The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Significance of hymns

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Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Significance of hymns

CHENNAI, NOV.3 . Life is a blessing given by God, especially so in the case of human beings, who are endowed with the capacity of discrimination. So it becomes incumbent on every individual to enjoy it and utilise it for the purpose it is intended. Many hymns are in the form of prayer addressed to different deities seeking their grace for prosperity, health and happiness in worldly life. The Devi Mahatmya, for instance, has a prelude of three hymns, the Devi Kavacham, Argala Stotra and the Keelaka Stotra, which are to be chanted to beseech the Divine Mother's grace to remove obstacles. In fact, they are likened to a shield, which offers protection and the Mantras in these hymns do so in a subtle manner.

In his discourse, Swami Asutoshananda said even though these hymns might on the face of it appear to seek material benefits there were philosophical truths underlying them. In the Devi Kavacham there is a steady progression from the gross to the subtler parts of the human personality for which protection is sought. Each organ of the body has a presiding Goddess and then the aspects of the mind and the life force (Prana) are described, "Dharmadharini (keeper of religion) protects the ego, mind and the intellect. Vajrahasta protects breaths of inhalation, exhalation that pervades throughout the body, that which rises up to the throat and that which remains consistent; and life protected by Kalyanashobana."

If we pause to consider the significance of this verse it will be evident that the mind is a wonderful instrument. It can store information as memory and has the capacity to analyse, which helps to discriminate. It also gives certainty regarding any knowledge by recalling information from memory. Another aspect of the mind is the ego, which gives an individual his identity. The ego is necessary to live in the world. The Prana is the life force in sentient beings and it is because of this that all the other organs function in the body.

It is apparent then that unless all these faculties function properly man cannot lead an active healthy life but one is hardly aware of them unless there is a problem. For example, till a tooth starts aching one is unaware of it. Another important verse in this hymn is a prayer to the Goddess, "Protect all unprotected places which are not covered by this hymn, all that is made safe by you because You are victorious and destroyer of all evils." Thus it eliminates any room for lapses on the part of the devotee.

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