṁkaravijaya IV.60cd)

[←21]

तमांसि ध्वंसन्ते परिणमति भूयानुपशमः  
सकृत्संवादेऽपि प्रथत इह चामुत्र च फलम् ।

अथ प्रत्यासङ्गः कमपि महिमानं वितरति

प्रसन्नानां वाचः फलमपरिमेयं प्रसुवते ॥

(Mahavīra-carita 12)

[←22]

सदाऽऽत्मध्याननिरतं विषयेभ्यः पराङ्मुखम् ।  
नौमि शास्त्रेषु निष्णातं चन्द्रशेखरभारतीम् ॥

(Verse composed by Acharyal on Paramacharyal)

[←23]

श्रीमद्विष्णुपदाऽऽलम्बं वेदान्तामृतवर्षिणम् ।  
लोकसंतापशमनं वन्देऽभ्रसदृशं गुरुम् ॥

(Verse composed by Acharyal on Paramacharyal)

[←24]

गुरुवरचरणौ भक्त्या नित्यं प्रणमामि भक्तकरुणालू ।  
यद्भानुलेशपातो हृदयध्वान्तानि सन्ततं हन्ति ॥

(Verse composed by Acharyal on Paramacharyal)

3. Childhood To Saṁnyāsa: The Spiritual Foundation

[←25]

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति ।

तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā IX.26)

[←26]

दारा इमे मे तनया इमे मे गृहा इमे मे पशवश्च मे मे ।

इत्थं नरो मेषसमानधर्मा मेमेकरः कालवृकेण नीतः॥

[←27]

सूते सूकरयुवतिः सुतशतमत्यन्तदुर्भगं झटिति ।  
करिणी चिराय सूते सकलमहीपाललालितं कलभम् ॥

(Śubhāṣita-ratna-bhāṇḍāgāra, Sthalācāra-nyāyokti, 66)

[←28]

बहुनोक्तेन किं विप्रा जपेनास्याश्च होमतः ।  
अभीष्टं सर्वमाप्नोति नात्र सन्देहकारणम् ॥

(Sūta-saṁhitā IV.6.59)

[←29]

सहस्रकृत्वस्त्वभ्यस्य बहिरेतत्त्रिकं द्विजः ।  
महतोऽप्येनसो मासात्त्वचेवाहिर्विमुच्यते ॥

(Manu-smṛti II.79)

[←30]

न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशुः।

(Mahānārāyaṇa-upaniṣad I.10.21)

[←31]

ये हि संस्पर्शजा भोगा दुःखयोनय एव ते ।  
आद्यन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय न तेषु रमते बुधः ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā V.22)

[←32]

शक्नोतीहैव यः सोढुं प्राक् शरीरविमोक्षणात् ।  
कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगं स युक्तः स सुखी नरः ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā V.23)

[←33]

असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् ।

अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā VI.35)

[←34]

नहि नहि मनुतां स्वत्वं मर्त्यः स्वीये शरीरेऽपि ।

पितृभूमिशृगालगणाः स्वत्वं परिचिन्तयन्ति तत्काले ॥

(Verse uttered by Paramacharyal in His state of seclusion)

[←35]

सिंहासनोपविष्टं दृष्ट्वा यं मुदमवाप लोकोऽयम् ।

तं कालाकृष्टतनुं विलोक्य नेत्रे निमीलयति ॥

(Prabodha-sudhākara I.26)

[←36]

को हि जानाति कस्याद्य मृत्युकालो भविष्यति ।

युवैव धर्मशीलः स्यादनित्यं खलु जीवितम् ॥

(Mahābhārata 12.175.16)

[←37]

बाल्ये नष्टविवेको विषयसुखास्वादलम्पटस्तरुणः ।

परतो जातविवेको वृद्धोऽशक्तः किमाप्नुयात्सिद्धिम् ॥

[←38]

लोको नापुत्रस्यास्तीति श्रुत्यास्य कः प्रभाषितो लोकः ।

मुक्तिः संसरणं वा तदन्यलोकोऽथ वा नाद्यः ॥

(Prabodha-sudhākara II.35)

[←39]

सर्वेऽपि पुत्रभाजस्तन्मुक्तौ नैव संस्मृतिर्भवति ।

श्रवणादयोऽप्युपाया मृषा भवेयुस्तृतीयेऽपि ॥

(Prabodha-sudhākara II.36)

[←40]

तत्प्राप्त्युपायसत्त्वाद्द्वितीयपक्षेऽप्यपुत्रस्य ।

पुत्रेष्ट्यादिकयागप्रवृत्तये वेदवादोऽयम् ॥

(Prabodha-sudhākara II.37)

[←41]

धनं वा धान्यं वा भवतु बहुशो भोग्यमपि वा

विरामे को ब्रूते ननु चिरमहं निर्वृत इति ।  
प्रकोपप्रोद्भिन्नप्रकटयमदंष्ट्रां तु पुरतः

प्रपश्यन्किं कुर्यात्प्रसभमवसाने प्रभुरपि ॥

(Verse uttered by Paramacharyal in His state of seclusion)

[←42]

यो देहः सुप्तोऽभूत्सुपुष्पशय्योपशोभिते तल्पे ।  
संप्रति स रज्जुकाष्ठैर्नियन्त्रितः क्षिप्यते वह्नौ ॥

(Prabodha-sudhākara I.25)

[←43]

नित्यं सन्निहितो मृत्युः कर्तव्यो धर्मसञ्चयः

(Nārada-purāṇa, Pūrvārdha 39.49)

[←44]

गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत् ॥

(Hitopadeśa, Prāstāvikā 3)

[←45]

लब्धा विद्या राजमान्या ततः किं

प्राप्ता संपत्प्राभवाढ्या ततः किम् ।  
भुक्ता नारी सुन्दराङ्गी ततः किं  
येन स्वात्मा नैव साक्षात्कृतोऽभूत् ॥

(Anātmaśrīvigarhaṇam 1)

[←46]

नारीस्तनभरनाभीदेशं दृष्ट्वा मा गा मोहावेशम् ।  
एतन्मांसवसादिविकारं मनसि विचिन्तय वारं वारम् ॥

(Mohamudgara 3)

[←47]

सद्गुरो शरणं शिवोऽहं शिवोऽहम्

(Words uttered by Sri Srinivasa Sastry when delirious)

[←48]

सद्गुरो पाहि सद्गुरो पाहि

(Words uttered by Sri Srinivasa Sastry when delirious)

[←49]

सर्वज्ञं श्रीनिवासं कुरु शिवदयिते सत्वरं मद्विनम्रम्

(Prayer of Paramacharyal to Sharadambal)

4. Haṭha-yoga

[←50]

योनिस्थानकमङ्घ्रिमूलघटितं कृत्वा...

