Love, the essence of the Universe !

Love is the greatest  dictum
True Universal Teacher is She !
Love is the greatest Meditation
Celestial Deity great is Love !

All Epics & Poesis symbolise Love
The essence of the Vedas is She !
All poems extoll Love
Love is praised by all Ethics !

Love is the greatest Heaven
The never changing principle is She !
She is the greatest Power
Love is All in All, the ALL !

Love cognised is Truth
In Action, She is Non-Violence !
She is the Mover of the Worlds
As Feeling, She is Peace !

In the 33rd Canto of the Divina Commedia , Dante sees the essence of the
Universe as one perfect Whole and the Whole as nothing but Love. Deeper and
deeper he penetrates into the mysteries of the Trinitarian Unity and sees
the unchanging glory of the triune Deity and the featured countenance of
humanity.

The divine Aurobindo wrote

Love should never cease to be on the earth
Love is the bright link betwixt Earth and Heaven
Love is the far Transcendent's angel here
Love is man's lien on the Absolute !

" Take away Love and the whole world becomes a tomb " said Byron. Also

" Flower of the clove ! All the Latin I construe is " Amo ", I love !"

The highest quality is Intellectual Love or Amor Intelectualis or Jnana Bhakti. Love cometh from Wisdom. Even though Love is an outpouring of the heart, it is the result of intellectuality.

Said Dante " Love is the inevitable consequence of Knowledge ".

"To Love Almighty Love is given

All things to form and all to bear "  said Goethe

Universe rises in Love

It evolves in Love

Love is the Sovereign Power

The highest bliss for all is Love !

Love is expansion. Hatred is contraction. Love is Life. Hatred is Death. Love is Positive, hatred is negative !

Who has conquered everything with hatred ? Love conquers all !

A poem, " Forgive me, O Lord " !

Devi Sooktam or Durga Saptashathi is a major philosophical text. It is called Sapta Shati because it contains 700 verses like another colossus, the Song Celestial ( Bhagavat Geetha ).

The devotee asks for forgiveness. He says I know not Philosophy or Religion and I commit a lot of sins and please forgive me !

Aparadha Sahasrani
Kiryante Har nisam maya
Dasoyam ithi mam mathva
Kshamsva Parameshwari

I commit a lot of sins
Knowlingly or unknowingly
Consider me as your servant
And forgive my sins !

Avahanam na janami
Na janami visarjanam
Poojam chaiva na janami
Kshamyatham Parameshwari


I know not how to invoke Thee
Nor the concluding rites of Puja
I know not how to worship Thee
Please have mercy on me !

Mantra heenam Kriya heenam
Bhakti heenam Sureshwari
Yat poojitham maya devi
Paripoornam thadasthu me

O Mother I know not Mantra
Nor the path of Action
Nor Devotion's way great
Be satisfied by my prayer !

Aparadha Shatham Krithva
Jagadambethi Chochareth
Yam gathim Smavapnothi
Na tham Brahma daya Sura

After doing a lot of sins
If somebody calls Thy Name
Their destiny cannot be judged
By the Creator or demigods !

Saparadhosmi Sharanam
Prapthaswam Jagadambike
Idaneemanu kamyoham
Yadecchasi Tada Kuru

Full of offences am I
I take refuge in Thee
This trembling servant's Fate
Should be decided by Thee !

Anjanadvismruthesronya
Yanyonyam Adhikam Kritham
Tat Sarvam Kshamayam Devi
Praseeda Parameshwaree

Lack of wisdom, memory, knowledge
Spurred my actions bad
Forgive those sins
And be satisfied with me !

Kameshwari Jagath matha
Sachchidananda Vigrahe
Grihanamrcha mimam preethya
Praseeda Parameshwaree

O Love, O Mother of the Universe !
Blissful art Thou in Thy nature
Accept my offerings divine
With happiness and be happy on me !

Guhyathi Guhya Gopthree Thvam
Grihanasma kritham Japam
Siddhir bhavathu me Devi
Thvat Prasadath Sureshwari !

The Secret of all secrets
Is known only to Thee !
May I become divine
Blessed by Thy Grace !

