Sri Suktam Explained - Part 7

चन्द्रां – सर्वाह्लादकारिणीम्

Why is Chandra called Chandra? The root of the word explains it:
चदि आह्लादने – 'Chadi' means to give pleasure or happiness.

When you look at the moon, you feel a pleasant, cool sensation and happiness. The moon gives ahlada (delight); hence, it is called Chandra.

This is how Sanskrit names work. Every term has significance based on its nature, what it represents, or its properties. Sanskrit does not have arbitrary, meaningless words.

The Depth of Sanskrit Alphabets

In Sanskrit, every alphabet and syllable has profound meaning and associations. For example, let us take the simple alphabet Ka—the Kakara.

अधुना संप्रवक्ष्यामि ककारतत्त्वमुत्तमम्।
रहस्यं परमाश्चर्यं त्रैलोक्यानाञ्च संशृणु॥

Kakara Tatva refers to the principles represented and conveyed by the syllable Ka.

The construction of the alphabet Ka, how it is written in Sanskrit, and what each line signifies, reveal deeper meanings:

• वामरेखा भवेद्ब्रह्मा विष्णुर्दक्षिणरेखिका।
  अधोरेखा भवेद्रुद्रो मात्रा साक्षात् सरस्वती॥
  • The left line represents Brahma.
  • The right line represents Vishnu.
  • The bottom line represents Rudra.
  • The curve represents Saraswati herself.

कुण्डली अङ्कुशाकारा मध्ये शून्यः सदाशिवः।
The central void represents Sadashiva.

Attributes of Kakara

The Kakara Tatva further explains the associations:

• The upper point represents Brahma’s creative power.
• The lower left represents Jyeshtha, the Shakti of Vishnu.
• The lower right represents Raudri, the destructive power of Rudra.
• The void in the middle signifies Shunyata—Sadashiva’s eternal presence.

ककारः सर्व्ववर्णानां मूलप्रकृतिरेव च।
The letter Ka is the root of all alphabets and the source of all creation.

ककारः कामदा कामरूपिणी स्फुरदव्यया।
Kakara is the giver of desires and even Kaivalya (liberation).

ककाराज्जायते सर्व्वं कामं कैवल्यमेव च।
Everything—material desires and ultimate liberation—arises from the syllable Ka.

The Dhyana Swaroopa of Kakara

ॐ जवायावकसिन्दूरसदृशीं कामिनीं परम्।
चतुर्भुजां त्रिनेत्राञ्च बाहुवल्लीविराजिताम्।

This describes the meditative form of Kakara. It is said that chanting Kakara in ten specific ways leads to Siddhis (spiritual attainments).

एवं हि कामिनीं ध्यात्वा ककारं दशधा जपेत्।
The alphabet itself becomes a Devata when meditated upon and chanted properly.

Power in Sanskrit Syllables

This depth exists for every alphabet in Sanskrit. By analyzing the letters in a word, we can understand what it represents and conveys.

Compare this with a word like 'flower.' Its etymology traces back to Old French ('flor') and Latin ('flos' or 'florem'). That is all.

In contrast, the syllable Ka in Sanskrit represents Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, and Saraswati. It embodies profound meanings, offering both material fulfillment and ultimate liberation.

Why Sanskrit Mantras Work

Mantras and prayers in Sanskrit are unique because their syllables are powerhouses. Simply saying a Sanskrit word correctly carries the essence of all the Tatvas of the alphabets within it.

ककाराज्जायते सर्व्वं कामं कैवल्यमेव च।
This is why Sanskrit mantras are incredibly effective. You don’t even need to know their meaning; uttering them correctly is enough to bring their inherent power into effect.

Especially in mantras, the syllables are deliberately crafted to produce specific effects. The power is embedded in the sounds themselves, making Sanskrit unparalleled in its depth and utility for spiritual practices.

Knowledge Bank

Some good and bad signs

People who are hostile,have disheveled hair, ascetics, those who cry, and similar others bring misfortune in all endeavors. Conversely, a happy and joyful Brahmin, a courtesan, a maiden, well-dressed friends, bring auspiciousness in all enterprises.

Ganesha's Broken Tusk

The story behind Ganesha's broken tusk varies. One version from the Mahabharata states that Ganesha broke his tusk to use it as a pen to write the epic dictated by Vyasa. Another version mentions that Ganesha broke his tusk in a fight with Parashurama, another avatar of Vishnu.