Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Agni-Durga suktam

jātavedase sunavāma somam arātīyato ni dahāti vedaĥ
sa naĥ parşhat ati durgāņi vishvā nāvēva sindhum duritātyagniĥ

--mArIcha Kashyapa, Rig-Veda I.99
(taken from http://www.vedah.com/org2/audio_vis/selected_rv/agni_durga.asp)

This verse is chanted at the beginning of the durga suktam and is dedicated to Agni, not Durga.

The meaning and explanation of the verse (from VI. A Hundred Mantras, Rig Veda Mantra Samhita):
1."We press Soma to the knower of all births, one who consumes the knowledge of the enemies."
2."Let Agni carry us across all obstructions (durgāņi), like a boat over the river."

Agni is the seer, knower of all. It lies in his power to render us all help as a result of his foreknowledge. Knowledge is a most priceless possession of man and without it, he is rudderless in the sea of life. To Him, says the rishi, let us offer our choicest gift, the very sap of life, the distilled juice of Ananda, the Soma, so that pleased, he would transport us over all the eddies and whirls, tides and waves of obstruction and misfortune that beset life.

"Like a boat across the waters" is a favorite image of the ancients. It is repeated in the upanishads, and it also finds mention in Tantric texts.
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regards,
Kedar.

PS:Note the interpretations of the word "Soma " till now:
While Indologists have theorised it is an intoxicating drink made from a plant and ritualists have said that it is a plant used in yagnas, spiritualists like Aurobindo have stressed that Soma is actually the delight, "the Ananda", the sap of existence got from the tree of life.

1 comment:

Sketchy Self said...

Brilliant -- Soma as the "sap of life"...what an offering!