om vacadbhuve namah
om vacadbhuve namah
the origin of the mantra "om vacadbhuve namaḥ"
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Chapter 18, verse 10 of śri Ramana Gita - the notes below are based on Ganapati Muni's 'gurumantrabhāṣyam', also known as 'anubandham 2' (Sri Ramana Gita, Tiruvannamalai; 6th Edition, 1977; p.116)
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In this verse, Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni, as the Seer, reveals the bījākṣaras (seed syllables and/or letters) which make up Sri Ramana Maharshi's special mantra. This mantra reveals various correspondences and is said to be endowed with śakti (power).
vedādi - beginning (and end) of the Vedas - bīja - 'om'
pāka damana (indra) uttara - mightier than Indra, the subduer of the demon called Pāka (symbolic of the overcoming of ignorance). Sri Maharshi lies beyond even the Lord of the senses. Lord Indra's bīja is 'la'. When we go beyond this we find bīja - 'va'
kacchapeśa - kurmeśa - Lord of tortoises - supporter of the Earth and all its jīvas - Rudra - bīja - 'ca'
dharādhara - the Hill, Mount Arunachala - The Hill of Dawn. Supporter of the Universe. Epithet of Siva and symbolic of transcendence. (note: dharādhara is also an epithet of Vishnu as preserver) - bīja - 'd'
suṣupti - known as sleep - Here it represents śakti - bīja - 'bha' (note: the vowel 'a' is omitted.)
amareśvara - Lord of Gods (Rudra) - bīja - 'u'
amṛta - toyabīja - water, syllable of offering signifying dative case (along with next letter) - 'v'
sūkṣmāmṛtā - Siva śakti - bīja - 'e'
praṇatyā (pra-Nati) - obeisance/surrender of body and mind with humility - 'namaḥ'
Altogether this reveals the Guru mantra - 'om vacadbhuve namaḥ' - 'Obeisance to that 'place' of Being from whence the Word arises (and sets)'
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is described as the secret import of this mantra, so it is understood by the Wise. 'In this world, there is no cognition which does not follow language. All knowledge appears as if permeated by words.' '...that which purifies the word is the attainment of the Supreme Self. He, who knows the truth of its origin, attains the immortal Brahman.' (from the Vākyapadiya of Bhartṛhari - Kanda 1)
- Translation from Sanskrit by MWright.
Chapter 18, verse 10 of śri Ramana Gita - the notes below are based on Ganapati Muni's 'gurumantrabhāṣyam', also known as 'anubandham 2' (Sri Ramana Gita, Tiruvannamalai; 6th Edition, 1977; p.116)
---
In this verse, Kavyakantha Ganapati Muni, as the Seer, reveals the bījākṣaras (seed syllables and/or letters) which make up Sri Ramana Maharshi's special mantra. This mantra reveals various correspondences and is said to be endowed with śakti (power).
vedādi - beginning (and end) of the Vedas - bīja - 'om'
pāka damana (indra) uttara - mightier than Indra, the subduer of the demon called Pāka (symbolic of the overcoming of ignorance). Sri Maharshi lies beyond even the Lord of the senses. Lord Indra's bīja is 'la'. When we go beyond this we find bīja - 'va'
kacchapeśa - kurmeśa - Lord of tortoises - supporter of the Earth and all its jīvas - Rudra - bīja - 'ca'
dharādhara - the Hill, Mount Arunachala - The Hill of Dawn. Supporter of the Universe. Epithet of Siva and symbolic of transcendence. (note: dharādhara is also an epithet of Vishnu as preserver) - bīja - 'd'
suṣupti - known as sleep - Here it represents śakti - bīja - 'bha' (note: the vowel 'a' is omitted.)
amareśvara - Lord of Gods (Rudra) - bīja - 'u'
amṛta - toyabīja - water, syllable of offering signifying dative case (along with next letter) - 'v'
sūkṣmāmṛtā - Siva śakti - bīja - 'e'
praṇatyā (pra-Nati) - obeisance/surrender of body and mind with humility - 'namaḥ'
Altogether this reveals the Guru mantra - 'om vacadbhuve namaḥ' - 'Obeisance to that 'place' of Being from whence the Word arises (and sets)'
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is described as the secret import of this mantra, so it is understood by the Wise. 'In this world, there is no cognition which does not follow language. All knowledge appears as if permeated by words.' '...that which purifies the word is the attainment of the Supreme Self. He, who knows the truth of its origin, attains the immortal Brahman.' (from the Vākyapadiya of Bhartṛhari - Kanda 1)
- Translation from Sanskrit by MWright.