The Eight Symbols of the Eightfold Prosperity

The Eightfold Prosperity has been represented by Vedic Symbolism as the Ashta Lakshmi

They are

1) The Originial Prosperity ( Adi Lakshmi ). This is the Original Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi, the Great Lakshmi. She gives protection to the devotee and sits with Abhaya Mudra ( protection gesture ) and Varada Mudra ( welcome gesture).

2) Wealth as Prosperity  ( Dhana Lakshmi ). She is the bestower of Wealth.

3) Dhanya Lakshmi - Agricultural Prosperity. She is the giver of Agricultural Wealth.

4) Gaja Lakshmi - The Giver of Royal Power. Mythologically, She is the goddess who brought  back the wealth lost by the King of Heaven, Indra

5) The Santana Lakshmi or Progeny Lakshmi. She is the giver of offspring. Isnt the fortune of having children a great Prosperity ?  The son is he who saves the parents from Hell ( poothi thranat tatha putrah ).

6) Dhairya Lakshmi - Guts as Prosperity. She is the greatest Lakshmi ! Without guts a man is nothing ! She is the giver of guts !

7) Vijaya Lakshmi - The Victorious Prosperity or rather the bestower of Victory !

8) Vidya Lakshmi -  Isnt Education or Wisdom prosperity ? She is the bestower of the knowledge of all arts and sciences.

Veracity, Equanimity, Fixity, Non-irritability, Adaptability Humility, Regularity, Absence of Vanity, Sincerity, Simplicity, Tenacity, Integrity, Nobility, Magnanimity, Charity, Purity,  Generosity &  Serenity- the eighteen "ities" associated with Wisdom. These 18 ities can confer Self Actualisation.

The Octagram - Emblem of Ashta Lakshmi

The Octagram is the Emblem of the Eightfold Prosperity. Two rectangles !



The Octagram ( the Eight Pointed Star ) symbolizes Ashta Lakshmi. Known in the West as the Star of Lakshmi, this star figure is used in Indian Philosophy to represent the eight forms of Wealth. Mathematically, it is a complex star figure with two rectangles with the same center  at 45 degrees !

Astrologically, Ashta Lakshmi Yoga confers the eightfold prosperity. This yoga results

When the North Node is in the 6th House

And when Jupiter is angular

That is in 1,4,7,10 Houses

Fame and prosperity is conferred !

Shastha sthana gathe Rahu

Lagna Kendra gathe Gurau

Ashta Lakshee samayuktham

Madhyavan Keerthiman Nara

More maths info about the Star of Lakshmi can be got at

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/StarofLakshmi.html

In Sanskrit the word Aishwarya means Prosperity and also something more than Prosperity. Its definition is Ishwarasya Bhavah ithi Aishwaryah meaning that it is the aspect of the Lord, which is not merely wealth but Bliss !

Faith has it that listening to this music or chanting these verses eightfold can effectuate these eight forms of Prosperity. The Mother Divine in her bounty will give you these eight forms of wealth and may you be blessed with the Eightfold Prosperity !

The Inner Development of Consciousness !

The Devi Mahatmya is the Adventure of Consciousness, the journey into the inner domains of Consciousness.

We have said before that the demons symbolise the negative elements in the human mind. Shumb and Nishumb are the human frailties like Lust & Greed, that which binds Man to the sublunar world.

The aim of the Divine Conscious Force is to destroy the negative elements in the aspirant's mind and give him the divine crown of Self-Actualisation. By destroying lust, greed, anger and jealousy, She makes the aspirant eligible for Self Actualisation.

Sacred Music and Dance are part of all cultures and civilizations. Music is one the 18 sciences which constitute Indian Philosophy, along with Holistic Medicine. ( Ayurvedam Dhanur Vedam Gandharvo Vedameva cha ).

Sacred Music can elevate the soul. Music is divine, whether it is Western or Indian. Music is food for the soul ! Songs accompanied by lyrics and dance is Sacred Music.

The celestials represent the positive elements in the human mind. Truth and Love are great qualities and the celestials or the devas of Indian Mythology eulogise the Mother Divine for destroying the negative elements or the demons !

Devi Prapannarthi Hare Praseeda
Praseeda mathar jagathokhilasya
Praseed visheshwari pahi vishwam
Thvameeshwaree devi Chara charasya


O Mother Divine Grace us
Grace us with Thy Beneficent Power !
Grace us O Mother of the Universe
Thou art the invincible Shakthi !

