[Advaita-l] Without Shakti, Brahman has no role

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste

2017-06-03 20:01 GMT+05:30 KALPANA MANSI via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>:

> Namaste Sir
>                   I don't know all as you said but I want little more
> clarification about the sentence as you maintained 'That Shakti is nothing
> but Maya only and Avidyaatmikaa.'
> and my second doubt is can we compare with  Saundarya Lahari and
> Brahmasutra Bhasya in the context of "Maya" and Shakti. however, both work
> has written by Sankaracharya ji but can we? kindly clear my doubts.
>
>
> There are two ways to understand Shakti. One way is Shakti is same as
Maayaa and same as Avidyaa. Another way is Shakti is same as Brahman
itself. How? Because Shakti is not always causing creation or destruction
of something. Example if Solar Energy is stored in a battery cell it is not
doing anything. It is simply existing. You can make that battery to do some
work like light a bulb but not necessarily. You can keep that battery
without doing anything. If Shakti is simply Existing and not doing anything
It is same as Sat that is Brahman. It is two different names only but they
are the same Sat.

And when Shakti is doing something like Srushti, Sthiti and Laya of Jagat
it becomes Maayaa or Avidyaa.

In Saundarya Lahari Adi Sankara has used both meanings and said Parabrahma
Mahishi. She is queen of Parabrahma Shiva. But Shiva and Shakti are same
not different. Therefore Shakti is Para Brahman only.


>
> Thank you to all
> Kalpana
>
> 2017-06-01 10:09 GMT+05:30 Venkatesh Murthy via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>:
>
> > Namaste
> >
> > True but Sankara  Bhashya also has अविद्यात्मिका हि सा बीज
> > शक्तिरव्यक्तशब्दनिर्देश्या परमेश्वराश्रया मायामयी महासुषुप्तिः, यस्यां
> > स्वरूपप्रतिबोधरहिताः शेरते संसारिणो जीवाः
> >
> > That Shakti is nothing but Maayaa only and Avidyaatmikaa.
> >
> > But in Saundarya Lahari Shakti is not like that. She is Brahman only and
> > not different. Many Shakti worshippers also will say Shakti is same as
> > Brahman. Adi Sankara did not say if there is Shakti there must always be
> > Pravrutti. He only said if there is Pravrutti there must be Shakti.
> Shakti
> > can be in Nivrutti condition also. Therefore Shakti is nothing but
> Brahman
> > only.
> >
> >
> >
> > 2017-05-31 16:46 GMT+05:30 V Subrahmanian via Advaita-l <
> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>:
> >
> > > In the Brahmasutra bhashya 1.4.3 तदधीनत्वादर्थवत् ॥ ३ ॥, Shankara
> makes a
> > > very far-reaching statement:
> > >
> > > अत्रोच्यते — यदि वयं स्वतन्त्रां काञ्चित्प्रागवस्थां जगतः
> > > कारणत्वेनाभ्युपगच्छेम, प्रसञ्जयेम तदा प्रधानकारणवादम् ; परमेश्वराधीना
> > > त्वियमस्माभिः प्रागवस्था जगतोऽभ्युपगम्यते, न स्वतन्त्रा । सा
> > > चावश्याभ्युपगन्तव्या ; अर्थवती हि सा ; न हि तया विना परमेश्वरस्य
> > > स्रष्टृत्वं सिध्यति, शक्तिरहितस्य तस्य प्रवृत्त्यनुपपत्तेः ।
> > >
> > > If we admit an independent latent power as the cause of the world, then
> > we
> > > will be giving occasion to the Sankhya's pradhāna-as-the-cause
> doctrine.
> > We
> > > do accept a power that is subservient to Brahman and not something that
> > is
> > > independent. Such a latent power has to be necessarily admitted; it is
> > with
> > > purpose. Without that power Brahman's creatorship cannot be admitted
> > since
> > > a Brahman without such a power is completely non-functional.
> > >
> > > The idea conveyed here is very nicely presented by Shankara in the very
> > > opening verse of the Soundaryalahari:
> > >
> > > शिवःशक्त्यायुक्तो यदि भवति शक्तःप्रभवितुं
> > > न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशलः स्पन्दितुमपि।
> > > अतस्त्वाम् आराध्यां हरि-हर-विरिन्चादिभिरपि
> > > प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति॥
> > >
> > > Shiva united with Shakti becomes able to manifest
> > > If otherwise, this god knows not even how to pulsate.
> > > How then could one of ungained merit be able to bow to, or even praise
> > > One such as you, adored by Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma.
> > >
> > > In the above verse the greatness of Shakti is brought out by stating
> that
> > > Shiva, Brahman, will be able to engage in cosmic activity only when
> > united
> > > with His power. Without so uniting with Her, it is impossible to do
> > > anything for Brahman.
> > >
> > > Shankara in the BSB implies that when it comes to creation, etc.,
> Brahman
> > > has to depend on Shakti. Without that Shakti, the Nirguna, Nishkriya
> > > Brahman is incapable of engaging in any activity.
> > >
> > > Thus Shankara conveys the Upanishadic message of the status and role of
> > > Brahman and Shakti in the Brahmasutra and the Soundaryalahari.
> > >
> > > regards
> > > vs
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Regards
> >
> > -Venkatesh
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-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh