Shanmug

People have various views on the Swaroop of Lord Shanmukh who is also known as Lord Subrahmanya. Some consider him as the Commander-in-chief of the Devtaa forces, some consider him as a helper of the Devtaa, and therefore not even equal to the Devtaa themselves, though they think that he is a higher being than men.

The meaning of the very name Subramanya gives us a clue to his real identity; Subrahmanya means one who knows Brahm well; and Brahm alone can know Brahm, therefore Lord Subrahmanya is Brahm himself.

The story of Lord Subrahmanya's birth is very interesting. Lord Shiv had six heads - four facing the four directions, one facing upwards and the other downwards.

From the Third Eye on each face of Shive manated Tejas. This light filled all the directions. The whole of ether was permeated by this Tej. Shiv then withdrew this Tejas into his own hands and gave it to Vaayu Dev (Wind-god). Vayu bore it for sometime; but, unable to endure it longer, gave it to Agni Dev (Fire-god). Fire, in turn passed it on to Gangaa (water). That Tej assumed the shape of six children and floated on Shar Van-lake. When Paarvatee Jee took up these children, they together formed into one child with six heads. This was Shanmukh. And, he carried on his Leelaa on this earth.

That is the story of Brahm also; and the above is the story of Creation. Brahm filled everything: Brahm was of the form of Supreme Light. It filled the whole ether. Thence, it passed on to Air, Fire, Water and Earth. The symbology of Subrahmanya's birth, therefore, proves that he is no other than the Supreme Brahm Himself.

The Lord has six heads and, therefore, he is called Shanmukh. Mukham or the head contains all the five Gyaan Indriyaan. These five Gyaan Indriyaan plus the sixth Indriya Buddhi, are the six gates through which the Antaraatmaa receives impressions of objects. It is through these six holes that the light of the Aatmaa passes out. The very fact of the flowing out of consciousness through these six holes, proves to wise men that the Aatmaa within is the form of Consciousness. This Inner Consciousness has, as it were, the six heads. So, too, has Lord Subrahmanya. He is the Supreme Brahm with six heads - the six Gyaan Indriyaan.

And, the Yogee explain that the six heads of Lord Subrahmanya represent the six centers (Chakra) within. Each head is of the form of each Devtaa of the six Chakra. This way, too, we come to the conclusion that Lord Subrahmanya is Par-Brahmn and not merely a Divine being.

Meditation on Lord Subrahmanya, therefore, is according to the Bhakt, the surest way to obtain intuitive knowledge of Brahm. Lord Subrahmanya is Knowledge Absolute Itself; therefore, meditation on him is productive of this Knowledge.

Apart from this, even if a beginner in concentration is taught the Swaroop of Lord Subrahmanya, and is asked to meditate on his six-headed form, riding on the peacock, holding the spear, with Vallee and Daivayanai beside him, the aspirant would sit absorbed in him for three hours without any difficulty. To pass the mind from one head to the other, from one eye to the other of his eighteen eyes, from one hand to the other of his twelve arms, etc, etc, would be so absorbing that the mind would never wander.

As the aspirant advances in the practice, he can gradually dispense with all this paraphernalia and concentrate upon the Vel (Spear), alone. This Spear is the real Swaroop of Lord Subrahmanya. It represents Consciousness. When all the rest has vanished, this alone remains behind.

The characteristics of Buddhi are: depth of thought, heights of intuitive perception, breadth of vision, and sharpness of intellect. All these are represented by the Vel (Spear). It is high (tall), it is deep (ie, it has a long stem which reaches down to the feet), its leaf is broad, and it has a sharp top, therefore it symbolizes Consciousness. The advanced Saadhak meditates on this. One who meditates on this as Consciousness surely attains the Supreme Brahm who is Sachchidaanand.