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā I.35)

[←51]

कण्ठमाकुञ्च्य हृदये स्थापयेच्चिबुकं दृढम् ।

बन्धो जालन्धराख्योऽयं जरामृत्युविनाशकः ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā III.70)

[←52]

उदरे पश्चिमं तानं नाभेरूर्ध्वं च कारयेत् ।

उड्डीयानो ह्यसौ बन्धो मृत्युमातङ्गकेसरी ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā III.57)

[←53]

पूरकान्ते तु कर्तव्यो बन्धो जालन्धराभिधः ।  
कुम्भकान्ते रेचकादौ कर्तव्यस्तूड्डियानकः ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.45)

[←54]

उड्डियानकस्तु कुम्भकान्ते कुम्भकस्यान्ते किञ्चित्कुम्भकशेषे  
रेचकस्यादौ रेचकादौ रेचकात्पूर्वं कर्तव्यः ।

(Jyotsnā, commentary on the Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.45)

[←55]

चले वाते चलं चित्तं निश्चले निश्चलं भवेत् ।

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.2ab)

[←56]

धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः ।

(Yogasūtrā II.53)

[←57]

यथा पर्वतधातूनां दह्यन्ते धमनान्मलाः ।

तथेन्द्रियकृता दोषा दह्यन्ते प्राणधारणात् ॥

(Amrutanāda-upaniṣad 7)

[←58]

अथ सूर्यभेदनम्  
आसने सुखदे योगी बद्ध्वा चैवासनं ततः ।  
दक्षनाड्या समाकृष्य बहिःस्थं पवनं शनैः॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.48)

[←59]

आ केशादा नखाग्राच्च निरोधावधि कुम्भयेत् ।  
ततः शनैः सव्यनाड्या रेचयेत्पवनं शनैः ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.49)

[←60]

अथोज्जायी

मुखं संयम्य नाडीभ्यामाकृष्य पवनं शनैः ।  
यथा लगति कण्ठात्तु हृदयावधि सस्वनम् ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.51)

[←61]

पूर्ववत्कुम्भयेत्प्राणं रेचयेदिडया तथा ।  
श्लेष्मदोषहरं कण्ठे देहानलविवर्धनम् ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.52)

[←62]

अथ सीत्कारी  
सीत्कां कुर्यात्तथा वक्त्रे घ्राणेनैव विजृम्भिकाम्  
एवमभ्यासयोगेन कामदेवो द्वितीयकः ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.54)

[←63]

अथ शीतली  
जिह्वया वायुमाकृष्य पूर्ववत्कुम्भसाधनम्

शनकैर्घ्राणरन्ध्राभ्यां रेचयेत्पवनं सुधीः ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.57)

[←64]

अथ भस्त्रिका  
सम्यक्पद्मासनं बद्ध्वा समग्रीवोदरः सुधीः ।  
मुखं संयम्य यत्नेन प्राणं घ्राणेन रेचयेत् ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.60)

[←65]

यथा लगति हृत्कण्ठे कपालावधि सस्वनम् ।  
वेगेन पूरयेच्चापि हृत्पद्मावधि मारुतम् ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.61)

[←66]

पुनर्विरेचयेत्तद्वत्पूरयेच्च पुनः पुनः ।

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.62ab)

[←67]

पार्ष्णिभागेन संपीड्य योनिमाकुञ्चयेद्गुदम् ।  
अपानमूर्ध्वमाकृष्य मूलबन्धोऽभिधीयते ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā III.61)

[←68]

बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः ॥

(Yogasūtrā II.51)

[←69]

ततः परं यथेष्टं तु शक्तः स्याद्वायुधारणे ॥

(Yogatattva-upaniṣad 49cd)

[←70]

यथेष्टधारणाद्वायोः सिध्येत्केवलकुम्भकः ।  
केवले कुम्भके सिद्धे रेचपूरविवर्जिते ॥

(Yogatattva-upaniṣad 50)

[←71]

न तस्य दुर्लभं किञ्चित्त्रिषु लोकेषु विद्यते ।

(Yogatattva-upaniṣad 51ab)

[←72]

छेदनचालनदोहैः कलां क्रमेणाथ वर्धयेत्तावत् ।  
सा यावद्भ्रूमध्यं स्पृशति तदा खेचरीसिद्धिः ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā III.33)

[←73]

कलां पराङ्मुखीं कृत्वा त्रिपथे परियोजयेत् ।  
सा भवेत्खेचरी मुद्रा व्योमचक्रं तदुच्यते ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā III.37)

[←74]

न रोगो मरणं तन्द्रा न निद्रा न क्षुधा तृषा ।  
न च मूर्च्छा भवेत्तस्य यो मुद्रां वेत्ति खेचरीम्॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā III.39)

[←75]

चतुरङ्गुलविस्तारं हस्तपञ्चदशायतम् ।  
गुरूपदिष्टमार्गेण सिक्तं वस्त्रं शनैर्ग्रसेत्।

पुनः प्रत्याहरेच्चैतदुदितं धौतिकर्म तत् ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.24)

[←76]

नाभिदघ्नजले पायौ न्यस्तनालोत्कटासनः ।  
आधाराकुञ्चनं कुर्यात्क्षालनं वस्तिकर्म तत्॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.26)

[←77]

सूत्रं वितस्ति सुस्निग्धं नासानाले प्रवेशयेत् ।  
मुखान्निर्गमयेच्चैषा नेतिः सिद्धैर्निगद्यते ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.29)

[←78]

निरीक्षेन्निश्चलदृशा सूक्ष्मलक्ष्यं समाहितः ।  
अश्रुसंपातपर्यन्तमाचार्यैस्त्राटकं स्मृतम्॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.31)

[←79]

अमन्दावर्तवेगेन तुन्दं सव्यापसव्यतः ।

नतांसो भ्रामयेदेषा नौलिः सिद्धैः प्रशस्यते ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.33)

[←80]

भस्त्रावल्लोहकारस्य रेचपूरौ ससंभ्रमौ ।

कपालभातिर्विख्याता कफदोषविशोषणी ॥

(Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā II.35)

[←81]

न तत्र रथा न रथयोगा न पन्थानो भवन्ति

(Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad IV.3.10)

[←82]

मायामात्रं तु कार्त्स्न्येनानभिव्यक्तस्वरूपत्वात् ॥

(Brahmasūtra III.2.3)

[←83]

स्वप्ननिद्राज्ञानालम्बनं वा ॥

(Yogasūtra I.38)

5. Devotion and Karma-yoga

[←84]

सत्यज्ञानसुखस्वरूपममलं क्षीराब्धिमध्ययस्थितं

योगारूढमतिप्रसन्नवदनं भूषासहस्रोज्ज्वलम् ।

त्र्यक्षं चक्रपिनाकसाभयवरान्बिभ्राणमर्कच्छविं

छत्रीभूतफणीन्द्रमिन्दुधवलं लक्ष्मीनृसिंहं भजे ॥

(Dhyāna-śloka of Mantrarāja of Lakṣmī-Narasiṁha)

[←85]

लं पृथिव्यात्मने गन्धं कल्पयामि ।

हं‍ आकाशात्मने पुष्पं कल्पयामि ।

यं‍ वाय्वात्मने धूपमाघ्रापयामि ।

रं ‍ अग्न्यात्मने दीपं दर्शयामि ।

वं‍ अमृतात्मने अमृतोपहारं निवेदयामि ।

सं‍ सर्वात्मने सर्वोपचारपूजास्समर्पयामि ।

(Words of pañcopacāra-pūjā)

[←86]

उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम् ।  
नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम् ॥

(Mantrarāja of Lakṣmī-Narasiṁha)

[←87]

महेश्वरे वा जगतामधीश्वरे जनार्दने वा जगदन्तरात्मनि ।

न वस्तुभेदप्रतिपत्तिरस्ति मे तथाऽपि भक्तिस्तरुणेन्दुशेखरे ॥

(Bhartṛhari's _Vairāgya-śataka)_

6. Exposure to Kuṇḍalinī-yoga

[←88]

श्री शारदायै नमः।

[←89]

इयं सुषुम्ना नाडी ।

[←90]

इयं वज्रा नाडी ।

[←91]

इयं चित्रिणी नाडी । अत्र ब्रह्मनाडी वर्तते । सा सुषुम्नेत्यपि व्यपदिश्यते ।

[←92]

इयम् इडा नाडी ।

[←93]

इयं पिङ्गला नाडी ।

[←94]

तदुक्तं यामले-  
इडा च पिङ्गला चैव तस्य वामे च दक्षिणे ।

ऋज्वीभूते शिरे ते च वामदक्षिणभेदतः ।

सर्वपद्मानि संवेष्ट्य नासारन्ध्रगते शुभे ॥   
इति । अत्र 'शिरे ते च' इत्यत्र चकारो वार्थः ।... एतेनानयोः स्थित्यां द्विविधः कल्पो दर्शितः । अन्यत्रानयोर्धनुराकारेण स्थितिरुक्ता । तद्यथा - ‍ विद्धि ते धनुराकारे नाडीडापिङ्गले परे ॥ इति ।

(Yāmalā \- Kālicaraṇa's commentary on the first verse of the Saṭcakranirūpaṇa)

[←95]

इदं मूलाधार-चक्रम् ।

[←96]

इदं स्वाधिष्ठान-चक्रम् ।

[←97]

इदं मणिपूर-चक्रम् ।

[←98]

इदम् अनाहत-चक्रम् ।

[←99]

इदं विशुद्ध-चक्रम् ।

[←100]

इदम् आज्ञा-चक्रम् ।

[←101]

अत्र परमशिवः स्थितः ।

[←102]

चत्वारि वाक्परिमिता पदानि तानि विदुर्ब्राह्मणा ये मनीषिणः ।  
गुहा त्रीणि निहिता नेङ्गयन्ति तुरीयं वाचो मनुष्या वदन्ति ॥

(Ṛg-veda I.164.45)

[←103]

चतुर्दलं स्यादाधारं स्वाधिष्ठानं च षड्दलम् ॥

(Yogacūḍāmaṇi-upaniṣad 4cd)

[←104]

नाभौ दशदलं पद्मं हृदयं द्वादशारकम् ।

षोडशारं विशुद्धाख्यं भ्रूमध्ये द्विदलं तथा ॥

(Yogacūḍāmaṇi-upaniṣad 5)

[←105]

सहस्रदलसङ्खयातं ब्रह्मरन्ध्रे महापथि ।

(Yogacūḍāmaṇi-upaniṣad 6 ab)

[←106]

तस्योर्ध्वे नाभिमूले दशदललसिते पूर्णमेघप्रकाशे

नीलाम्भोजप्रकाशैरुपहितजठरे डादिफान्तैः सचन्द्रैः ।

ध्यायेद्वैश्वानरस्यारुणमिहिरसमं मण्डलं तत्त्रिकोणम्

तद्बाह्ये स्वस्तिकाख्यैस्त्रिभिरभिलसितं तत्र वह्नेः स्वबीजम् ॥

(Saṭcakranirūpaṇa 19)

[←107]

ध्यायेन्मेषाधिरूढं नवतपननिभं वेदबाहूज्ज्वलाङ्गं  
तत्क्रोडे रुद्रमूर्तिर्निवसति सततं शुद्धसिन्दूररागः ।

भस्मालिप्ताङ्गभूषाभरणसितवपुर्वृद्धरूपी त्रिनेत्रो

लोकानामिष्टदाताऽभयलसितकरः सृष्टिसंहारकारी ॥

(Saṭcakranirūpaṇa 20)

[←108]

अत्रास्ते लाकिनी सा सकलशुभकरी वेदबाहूज्ज्वलाङ्गी  
श्यामा पीताम्बराद्यैर्विविधविरचनालङ्कृता मत्तचित्ता ।  
ध्यात्वैतन्नाभिपद्मं प्रभवति नितरां संहृतौ पालने वा  
वाणी तस्याननाब्‍जे निवसति सततं ज्ञानसन्दोहलक्ष्मीः॥

(Saṭcakranirūpaṇa 21)

[←109]

आज्ञासीद्गौरवी मे तव खलु करुणावारिधि शारदाम्बा  
साष्टाङ्गं योगमारादुपदिशति भवानौरसः सूनुरस्याः ।

(Śrī-śāradā-śataślokīstavaḥ 25ab)

[←110]

आगच्छन्ती सदनमदसीयं पुरा शारदाम्बा  
ताटङ्काढ्या मुदितवदना स्वप्न एवं ह्यपश्यम् ।  
काले काले बहुलकृपया शब्दयन्ती स्वनाम्ना  
ह्वायं ह्वायं सकलमपि मे बोधयामास देवी ॥

(Śrī-śāradā-stuti-mañjarī 13)

[←111]

ब्रह्म-ग्रन्थिं भित्वेयमूर्ध्वं गच्छति ।

[←112]

विष्णु-ग्रन्थिश्छिन्नः ।

[←113]

रुद्रग्रन्थिभेदो जातः ।

[←114]

कुण्डलिनी परमशिवेन युक्ता ।

[←115]

प्रसार्य स्वशरीरं तु सुषुम्नावदनान्तरे॥

(Yoga-kuṇḍalī-upaniṣad I.66cd)

[←116]

ब्रह्मग्रन्थिं ततो भित्वा रजोगुणसमुद्भवम् ।

सुषुम्नावदने शीघ्रं विद्युल्लेखेव संस्फुरेत् ॥

(Yoga-kuṇḍalī-upaniṣad I.67)

[←117]

विष्णुग्रन्थिं प्रयात्युच्चैः सत्वरं हृदि संस्थिता ।  
ऊर्ध्वं गच्छति यच्चास्ते रुद्रग्रन्थिं तदुद्भवम् ॥

(Yoga-kuṇḍalī-upaniṣad I.68)

[←118]

भ्रुवोर्मध्यं तु संभिद्य याति शीतांशुमण्डलम् ।

(Yoga-kuṇḍalī-upaniṣad I.69ab)

[←119]

ब्रह्मग्रन्थिरकारे च विष्णुग्रन्थिर्हृदि स्थितः ॥

(Brahmavidyā-upaniṣad 70cd)

[←120]

रुद्रग्रन्थिर्भ्रुवोर्मध्ये भिद्यतेऽक्षरवायुना ।

(Brahmavidyā-upaniṣad 71ab)

7. Contemplation on the Ātman

[←121]

आत्माम्भोधेस्तरङ्गोऽस्म्यहमिति गमने

[←122]

आत्माम्भोधेस्तरङ्गोऽस्म्यहमिति गमने भावयन्नासनस्थः

संवित्सूत्रानुविद्धो मणिरहमिति वाऽस्मीन्द्रियार्थप्रतीतौ ।

द्रष्टा(द्रष्टो)ऽस्म्यात्मावलोकादिति शयनविधौ मग्न आनन्दसिन्धौ

अन्तर्निष्ठो मुमुक्षुः स खलु तनुभृतां यो नयत्येवमायुः ॥

(Śataślokī 12)

[←123]

... भावयन्नासनस्थः

संवित्सूत्रानुविद्धो मणिरहमिति वाऽस्मी

[←124]

... इन्द्रियार्थप्रतीतौ ।

द्रष्टा(दृष्टो)ऽस्म्यात्मावलोकादिति

[←125]

शयनविधौ मग्न आनन्दसिन्धौ

[←126]

अन्तर्निष्ठो मुमुक्षुः स खलु तनुभृतां यो नयत्येवमायुः ॥

[←127]

वस्तुतन्त्रो भवेद्बोधः कर्तृतन्त्रमुपासनम् ॥

(Pañcadaśī IX.74cd)

