Compiled teachings of Ramana Maharshi, Kanchi Paramacharya, Sri Narasimha Saraswati(Guru Charitra), Sai Baba Satcharitra.
Ganesha Atharvaseersha Speaks about the Nature Of Ganapati
oṁ nama̍ste ga̱ṇapa̍taye | tvam e̱va pra̱tyakṣa̱ṁ tat-tva̍m-asi | tvam-e̱vake̱vala̱ṁ kartā̍’si | tvam-e̱va ke̱vala̱ṁ dhartā̍’si | tvam-e̱va ke̱vala̱ṁ hartā̍’si |tvam-eva sarvaṁ khalvida̍ṁ brahmā̱si | tvaṁ sākṣādātmā̍’si ni̱tyam|| 1 ||
Om salutations to Ganapati. You are the visible Truth. You are the sole Creator of the universe. You are the sole Preserver of the universe. You are the sole Destroyer of the universe. You indeed are the entire Creation. You are quite evidently the Eternal Universal Self.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Brahmanda Purana – Lalitha Sahasranama from this purana, speaks about the nature of Goddess Lalitha
Goddess Parvati is mentioned as incarnation of the supreme in a similar way Narada was mentioned as incarnation in Bhagavatam.
तृतीयमृषिसर्गं वै देवर्षित्वमुपेत्य स: ।
तन्त्रं सात्वतमाचष्ट नैष्कर्म्यं कर्मणां यत: ॥ ८ ॥
tṛtīyam ṛṣi-sargaṁ vai\\devarṣitvam upetya saḥ\\tantraṁ sātvatam ācaṣṭa\\naiṣkarmyaṁ karmaṇāṁ yataḥ
Translation: In the millennium of the ṛṣis, the Personality of Godhead accepted the third empowered incarnation in the form of Devarṣi Nārada, who is a great sage among the demigods. He collected expositions of the Vedas which deal with devotional service and which inspire non-fruitive action.
Narada was mentioned as incarnation of supreme lord despite the fact that Narada had a previous life as a human as per Srimad bhagavatam
In Brahmanda Purana, Lalitha Sahasranama, Lord Hayagreeva mentions to Agastya, that Goddess Parvati as Empowered Incarnation & also her life as Sati
Srusti karti brahma rupa goptri govinda rupini Samharini Rudhra roopa – The goddess does creation in the form of brahma , maintenance in the form of Govinda and destruction in the form of Rudra. The names are individually mentioned as follows in the order of their occurrence in lalitha sahasranama.(Names: 264-269)
However lord Hayagreeva also says about Parvati with the following words about her previous life on Sati, which similarly happened to Narada
Dakshayani: Who manifested as the daughter of Daksha.
Daksha-yagya vinashini: Who destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha.
Devi Suktam From Rigvedam Speaks about the nature of Goddess Parvati
Verse III:
I am the Queen of the Universe; I give wealth to those who worship me. I am the all-knowing one and the prime one among the worshippable deities. I enter many bodies as the Atma, taking various forms and with different manifestations, in various ways. Hence, the Devas have incorporated me in various places.
Devi Suktam from Rigveda 10.8.125(https://www.vedarahasya.net/devisuk.htm)
——————————————————————————————————————————————————
Padma Purana- Shiva Geeta in padma purana speaks about the nature of lord Shiva, where Shiva shows his universal form to Lord Rama, which is similar to Lord Krishna showing his universal form to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita
Shiva Geeta in padma purana- https://www.astrojyoti.com/siva-gita.htm
Some other Srimad Bhagavatam Slokas(4th canto, 6th chapter, slokas 42-46) on Shiva
SB 4.6.42 – Lord Brahma said: My dear Lord Siva, I know that you are the controller of the entire material manifestation, the combination father and mother of the cosmic manifestation, and the Supreme Brahman beyond the cosmic manifestation as well. I know you in that way.
Skanda Purana speaks about the nature of Subrahmanya
Conversation between Lord Subrahmanya & Veerabahu(his devoted commander-in-chief) as per Skanda Purana.
