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One of the most beautiful chants of Shiva, the deity that represents the one Consciousness in Hindu mythology is called Nirvana Shatkam or Six Verses on Self Realization. It is a doctrine on self-realization or awareness of oneself as the all pervasive Consciousness. Consciousness is that primordial energy from which all phenomena emanates. In this chant the seeker understands that he is not this finite, physical form, but comes to identify with the ever blissful, omnipotent and omnipresent Consciousness.
In the first verse, the seeker loses his sense of “I” and realizes he is not the mind, the intellect, the senses, or the elements. As at the end of every verse, it ends with the seeker’s identification with Consciousness.
In the second verse, he realizes he is not his body, the components or functions of his body.
In the third verse, he realizes he is not his feelings or emotions.
In the fourth verse, he realizes he is not the doer or those things that sustain him.
In the fifth verse, he realizes he was never born, so will never die, no identification with roles, or distinctions.
In the sixth verse, he realizes he is the formless, all pervasive, the eternal Consciousness and bliss.
The sound track of the video is from the CD: Sacred Chants of Shiva, and there is another beautiful version on Satsang.
Here is a translation from the Sanskrit:
1. I am neither the conscious nor the unconscious mind, neither intelligence nor ego, neither the ears nor the tongue nor the senses of smell and sight, neither ether nor air nor fire nor water nor earth. I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva! I am Shiva!
2. I am neither the breath nor the five vital airs, neither the seven body components nor the five sheaths, neither speech nor hands nor feet nor anus nor sex organ. I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva! I am Shiva!
3. Neither aversion nor attachment, neither avarice nor delusion, neither arrogance nor the feeling of jealousy, at all, neither righteousness nor wealth nor pleasure are mine. I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva! I am Shiva!
4. I am neither virtue nor vice, neither pleasure nor pain, neither mantra nor sacred place, neither Vedas nor sacrifices. I am neither the food nor the eater nor the act of eating. I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva! I am Shiva!
5. Neither death nor doubt nor caste distinction, neither father nor mother nor even birth are mine, at all. I am neither brother nor friend neither Guru nor disciple, indeed. I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva! I am Shiva!
6. I am without thought, without form, I am all-pervasive, I am everywhere, yet I am beyond all senses. I am neither detachment nor salvation nor anything that could be measured. I am consciousness and bliss. I am Shiva! I am Shiva!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
That is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi Miruh,
We can keep all of these aspects in mind and then keep none of them. That’s the whole point of consciousness. We remember what we are in the stream of consciousness and then we must forget it, letting all of what we know become what we are – spiritual beings having a human experience.
Great post.
Dear Seeker,
I agree these are some of the most beautiful words to contemplate and live by.
Happy peaceful weekend!
Well said Alexys, “We can keep all of these aspects in mind and then keep none of them.”
This chant is a classic example of Vedantic thought-not this, not this and of the Shavite thought: Everything is Consciousness.
To juxtapose these two opposing yet similar philosophies is the paradox of our humanity.
Warm peaceful cheers.
I just love every word that falls from your pen my sister,
Beautiful, beautiful post,
With love, Maithri
Maithri, may you always rest in your true nature, soaring in eternal blissful beauty and serenity even in the midst of all the sorrows you encounter. This is my blessing for you my brother!
As you connect with the power of love, you detach from human-created labels for religions. You rediscover the essence of spirit, and move to experience timeless, free-flowing energy in forms that surround you and penetrate the soul.
Very beautiful post. When we drop “everything” then we can get into bliss.
Hello Liara,
This is why we are here, you said it so well, “…You rediscover the essence of spirit, and move to experience timeless, free-flowing energy in forms that surround you and penetrate the soul.”
Thanks for your wisdom!
Peaceful Cheers.
Hello Vinod,
I prefer the way of Shaivism, to see the bliss of everything. The non-duality of Vedanta gets to the same blissful place, by first dropping everything. It is just a manner of speaking, which I think is the root of the arguments for both schools of thought.
Thanks for your gracious presence here!
Peaceful cheers.
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