Mahāṣoḍaśī Mantra: First Line, sauḥ
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 2019-09-05

This series is classified as Vivartha-vāda | Rāja-yoga | Suśupti | Viśuddhi-cakra

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After aiṁ ऐं is sauḥ सौः, known as parā-bīja. This is also known as hṛdaya-bīja or amṛta-bīja. Śiva explains to Śakti about this in Parā-trīśikā-vivāraṇa 9-10: “O! Gracious one! It is the third Brahman (sat or sa स) united with the fourteenth vowel औ (au – out of the sixteen vowels), well-joined with that which comes at the end of the lord of vowels (visarga or ḥ, used in the sixteenth vowel अः - aḥ).”

Therefore sauḥ is formed out of the combination of sa स + au औ+ ḥ = sauḥ सौः. Again it is said in Parā-trīśikā-vivāraṇa 26, “He who knows this mantra in its essence becomes competent for initiation, leading to liberation without any sacrificial rites.” This is known as nirvāṇa-dīkṣā or initiation for final liberation, where nirvāṇa means emancipation. The Scripture proceeds to say that the one who elucidates the proper meaning of this bīja is known as Śiva Himself. This bīja is the Cosmic pulsation of the Lord.”

The third Brahman referred here (sat) is explained in Bhagavad-Gītā 17.23–26: “ॐ, tat and sat are the threefold representation of Brahman, and from That alone Vedas, Vedic scholars and sacrificial rites have originated. Hence, during the acts of sacrifices, gifts, austerities approved by Scriptures and during Vedic recitations, ॐ is uttered in the beginning. Tat is recited by those who aim for liberation while performing sacrificial rites, austerities and charities without intent on the fruits of these actions. Sat is recited by those who perform the above acts with faith and on behalf of Brahman.” Thus sa स (sat) referred in this bīja is Śiva Himself, which represents His creative aspect, pure Consciousness. 

Next comes His three energies Icchā-śakti, Jñāna-śakti and Kriyā-śakti. During Creation, Cit-Śakti of Śiva, after manifesting as Ānanda-Śakti (Bliss) becomes the above referred three Śaktis, before entering into the sphere of Māyā. Ānanda-Śakti is known as Śakti, normally referred as Śiva’s Consort or His Svātantraya-Śakti, His exclusive and unique Power of Autonomy. These three powers can be explained as the subject (I); the object (That); and subject-object (I and That). These powers of Śiva are also known as Sadāśiva, Iśvara and Suddha-Vidyā. 

The fusion between sa and au forms सौ (sau). As a result of this fusion, creation happens, which is represented by visarga (ḥ) This is the spanda, throb or pulsation of the Divine towards creation, causing the emission of His three energies contained in au. With the addition of visarga (ḥ) at the end of सौ (sau) becomes सौः (sauḥ). 

This parā-bīja is not meant for recitation or repetition but for the contemplation of Śiva, who alone is capable of offering liberation by removing all differentiations caused by māyā. The one who fully understands the significance of सौः (sauḥ) becomes instantly liberated.

Thus these five bījas form the first line of Mahāṣoḍaśī mantra.