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Mantra Pushpam(MP) : Introduction

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • May 14, 1996 


Dear Members of the Prapatti Group:

Here is a quick introduction to  the MP, 
 which is part of the Surya Namaskara Prasnam
 section of The Taittiriya Aranyakam. This 
Prasnam( Vedic Lesson ) as I indicated in an
earlier posting is  also known as Arunopanishad 
by Sri Vidya Worshippers. 

There are 32 Anuvakas (Sections) in the Surya Namaskara
Prasnam. The number of Panchasats (Individual Mantras) 
in this Prasnam add up to 130 . The eight Anuvaka is 
a prelude to the Mantra Pushpam that is housed in the 
22nd Anuvakam.  

The  Anuvakams preceding  the eigth deal with the measures of time.
The eigth Anuvakam starts off by stating that all of the 
units of "Time" enter into "water" ,which inturn 
enters into Agni , which ultimately  merges with
the energy of Surya. Eight forms of Agnis are then 
described. 

IN THE 22ND ANUVAKA DEALING WITH MANTRA PUSHPAM,
"WATER" IS RECOGNIZED AS THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL OF
"ELEMENTS". THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN "WATER"  AND MOON ,
AGNI, SURYA , VAYU AND STARS IS DESCRIBED AND SALUTED.
AT THE END OF THIS ANUVAKA, THE RECITER VISUALIZES THE
ENTIRE WORLD AS FLOATING IN THE IMMENSITY OF 
"WATER" .THE MANTRA PUSHPAM RIKS ARE LINKED WITH
THE MOSRT SACRED ARUNA KETUKAM RITUAL.

THERE ARE 12 PANCHASATA(INDIVIDUAL MANTRA/RIKS)
IN THE 22ND ANUVAKAM .  I  WILL ATTEMPT TO TRNSLATE 
THESE MANTRAS LATER.

VEDA PURUSHAAYA NAMA:

V.Sadagopan