Monday, April 16, 2018

Lopamudra

Lopamudra

Vedas are written in ancient Sanskrit, therefore, there will be conflict between shabdartha (the literal meaning) and bhavartha (spirit/secret meaning). One may miss the message if follow the literal meaning.

Rishi Agastya Maitravaruni had composed 234/238 slokas of hymn 165-199 of Mandal 1 of the Rigveda. 2 slokas of the hymn 179 were composed by his wife Lopamudra and 2 slokas of the hymn were composed by his celibate disciples. Mandal 1 and 10 are later addition to the oldest text of 2-9 Mandals of Rigveda and were likely to be composed around 1300 BC, the time of Sangam-2 in South India. Therefore, Rishi Agastya may look a mythological character, but the hymn in Rigveda and supportive evidences of tales spread across the country and around don’t deny his historical existence too.

He had composed prayers of the Gods present in various forms in nature: Marut ganas (God of Winds), Indra, Ashvins, the Heaven and the Earth, Varuna (God of Rains), Anna (God of Food), Agni (God of Fire), Brihaspati, the Sun, etc. In hymn 199 he talks about Ayurveda, describes the poisonous creatures over earth and the Madhula technique of removing the effect of poison in the presence of the Sun.

But in a book full of prayers to the Nature Gods, only 6 slokas of the hymn 179 devoted to Rati/love and made it romantic! When one prays someone, one praises him/her, starts offering, but when fell into love, may enter into the romance of Rati. Humans may follow celibacy but the hormones of the age force him/her to surrender to creation. Therefore, we read many stories of sexual acts of Babas and their women disciples.

But there are always secret/spiritual meanings behind the Srutis.

The first two verses are expressions of Lopamudra's passion filled approach to her husband, highlighting his old age and his coolness towards her charms. Lopamudra by composing just 2 slokas, deified love/rati an object of life. She reminds her aged husband about his role in creation.

पूर्वीरहं शरदः शश्रमाणा दोषा वस्तोरुषसो जरयन्तीः । मिनाति श्रियं जरिमातनूनामप्यू नु पत्नीर्वृषणो जगम्युः ॥ (Through many autumns have I toiled and laboured, at night and morn, through age-inducing dawnings. Old age impairs the beauty of our bodies. Let husbands still come near unto their spouses.)

She further reminds him that “For even those ancients who served truth and at one with the gods spoke truths, even they got out of harness for they did not reach the end. Wives should now unite with their husbands (to produce children)(ये चिद्धि पूर्व ऋतसाप आसन्त्साकं देवेभिरवदन्नृतानि । ते चिदवासुर्नह्यन्तमापुःसमू नु पत्नीर्वृषभिर्जगम्युः ॥)

What did Agastya reply?

न मृषा श्रान्तं यदवन्ति देवा विश्वा इत्स्पृधो अभ्यश्नवाव । जयावेदत्रशतनीथमाजिं यत्सम्यञ्चा मिथुनावभ्यजाव ॥
(Not in vain is the labor that the gods help. Let us take on all contenders; let us two win here the contest of a hundred stratagems, when a united couple we will drive on.)

नदस्य मा रुधतः काम आगन्नित आजातो अमुतः कुतश्चित् । लोपामुद्रा वृषणंनी रिणाति धीरमधीरा धयति श्वसन्तम् ॥ (when the ways of the river/lust is blocked, the power generated (physical and mental) through that restraint inspires the desire of getting a child. Lopamudra makes the bullish one flow out, but the husband who controls his breath can control his restlessness.)

The disciple/student overheard the conversation of the couple (knowledge of love) composed:
इमं नु सोममन्तितो हृत्सु पीतमुप ब्रुवे । यत्सीमागश्चकृमा तत्सु मृळतुपुलुकामो हि मर्त्यः ॥(The Soma (coldness) that is most near within my heart, and has been imbibed within the spirit, pardon us for any sins (listening the talk or getting excited) we have committed. Verily mortal man is full of longings.)

And at the end of the hymn, praise their Guru in following words:

अगस्त्यः खनमानः खनित्रैः प्रजामपत्यं बलमिच्छमानः । उभौ वर्णावृषिरुग्रःपुपोष सत्या देवेष्वाशिषो जगाम ॥
(Agastya with his research and new inventions (obtaining desired results)thus, nurtured both the groups: those engaged in producing children and those getting power through living a life of restraints (celibates). He arrived at his hopes, which came true among the gods.). Human lives in restrain can perform better in research and innovation!

Each one of us is made of two forces of the nature, the Purusha (male) and the Prakriti (female). We are made from Agastya and Lopamudra. Lopa means lost/disappeared and mudra means beauties or postures/strength. Agastya is ageing and Lopamudra is disappearing, and all of us are passing through the mental war of running after the lust or applying restraint over the lust. Life is passing through the cycle of childhood, youth, adult and old age. Each stage has Karmas link with body cycles governed by the hormones. Therefore, Agastya has to serve the purpose of life before the Lopamudra disappears. (Lost time never returns). The objective of Rati/Sex is for reproduction (through spouse), not to make sex a mean of pleasure, otherwise, the society without restraints can turn into a society of criminals and rapists.

Before Mudra (beauty/strength) disappears (Lopa), use the age (Agastya) for the betterment of your family, friends, society, country, whom you love (Rati) the most. Lol 😆

Punamchand
16 April 2018

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