Gurudevi Nirmalananda chants the Maha Mrtyunjaya Mantra on Track 2 of her “Embodied Infinity” album.
This is a chant to Shiva for healing, protection and liberation from death and suffering. It’s often called the “Great Death-Conquering Mantra.” I have learned experientially that this chant dispels fear.
I am profoundly affected by her continuous chanting of the Sanskrit:
Om tryambakam yajaamahe. Sugandhim pushti-vardhanam. Urvaaruka-miva bandhanaan. Mrityor muksheeya maamritaat.
Her English translation is:
Om — I sing your praise, Shiva, the three-eyed lord. You are the the Captivating one who is the basis of the world.
I’m overwhelmed by my own limitations, worldliness and pain. Make me free from death and fear; grant me the nectar of the knowing of my own immortal essence.
Listening to Gurudevi, I settle into a timeless dimension of wellbeing within. I always chant a few rounds before I teach my Svaroopa® yoga class or begin a private therapeutic session. Settling inward, I become more present and have greater clarity.
Having recently traveled with Gurudevi to Ganeshpuri, the hometown of her Guru, Baba Muktananda, my husband and I continue monthly online pujas (ceremonies) with a Brahman priest there. He chants 108 repetitions of this mantra.
Listening to his chanting, I experience a yogic surrender. I merge into the vast spaciousness of Consciousness Itself. When I then return to listening to Gurudevi’s recording of Maha Mrtyunjaya Mantra, I begin to melt with the first ring of her chime.
Again and again, I bow to Gurudevi, who gives us so many opportunities to experience Self within.
Breathing is a sacred act. Every inhalation is an infusion of Divine energy into your body-mind complex. Breathing is a sacred act.
We so easily see the sacredness of life in nature, in the ocean, lake, river, in the trees, wildflowers, critters. We are used to looking outward to find the sacred.
Yet the sacredness of life is most easily found within. A simple and accessible access point is your own breath. And the pause between your breaths. God is breathing you into being…
The impulse that starts each breath comes from your spine. Technically, it comes from your tailbone and travels, like a flash of lightning, up your spine to trigger your breath to move.
This energy of aliveness moves your breath, makes your heart beat, makes your eyes work, your ears work – it all comes from your spine. Called prana, it comes from Kundalini, the energy of Consciousness that arises within to awaken you to your own sacredness.
Breathing is a sacred act, a sacrament. It pervades your life, which is also sacred. But you are usually oblivious to this. You’re not paying attention to your breath, nor to any of the other sacred realities – inside and outside.
Worse, you compartmentalize everything into categories — not-sacred and sacred. So singing “Halleluia, Halleluia” is sacred, but singing “Row Row Row Your Boat” is not. Sweeping the floor at the Ashram is sacred work, seva – but sweeping the floor at home is chores.
Every religion gives us sacred acts to perform. From the sacraments of Christianity to the samskaras of Hinduism, to the ceremonies of Judaism and the five pillars of Islam – they all say: “Do these things, they are sacred actions.”
What does that mean?
It means you participate in an outward act, maybe a great event or perhaps a simple lighting of a flame – the outward act is a visible sign of an inner experience, invoking Divine Grace to open you up.
How wonderful! You can do something on the outside to experience spiritual upliftment on the inside.
In other words, it’s not about the outer action. It’s about the inner experience…
Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Yoga (The Yoga of Kingly Science)
Here, Krishna reveals the supreme knowledge and the ultimate mystery of devotion. He gives the insights of Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion.
He displays His supreme glories, which evoke awe and devotion. He makes it clear that this path is not only simple, but also the most enjoyable, a direct way to attain Divine union.
Krishna explains His omnipresent nature, disclosing that He is both the creator and sustainer of the universe. He exists in both the manifest and unmanifest forms, pervading everything that exists. Through steadfast devotion and faith, one can surpass ignorance and understand “The Divine Essence.”
Showing devotion to Krishna1
Devotion is not tied to elaborate rituals or grand offerings, He explains. Even the simplest offerings — a leaf, a flower, fruit, or water — when presented with love, devotion, and sincerity, are accepted by Him. This simplicity underscores the accessibility of the Divine connection regardless of any status or capability.
It further reveals supreme impartiality, stating that the Divine essence is equally disposed to all beings, but is particularly drawn to those who surrender with wholehearted devotion.
Here Krishna also speaks about selfless action as a means of liberation. He urges dedicating all actions, intentions, and thoughts to Him, thus freeing yourself from attachment. By this, you are freed from the cycle of karma, escaping the cycles of birth and death.
He invites Arjuna and all seekers to see Him in every aspect of life, and to perform all duties with detachment. This ensures inner peace and spiritual liberation. Krishna also explains the eternal truth of His Divine nature and the connection between all beings.
