......In search of Self: Arunachala
ShastriX
Arunachala
by Ganesh, ganesh-b.blogspot.in
February 22nd 2012
It is important to understand what Arunachala really means. Arunachala, the word itself is the ultimate parama gathi or the 'state' of realisation.
Aruna means Sun, Achala means still,
Aruna also means, red, signifying the bright red sun, meaning fire of knowledge, tapas, illumination and Achala also means Hill, full of knowledge, it is the Meru.
It is said that By seeing Chidambaram, by being born, in Tiruvarur, by dying in Kasi, or by merely thinking of Arunachala, one will surely attain Liberation.
now, one may ask, how is it that, could it be so easy that just by mere thinking of Arunachala, can one attain liberation? Yes, but unless one properly understands, what Arunachala is, what Kashi is, what Chidambaram is, these remain merely only words.
Bhagavan has said in several occassions, Arunachala is the spiritual Heart of the world (we need to put a thought on what "world" really means). Aruna, also means ‘red, bright like fire’, does not signify the mere fire that gives off heat. Rather, it is Jnanagni, the Fire of Wisdom, which is neither hot nor cold. Achala signifies hill. Thus, Arunachala means the ‘Hill of Wisdom’
Only when one properly understands the word, would the word be effective in causing deliverance.
Regarding heart, Bhagavan has said, "The physical organ is on the left; that is not denied. But the Heart of which I speak is non-physical and is only on the right side. It is my experience, no authority is required by me. Still you can find confirmation in a Malayalam Ayurvedic book and in Sita Upanishad; and he produced the quotation (mantra) from the latter and repeated the text (sloka) from the former."
Spiritual heart is the seat of spiritual experience. When we meditate, it is this seat of spirituality that is to be meditated upon. It is here that one will find the source of 'I'
all these signify Arunachala. when we meditate on the Aksharamanamalai:
Arunachalamena ahame ninaipavar ahathaiverraruppai arunachala
normally, the verse means, in general, who ever meditates Arunachala in the heart, then it shall remove the ego with its roots altogether. that is concentration on the form of Arunachala in the heart, like Krishna, Ambaal,
But another sukshmam, is also given here, which will be seen not by all, but only to those whom it chooses to reveal itself.
when one is refined enough about ones awareness of his own ego, for such a one, to whom this suksham is revealed, if such a one mediates his own self as Arunachala, for such a one his ego will be uprroted with its roots and attain the parama gathi or realisation. at the same time, when one who is deluded and believes himself to be Arunachala without proper understanding and without annihilating ones ego, such one falls down. But Arunachala shall not let him down, it will show light to such a deluded one too at some point when his ego will be destroyed too
Look at the maha vakyas from the Vedas -
Aham Brahmasmi (I am that Brahman) Ayamaatma Brahma (This Self (Atman) is Brahman) Prajnaanam Brahma (Consciousness is Brahman) Tatvamasi (That art thou)
In the same spirit, by the time, one can confidently venture into the realms of the above mahavakyas, with proper understanding, bhakthi, shraddha and very cautious about not losing oneself to ego, when one meditates himself as Arunachala, He is That.
Ultimately, Jivatma and Paramatma is one and the same. Can Jivatma exist seperately from Paramatma?
Can the Sun ever see darkness at any time? Has not the curds, butter, ghee come from milk itself?
|| Arunachala ||
Original Page: http://ganesh-b.blogspot.in/2012/02/arunachala.html
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