The Jiva Evolves

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Nirvana Shatkam

Nirvana Satkam, otherwise known as Atma Satkam, is a composition in verse by Bhagavan Sankaracarya. Although we call it a composition, it is actually a declaration of his own direct experience of the absolute Bliss of Self-realisation. These verses are to be meditated upon and directly experienced by every sincere seeker and student of Advaita Vedanta.

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Introduction

Nirvana Satkam means a set of six verses on the state of absolute peace, tranquillity, freedom and joy. Atma Satkam means six verses on the nature of the Self. One who is familiar with the Sanskrit language can easily grasp the meaning of these verses because of their simplicity. But to experience and revel in the Truth revealed therein, one has to go through many lives of spiritual practices (sadhana).

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Bhagavad-gita

The Bhagavad-gita has validated this by statements like: ‘Only after many lives does a man of knowledge reach me.' ‘After many lives of sadhana, people attain the supreme Truth.’

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Self-realisation

Man (jiva) has to evolve slowly through endless aeons (yugas) of sincere study and devoted self-application. Then, in one particular life, he gets totally purged of his ignorance and delusion. Such evolution culminates in the highest state of perfection – Self-realisation (brahmi-sthiti).

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Reflection on the Self

As these six verses represent the direct and intimate experience of such a Realised one, they will make an immediate impact on the pure minds of sincere seekers who have acquired a deep insight into Vedanta. Seekers who have the wealth of discrimination (viveka), dispassion (vairagya) and capacity for reflection on the Self (atma vicara), can by reading, directly appreciate their implications and, in their deep meditation, experience the subtle Truth indicated by these verses.

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Practice of Meditation

In the initial stages of the practice of meditation (dhyana abhyasa) the seeker (sadhaka) understands and appreciates the meaning of the words and sentences of the Master. As the deep import of the words is appreciated, the words themselves are laid aside. Once the essence of the words becomes an innermost conviction or well rooted feeling (bhavana) of the seeker, his mind will firmly abide in the Truth. This state of absorption is called Samadhi.

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Spiritual Journey

However, seekers in the earlier stages of their spiritual journey can also benefit from this text. They can, in their daily meditation (dhyana abhyasa), reflect on the meaning and significance of these verses and learn to abide in the Truth. Meditation alone is the means to the great experience of Truth (Samadhi). For the benefit of such seekers these verses will be explained in subsequent blogs.