Sri Durga Pancharathnam by Sri Mahaperiyavaa - The essence of Svetaswatara Upanisad (Brahma Vidya)

Essence of Svetasvatara Upanisad ~ Durga Pancharatnam by Sri Mahaperiyavaa. 

Introduction

śravaṇāyāpi bahubhiryō na labhyaḥ

Not many have listened to Brahma Vidya.

śrṛṇvantō.pi bahavō yaṅ na vidyuḥ .

…..(and) which many do not understand even while listening,
āścaryō vaktā kuśalōsya labdha

The expounder is wonderful and the receiver is wonderful

aścaryō jñātā kuśalānuśiṣṭaḥ ৷৷ 1.2.7 ৷৷ – Katha Upanisad.

wonderful is he who knows (about Brahman) under the instruction of an AcArya.

Katha Upanisad expressed a strong sentiment that Brahma Vidya or Atma Vidya has not been paid attention to or listened to by most of us. As Sri Adi Sankara has categorically stated, by the word Upanisad is not meant book or text, it’s primary meaning is Brahma Vidya.

As the Sruti in the last line above  says – aścaryō jñātā kuśalānuśiṣṭaḥ - Sri Mahaperiyavaa as the Paramacharya has blessed us with Brahma Vidya Sravanam in the form of Durga Pancharathnam, as this Stothram is derived from the verses & essence expounded in Svetaswatara Upanisad.

Upanisad means that which dispels ignorance. Ignorance about what? Our infinite divine nature.

Thus, Upanisad means – Brahma Vidya, Atma Vidya. It also becomes Sree Vidya because the essence of Upanisad is recognizing Isvara Shakti that pulsates in everything and everybody as “I” “I”…… - Chit Shakti…. This Brahma Vidya is explained in the Durga Pancharatnam.

The goal of this Stothra is to develop Bhakti to Divine Mother Durga – Brahma Vidya Swarupini and also recognize (on account of Sraddha in Brahma Vidya) that she is ever present in us as Atma Sphurti……. The changeless “I current” ever experienced.

Free Translation of Durga Pancharathnam

te dhyAnayogAnugatA apashyan tvAmeva devIM svaguNair nigUDhAm .

tvameva shaktiH parameshvarasya mAM pAhi sarveshvari mokShadAtri .. 1..

With aid of meditation, they realized the Being – who shines within the three gunas (i.e. within this body) as Atman. It’s you who are the power of Parameswara. O Sarveshwari (Ruler of Universe) forgive us* and grant us Brahma JnAnam (i.e. Moksham)

*forgive us for failing to recognize you, despite being ever present as Atma Chaithanya Sphurti

tē dhyānayōgānugatā apaśyan dēvātma śaktiṅ svaguṇair nigūḍhām.
yaḥ kāraṇāni nikhilāni tāni kālātmayuktānyadhitiṣṭhatyēkaḥ৷৷1.3৷৷ – Svetaswatara Upanisad.

devAtmashaktiH shrutivAkyagItA

maharShilokasya puraH prasannA .

guhA para.n vyoma sataH pratiShThA

mAM pAhi sarveshvari mokShadAtri .. 2..

You are the Shakti of Shining Atma (i.e. Aham Sphurti), extolled by Vedas. Adored by great Rishis, in whose heart you are ever present (as Atma Sphurti .. “I”.. “I”…) O Sarveshwari (Ruler of Universe) forgive us and grant us Brahma JnAnam (i.e. Moksham)

māyāṃ tu prakṛtiṃ vidyān māyinaṃ tu maheśvaraṃ  …..4.10 // Svetaswatara Upanisad

n mahato mahīyān ātmā guhāyāṃ nihito 'sya jantoḥ /

tam akratuṃ paśyati vītaśoko dhātuprasādān mahimānam īśam // 3.20 // Svetaswatara Upanisad

parAsya shaktiH vividhaiva shrUyase

shvetAshvavAkyoditadevi durge .

svAbhAvikI jnAnabalakriyA te

mAM pAhi sarveshvari mokShadAtri .. 3..

You are the ParAShakti, spoken of in different ways (by Vedas), praised in Svetaswatara Upanisad. You reveal yourself as knowledge, strength (of will) and action (Iccha, Kriya, JnAna Sakti in Isvara and in us). O Sarveshwari (Ruler of Universe) forgive us and grant us Brahma JnAnam (i.e. Moksham)

na tasya kāryaṃ karaṇaṃ ca vidyate na tatsamaś cābhyadhikaś ca dṛśyate /

parāsya śaktir vividhaiva śrūyate svābhāvikī jñānabalakriyā ca // 6.8 // Svetaswatara Upanisad

devAtmashabdena shivAtmabhUtA

yath kurma vayava vacho vivritya
twam pasa vicheda kari prasidda
maampaahi sarweshvari mokshadatri.. 4..

You are the Auspicious OMKARA Sabdham arising out of Isvara, that is contemplated upon by Yogis (though Nada/Pranayama Yoga). You cut asunder all bonds of ignorance (as Brahma Vidya). O Sarveshwari (Ruler of Universe) forgive us and grant us Brahma JnAnam (i.e. Moksham)

(Following verses in Svetaswatara Upanisad keep reminding us we overcome Ignorance – Pasam (bonds) by knowing Brahman).

Svetaswatara Upanisad : -

….jñātvā devaṃ mucyate sarvapāśaiḥ // 2.15 //

…jñātvā mṛtyupāśāṃś chinatti // 4.15 //

.…jñātvā devaṃ mucyate sarvapāśaiḥ // 4.16 //

..…jñātvā devaṃ mucyate sarvapāśaiḥ // 5.13 //

….jñātvā devaṃ mucyate sarvapāśaiḥ // 6.13 //

tvaM brahmapuchChA vividhA mayUrI

brahmapratiShThAsyupadiShTagItA .

jnAna svarUpAtmataya AkhilAnAM

mAM pAhi sarveshvari mokShadAtri .. 5..

O Mayuri, you are the Brahma Vidya (Vedanta) that guides us (eventually) through diverse ways to Brahman. The Gita (Brahma Vidya Sastram) teaches us that you are non-different than Isvara (vide Sri Shankara’s Bhasyam). You are the pure consciousness (Aham Padaartham), which is non-different from all creation. O Sarveshwari (Ruler of Universe) forgive us and grant us Brahma JnAnam (i.e. Moksham).

Notes: Sri Mahaperiyavaa has referred to thefollowin Gita Verse & Gita Bhasyam of Sri Sankara Bhagavatpaada, in the context of the verse above (upadiShTa gItA)

brahmaṇō hi pratiṣṭhā.hamamṛtasyāvyayasya ca
śāśvatasya ca dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya ca৷৷14.27 Gita||

For I am the Abode of Brahman-the indestructible and immutable, the eternal, the Dharma and absolute Bliss.

Sri Sankara Bhasyam: “brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ hi yasmāt pratiṣṭhā aham pratitiṣṭhati asmin iti pratiṣṭhā ahaṅ pratyagātmā” - Trans: Pratyagātmā ~ Self experienced as “I” – pure consciousness is Abode of Brahman.

śaktiśaktimatōḥ ananyatvāt ityabhiprāyaḥ  - Trans: For, a power and the possessor of that power are non-different.