Subrahmanya says, ” Among the holy rivers, I am Ganga. Among the revered munis, I am Agastya…” This is similar to what Bhagavan Sri Krishna says in the vibhooti yoga of Bhagvad Gita! Furthermore, Subrahmanya says, “Among the scriptures, I am the Bhagvad Gita!”
——————————————————————————————————————–
————————————————————————————————————
Puranas Speak of Souls who have achieved Liberation while embodied
Bhagavata:- 4.6.34:
sanandanādyair mahā-siddhaiḥ||śāntaiḥ saṁśānta-vigraham|| upāsyamānaṁ sakhyā ca||bhartrā guhyaka-rakṣasām
Translation: Lord Śiva sat there, surrounded by saintly persons like Kuvera, the master of the Guhyakas, and the four Kumāras, who were already liberated souls. Lord Śiva was grave and saintly.( Source: Veda Base)
——–
Bhagavata 11.2.23: avyāhateṣṭa-gatayaḥ sura-siddha-sādhya||gandharva–yakṣa–nara-kinnara-nāga–lokān||muktāś caranti muni-cāraṇa–bhūtanātha-||vidyādhara-dvija-gavāṁ bhuvanāni kāmam
Translation: The nine Yogendras are liberated souls who travel freely to the planets of the demigods, the perfected mystics, the Sādhyas, the heavenly musicians, the Yakṣas, the human beings, and the minor demigods such as the Kinnaras and the serpents. No mundane force can check their free movement, and exactly as they wish they can travel as well to the worlds of the sages, the angels, the ghostly followers of Lord Śiva, the Vidyādharas, the brāhmaṇas and the cows.( Source: VedaBase)
We generally think liberation is achieved when the soul reaches a loka like vaikunta. However, Srimad bhagavatam mentions great souls whom vyasa calls as liberated souls even though they donot stay in a particular loka. These are the kumaras and the Navayogendras.
———-
यावद्रामायणकथा त्वत्कृता प्रचरिष्यति |तावदूर्ध्वमधश्च त्वं मल्लोकेषु निवत्स्यसि | १-२-३७
Words:- tvat = by you; kR^itaa = authored; yaavat = as long as; raamasya katha = Rama’s legend; prachariShyati = flourishes; taavat = till then; tvam = you; uurdhvam = heavenward; adhaH ca = in netherworlds, even; mat lokeSu = in my abode [Brahma loka]; nivatsyasi = you will be dwelling, [flourishing].
“And as long as Rama’s legend authored by you flourishes…till then you will flourish in lokas above, & in in the lokas below , and even in my abode, namely Abode of Brahma
Ramayana(1.2.37)
Puranas speak about beings who achieved all pervading nature
Let us see slokas where Shiva, Parvati and Ganesha are mentioned as all pervading beings.
Sri Krsna says in mahabharata, in shiva sahasranama, to Yudistara and Bheeshma
- Sarva Vaasi or the One Present in the Consciousness of all the beings(one who pervades every where)
Lord Hayagreeva says in lalitha sahasranama, in brahmanda purana that Goddess parvati is all pervading
203: – Sarva mayi- She who is everywhere
400: – Vyapini- She who is spread everywhere
| 532 : | Sarvathomukhi | She who has faces everywhere |
Below is a sloka that people dedicate to Ganesha or Vishwaksena. The sloka mentions that the deity is all pervading.
Lyrics in English:
ShuklaAmbara Dharam Vishnum Shashi Varnam Chatur Bhujam
Prasanna Vadanam Dhyaayet Sarva Vighnopashaantaye (Vighna Upashaantaye)
Meaning:
O Lord, who is wearing White colored clothes, Who is all pervading, who has four hands
Who has a peaceful, joyous face we meditate on you, remove all the obstacles.
———————————————————————————————————-
Words Of Ramana Maharshi:
Once four ladies came to the Ashram and sat in the hall in front of Bhagavan. One of them, an American lady, asked Bhagavan, “Can we have your grace for our spiritual development?” Bhagavan replied, “If you had not the grace you would not have thought of coming here.”Then the lady said, “Bhagavan, I am going back to America; will you come there?” Bhagavan with a smile on His face and in a tone expressing certainty replied, “I am already there. I am above time and space.”
