Stutaa maya varadaa – Grant us the necessities of life
This verse is a profound prayer of praise and supplication addressed to God as Vedamata, the Divine Wisdom or the nurturing, creative power of the One Supreme God that gives all sacred knowledge of the Vedas. It is a dual request:
– For Inspiration and Purification: A plea for this Divine Wisdom to inspire and purify all seekers (dvijaanaam – those reborn through spiritual understanding).
– For Holistic Blessings: A comprehensive list of desires is expressed, encompassing both material well-being (longevity, vitality, abundance, wealth, progeny, fame) and spiritual excellence (spiritual radiance).
– For Ultimate Liberation: The closing phrase mahyam dattvaa vrajata brahmalokam is particularly significant. It implies a recognition of the temporary nature of earthly boons and a directive or understanding that, once these blessings are bestowed upon the devotee, the Divine Wisdom (or its personified aspect) then “returns” or leads the devotee towards the ultimate reality, Brahma-loka (the realm of Brahman), signifying liberation or union with the Supreme God.
This verse moves beyond simple petition; it’s a recognition of the source of all blessings and a profound aspiration for both worldly fulfillment and ultimate spiritual realization, all stemming from the One Divine.
स्तुता मया वरदा वेदमाता प्रचोदयान्तां पावमानी द्विजानाम्।
आयुः प्राणं प्रजां पशुं कीर्तिं द्रविणं ब्रह्मवर्चसं मह्यं दत्त्वा व्रजत ब्रह्मलोकम्।।
अथर्ववेद १९.७१.१
Stutaa mayaa varadaa vedamaataa
pracho-dayantaam
paavamaanee dvijaanaam.
Aayuh praaṇam prajaam
pashum keertim
draviṇam brahmavarchasam.
mahyam dattvaa
vrajata brahmalokam.
Atharva Veda 19.71.1
Stutaa mayaa I pay homage to Vedamaata, the pure wisdom of the Vedas, and prachodayantaam humbly request such cleansing and purifying blessings so that I become reawakened (twice-born) into the wisdom of the Vedas. O Lord, bless me with a aayuh praanam long and healthy life. And, may my life be blessed with prajaam noble children pashum material advancement, keertim good fame and reputation and dravinam wealth. May my life be so mahayam highly honored to receive your brahmavarchasam blessed light. Let your Light, your Glory dattvaa shine upon me so that vrajata brahmalokam I can attain your heavenly liberation.
From Swami Bhavani Dayal Sanyasi:
O Illuminer of Divine Wisdom, through Thee we sing the praise of Veda Mata and humbly pray Thee for Thy boon of life to enable us to cleanse our souls with Divine wisdom – the Veda. May our souls have Thy pure and Divine Inspiration. Give unto us, O Lord, life, vitality, progeny, fame, reputation, luxury and wealth, spiritual wisdom and other necessities. And, lead us O Preceptor to emancipation.
Stuta mayaa meaning:
O Mother of the Vedas, font of grace,
I come before your pure and holy face.
Wash clean my soul that I may be reborn,
And wake to wisdom in a sacred morn.
O Lord, then grant me length of blessed days,
With vital breath to walk upon Your ways.
May noble children, wealth, and honor find
A peaceful dwelling in my heart and mind.
But let my greatest prize on earth still be
The holy light of Your own majesty.
Shine down Thy splendor, let its glory guide
My soul to heaven, safely to Your side.
(by Dr Yog Mahadeo)
स्तुता Praised, glorified मया By me वरदा Giver of boons, bestower of blessings वेदमाता Mother of the Vedas (also known as a name for the Gayatri Mantra, or the underlying wisdom it represents) प्रचोदयंताम् May they inspire, may they impel, may they stimulate वमानी Purifying, sacred, holy (often referring to specific purifying hymns or purifying powers) द्विजानाम् Of the twice-born (traditionally, those who have undergone the sacred thread ceremony; philosophically, those reborn through knowledge) आयुः Long life, longevity प्राणं Life force, vital breath प्रजां Progeny, offspring पशुं material possessions (in periods of history, cattle was deemed to be wealth) कीर्तिं Fame, glory, good reputation द्रविणं Wealth, riches, possessions ब्रह्मवर्चसम् Spiritual radiance, Brahmic splendor, spiritual glory मह्यं To me दत्त्वा Having given, bestowing व्रजत May you go, depart, undergo, attain ब्रह्मलोकम् The realm of Brahman, the highest spiritual world, liberation
Yearning for the ultimate transcendence
This powerful verse beautifully encapsulates the journey of a spiritual seeker: a combination of active engagement with the world and a deep yearning for ultimate transcendence.