[←128]

विचाराज्जायते बोधोऽनिच्छा यं न निवर्तयेत् ।  
स्वोत्पत्तिमात्रात्संसारे दहत्यखिलसत्यताम् ॥

(Pañcadaśī IX.75)

[←129]

पुरुषस्येच्छया कर्तुमकर्तुं कर्तुमन्यथा ।

शक्योपास्तिरतो नित्यं कुर्यात्प्रत्ययसन्ततिम् ॥

(Pañcadaśī IX.80)

[←130]

ब्रह्मज्ञानायते साक्षान्निर्गुणोपासनं शनैः ॥

(Pañcadaśī IX.122cd)

[←131]

जनिविपरीतक्रमतो बुद्ध्या प्रविलाप्य पञ्चभूतानि ।

परिशिष्टमात्मतत्त्वं पश्यन्नास्ते मुनिश्शान्तः ॥

(Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa 11)

[←132]

प्रविलाप्य पञ्चभूतानि

[←133]

पृथिव्यप्सु पयो वह्नौ वह्निर्वायौ नभस्यसौ ।

नभोऽप्यव्याकृते तच्च शुद्धे शुद्धोऽस्म्यहं हरिः ॥

(Brahmānucintana 12)

[←134]

परिशिष्टमात्मतत्त्वं पश्यन्

[←135]

क्षणं ब्रह्माहमस्मीति यः कुर्यादात्मचिन्तनम् ॥

(Brahmānucintana 9cd)

[←136]

तन्महापातकं हन्ति तमः सूर्योदयो यथा ।

(Brahmānucintana 10ab)

8. Initiating Deep Meditation

[←137]

ऐं क्लीं सौः सौः क्लीं ऐं

(Bālā-Tripurasundarī-mantra)

[←138]

अरुणकिरणजालैरञ्चिताशावकाशा  
विधृतजपपटीकापुस्तकाभीतिहस्ता।

इतरकरवराढ्या फुल्लकल्हारसंस्था  
निवसतु हृदि बाला नित्यकल्याणशीला ॥

(Dhyāna-śloka of Bālā-Tripurasundarī-mantra)

[←139]

ओं नमो नारायणाय

(Nārāyaṇa-aṣṭākṣarī-mantra)

9. Meditation and Samādhi on Divine Forms

[←140]

बर्हापीडं नटवरवपुः कर्णयोः कर्णिकारं  
बिभ्रद्वासः कनककपिशं वैजयन्तीं च मालाम् ।

रन्ध्रान्वेणोरधरसुधया पूरयन्गोपवृन्दै-  
र्वृन्दारण्यं स्वपदरमणं प्राविशद्गीतकीर्तिः ॥

(Bhāgavata X.21.5)

[←141]

करारविन्देन पदारविन्दं मुखारविन्दे विनिवेशयन्तम् ।  
वटस्य पत्रस्य पुटे शयानं बालं मुकुन्दं मनसा स्मरामि ॥

(Balamukundāṣṭakam 1)

[←142]

किरीटहारकेयूरकटकादिविभूषितम् ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.7.84)

[←143]

शार्ङ्गशङ्खगदाखड्गचक्राक्षवलयान्वितम् ।  
वरदाभयहस्तं च मुद्रिकारत्नभूषितम् ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.7.85)

[←144]

चिन्तयेत्तन्मयो योगी समाधायात्ममानसम् ।

तावद्यावद्दृढीभूता तत्रैव नृप धारणा ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.7.86)

[←145]

व्रजतस्तिष्ठतोऽन्यद्धा स्वेच्छया कर्म कुर्वतः ।  
नापयाति यदा चित्तात्सिद्धां मन्येत तां तदा ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.7.87)

[←146]

ततः शङ्खगदाचक्रशार्ङ्गादिरहितं बुधः ।  
चिन्तयेद्भगवद्रूपं प्रशान्तं साक्षसूत्रकम् ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.7.88)

[←147]

सा यदा धारणा तद्वदवस्थानवती ततः ।  
किरीटकेयूरमुखैर्भूषणै रहितं स्मरेत् ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.7.89)

[←148]

तदेकावयवं देवं चेतसा हि पुनर्बुधः ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.7.90ab)

[←149]

तत्सर्वव्यापकं चित्तमाकृष्यैकत्र धारयेत् ।  
नान्यानि चिन्तयेद्बुधः सुस्मितं भावयेन्मुखम् ॥

(Bhāgavata-purāṇa XI.14.43)

[←150]

देशबन्धश्चित्तस्य धारणा ॥

(Yogasūtra III.1)

[←151]

तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् ॥

(Yogasūtra III.2)

[←152]

तदेवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यमिव समाधिः ॥

(Yogasūtra III.3)

[←153]

उमासहायं परमेश्वरं प्रभुं त्रिलोचनं नीलकण्ठं प्रशान्तम् ।

ध्यात्वा मुनिर्गच्छति भूतयोनिं समस्तसाक्षिं तमसः परस्तात् ॥

(Kaivalya-upaniṣad 7)

[←154]

वशीकृते मनस्येषां सगुणब्रह्मशीलनात्।  
तदेवाविर्भवेत्साक्षादपेतोपाधिकल्पनम् ॥

(Cited in Kalpataru, gloss relating to Brahmasūtra I.1.20)

10. Ascent of the Kuṇḍalinī and Descent of Nectar

[←155]

सहस्राराम्बुजारूढा सुधासाराभिवर्षिणी ॥

(Lalitā-sahasranāma II.39 cd)

[←156]

शीर्षाम्भोरुहमध्ये शीतलपीयूषवर्षिणीं भवतीम् ।

अनुदिनमनुचिन्तयतामायुष्यं भवति पुष्कलमवन्याम् ॥

(Āryā-dviśatī 211)

[←157]

शीर्षाम्भोरुहमध्ये

[←158]

शीतलपीयूषवर्षिणीं भवतीम् ।

[←159]

अनुदिनमनुचिन्तयतामायुष्यं भवति पुष्कलमवन्याम् ॥

11. From Divine Forms to the Formless Reality

[←160]

ओं नमः शिवाय।

[←161]

भूरम्भांस्यनलोऽनिलोऽम्बरमहर्नाथो हिमांशुः पुमा-

नित्याभाति चराचरात्मकमिदं यस्यैव मूर्त्यष्टकम् ।

नान्यत्किञ्चन विद्यते विमृशतां यस्मात्परस्माद्विभो-

स्तस्मै श्रीगुरुमूर्तये नम इदं श्रीदक्षिणामूर्तये ॥

(Dakṣiṇamūrti-stotra 9)

[←162]

शान्तं पद्मासनस्थं शशधरमकुटं पञ्चवक्त्रं त्रिनेत्रं  
शूलं वज्रं च खड्गं परशुमभयदं दक्षभागे वहन्तम् ।  
नागं पाशं च घण्टां प्रलयहुतवहं साङ्कुशं वामभागे  
नानालङ्कारयुक्तं स्फटिकमणिनिभं पार्वतीशं नमामि ॥

(Dhyāna-ślokā of Śiva-pañcākṣarī-mantra)

[←163]

वत्स, श्वःप्रभृत्यत्र निराकारे परे तत्त्वे मनः समाधत्स्व । अचिरेण ब्रह्मसंस्थो भविष्यसि ।

(Īśvarā's words to Acharyal)

[←164]

ओं नमो भगवते दक्षिणामूर्तये मह्यं मेधां प्रज्ञां प्रयच्छ स्वाहा ।

(dhyāna-śloka Medha-Dakṣiṇāmūrti-mantra)