Krishna explaining to Arjuna about knowledge combined with experience2
In essence, this chapter is an inspirational and intimate guide for cultivating devotion, surrendering to the eternal essence, and faith in the eternal essence. It encourages living a life of harmony with the Divine and finding liberation through unwavering love for the eternal essence, thereby achieving the highest spiritual fulfillment.
The Dialog
Krishna says, “You shall be freed from all evil when you have knowledge combined with experience.
“People who have no faith in this dharma return to the path of rebirth, fraught with death, without attaining Me. The entire universal manifestation is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest form. All beings exist in Me, but I am not enclosed by them. And yet, they do not abide in Me knowingly.
“Behold the mystery of My Divine yoga energy. Although I am the Creator and Sustainer of all living beings, I am not influenced by them or by material nature. All living beings rest always in Me.
“At the end of a cosmic cycle, all beings enter into My nature. I send them forth again at the beginning of the next cycle. Animating My nature, the whole cosmic order is manifested again and again, and annihilated at the end by My will. These actions do not bind Me. I remain unattached to them, as one unconcerned. Under My supervision, nature produces the moving and the unmoving, making the world revolve.
“Fools disregard Me when I wear a human form. They cherish vain hopes, perform vain actions, pursue vain knowledge, and behave senselessly. But the Great Souls, knowing their Divine nature, worship Me with undisturbed minds. They worship Me with love and unwavering devotion.
“I am the ritual, the sacrifice, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I also am the clarified butter, the fire and the offering. I am the Father of this universe, the Mother, the support and the Grandsire. I am the object of knowledge, the purifier and the syllable Om.
Jñana yaj~na3
Others also, offering the wisdom-sacrifice (jnana yaj~na), worship Me, knowing me as the all-faced, the one without a second, diverse in many, and in the universal form.
“I am also the Rig, the Sama and the Yajur Vedas. I am the goal, the support, the Lord, the witness, the abode, the shelter, the friend, the origin, the dissolution, the foundation, the treasure-house and the imperishable seed. I give heat; I hold back and give rain. I am the immortality and also death. Both existence and non-existence are in Me.
“The knowers of the Vedas, the drinkers of soma, purified of sins, worshipping Me by sacrifices, pray for the way to heaven. Having attained the world of Indra, they enjoy the heavenly pleasures of the Devas. When their merit becomes exhausted, they enter the world of mortals. They go and return endlessly. They have no liberation. Therefore, through the Vedic principles, they achieve only temporary happiness.
“To those who worship Me alone, meditating on their identity with Me and ever devoted to Me, I secure what is not already possessed and preserve what they already possess. Even those devotees who, endowed with faith, worship other gods, worship Me alone, though in a wrong way. I alone am the enjoyer and only object of all sacrifices. The worshippers of the gods go to them. My devotees come to Me.
Devotion to Krishna while eating4
“Whosoever offers Me, with love and devotion, a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I accept. All that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and all that you give in charity, as well as the austerities you perform, should be done as an offering to Me. Therefore, you shall be free from the bondage of actions, which bear good or evil results.
“I am the same toward all beings. To Me there is none hateful or dear.
But those who worship Me with devotion are in Me and I am in them. Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he worships Me with unswerving devotion, he is to be considered saintly because he has formed the right resolution. He quickly becomes righteous and attains lasting peace.
“Those who worship Me with devotion are in Me & I am in them”5
“My true devotee never perishes. Women, different castes, those who take refuge in Me, though they be of sinful birth, attain the supreme goal. Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, be devoted to Me, bow down to Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me.”
Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Yoga of the Divine Glories)
The magnificence of Krishna’s Divine manifestations is revealed here. He begins with emphasizing His position as the ultimate source of all creation and knowledge.
Krishna explains that the wise who comprehend His Divine nature are freed from delusions. He elaborates on the supreme aspects of His transcendental nature, which inspire devotion and lead to liberation for those who meditate on them.
Acknowledging Krishna’s Supreme nature, Arjuna asks how to always focus on Him. He asks for a detailed answer.
Krishna further elaborates on His omnipresence by identifying Himself with the most glorious and powerful aspects of creation. He provides a long list of His glorious manifestations in the perceived universe. Krishna tells Arjuna to discern His Divine essence in every element of existence.
Dedicate thoughts to Krishna6
Reiterating the transformative power of devotion and surrender, Krishna explains that those who dedicate their actions, thoughts and emotions to Him become free from the bondage of karma. He assures that He resides in the hearts of all beings, fulfilling the desires of those who approach Him with faith and love.