Vedamata – the Vedas, Divine Wisdom and Creative Power of the One Supreme God:
Vedamata is the embodiment of the Supreme God’s inherent wisdom (Prajñaa) and creative, nurturing energy (Śhakti) – all combined and revealed into the Vedas. This is the aspect of the Divine that gives rise to all knowledge, all truth, and all life.
The act of praising (stutaa mayaa) is allows for attuning oneself to this Divine Wisdom. It’s an affirmation and recognition of the Supreme God as the source of all understanding, a receptive posture that opens the seeker to divine inspiration.
The desire for paavamaanee, the purifying inspiration for the dvijaanaam twice-born, that is, those reborn through knowledge, speaks to the constant need for spiritual purification and renewal. The Divine Wisdom purifies not by external ritual, but by clarifying the mind, refining intentions, and burning away ignorance. “Twice-born” then refers to anyone who has awakened to spiritual consciousness, regardless of their external birth.
The Holistic Pursuit: Worldly Fulfillment within Spiritual Context:
The list of requested blessings (longevity, vital breath, progeny, abundance, fame, wealth) reflects a profoundly holistic and realistic view of human existence. It acknowledges that spiritual life does not necessarily demand ascetic renunciation of all worldly goods. From this perspective, these are not mere material desires, but gifts that enable one to live a full, meaningful life conducive to spiritual growth.
– Longevity and vital breath (aayuḥ, praaṇa): The energy and time needed to pursue dharma and attain liberation.
– Progeny and abundance (prajaam, paśhum, draviṇam): The means to fulfill one’s duties, contribute to society, and live without undue material distraction, fostering an environment for spiritual practice.
– Fame (keertim): A positive reputation that allows one to be an effective instrument for the Divine in the world, inspiring others.
The philosophical insight here is that the Supreme God is the giver of all forms of blessings, both material and spiritual. There is no division; all good ultimately flows from the Divine. The seeking of these boons is an act of acknowledging God’s universal providence.
Brahmavarchasam: The Pinnacle of Human Attainment:
Brahmavarchasam (spiritual radiance/glory) stands out as the ultimate spiritual boon. It’s not just intellectual knowledge, but a tangible emanation of spiritual power, purity, and connection to Brahman.
This signifies the culmination of a life lived in alignment with Divine Wisdom. It implies that all other boons, while valuable, are ultimately subservient to this supreme spiritual radiance, which is the direct reflection of the Supreme God within the individual. It suggests a transformation of one’s entire being.
Granting me the ability to reach the realm of Brahman: The Path to Liberation:
This closing phrase is profoundly significant from a non-dualistic perspective. It signifies:
The cyclical nature of Divine Grace: The Divine Wisdom manifests, bestows blessings for the journey, and then points (or leads the consciousness of the seeker) back to its ultimate source, the formless, ultimate reality of Brahman (the Supreme God).
The purpose of blessings: The boons are not ends in themselves, but means to facilitate the path to liberation. Once the individual has utilized these gifts for their spiritual evolution, the ultimate destination is union with the Divine.
Transcendence through Fulfillment: It suggests that genuine fulfillment of both worldly and spiritual desires, achieved through alignment with Divine Wisdom, naturally leads to the dissolution of the individual self into the Supreme Self. Vedamata (Divine Wisdom) is the guide that, having shown the way and provided the necessities, then merges the seeker into the very reality it embodies. This is the journey from manifestation back to the unmanifest absolute.
In summary, this mantra from the Atharva Veda, is a comprehensive prayer to God, the grantor and giver of Divine Wisdom. It seeks a holistic array of blessings – both worldly and spiritual – for a full and effective life. Crucially, it frames these blessings not as ultimate goals, but as aids on the path, whose true purpose is to facilitate the seeker’s journey towards ultimate purification, spiritual radiance, and final union with the boundless reality of the Supreme God (Brahman).
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