Words of Sai Baba:
Sai Baba expounded many a times who is he. He said, “You need not go far or anywhere in search of Me. Leaving your name and form, there exists in you, as well as in all beings, a sense of being or consciousness of existence. That is Myself. Knowing this, you see Me inside yourself, as well as in all beings.
————————————————————————————————–
Chakra
SB 9.5.3 — Mahārāja Ambarīṣa said: O Sudarśana cakra, you are fire, you are the most powerful sun, and you are the moon, the master of all luminaries. You are water, earth and sky, you are the air, you are the five sense objects [sound, touch, form, taste and smell], and you are the senses also.
SB 9.5.4 — O most favorite of Acyuta, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you have thousands of spokes. O master of the material world, destroyer of all weapons, original vision of the Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto you. Kindly give shelter and be auspicious to this brāhmaṇa.
SB 9.5.5 — O Sudarśana wheel, you are religion, you are truth, you are encouraging statements, you are sacrifice, and you are the enjoyer of the fruits of sacrifice. You are the maintainer of the entire universe, and you are the supreme transcendental prowess in the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You are the original vision of the Lord, and therefore you are known as Sudarśana. Everything has been created by your activities, and therefore you are all-pervading.
Shesha
SB 6.16.48 — My dear Lord, it is after You endeavor that Lord Brahmā, Indra and the other directors of the cosmic manifestation become occupied with their activities. It is after You perceive the material energy, My Lord, that the senses begin to perceive. The Supreme Personality of Godhead holds all the universes on His heads like seeds of mustard. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, that Supreme Personality, who has thousands of hoods.
Below is a sloka from Swami Narayan Akshar Dam temple founders(BAPS), who consider themselves to be lineage of Sri Ramanuja Sampradaya and follow Vaishnava sampradaya
In the Vishvaksen Samitah Lord Vishwaksen says:
Bhumyam krutaavataroham sarvannataam jaganmaham|| Praapishyaami vaikuntham Sahajanand Namataha
This Verse states that :
Among all parts of the universe I take birth on Earth, I shall adore Vaikunth adopting the name Sahajanand. A scripture reference that BAPS believes Lord Sahajanand Swami (Swaminarayan) as the incarnation of Supreme Reality. BAPS group believes that their founder sahajanand also known as swami Narayan is an incarnation based on the evidence.
Sri Maha Periyava is all Gods incarnated into one!
I am Ganapathi too!
My brother-in-law’s daughter Jaana and I often used to go to Kanchi and have darshan of Periyava. We would submit different offerings each time we went there. On one occasion, it occurred to us to string a beautiful arugampul garland and offer it to him. With arali flowers forming the border, we prepared a large arugampul garland and went on the next morning to offer it.
By the time we reached Kanchi, it was eight in the morning. Periyava was sitting, conversing with everyone around him. We kept the garland pack and a packet of sugar lumps in front of him. He took it and kept it aside in a corner. He did not even open the pack to see what it contained. We were having darshan of him, standing. A woman came around ten o’ clock. She had in her hand an intricately designed silver armour for Pillaiyar. As instructed by the Sage, she had arranged for the silver armour, for the Pillaiyar of the temple at their place of residence, and brought it for Periyava’s anugraham. Periyava took the kavacham from her, kept it on his lap and told his disciple nearby, “Take that,” pointing to the pack in a corner. The disciple unwrapped the pack and handed over the arugampul garland to Periyava. How did he know the contents of the pack, without looking at it or asking about it? He adorned the silver kavacham with the garland. It fitted nicely as if tailor made for the object. Then he took the kavacham with the garland, fitted it to his chest, turned to all the four sides and gave darshan! We all went into ecstasy. The woman who brought the kavacham stood with joined palms, tears welling up in her eyes. Periyava gave the kavacham with the garland to her through his disciple. What we took to offer him was an ordinary thing; but for the fullness of heart we had, there are no words to express! This was because, he made us somehow realise the abheda between him and Ganapathi.
