Re: OmkAra vimAnam
From the Bhakti List Archives
• March 19, 2001
At 07:27 PM 3/19/01 +0530, you wrote: >Dear Satakopan > >Your interpretation is interesting. >However, I would like to share a view expressed by a scholar some 25 years back. >Even physically, the garbhagruham is in a shape of the letter "OM" - >written not in devanagari but in grantha script.... You will first have a semi-circular background and a straight long front portion. Dear Sriman Santhanam: Thanks very much for your note. There is indeed an enormous symbolism backed up by Vaasthu Saasthram in construction of the PraNavAkAra VimAnam . The great experts in Silpa Saasthram believe that "Temple is not merely a Home of God , but a Form of God as well". They practise their craft under the credo: " PrasAdham PURUSHAM mathvaa poojayEth manthra vitthama:" (meaning ): Temple building (Vimaanam et al) is an embodied Energy . This is the essence of Vaasthu Saasthram . >From the Sthupam to the basement of the VimAnam , these scholars in Silpa Saasthram match the limbs of the Lord . The VimAnam is made up of the following parts from kalasam/SthUpi to the foundation in a descending oder: **Stupi(Hair Lock of the Lord) **Sikharam (Mukham ) **netram /side features of Shikaram( Eyes&Face ) **Galam /connection of Sikaram to Prastaram(Neck) **Prastaram ( Shouder of the Lord) **Padha Vargam ( Arms Navel and down to the thighs) **AdhishtAnam (Knee Cap) **Upapeetam (Foot of the Lord/Thiruvadi) Thus , all features/aspects of the VimAnam from Finial to Basement/Foundation of the sacred Vimanams are accounted for . The shape of the VimAnams , PraNavAkruthi , Gaja prushta Vimaanams and others take this basic shilpa Saasthram rules into account.These VimAnams are Temples of Space Science as pointed out by none other than the famous Sthapathi, Sri Vai.GaNapathi Sthapathi involved with the recent Srirangam SamprOkshaNam .The Temple , its VimAnam are vast explorations of Vaasthu purusha maNdalam (VasthurEva Vaasthu).The "vibrant stillness" of these VimAnams and their sanctity is ancient. There are similar aspects to the construction &Consecration of the ArchA Moorthy that is beyond the scope of this note. Coming back to the shape of the Sriranga VimAnam and its kinship to Pranava Aakruthi, You are correct in Your observation. When One combines the VimAnam at Srirangam and the Munn MaNtapam , then alone , we can see the form of the Tamil letter " O " to link the shape to PraNavam .This is a Valampuri or Valam Suzhi VimAnam like the trunk of an elephant. It is also understood as the blossoming and protrusion of the combined essence of "Oli" ( primordial Sound ) and "oLi" (Svayam JyOthi of the Lord )taking the shape of PraNavAkAra VimAnam.That is where we hear the dhivya Naadhams of His sanchAram with His Paadhukais (Swamy NammAzhwAr ). The whole Garbha Graham with its extension ( Munn MaNTapam ) has to be taken into account to visualize the Tamil letter, " O " , which is formed from a symmetrical ellipse with extended legs on its incomplete sides. "ParamANurithi prOktham YogiNAm dhrushti ghOcahram" Such is indeed the greatnes of the PraNavAkAra VimAnam that is casting its rejuvenating shade both at Srirangam and at Pomona , NY. Under this Sacred and ancient VimAnam rests our Lord of Lords , Sri RanganAthA saluted by Swamy Desikan in the first slOkam of Sri Bhagavath DhyAna SopAnam: "anthar jyOthi: kimapi yaminAm anjanam yOgadhrushtE: chinthA rathnam Sulabhamiha na: Siddhi MokshAnuroopam DhinAnATa vysanasamanam DhaivathaanAm dhivyam chakshu: SruthiparishadhAm dhrusyathE RangamadhyE" (Meaning by Dr.V.N.VedAntha Desikan Swamy):It is a unique effulgence that Yogis alone can mentally experience the vision of ! It is the magic colyrium that brings a thing perceptible to the ocular vision as well ! It is the veritable ChithAmaNi (gem )that can grant one wants, at once and easily; be it mundane wish or other- worldly enjoyment; It is capable of eradicating the grief of the poor and helpless ;It is the God of all Gods ! It can be called the eyes of the vedAs in their legion! What is IT ? It is the Lord(RanganAtha) you can see in the heart of Srirangam shrine (under the praNavAkAra VimAnam) ! SrimathE RanganAyaki SamEtha Sri RanganAtha SwaminE Nama: Jayathu Jayathu Sri ranganAtha: ! Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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