[←165]

स्फटिकरजतवर्णं मौक्तिकीमक्षमाला-  
ममृतकलशविद्याज्ञानमुद्राः कराब्‍जैः।  
दधतमुरगकक्ष्यं चन्द्रचूडं त्रिनेत्रं  
विधृतविविधभूषं दक्षिणामूर्तिमीडे ॥

(Dhyāna-śloka of Medha-Dakṣiṇāmūrti-mantra found in Dakṣiṇāmūrti-upaniṣad 3)

12. Intense Reflection and Focus on Brahman

[←166]

ब्रह्मविदाप्नोति परम् । (Taittirīya-upaniṣad II.1.1)

[←167]

आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान् । न बिभेति कुतश्चनेति ।

(Taittirīya-upaniṣad II.9.1)

[←168]

यदा ह्येवैष एतस्मिन्नुदरमन्तरं कुरुते । अथ तस्य भयं भवति ।

(Taittirīya-upaniṣad II.8.1)

[←169]

महाभूतान्यहङ्कारो बुद्धिरव्यक्तमेव च ।  
इन्द्रियाणि दशैकं च पञ्च चेन्द्रियगोचराः ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā XIII.5)

[←170]

इच्छा द्वेषः सुखं दुःखं सङ्घातश्चेतना धृतिः ।  
एतत्क्षेत्रं समासेन सविकारमुदाहृतम् ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā XIII.6)

[←171]

सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म ।

(Taittirīya-upaniṣad II.1.1)

[←172]

तस्माद्वा एतस्मादात्मन आकाशः संभूतः । आकाशाद्वायुः ।  
वायोरग्निः । अग्नेरापः । अद्भ्यः पृथिवी ।

(Taittirīya-upaniṣad. II.1.1)

[←173]

यतो वा इमानि भूतानि जायन्ते । येन जातानि जीवन्ति ।  
यत्प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्ति । तद्विजिज्ञासस्व । तद्ब्रह्मेति ।

(Taittirīya-upaniṣad III.1.1)

[←174]

स यश्चायं पुरुषे । यश्चासावादित्ये । स एकः ।

(Taittirīya-upaniṣad II.8.5)

[←175]

सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि ।  
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शनः ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā VI.29)

[←176]

यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च मयि पश्यति ।  
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे न प्रणश्यति ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā VI.30)

[←177]

अहमेव परं ब्रह्म वासुदेवाख्यमव्ययम् ।

(Brahmānucintana 1ab)

[←178]

बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते ।  
वासुदेवः सर्वमिति स महात्मा सुदुर्लभः॥

(Bhagavad-gītā VII.19)

[←179]

परमार्थतत्त्वं च वासुदेवाख्यं परब्रह्माभिधेयभूतं विशेषतोऽभिव्यञ्जयत्... गीताशास्त्रम् ।

(Bhagavatpāda's introduction to Gītā-bhāṣya)

[←180]

छादयामि जगद्विश्वं भूत्या सूर्य इवांशुभिः ।  
सर्वभूताधिवासश्च वासुदेवस्ततः स्मृतः॥

(Mokṣadharma of Mahābhārata XII.328.36)

[←181]

सर्वाणि तत्र भूतानि वसन्ति परमात्मनि ।  
भूतेषु च सर्वात्मा वासुदेवस्ततः स्मृतः ॥

(Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI.8.80)

[←182]

अहमेव परं ब्रह्म वासुदेवाख्यमव्ययम् ।

(Brahmānucintana 1ab)

[←183]

ब्रह्माकारमनोवृत्तिप्रवाहोऽहङ्कृतिं विना ।  
संप्रज्ञातसमाधिः स्याद्ध्यानाभ्यासप्रकर्षतः ॥

(Muktika-upaniṣad 53)

[←184]

ज्ञात्राद्यविलयेनैव ज्ञेये ब्रह्मणि केवले ।  
तदाकारकारितया चित्तवृत्तेरवस्थितिः ॥

(Sarva-vedānta-siddhānta-sāra-saṅgrahaḥ 820)

[←185]

सद्भिः स एव विज्ञेयः समाधिः सविकल्पकः ।  
मृद एवावभानेऽपि मृन्मयद्विपभानवत् ॥

(Sarva-vedānta-siddhānta-sāra-saṅgrahaḥ 821)

[←186]

सन्मात्रवस्तुभानेऽपि त्रिपुटी भाति सन्मयी ।  
समाधिरत एवायं सविकल्प इतीर्यते ॥

(Sarva-vedānta-siddhānta-sāra-saṅgrahaḥ 822)

[←187]

अहमेव परं ब्रह्म वासुदेवाख्यमव्ययम् ।

(Brahmānucintana 1ab)

[←188]

नित्यशुद्धबुद्धमुक्तसत्यस्वभावं परमानन्दाद्वयं  
प्रत्यग्भूतचैतन्यं ब्रह्मैवाहमस्मि ।

(Pañcīkaraṇa)

[←189]

यच्च किञ्चिज्जगत्सर्वं दृश्यते श्रूयतेऽपि वा ।  
अन्तर्बहिश्च तत्सर्वं व्याप्य नारायणः स्थितः॥

(Mahānārāyaṇa-upaniṣad XIII.5)

[←190]

वाचारम्भणं विकारो नामधेयं मृत्तिकेत्येव सत्यम् ॥

(Chāndogya-upaniṣad VI.1.4 )

[←191]

सर्वाधिष्ठानभूतसन्मात्रब्रह्मास्मि ।

[←192]

दृश्यशब्दानुवेधेन सविकल्पः पुनर्द्विधा ॥

(Dṛg-dṛśya-viveka 3cd)

[←193]

कामाद्याश्चित्तगा दृश्यास्तत्साक्षित्वेन चेतनम् ।  
ध्यायेद्दृश्यानुविद्धोऽयं समाधिस्सविकल्पकः ॥

(Dṛg-dṛśya-viveka 24)

[←194]

असङ्गसच्चिदानन्दस्स्वप्रभो द्वैतवर्जितः ।  
अस्मीति शब्दानुविद्धोऽयं समाधिस्सविकल्पकः॥

(Dṛg-dṛśya-viveka 25)

[←195]

हृदीव बाह्यदेशेऽपि यस्मिन् कस्मिंश्च वस्तुनि ।  
समाधिराद्यस्सन्मात्रान्नामरूपपृथक्कृतिः॥

(Dṛg-dṛśya-viveka 27)

[←196]

अखण्डैकरसं वस्तु सच्चिदानन्दलक्षणम् ।  
इत्यविच्छिन्नचिन्तेयं समाधिर्मध्यमो भवेत् ॥

(Dṛg-dṛśya-viveka 28)

13. Enlightenment and Establishment in Brahman

[←197]

विगलितसर्वविकल्पः शुद्धो बुद्धश्चकास्ति परमात्मा ॥

(Ātma-vidyā-vilāsa 4cd)

[←198]

विगलितसर्वविकल्पः

[←199]

यो वै भूमा तत्सुखम्

(Chāndogya-upaniṣad VII.23.1)

[←200]

यत्र नान्यत्पश्यति नान्यच्छृणोति नान्यद्विजानाति स भूमाऽथ  
यत्रान्यत्पश्यत्यन्यच्छृणोत्यन्यद्विजानाति तदल्पम् ॥

(Chāndogya-upaniṣad VII.24.1)

[←201]

