Slokam 4

In this Slokam, Sri Bhattadri gives an insight into our evolution into a state of pure consciousness.

Consciouness has many attributes.  Infinite expansiveness, with neither a beginning or an end is one of its fundamental characteristics. 

Sri Bhattadri expounds on the expansiveness of consciousness.

Consciousness begins its journey by germinating in the mind. The mind uses the five senses as the tools to navigate through the perceived universe. 

Pure consciousness is a state of attainment. Sri Bhattadri describes it as the “Ocean of Brahman”.  He mentions the Sattva quality of the Paramathma as being the wave on the ocean of pure consciousness.

He further says that those of us who manage to attain the state of pure consciousness, or Brahman, are  absorbed into this ocean and adorn it like “a depository of innumerable pearls”.

So is the Paramathman, who represents complete totality, actually built from component parts, that were  independent of each other?

He then mentions that other Deities, who represent different aspects of Guruvayurappan would by His component parts (the “Sakala”).  Since He Himself is Totality, he is referenced as “Nishkala”, which means “one who is not formed from component parts”.

This is an important statement.  Any being that is assembled from component parts, such as a Human Being would have problems of self control, since each of the component part would have its own agenda. There would be inbuilt conflict between (say), the reproductive system which induces desire for the opposite sex and the mind which is constantly struggling to concentrate on goals other than sexual relationships.  We all go through these struggles everyday.

All living beings begin their journey as a unicellular/minute seed, which then manifests into multiple parts, which then perform different functions. The seed is basically transformed into a conflicted being with multiple personalities and differing and conflicting agendas.  Learning to manage these organs and take them all through the journey is quite a task that most of us struggle with.

All though the Paramathman also seemingly has many component parts, he represents Complete Totality, simply because He has no conflicts with the components and is in complete control of every one of them.  So he becomes a “Nishkala”.

When death makes us finally shed these component parts, we should have attained a state that is not dominated by these component parts, so that we are liberated permanently from the process of repeated births and deaths.

In our daily prayers we should pray for the strength to evolve to a state of conflict free Pure Consciousness.