Srividya Upasana

[kannan]

What is Srividya Upasana? What is the significance?


With Pranams to ALL SRI VIDYA GURUMANDALAMS and GURUMANDALA ROOPINI Sri Lalitha, we proceed with our lessons on Sri Vidya Philosophy. Since philosophical principles are common to all Margams & Acharas, the thoughts expressed here are non-controversial and should be acceptable to all. However kindly note that in case any thoughts expressed here is not in line with the thoughts expressed by your own Guru, you should consider your own Guru's teaching as the truth applicable to you.

Sri Mathre Namaha .
WHAT IS SRI VIDYA
It is indeed very difficult to precisely define Sri Vidya in view of its Greatness (Mahath) and vastness of applicability in every aspect of life (Bruhath). Hence first let us understand
" What is Not Sri Vidya".

Sri Vidya is not just " A ritual worship of Devi "
Sri Vidya is not just " Mantra upadesa & chanting of Panchadasi or Shodasi"
Sri Vidya is not just " A Deeksha ceremony"
Sri Vidya is not just " Performing Sri Chakra pooja"
Sri Vidya is not just " Even Self Realisation "
Sri Vidya is all above and much more... much Beyond all these.

Sri Vidya is the way of Life...
"Sri" means All soubhagyams. Vidya is the highest, Ultimate, pure Intelligence. Thus Sri Vidya means "The highest knowledge and practice that gives All soubhagyams including eternal eiswaryam - Moksha at the end "

Let us now look into " Process Of Sri Vidya"

The process involves staying connected with Devi throughout while engaged in day to day routine activities. The process involves experiencing Devi in all living entities. The process involves remaining in an inherently happy frame of mind radiating enthusiasm. The realised upasaka has a friendly disposition with everyone he comes across. The frame of mind what the upasaka had during devoted worship of Devi is extended throughout the day even while interacting with others.

A question now arises. It is easy to say that you should experience Devi in all living entities. But unless you understand and internalise the basis (principles / rationale behind) as to why we should experience Devi, then only you can get into "How to experience"

Why Sri Vidya ? What is so special / Unique about it ?

Sri Vidya is "Atma Vidya" - "Maha Vidya" - "Brahma Vidya ", the highest knowledge. Oh ! Does that frighten you ? Relax ! Relax!! It is the Vidya of Sri Matha - the universal Mother with whose motherly affection and grace even an illiterate cowherd will easily understand this great Vidya.

All of us want to enjoy the pleasures of life as well as we want to get Atma Gnyanam. Apparently these are conflicting goals. We see enlightened persons renouncing their worldly life and become sanyasis to get Atma Gnyana. But Sri Vidya gives you both bhoga and moksha without any conflict.

The Vedanthic Gnyana marga is generally considered as meant for highly intellectual persons with a very high level of chittha shuddhi and accumulated punya over previous births. The Vedantic thoughts are difficult to comprehend for the modern mind. Sri Devi out of Her abundant love and affection has revealed through Sri Siva Her own Sri Vidya tantra which is easy to comprehend by one and all. Tantra means intelligently doing a thing most effectively with least efforts.That also requires a deep and total understanding of the task.( Perhaps that is why modern science, Industrial Engineering principles etc are called "Tantra Vignyan"). Sri Vidya propounded by Siva is easy to understand even by illiterate persons so long as they have bhakthi and seek Devi's grace sincerely.

Sri Vidya has a very balanced approach, highly scientific and most appropriate in today's context and environment.

Basics (Tenets) of Sri Vidya.

1) Accept Sri Guru as a form of Lalitha with all his human limitations. Look beyond his physical body. It is the Guruthvam that you worship - the mantra given by him, his teachings etc. There is no separate thathvam as Guru. Devi descends as Guruthvam in your own Guru. Just as your own mother plays different roles as wife, sister, employee etc but to you she is Sri Lalitha Herself, in the same way Guru is Sri Lalitha to you.

2) Be happy and make others Happy. Never, Never, Never cause slightest harm to others (even to your enemies) by words, deeds, physically and mentally.

3) Leave everything to Devi. Whatever happens in your life, Good or bad, accept it as Her command.Always look for bright future with Her grace but work hard, work smart. Do right (Dharmic) things to reach your goals & aspirations. Devi will take care of you.

4)With bubbling enthusiasm study, understand, comprehend and internalise the following principles, get convinced and put into practice. a) Guru is only one. But you can learn from many. Your Guru resides in you as "Chit Vimarsa Shakthi" and helps you to learn from many. You can learn great principles simply by observing even birds & animals' behavior. Intelligently learn from others' mistakes as well as great deeds. The idea is to keep learning continuously. b) Understand the 36 thathvas of Sri Vidya relating to Siva, Shakthi, Self & Jagath.Contemplate deeply and Internalise these principles to have clarity of purpose of creation of self and environment. c) Get the Big, Bigger & Biggest picture of self & universe.(Bruhath). Think big from Mind to cosmic mind, cosmic intelligence and cosmic consciousness and so on. d) Get into the most intrinsic aspect of Sri Vidya. (Mahath) Vedas declare "Atom of the Atom". Thousand lines will intersect on a point. Yet the point will not have thickness. Get beyond physical into subtler and subtler..Get deep into the root / first cause.

 

5) Have Fun by self-discovering with Awe,

a) The supreme intelligence of creation, evolution, sustenance of this universe & self.
b) The origin of mother alphabets, sound & light, time & space etc.
c) Siva & Shakthi as prakas'am & vimars'am.
d) Siva shakthi as "Sat, Chit & Anandam
e) The human states of existence (Avasthas)
f) The seven levels of Ananda in thureeya state.
g) Sri Lalitha Consciousness - the Sahaja Bhava (Jeevan Mukthi) & Jagadhananda.

Oh ! So much to learn !! Where is the time?  Do not worry. Relax ! Relax !!  I have something most interesting to declare. I kept it last to keep your interest on with  further lessons.

YOU are the starting point.
SRI VIDYA is the way.
SRI LALITHA is the goal - destination.

We began with a simple definition of Sri Vidya as " The Way Of Life" Subsequently we frightened you with so many paras of description of Sri Vidya. Now the great secret of secrets. It is all very very simple & fun to learn, as easy as a child starts to learn walking. The child does not walk on the path. As it walks the path is made !! Looking at mother, when the child takes the first step, the excited mother looks on, wanting the child to learn to walk,... but if the child is about to fall and give up walking  she runs towards the child and takes in her lap. Sri Matha Lalitha is no different.

When the sincere upasaka takes one step with determination towards Sri Lalitha, in turn Sri Lalitha leaps Ten BIG steps towards the upasaka making it very for upasaka.

With folded hands we PROMISE in the court of Sri Maha Ragnyi - The great Empress Sri Lalitha that, "All above principles will be clarified in simple language from the single most beautiful text - Sri Lalitha Sahasranama"

We now surrender to Sri Lalitha's abundant Splendor with a prayer to take all of us through the " Path Of Sri Vidya" with unbounded Love and affection. Relaxed, we retire now, only to meet you all again with next lesson.

SRI MATHRE NAMAHA