Nirvana Satakam

…contd….

Now these words were ringing bell. Yes, I heard it many times from her and yet let her continue her explanation.

 “So in the I Stanza AdiShankaracharya says “I am not the mind, intellect nor ego. I am not the 5 senses meaning I am not the body which is governed by 5 senses of sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. I am the experience experiencing through the body so how can I be the body? Simple! So I am beyond 5 senses. I am not the 5 elements that constitute this body. They are required for the body to come together but they are not me. I am beyond all these – I am Siva, the pure and love consciousness. Clear?” she asked.

I didn’t know if it was but I continued with II stanza

“  न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः ।
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥   "

“I am not the five types of vayu ( pancha prana)that constitute our body nor am I the 5 bodies that form my sheath i.e., annamaya kosha, pranamaya kosha, manomaya kosha, gyanamaya kosha and anandamaya kosha. These are called as ethereal bodies in English.

न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः ।
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥

The III stanza mean, I am not 5 basic emotions viz., lust, anger, greed, envy or attachments. I have no duty nor any money nor do I need liberation as I am Siva the pure consciousness.

न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः ।
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥४॥

The IV stanza says that “I am neither the sin nor virtue, nor have happiness or sorrow. I am above dualities, rituals and sacrifices. I am neither the object nor subject or the act, for I am ‘that I am’ i.e., the pure consciousness – the Shiva.

...contd....