नास्वादयेत्सुखं तत्र निःसङ्गः प्रज्ञया भवेत् ।

(Māndūkya-upaniṣad III.45ab)

[←202]

शनैश्शनैरुपरमेद्बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया ।  
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्॥

(Bhagavad-gītā VI.25)

[←203]

यथा निरिन्धनो वह्निः स्वयोनावुपशाम्यति ।  
तथा वृत्तिक्षयाच्चित्तं स्वयोनावुपशाम्यति ॥

(Maitrāyaṇī-upaniṣad IV.4.1)

[←204]

लयविक्षेपरहितं मनः कृत्वा सुनिश्चलम् ।  
यदा यात्यमनीभावं तदा तत्परमं पदम् ॥

(Maitrāyaṇī-upaniṣad IV.4.7)

[←205]

तावदेव निरोद्धव्यं हृदि यावत्क्षयं गतम् ।

(Maitrāyaṇī-upaniṣad IV.4.8ab)

[←206]

निरन्तराभ्यासवशात्तदित्थं पक्वं मनो ब्रह्मणि लीयते यदा ।  
तदा समाधिः स विकल्पवर्जितः स्वतोऽद्वयानन्दरसानुभावकः॥

(Vivekacūdāmaṇi 363)

[←207]

समाधिनानेन समस्तवासनाग्रन्थेर्विनाशोऽखिलकर्मनाशः ।  
अन्तर्बहिःसर्वत एव सर्वदा स्वरूपविस्फूर्तिरयत्नतः स्यात् ॥

(Vivekacūdāmaṇi 364)

[←208]

श्रुतेः शतगुणं विद्यान्मननं मननादपि ।  
निदिध्यासं लक्षगुणमनन्तं निर्विकल्पकम् ॥

(Vivekacūdāmaṇi 365)

[←209]

निर्विकल्पकसमाधिना स्फुटं ब्रह्मतत्त्वमवगम्यते ध्रुवम् ।  
नान्यथा चलतया मनोगतेः प्रत्ययान्तरविमिश्रितं भवेत् ॥

(Vivekacūdāmaṇi 366)

[←210]

समाधिनिर्धूतमलस्य चेतसो निवेशितस्यात्मनि यत्सुखं भवेत् ।  
न शक्यते वर्णयितुं गिरा तदा स्वयं तदन्तःकरणेन गृह्यते ॥

(Maitrāyaṇī-upaniṣad IV.4.9)

[←211]

यत्रोपरमते चित्तं निरुद्धं योगसेवया ।  
यत्र चैवात्मनात्मानं पश्यन्नात्मनि तुष्यति ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā VI.20)

[←212]

सुखमात्यन्तिकं यत्तद्बुद्धिग्राह्यमतीन्द्रियम् ।  
वेत्ति यत्र न चैवायं स्थितश्चलति तत्त्वतः ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā VI.21)

[←213]

द्विविधः समाधिः संप्रज्ञातोऽसंप्रज्ञातश्च, ध्येयैकाकारसत्त्ववृत्तिर्भेदेन कथञ्चिज्ज्ञायमाना संप्रज्ञातः समाधिः, कथमपि पृथगज्ञायमाना सैव सत्त्ववृत्तिरसंप्रज्ञातः समाधिः

(Anandagiri's gloss on Bhagavatpāda's bhāṣya

on verse (VI.20) of the Bhagavad-gītā)

[←214]

ज्ञात्रादिभावमुत्सृज्य ज्ञेयमात्रस्थितिर्दृढा ।  
मनसो निर्विकल्पः स्यात्समाधिर्योगसंज्ञितः ॥

(Sarva-vedānta-siddhānta-sāra-sangrahaḥ 823)

[←215]

जले निक्षिप्तलवणं जलमात्रतया स्थितम् ।  
पृथङ् न भाति किन्त्वम्भ एकमेवावभासते ॥

(Sarva-vedānta-siddhānta-sāra-sangrahaḥ 824)

[←216]

यथा तथैव सा वृत्तिर्ब्रह्ममात्रतया स्थिता ।  
पृथङ् न भाति ब्रह्मैवाद्वितीयमवभासते ॥

(Sarva-vedānta-siddhānta-sāra-sangrahaḥ 825)

[←217]

ज्ञात्रादिकल्पनाऽभावान्मतोऽयं निर्विकल्पकः ।

(Sarva-vedānta-siddhānta-sāra-sangraha 826ab)

[←218]

आदौ जलधिजीमूतभेरीनिर्झरसंभवः ।   
मध्ये मर्दलशब्दाभो घण्टाकाहलजस्तथा ॥  
अन्ते तु किंकिणीवंशवीणाभ्रमरनिःस्वनः।

(Nādabindu-upaniṣad 35ab)

[←219]

विस्मृत्य सकलं बाह्यं नादे दुग्धाम्बुवन्मनः ।  
एकीभूयाथ सहसा चिदाकाशे विलीयते ॥

(Nādabindu-upaniṣad 39)

[←220]

योगो हि बहुधा ब्रह्मन्भिद्यते व्यवहारतः ।  
मन्त्रयोगो लयश्चैव हठोऽसौ राजयोगतः ॥

(Yogatattva-upaniṣad 19)

[←221]

लययोगश्चित्तलयः कोटिशः परिकीर्तितः ।

(Yogatattva-upaniṣad 23ab)

[←222]

सदाशिवोक्तानि सपादलक्षलयावधानानि वसन्ति लोके ।  
नादानुसन्धानसमाधिमेकं मन्यामहे मान्यतमं लयानाम् ॥

(Yogatārāvali 2)

[←223]

अन्यदेव तद्विदितात्

(Kena-upaniṣad I.3)

[←224]

येनेद सर्वं विजानाति तं केन विजानीयात्

(Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad II.4.14)

[←225]

न विज्ञातेर्विज्ञातारं विजानीयाः

(Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad III.4.2)

[←226]

नान्यदतोऽस्ति विज्ञातृ

(Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad III.8.11)

[←227]

... अविद्याध्यारोपणनिराकरणमात्रं ब्रह्मणि कर्तव्यं नतु ब्रह्मज्ञाने यत्नोऽत्यन्तप्रसिद्धत्वात् । अविद्याकल्पितनामरूपविशेषाकारापहृतबुद्धित्वा-दत्यन्तप्रसिद्धं सुविज्ञेयमासन्नतरमात्मभूतमप्यप्रसिद्धं दुर्विज्ञेयमतिदूरमन्यदिव च प्रतिभात्यविवेकिनाम् ।बाह्याकारनिवृत्तबुद्धीनां तु लब्धगुर्वात्मप्रसादानां नातः परं सुखं सुप्रसिद्धं सुविज्ञेयं स्वासन्नमस्ति ।

(Bhagavatpāda's bhāṣya on verse (XVIII.50) of the

Bhagavad-gītā)

[←228]

एतावद्धि ब्राह्मणेन कर्तव्यं यदुत सर्वानात्मप्रत्ययतिरस्करणमेतत्कृत्वा कृतकृत्यो योगी भवति ।

(Bhagavatpāda's bhāṣya on Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad)

[←229]

प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव ।  
न द्वेष्टि संप्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā XIV.22)

[←230]

...यथाऽतत्त्वदर्शी कश्चिच्चित्तमात्मत्वेन प्रतिपन्नश्चित्तचलनमनुचलित-मात्मानं मन्यमानस्तत्त्वाच्चलितं देहादिभूतमात्मानं कदाचिन्मन्यते प्रच्युतोऽहमात्मतत्त्वादिदानीमिति । समाहिते तु मनसि कदाचित्तत्त्वभूतं प्रसन्नात्मानं मन्यत इदानीमस्मि तत्त्वीभूत इति । न तथाऽऽत्मविद्भवेत् । आत्मन एकरूपत्वात्स्वरूपप्रच्यवनासम्भवाच्च । सदैव ब्रह्मास्मीत्यप्रच्युतो भवेत् ...