Ultimately She goes and destroys the Ego, the formidable force and frees the aspirant from its tyranny !

Thou who exist as Prosperity in the righteous
In the evil doers as lack of mental peace
In the Seers as intelligence
In the good as concentration
In the aristocratic as shame
To Thee our salutations !


Ya sree swayam sukrithanam bhavaneshu alakshmi
Papatmanam krithadhiyam hridayeshu buddhi
Sraddha satham hridi kula jana prabhavasya lajja
Tha thvam na thasma paripalaya devi vishwam !

The negative elements in the human mind are formidable and when one confronts them one becomes fearful

A lone discover in these menacing realms
Guarded like termite cities from the Sun !

Alone, powerful and cruel are these dreadful forces ( lust, greed, anger , jealousy ) which lie in the subconscient. Their destruction is not easy but then the Divine Mother does it though a yogic process.

She is the benign Creatrix, bestowing her Grace on both the mundane and the supra-mundane.

With Thy Grace, one acquires wealth and power
Subordinates and conveyances galore !
With Thy Grace, one acquires Wisdom & Fame
Thou art the giver of both worlds !

She is infinite in her powers and personalities. She as Wealth Personified ( Lakshmi ) blesses the man who seeks wealth. She as Wisdom Personified ( Saraswathi ) gives Wisdom, fame and Self Actualisation to the aspirant. Everything is affected by Her Grace !

This mighty poem arose
Out of the great Markandeya
Of the Eighteen treatises mythological
Others are Padma, Brahma,
Vaishnva, Saiva, Bhagavatha,
Bhavishya, Naradeeya,
Agneya, Brahma Vaivartha
Lainga, Varaha, Skanda
Vamana, Kurma, Matsya
Garuda & Brahmanda

The function of Epic and Mythology is to adumbrate philosophic verities ( Ithihasa Puranabhyam Vedam Sapuma Brimhayeth ) Bacon opined that scientic truths are contained in Mythology in his book De Sapientia Vaterum ( Of the Wisdom of the Ancients ).

A Musical Prayer !

This is Argala Stotra of Durga Saptasathi or Devi Sooktham, in which are contained great Mantras which can take Man to Self_Actualisation.


Give me Beauty, Victory,
Give me Fame
Destroy my enemies
O Mother Divine

Dehi Soubhagam Arogyam
Dehi Me Paramam Sukaham
Roopam Dehi Jayam Dehi
Yasho Dehi Dwisho Jahi

Health and Fortune
Bliss Supreme and happiness
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me these O Mother Divine !

Madhu Kaidabha Vibhravee
Vidhatree Varade Namah
Roopam Dehi Jayam Dehi
Yasho Dehi Dwisho Jahi


The negative elements in Man are

Lust
Greed
Anger
Jealousy
Sloth
Covetousness
Gluttony

and the positive elements are

Truth
Righteousness
Peace
Love
Discriminative intellect

and these positive and negative elements are ever in conflict !

The Self is the Witness of this inner war and the Self is the metaphysical Ground.

Madhu, Kaidab, Shumb, Nishumb, Mahaishasur are all emblematic of the negative elements in the human mind. They have to be destroyed for Man to rise to the Divine Level. These are the negative energies that lie in the Subconscient.

Man houses dangerous forces in his house
The Titan, the Fury and the Djinn
Lay in the subconscient's cavern pit
And the beast moved in her antre den !


The demons, emblematic of the negative elements in the human mind, have to be destroyed. This She does so effortlessly !

Thee who destroyed the mighty Ego
To Thee all salutations !
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

We shall extoll Thee with Love
O Mighty destroyer of evil
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

O Destroyer of negative ego
O protector of the good
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

To Thee who is revered by all
To Thee who is the bestower of Grace
To Thee who represent the Threefold Veds
To Thee, our humble salutations !

Ego, seated on his peacock throne
Is destroyed by Thee !
Also Lust and Anger,
Sloth, covetousness, gluttony
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !

Grant O Mother auspiciousness
Grant O Mother immortal fame
Beauty, Victory, Fame
Grant me all, O Mighty Mother !


