Manasa Sarovar-The Abode Of Girija

By Staff

Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 17:46

The place where Hymavathi - the mother of the universe live is called Himalayas. The beauty of the Himalayas can never be expressed in adequate words. It is an experience by itself. However to give a glimpse of its splendour, an attempt is made here by giving an inadequate description. One feels excited beyond expression at the thought of seeing the Himalayas. When one beholds the mountains rising peak upon peak against the crimson splendour of a setting sun, one feels a soul-stirring elation sweep over and one can only stand trembling with the sheer intensity of one's feeling. One feels thrilled at seeing the mountain peaks, some still showing patches of white and others covered with white virgin snow, untrampled by human feet and watching a fall cascading down the hill side to join the swift flowing waters of the river.

When the heavy morning mist arises and the sun comes out, it is as if the hills are lighted. The sun and the clouds cast a pageant of light and shadow over the landscape. While the water of Manasa Sarovar beside which one sees, the glory varies from blue - vivid as the Madonna's robe, to the cool depth of a great emerald.

The wind near the lake takes one by surprise. It appears as if it would carry the person off one's feet. It sweeps the cloak around the person, the sharp sting in its violence makes one feel as if the person is dressed in paper, but when one looks at the breathtaking beauty of the lake, one forgets everything.
When a person stands on the hill, the road winds downwards to the Manasa Sarovar bound by mountains, Mount Kailas, the steep sides reflects in the still waters, the ray of the setting sun points to the centre of the Sarovar, like a finger of light, turning the water to sparkling gold.

The wild beauty of the whole scene, the dark bareness of the mountains, the depth, length and breadth of the Sarovar and the golden beauty of the ray of the sun make an impression on one's mind so that it is impossible to forget it and as stated earlier it is an experience to be felt and enjoyed.

When one turns to catch the scenery, one sees another lake of equal dimension like Manasa Sarovar but the water of that lake is continuously disturbed. Hence it is called Raaksha stal. Though the lake Raakshastal lies at the bottom of Mount Kailas itself, it does not reflect the mountain as Manasa Sarovar does. Our mind is compared to these two lakes. Our mind with continuous disturbances with different kinds of attraction, desires, ambitions etc is like Raakshastal and hence cannot reflect God within, though he is the Antaryamin.

When our mind becomes calm without any desires, attractions, ambitions etc. it becomes like Manasa Sarovar and reflects Mount Kailas, the Antaryamin. But how to convert Raakshastal into Manasa Sarovar? Here then spiritual discipline helps. Our mind has a doll to play - that is the body. The mind knows that if the body dances continuously it falls. So everyday there is rest given to the body naturally in the form of sleep to carry out the allotted work, the next day. When this happens we say that we had a sound sleep. The mind is then absent in deep sleep.

When this becomes natural to us in the waking state, the mind then is still and calm like Manasa Sarovar. The restless mind can be made to rest with a divine name or a Mantra. The intellect is to keep a watch. The divine name has a special power that watches both the mind and the intellect and makes the disturbances disappear. When the disturbances disappear the Raakshastal becomes Manasa Sarovaar, where the Antaryamin gets reflected.

Let Mukunda or Gouranga bless us all and make our mind Manasa Sarovar and permit us to get at least a glimpse of Him. If not, I know, Mother Hymavathi will be more lenient with us.

About the author

Padma Bai.R.S

This article is written by Padma Bai.R.S for Vedanta Vani, Chinmaya Mission.