(Bhagavatpāda's bhāṣya on the Gauḍapāda-kārikā (II.38))

[←231]

जीवभावजगद्भावबाधे स्वात्मैव शिष्यते ॥

(Pañcadaśī VI.12cd)

[←232]

नाप्रतीतिस्तयोर्बाधः किन्तु मिथ्यात्वनिश्चयः ।  
नो चेत्सुषुप्तिमूर्च्छादौ मुच्येतायत्नतो जनः ॥

(Pañcadaśī VI.13)

[←233]

परमात्मावशेषोऽपि तत्सत्यत्वविनिश्चयः ।  
न जगद्विस्मृतिर्नो चेज्जीवन्मुक्तिर्न संभवेत् ॥

(Pañcadaśī VI.14)

[←234]

स्वानुभूतिरसावेशाद्दृश्यशब्दावुपेक्ष्य तु ।  
निर्विकल्पस्समाधिस्स्यान्निवातस्थितदीपवत् ॥

(Sarasvatī-rahasya-upaniṣad 26)

[←235]

स्थब्धीभावो रसास्वादात्तृतीयः पूर्ववन्मतः ।

(Sarasvatī-rahasya-upaniṣad 29ab)

[←236]

स्वनुभवो ब्रह्मात्मना संस्थितिः

(Vivekacūdāmaṇi 2)

[←237]

सर्वदुःखविनिर्मुक्तैकचैतन्यात्मकोऽहमित्येष आत्मानुभवः। न

चैवमात्मानमनुभवतः किञ्चिदन्यत्कृत्यमवशिष्यते

(Bhagavatpāda's Brahmasūtra-bhāṣya IV.1.2))

[←238]

तत्रोपास्यसाक्षात्कारपर्यन्तामुपास्तिं कृत्वा यदि ज्ञाने प्रवर्तेत तदा  
वासनाक्षयमनोनाशयोर्दृढतरत्वेन ज्ञानादूर्ध्वं विद्वत्संन्यासजीवन्मुक्ती स्वत एव सिध्यतः। तादृश एव शास्त्राभिमतो मुख्यो विद्याधिकारी ।

(Vāsanākṣayaprakaraṇa of the Jīvanmukti-viveka)

[←239]

अपि च नैवात्र विवदितव्यं ब्रह्मविदा कञ्चित्कालं शरीरं ध्रियते न वा ध्रियत इति । कथं ह्येकस्य स्वहृदयप्रत्ययं ब्रह्मवेदनं देहधारणं चापरेण प्रतिक्षेप्तुं शक्येत ? श्रुतिस्मृतिषु च स्थितप्रज्ञलक्षणनिर्देशेनैतदेव निरुच्यते ।

(Bhagavatpāda's Brahmasūtra-bhāsya on sūtra (IV.1.15))

[←240]

आरब्धस्य फले ह्येते भोगो ज्ञानं च कर्मणः ।  
अविरोधस्तयोर्युक्तो वैधर्म्यं चेतरस्य तु ॥

(Upadeśasāhasrī Metrical part IV.4)

[←241]

देहात्मज्ञानवज्ज्ञानं देहात्मज्ञानबाधकम् ।  
आत्मन्येव भवेद्यस्य स नेच्छन्नपि मुच्यते ॥

(Upadeśasāhasrī Metrical part IV.5)

[←242]

कामक्रोधवियुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम् ।  
अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम् ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā IV.26)

[←243]

स ब्राह्मणः केन स्याद्येन स्यात्तेनेदृश एव ।

(Brhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad III.5.1)

[←244]

एष नित्यो महिमा ब्राह्मणस्य न वर्धते कर्मणा नो कनीयान् ।

(Brhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad IV.4.23)

14. The Divine Drama that Followed

[←245]

एष ब्रह्मलोकः सम्राडेनं प्रापितोऽसीति होवाच याज्ञवल्क्यः

(Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad IV.4.23)

[←246]

यदि मन्यसे सुवेदेति

(Kena-upaniṣad II.1)

[←247]

स एष नारदः सर्वातिशयं प्राणं स्वमात्मानं सर्वात्मानं श्रुत्वा नातः  
परमस्तीत्युपरराम । न पूर्ववत्किमस्ति भगवः प्राणाद्भूय इति  
पप्रच्छ । यतस्तमेवं विकारानृतब्रह्मविज्ञानेन पीरतुष्टमकृतार्थं  
परमार्थसत्यातिवादिनमात्मानं मन्यमानं योग्यं शिष्यं  
मिथ्याग्रहविशेषाद्विप्रच्यावयन्नाह भगवान्सनत्कुमारः ।

(Bhāṣya on the Chāndogya-upaniṣad VII.16.1)

[←248]

विदिताविदिताभ्यां निवर्त्य बुद्धिं शिष्यस्य स्वात्मन्यवस्थाप्य तदेव  
ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धीति स्वाराज्येऽभिषिच्योपास्यप्रतिषेधेनाथास्य बुद्धिं  
विचालयति यदि मन्यसे सुवेदाहं ब्रह्मेति... । सा पुनर्विचालना  
किमर्थेत्युच्यते पूर्वगृहीते वस्तुनि बुद्धेः स्थिरतायै ।

(Vākya-bhāṣya on Kena-upaniṣad II.1)

[←249]

भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिश्छिद्यन्ते सर्वसंशयाः ।  
क्षीयन्ते चास्य कर्माणि तस्मिन्दृष्टे परावरे ॥

(Muṇḍaka-upaniṣad II.2.8)

[←250]

अथ मर्त्योऽमृतो भवत्यत्र ब्रह्म समश्नुते

(Bṛhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad IV.4.7)

[←251]

यस्त्वात्मरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानवः ।  
आत्मन्येव च संतुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā III.17)

[←252]

तत्त्वमाध्यात्मिकं दृष्टं तत्त्वं दृष्टं तु बाह्यतः ।

तत्त्वीभूतस्तदारामस्तत्त्वादप्रच्युतो भवान् ॥

(Paramacharyal's utterance)

[←253]

तत्त्वमाध्यात्मिकं दृष्ट्वा तत्त्वं दृष्ट्वा तु बाह्यतः ।

तत्त्वीभूतस्तदारामस्तत्त्वादप्रच्युतो भवेत्॥

(Gauḍapāda kārikā II.38)

[←254]

निश्चित्य सकृदात्मानं यदापेक्षा तदैव तम् ।  
वक्तुं मन्तुं तथा ध्यातुं शक्नोत्येव हि तत्त्ववित् ॥

(Pañcadaśī IX.95)

[←255]

उपासक इव ध्यायँल्लौकिकं विस्मरेद्यदि ।  
विस्मरत्येव सा ध्यानाद्विस्मृतिर्न तु वेदनात् ॥

(Pañcadaśī IX.96)

[←256]

ध्यानं त्वैच्छिकमेतस्य वेदनान्मुक्तिसिद्धितः ।

(Pañcadaśī IX.97ab)

[←257]

निरोधस्थितिकालक्रमानुभवेन निरोधचित्तकृतसंस्कारास्तित्वमनुमेयम् ।

(Vyāsa's bhāṣya on Yogasūtra (I.51))