This Argala Stotra is very important, as it can wash away the sins accrued to the aspirant and clear the path towards Enlightenment. Along with Devi Kavacha, the Nava Durga Kavacha, which we have highlighted in another article and Keelaka, this stotra has sacred significane in the Durga Sapthasathi scheme.

The Mother Divine as the Kundalini is present in all of us. The Kundalini rises during Meditation and Prayer, from the Root Chakra to the ascending Chakras, like mercury rising in a thermometer. While she rises, many blissful experiences can be felt. The four faculties of the Intuitive Reason - Revealation, inspiration, intuition, illumination - all these grace the native. The Self reveals to the aspirant in flashes, he gets inspiration to write, he gains intuition or profound insight and he is illumined by the mysteries of the Self.

This Argala Stotra is considered very important and is the first step towards Self- Actualisation.

Love and Truth takes birth !

Universal Love took birth in Puttaparthi. To shower Grace on all humanity !

In the Divina Commedia Beatrice criticises Dante for following Philosophy and not Religion. There are Thesis and Anti Thesis in Philosophy. There are doctrines which are antithetical, which are ever in conflict and it is highly likely that we will be inveigled in Politics !

Bridal Mysticism or Bhakti Yoga on the other hand emphasises on Love Immortal. Love All, Serve All is the message. Like Philosophy which advocates to see everything sub specie aeternitatis ( under the aspect of Eternity ), Bridal Mysticism tells us to see everything under the aspect of Love ( sub specie Love ) Love is the Alpha and the Omega ! Let us understand that Jesus, Krishna, Mohammed etc were exponents of Universal Love.

Love all beings
That is enough !

Love conquers all ! Amor vincit omnia !

Sai was born with Libra rising, just like another adept, the great Ramana Maharshi. Like Raman's he had Mars in the Seventh, conferring Ruchaka Maha Yoga, a formidable yoga for fame. The resemblance of both their horoscopes were startling. Jupiter in Sai's horoscope ( in Capricorn ) confers a powerful Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga, because of Mars in the Seventh. The major spiritual planets, Jupiter, Saturn and Ketu were powerfully posited, conferring the status of Divine Personality or Divya Purusha to these divines.

In the Sankhya system of Indian Philosophy, the Lord incarnated as Kapila, the Seer and instructed His mother, Devahuthi into the mysteries of Sankhya.

The Lord told His mother that it is Love that is ever conquering ( Bhavathi parama bhakthi sahi mruthyor vijetri ).

Bridal Mysticism or Bhakthi Yoga is the path celestial. The Self becomes the
Lover and the Bride. "This is our Eternal Lover luring us to Himself, through
all these flashy masks of Himself, through all these shimmering blazes of His
eternal and ineffugable self-existence".

Love is greater than
intelligence and it is  Love alone which can redeem the world.

Scientists and philosophers are generally regarded as Knowers but then
Truth is unknown to all !

Truth is greater, wider than her forms
A thousand icons they have made of Her
And they find Her in the icons they adore
But She remains herself and infinite !         ( Aurobindo )

In classical Indian Philosophy, there are Four Goals of Life ( Wealth, Ethics, Power & Salvation - Artha, Dharma, Kama & Moksha ). There is a Fifth Goal of Life and this is Universal Love !

Again there are Four Dharmas - Childhood, Bachelorhood, Preparation for Asceticism & Asceticism - Kaumara, Brahmacharya, Vanaprastha & Sanyasa ). There is a Fifth Dharma. This is Prajna Dharma - the highest knowledge is Love !

Love is a glory from Eternity's spheres
She is the Godhead that can make all change !

Let Universal Love triumph on earth !

The Eightfold Verse about the Mother Divine ( Bhavani Ashtakam )

Like Socrates who said " I know nothing, not even my own ignorance", Sankara was also known for his humility.

"I know not Philosophy, Literature or Science " , he says in his poem,
Bhavani Ashtakam. I am one of the worst beings and my only refuge is Thee !


Na Janaami Dhaanam, Na cha Dhyana Yogam,
Na janami Thanthram, na cha Sthothra manthram,
Na janami poojam, na cha Nyasa Yogam,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam Thwam Ekaa Bhavani

Neither do I know how to donate,
Nor Meditation transcendental
Neither do I know Tantra,
Nor the stanzas of prayer great,
Worshipping is unknown to me ,
Nor do I know the art of yoga,
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !

His critics criticised him as a hidden Buddhist. There was no atheism or Agnosticism in him. He declared that all this is a projection of the Universal Mind and that the Eternal Triad - the Relative Universe, the Relative Ego and the Relative Supreme - are all the projections of the Cosmic Mind !

There were other critics who criticised him saying that he championed the superiority of Transcendental Philosophy ( Jnana Yoga ) over Bridal Mysticism ( Bhakthi Yoga ). This was not true, as Bhavani Ashtakam will prove.

" If I believe in anybody in this world, it is Sree Sankara of the East ", said Max Muller. Sankara, the Exponent of Oneness, continues to be one the of the greatest philosophers that ever graced this earth !

Na Thatho, na Matha, na Bandur na Datha,
Na puthro, na puthri , na Bhruthyo , na Bhartha,
Na Jayaa na Vidhya, na Vruthir Mamaiva,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam Thwam Ekaa Bhavani.

Can I depend on any of these ?
The father, the mother,
The relation or the friend ?
Neither son nor daughter,
Neither servant nor husband,
Neither wife nor Knowledge,
And neither my Profession,
Are refuges I can depend,
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !



Bhavad bhava Pare , Maha Dhukha Bheeru,
Papaatha Prakami , Pralobhee Pramatha,
Kam Samsara Pasha Prabadha Sada Aham,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam Thwam Ekaa Bhavani.

I am in this ocean of worldliness,
I cant face sorrow, guts have I none,
Lust and Sin torment my mind
Greed and desire hold absolute sway,
Bound am I by the useless life I lead
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !


Na janami Punyam, Na janami Theertham,
Na janami Mukthim, Layam vaa kadachith,
Na janami Bhakthim, Vrutham vaapi maatha,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam, Thwam Ekaa Bhavani.

I know not divine merit,
Nor places sacred to visit,
Salvation I know not,
Union with Him is also unknown,
I know not Bhakti Yoga,
Nor austerities divine,
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !


Kukarmi, Kusangi, Kubuddhi, Kudhasa,
Kulachara heena, Kadhachara leena,
Kudrushti, Kuvakya prabandha, Sada Aham,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam, Thwam Ekaa Bhavani.

I do commit heinous sins,
And keep company of the bad,
Sinful thoughts torment me ,
I serve masters bad,
Belong I to a bad family,
Sinful acts dominate me,
See I with bad intentions,
Write I collection of bad words,
Always, ever and ever,
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !


Prajesam, Ramesam, Mahesam, Suresam,
Dhinesam, Nisidheswaram vaa Kadachit,
Na janami Chanyath Sada Aham Sharanye,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam Thwam Ekaa Bhavani


The Creator I know not,
Or the Preserver Divine,
The Lord is unknown to me,
The lord of Celestials I know not,
Unknown is the the Lord of the Day,
Also the Lord of the Night,
Neither do I know any other Gods,
Mighty Goddess to Thee I bow always,
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !


Vivadhe, Vishadhe, Pramadhe, Pravase,
Jale cha Anale Parvathe Shatru Madhye,
Aranye, Sharanye Sada Maam Prapahee,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam, Thwam Ekaa Bhavani.

Whenever I am in an argument,
Whenever in sorrow,
Whenever suffering accidents,
Whenever travelling far away,
Whenever in water or on fire,
Whenever on top of a mountain,
Whenever surrounded by enemies,
Whenever in a deep forest,
I always bow before thee, O Mighty One,
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !



Anadho, Dharidro, Jara Roga Yuktho,
Maha Ksheena Dheena, Sada jaadya vakthra,
Vipathou Pravishta, Pranshata sadha Aham,
Gathis Thwam, Gathis Thwam, Thwam Ekaa Bhavani.

Despite being an orphan,
Despite being extremely poor,
Despite affected by disease of old age,
I bow before Thee always
Whenever I am terribly tired,
Whenver in a pitiable state,
When problems overwhelm me,
When dangers threaten,
I always bow before thee,
Thou art my only Refuge , O Mother Divine !