Happy Maha Shiva Ratri -
On Meditation Practice
Sant Mat Fellowship:
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A forwarded Hindi and English Post By Pravesh K. Singh is below.
Best Wishes to All on the Highly Auspicious Day of "Maha Shiva Ratri" (12th February 2010)
Lord Shiva in Meditation Posture
Lord Shiva is also called "Maha Yogeeshwara" (Lord of Great Yogis). He is often shown sitting in the posture of a meditating Yogi with another eye, shown to be located in centre of the two eyes, known as the Shiva Netra (The Third Eye of Shiva), the Third Eye, etc. In fact, this Third Eye is present in each one of us but is normally in a closed or shut position. It can be opened by practicing "DrishTi Yoga" or the Meditation on the Divine Light which consists of sitting in a proper posture with the trunk, neck and head held in a vertical straight line without causing any extra tension, closing both eyes ("amA drishTi") and looking intently in the front as taught by an adept Guru who himself has mastered the art. As the Third Eye or the "Ajnaa Chakra" is opened, one enters from the realm of darkness into that of Light, from the "pinD"(body or micro cosmos) into the "brahmAnD" (macro cosmos) as if the doors of the divine or heavenly kingdom have been opened to the practitioner. Thus each one of us has the potential to, and can, become Shiva. The spiritual journey thus starts from here and practicing the Meditation on the Divine Sound (Innumerable Anahad Sounds and the Quintessential Primeval anAhat Sound) culminates in the Soundless Supreme State where not only God is realized but the practitioner (soul) merges into Him to be one with Him, and thus transcends the painful cycle of transmigration.
As a special on the occasion of Maha Shiva Ratri below are presented a few of the shlokas (hymns) from the sacred book "Shiva Samhita" which consists of discourses of none other than Lord Shiva himself. – Hymns have been excerpted from the holy book titled "Satsang Yoga, Part – I" authored by Maharshi Mehi Paramhans ji Maharaj (28.04.1885 – 08.06.1986).
- English Translation by Pravesh K. Singh
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1. "nAsanam siddha sadrisham na kumbhaka sadrisham balam |
na khecharI samA mudrA na nAd sadrisho layah ||"
[There is no sitting posture as appropriate as "siddhAsan", no power as mighty as "kumbhak", no bodily posturing style as good as "khecharI" and no immersion, absorption or merger as great as "nAd" (Divine Sound).]
2. "yah karoti sadA dhyAnamAjnApadmasya gopitam |
pUrva janma kritam karma vinashyedavirodhatah ||"
[ He who secretly practices meditation on the AjnA chakra (shiva netra, Third Eye, Tenth Door, til dwAr, shaharag, sushumnA, etc.) regularly -- the fruits or effects of actions performed by him in his previous births get destroyed, unobstructed or smoothed.]
3. "iha sthitah sadA yogI dhyAnam kuryyAnnirantaram |
TadA karoti pratimAm prati jApamanarthawat ||"
[His worshipping the idols and chanting (external chanting of mantras) become futile or meaningless, if he incessantly practices this meditation (on the AjnA chakra) daily.]
4. "yAni yAni hi proktAni panch padme falAni wai |
tAni sarvAni sutarAmetajgyAnAdbh avanti hi ||"
[All the benefits of meditating on the five chakras (namely mUlAdhAr chakra, swAdhishthAn chakra, manipUr chakra, vishuddhi chakra and anAhat chakra), which have been described earlier, become naturally, automatically available, or are naturally acquired by meditation on this "AjnA kamal" or AjnA chakra.]
5. "shirah kapAle rUdrAksham vivaram chintayed yadA |
tadA jyotih prakAshah syad vidyut punjasamaprabhah ||
etat chintana mAtrena pApAnAm sankshayo bhavet|
DurAchAroapi purusho labhate paramam padam ||"
[On practicing focused meditation at the hole of the Shiva's eye in the forehead, glittering Light similar to a dazzling beam of lightning is seen inside. A mere reflection on this annihilates all sins and even an evil person thus attains to the Supreme Bliss by practicing this meditation.]
