1211. Cucumber detach from creeper.....

Our Former Prime Minister who hails from my state Karnataka in an interview last week stated that “The only thing I need now is an effortless death.” And a month back while campaigning for his daughter-in-law who was the candidate for by-election to Ramanagara Assembly segment we heard him say, “I’m stubborn. I want to have a peaceful death, but I have many pending works to be completed.”

The words like “Effortless Death” and “Peaceful Death” coming from an octogenarian could have a lot of meaning. Although these two words pushed me to contemplate on what could effortlessness and peaceful mean in terms of Death. Here is what I could understand: Before going into the details of death let’s know what life is. Life is a rhythmic dance between Velaa (Time) and Ojas (Vigour). Ayusa (Duration of Life) of an individual is Daivapara (Predestined) but can never be Pravyahrta (Foreseen). Generally Ayurveda says that a healthy human survives 1008 lunar phase which roughly amounts to 84 Solar Years. So the dance of Time and Vigour last for 84 years. 

 

In case Time elapses before Vigour for an individual, we call it Apamrutyu (Untimely Death), and if the Vigour vanishes earlier than Time it is termed as Sadaiva Shithila Avastha (Persistent Vegetative State). Owing to the Karunayogya (Pitiable) state of the Stula Deha (Physical Body) when Vigour declines earlier than Time, we say “Life is the unnatural state of Compulsion and Death is the natural state of Freedom.” Is life a forced occurrence then? No, not at all it is a celebration for those who perceive it from the Vedic point of view transcending the fear.

Untimely Death is an incidence which cannot be interfered with, but in regard to the fear of losing Vigour before the Time lapses we Bharatavasis are fortunate to have a remedy.  In the Rigveda Samhita the 59^th hymn of the 7^th mandala has a mantra visualised by Sage Vasishta. It is the Mrityunjaya Maha Mantra which was chanted by young Markandeya when Yama threw the Paasha (Noose) to pull the Jeeva away from the body. The Mrityunjaya Maha Mantra orchestrates the rhythm for the Time and Vigour to dance in tandem. This Maha Mantra prepares the Sukshma Deha (Subtle Body) to get ready to leave the body with ease. The mantra helps the seeker to transcend the fear of Death and help in easy transition of the Jeevatma.   

The Maha Mantra is:

      

Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushtivardhanam

Urvarukamiva Bandhanan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritat.

This chant is on Maharudradeva, the Three Eyes Lord. Who permeates and nourishes like fragrance. He nourishes us by granting us strength. This is a request to Him to release us from the bindings of death when the time comes. Just as the Cucumber is detached from bondage of being attached to the Creeper, to free us from all the bondage of Samsara (Worldly Existence), and not to separate us from immortality.