[←258]

एतदुक्तं भवति - वैराग्याभ्यासप्रकर्षानुरोधी निरोधप्रकर्षो मुहूर्तार्धयामादिव्यापितयाऽनुभूयते योगिना

(Vacaspati Miśra's gloss, Tattva-Vaiśāradi)

[←259]

शौनक उवाच  
स वै निवृत्तिनिरतः सर्वत्रोपेक्षको मुनिः ।  
कस्य वा बृहतीमेतामात्मारामः समभ्यसत् ॥

(Bhāgavata-purāṇa I.7.9)

[←260]

सूत उवाच  
आत्मारामाश्च मुनयो निर्ग्रन्था अप्युरुक्रमे ।  
कुर्वन्त्यहैतुकीं भक्तिमित्थम्भूतगुणो हरिः ॥

(Bhāgavata-purāṇa I.7.10)

[←261]

हरेर्गुणाक्षिप्तमतिर्भगवान्बादरायणिः ।  
अध्यगान्महदाख्यानं नित्यं विष्णुजनप्रियः ॥

(Bhāgavata-purāṇa I.7.11)

[←262]

अत्र भूमिकात्रितयं ब्रह्मविद्यायाः साधनमेव, न तु विद्याकोटावन्तर्भवति ।

(Śrī Vidyāraṇya's Svarūpasiddhiprayojana-prakaraṇa of Jīvanmukti-viveka)

[←263]

... ब्रह्मात्मैक्यसाक्षात्कारश्चतुर्थी भूमिका फलरूपा सत्त्वापत्तिः ।... सोऽयं चतुर्थीं भूमिकां प्राप्तो योगी ब्रह्मविदित्युच्यते । पञ्चम्यादयस्तिस्रो भूमयो जीवन्मुक्तेरवान्तरभेदाः । ते च निर्विकल्पसमाध्यभ्यासकृतेन विश्रान्ति-तारतम्येन संपद्यन्ते । पञ्चमभूमौ निर्विकल्पकात् स्वयमेव व्युत्तिष्ठते । सोऽयं योगी ब्रह्मविद्वरः । षष्ठभूमौ पार्श्वस्थैर्बोधितो व्युत्तिष्ठते । सोऽयं ब्रह्मविद्वरीयान् ।... तुरीयाभिधां सप्तमीं भूमिं प्राप्तस्य योगिनः स्वतः परतो वा व्युत्थानमेव नास्ति ।... सोऽयमीदृशो योगी...ब्रह्मविद्वरिष्ठ इत्युच्यते ।

(Śrī Vidyāraṇya's Svarūpasiddhiprayojana-prakaraṇa of Jīvanmukti-viveka)

[←264]

भ्रष्टबीजोपमा भूयो जन्माङ्कुरविवर्जिता ।

हृदि जीवद्विमुक्तानां शुद्धा वसति वासना ॥

(Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha V.4.132)

[←265]

अपि वर्षसहस्रान्ते तयैवान्तरवस्थया ।  
सति देहे प्रबुध्यन्ते कुतोऽत्युच्छूनया शनैः ॥

(Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha V.4.134)

[←266]

अन्तः संत्यक्तसर्वाशो वीतरागो विवासनः ।  
वहिः सर्वसमाचारो लोके विहर राघव ॥

(Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha V.2.56)

[←267]

बहिः कृत्रिमसंरम्भो हृदि संरम्भवर्जितः ।  
कर्ता बहिरकर्तान्तर्लोके विहर राघव ॥

(Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha V.2.57)

[←268]

बहिस्तप्तोऽन्तरा शीतो लोके विहर राघव ॥

(Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha V.2.60 cd)

[←269]

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।  
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥

(Bhagavad-gītā III.21)

[←270]

अविद्वदनुसारेण वृत्तिर्बुद्धस्य युज्यते ।

स्तनन्धयानुसारेण वर्तते तत्पिता यतः ॥

(Pañcadaśī VII.287)

[←271]

येनायं नटनेनात्र बुध्यते कार्यमेव तत् ।

(Pañcadaśī VII.290ab)

[←272]

न विधिर्न निषेधश्च त्वत्प्रसादादहं पुनः ।

तथापि तव वाक्यं तत्करणीयं च सर्वदा ॥

(Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha VI.18.74)

[←273]

वेदागमपुराणेषु स्मृतिष्वपि महामुने ।

गुरुवाक्यं विधिः प्रोक्तो निषेधस्तद्विपर्ययः ॥

(Laghu-yoga-vāsiṣṭha VI.18.75)

[←274]

ननु ज्ञानिनो रागाद्यभ्युपगमे धर्माधर्मद्वारेण जन्मान्तरप्रसङ्ग इति चेन्मैवम्, अदग्धबीजवदविद्यापूर्वककामादेरेव मुख्यरागादित्वेन पुनर्जन्महेतुत्वात् । ज्ञानिनस्तु दग्धबीजवदाभासमात्रा एव रागादयः।

(Śrī Vidyāraṇya's Vāsānākṣaya-prakaraṇa of Jīvanmukti-viveka)

[←275]

... तत्काले मुख्यवदेवाभासमानानां बाधकत्वात् , रज्जुसर्पोऽपि मुख्यसर्पवदेव तदानीं भीषयन्नुपलभ्यते तद्वत् । तर्ह्याभासत्वानुसन्धानानुवृत्तौ न कोऽपि बाध इति चेच्चिरं जीवतु भवान्। इयमेवास्मदभिमता जीवन्मुक्तिः ।

(Śrī Vidyāraṇya's Vāsānākṣaya-prakaraṇa of Jīvanmukti-viveka)

[←276]

... च विपरीतप्रत्ययो विद्यावत उत्पद्यते ।... क्वचित्तु विद्यायाः पूर्वोत्पन्न-विपरीतप्रत्यय‍जनित‍संस्कारेभ्यो विपरीत‍प्रत्ययावभासाः स्मृतयो जायमाना विपरीतप्रत्यय‍भ्रान्तिमकस्मात्कुर्वन्ति । यथा विज्ञातदिग्विभागस्याप्यकस्मा-द्दिग्विपर्ययविभ्रमः ।

(Bhagavatpāda's Brhadāraṇyaka-upaniṣad-bhāṣya

on the passage (I.4.10))

[←277]

भोगकाले कदाचित्तु मर्त्योऽहमिति भासते ॥

(Pañcadaśī VII.245cd)

[←278]

नैतावताऽपराधेन तत्त्वज्ञानं विनश्यति ।  
जीवन्मुक्तिव्रतं नेदं किन्तु वस्तुस्थितिः खलु ॥

(Pañcadaśī VII.246)

[←279]

दयासान्द्रं बालं निखिलजगतीरक्षणचणं  
हरन्तं विघ्नाद्रिं विमलविमलैर्वीक्षणचयैः ।  
परब्रह्माकारं प्रणवविदितं शान्तमनसं  
गुरुं विद्यातीर्थं कलयत बुधाश्चित्तकमले ॥

(Paramacharyal's composition on Acharyal)

[←280]

शरीरेन्द्रियचित्तानां शुद्धये कल्पिता महाः ।

बहवो गुरुदेवानां तत्फलं भवतां तनुः॥

(Paramacharyal's composition on Acharyal)

[←281]

वाणी लक्ष्मीस्तथा गौरी तिष्ठन्तं निद्रया युतम् ।  
गच्छन्तमुपविष्टञ्च पान्तु त्वां गुरुशेखरम् ॥

(Paramacharyal's composition on Acharyal)