I am Kamakshi too!
A woman, who was a resident of the place where Periyava was camping, had aparimita bhakti on him. Because of her family circumstances, she could not go out of her house often and have darshan of the sage. One day she somehow managed to go out of her house and came to SriMatham camp for darshan. It was afternoon. Sitting in the puja stage itself, Sri Periyava was talking with many people. This woman went near the stage with the camphor plate in her hand to take an Arati and looked at the face of Periyava, but he abruptly turned his face away. She tried twice or thrice but Periyava did not show her his face. The woman was very unhappy. When Periyava seemed to face her, she lighted the camphor. But before she could go near and wave her Arati in circles, Periyava got up and went inside. Stunned, she moaned to herself, “Ambike! Why do you test me like this? What sin did I commit?” Consoling herself, she said, “Alright, I will take the Arati for you” and waved the flame to Ambal Tripurasundari kept on the puja stage and started for home very disappointed and tearful. As she came out of the pandal, a man came running and said, “Amma! Periyava is calling you.” “Me? Can’t be,” she said with hesitation. “Yes, for you only Amma, come!” said the man. She went inside hesitatingly. Periyava who was sitting on the stage told her, “Don’t feel disheartened that you had to take the Arati meant for me to Ambal. Now you show me the Arati.” She staggered to take the camphor and placed it on the plate. Her hands shaking, she lit the camphor. Steadying herself, she went near him and waved the Arati in front of him in circles, and looked at Periyava’s face. Periyava appeared to her as saakshat Kamakshi with her sugarcane-bent bow and parankusha and smiling face. Short of fainting, the woman patted her cheeks loudly with the words, “Amma! Amma!”, bhakti flooding herself. This was the incident that made us realise that the Ambal on the stage and Periyava are one and the same. The woman was Nagalakshmi, from Trichy. She told me the incident herself. I have heard similar incidents of people from their own mouths where Periyava gave darshan as Ambal.
I am Parameshwara too!
The Vasanta Navaratri time in Satara. Some of us from Pudukottai went and stayed there for a week to offer Suvasini bhiksha. We used to offer Periyava different kinds of flowery garlands and crowns. One evening, ten of us were sitting on the floor outside his room. Maha Periyava came out. We bowed to him. Rajam Ammal submitted a nagabharana kireeta (a crown in the form of a snake). Made of vettiver (cuscus grass), with a bead of sandal paste, it was in the form of an umbrella of cobra snakes.
Periyava took the crown and gave it to a disciple beside him to adorn the Shivalingam nearby. Rajammal hastily prayed to him, “Periyava should wear it.” Periyava pointed to the Shivalingam and declared, “He and I are not different. I am Him and He is me”, and gave a laugh. An instant flash of light that resembled lightning appeared before our eyes as he spoke the words. What bhagyam! We were speechless, sitting in a shiver of ecstasy.
I am Narayana too!
My daughter Jaana had designed an aishwarya kolam. It was on a framed Mahalakshmi portrait, decorated with broken glass pieces of different colours. We submitted it to Periyava. He took it, admired, and said, “This is Mahalakshmi. Where should I keep Mahalakshmi? Should be on my chest.” With these words, he kept the Mahalakshmi portrait on his chest, turned to all the four sides and gave darshan to everyone there. We understood that Periyava had made us realise that he was also the amsha of Narayana. Subhalakshmi Ammal of Trichy once told him with regret, “Periyava! Today is somavara amavasya (a Monday new moon night). Without remembering that I should walk around the peepul tree this evening, I have come over to Kanchipuram.” Pat came the reply. “So what? You go round me 108 times. That would be enough!” Periayava was not just Narayana; he was also Ashwatha Narayana! Author: Radha Ramamoorthy, Pudukottai (in Tamil) Source: Maha Periyaval – Darisana Anubhavangal vol. 2, pages 32-43
- Blog Compiled by Revanth Dharipally
The True Masters 