by Sri Bmal Mohanty
VOL No. 19
May. 2002

SYMBOLISM ASSISTS UNDERSTANDING

"Based on the lectures by Sri Bimal Mohanty"

This subject of symbolism in Sanatana dharma is often a most misunderstood subject. Those who take a superficial view of this, often find it a convenient argument to decry the profound philosophy of Adveitavad, the single consciousness concept that is the truth in every serious religion. The Sanatana Dharma followers are degraded as multi God worshipers - a kind of people who put up any stone, object or phenomenon and start treating it as God and worshipping it.

According to them, this detracts men from the one-lord concept. However, any serious student of the sanatana dharma and the symbolism associated with it will quickly know that exactly the opposite is true.

Much before any organised religion saw the light of the day, the sanatana philosophy had discovered the logic of one omnipotent, omniscient, non-dual consciousness which is the source of everything.
 
Ekam Brmham param bramham dvitiyam naiva vidyate

Satyam satye pratisthitam jah pasyati sah pasyati

(There is one Bramhan - The Supreme Bramhan without a second. The truth is truth's own proof. Those who see it see it thus.)

But expounders of this philosophy also knew that realisation of this profound truth, will not come easily to the common man. This will need constant reminding, churning in mind, study and practice so that the truth can sink in.

Therefore, whatever was seen, whatever was thought, whatever was done, whatever created, existed or lost, they gave it a divine symbol, representing something or other of that all encompassing identity- the Param Bramhan. The idea is, everything that we do, think or desire, all should remind us of that Parambramhan continuously and unfailingly. If I touch something I must touch the divine. If I see something, I must realise that am seeing the divine . If I do any work, it must be the work for the divine. Nothing is outside divinity.

This is not simply confined to objects, but actions and phenomenons and happenings around us, all must point to the Lord or the Parambramhan.

When I say Isavasya sarvamidam - the Lord pervades everything, or Vasudeva sarvamiti - the Lord is there in everything, Mamayoni mahat bramha - I am the great source of all beings, these should not remain as utterances for the benefit of high intellectuals hidden in the pages of Upanishad or Bhagavad Gita. What good will it do then?

This must be understood and realised by all at the common level. And if it is to be understood by the common man, then it should also be told in the common parlance.

And to do that, what could be a better idea than to create symbols, ascribe a meaning and point them out so that it sinks deep into the memory? Once the seed is planted, how and what shape the tree will grow into is a matter of sadhana, spiritual practice.

When the BramhaSutras declare "Janmadyasya Yatah", (All that come to being, sustained and dissolve have that one single source i.e. Bramhan), it not only points to that single entity but forcefully tells us to look for that God The Bramhan only in everything.