The chapter concludes with Krishna declaring that His Divine glories are infinite, that what He has revealed to Arjuna is only a mere fragment of His boundless reality. All magnificence and splendor in the world stem from His Divine energy.
He invites Arjuna and all beings to recognize and embrace the Divine presence in all aspects of life. Thus is explained the power and fruit of bhakti yoga. This chapter serves as a profound revelation of Krishna’s Divine nature, inspiring devotion, and offering a path to liberation through love, faith and surrender.
The Dialog
Krishna says, “Neither the hosts of heaven nor great Rishis know My origin. Among mortals, he who knows Me is undeluded and freed from all sins.
“All the qualities, intellect, knowledge, clarity of thought, forgiveness, truthfulness, control over the senses and mind, joy and sorrow, birth and death, fear and courage, non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, and infamy arise from me.
“The seven sages, before them the four others (Brahma’s sons) and the Manus are born out of My mind. All creatures in these planets descend from them. He who knows in truth this glory and power of Mine acquires unshakable devotion. I am the Source of All; from Me everything evolves.
“To they who are always steadfast, worshipping Me with love, I bestow the yoga of discernment, by which they come to Me. Solely out of compassion for them, dwelling in their hearts, I destroy the darkness born of ignorance by the luminous lamp of knowledge.”
Arjuna says, “You are the Supreme Brahman, the Divine sages have proclaimed. Now You Yourself say the same to me. I believe all this which You say to me as true.” Then Arjuna asks, “You should tell me about Your Divine powers, and how may I know you. Is it by constant meditation? In what aspects or things are You to be contemplated by me? Tell me Your powers and glories.”
Krishna answers, “I will detail My Divine glories in their prominence, though there is no end to My extent. I am the Self in the hearts of all creatures. I am the beginning, middle, and end. Among the Adityas, I am Vishnu, among the luminaries, the radiant sun. I am Marichi among the Maruts.
“I am the Self in the hearts of all creatures”7
“Among stars I am the moon. Among the Vedas I am the Sama Veda. Among the gods I am Indra. Among the senses I am the mind, and in living beings I am intelligence. Among the Rudras I am Shiva; among the Yakshas and Rakshasas, I am Kubera. Among the Vasus, I am the fire.
“Among the mountains I am Meru. Among the priests I am the chief, Brihaspati. Among the army generals I am Skanda. Among lakes I am the ocean. Among the great sages, I am Bhrigu. Among words I am the transcendental ‘Om.’ Among sacrifices I am the chanting of silent mantra repetition, japa.
“Among immovable things I am the Himalayas. Among the trees I am the ashvattha (peepul). Among the Divine sages I am Narada. Among Gandharvas I am Chitraratha. Among the perfected, I am the sage Kapila. I am Ucchaisravas among horses. Among lordly elephants, I am the Airavata and among men, the monarch.
Krishna explains, “I am…”8
“Among weapons I am the thunderbolt. Among cows, I am the wish-fulfilling cow Kamadhenu. I am Manmadha, the god of love. Among serpents, I am Vasuki. I am Ananta among the Nagas. I am Varuna among dwellers. Among the ancestors, I am Aryaman. I am Yama, the God of death, among those who practice self-control. I am Prahlad among the demons.
“Among the reckoners, I am time. Among beasts, I am the lion and Garuda among birds. Among the purifiers, I am the wind. I am Rama among the warriors. Among the fish, I am the shark. Among the streams, I am the Ganga. Among creations I am the beginning, the middle and the end.
“Among the sciences I am the science of the Self. I am the logic in disputation. Among the alphabet, I am the letter a, and the dual among the compound words. I am verily the inexhaustible everlasting time. I am the fruits of actions, having faces in all directions. I am all-devouring death, and prosperity of those who are prosperous.
Krishna showing divine opulences, including everlasting time & I am Arjuna9
“Among feminine qualities, I am the fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, firmness and forgiveness. Among the hymns also, I am the Brihatsaman; among mantras, I am Gayatri. Among the months, I am Margashirsha and, among seasons, the flowery spring.
“I am the gambling of the cheaters. I am the splendor of the splendid, and I am victory. I am determination and I am the goodness of the good. Among Yadavas, I am Vasudeva. Among the Pandavas, I am Arjuna. Among sages, I am Vyasa. Among poets, I am Usana, the seer. Among the punishers, I am the scepter.
“Among those who seek victory I am statesmanship and also, among secrets, I am silence. I am the knowledge among knowers. Whatever is the seed of all beings, I am that also. There is no being, whether moving or unmoving, that can exist without Me.
“There is no end to My Divine glories; this is merely a brief listing. Whatever glorious, beautiful or mighty being exists anywhere, it has sprung from but a spark of My splendor. With a single fragment of Myself, I stand supporting the whole universe.”
