SRI RUDRAM - 7: 8 - 16

nama kyya ca npyya ca (7:8)

Meaning: Salutations to the One, who is in the form of deep marshy lands and the water
in such marshy lands.
Notes: Npa means foot of mountains, situated low, yet deep. Foothills of mountains are
always deep marshy lands with lose watery soil. Npa also means waterfalls. Thus, not
only His omnipresence but both sentient and insentient is established, and also says
that He is the source of water for those who battle for Liberation. Many of the yogis
perform tapas at the foothills taking into account the calm atmosphere and also the
conducive climatic conditions. Such yogis depend upon water from the mountains, as
such water contains herbal essence and minerals, which is extremely good for their
living. They live mainly on water.

nama sdyya ca sarasyya ca (7:9)

Meaning: Salutations to the One who is in the form of dried pools (may be referring to
marsh again) and in the form of ponds and lakes.
Notes: There are two famous lakes Ara and Nya in Brahma lok. Brahm, the God of
creation created a lake called Mnasarovar at the top of mount Kailsa. The water in
this lake is known for its highest purity. The lake exists even today. Swans always
prefer purity and hence flock around this lake. The lake is compared to the mind (which
has to be pure) and the swans (normally a pair of swan) are compared to jvtma-s
(souls) and Paramtma (the Brahman) and are compared to Rudra. Brahman has a
great liking for a pure mind and chooses to stay there forever, guiding the aspirant from
within.

namo ndyya ca vaiantya ca (7:10)

Meaning: Salutations to the One who is in the form of rivers and small pools.
Notes: Ndi is also interpreted as n-s such as ia, pigala and suumna. When all
the three n-s are perfectly balanced, one sees illumination of his body. Vaianta
means small pools dug for rituals such as yaja-s. Since every psychic chakra

represents lotus flowers, probably this could also refer to six chakras from mldhra to
j.
( )

namo kpyya cvayya ca (namo kpyya ca avayya ca) (7:11)

Meaning: Salutations to Him, who is in the form of wells and pits (which have water).
Notes: Probably this refers to secretion of ambrosia during kualin meditation. There
is one soma chakra in the middle of sahasrra. When Kualin reaches this cakra, out
of the heat generated there, the ambrosia which is stored there (cerebrospinal fluid)
gets melted and drips through the throat and enters the entire nervous system.
( )

namo varyya cvaryya ca (namo varyya ca avaryya ca ) (7:12)

Meaning: Salutations to the One, who is in the form of rain water and also in the form of
ground water that does not depend upon rain.
Notes: Ka says in Bhagavad Gt (IX.19), I send and withhold rain Rain and water
in oasis and ground water originate from Him only. The effulgence of the sun, which
illuminates the whole world, the light of the moon and the fire, all originate from Me. I
permeate the earth with my energy and support it. I become the ambrosial moon and
nourish the plants. I become the fire and abide in the body of all beings and uniting with
inhalation and exhalation, I consume the four types of food saidKa.

namo meghyya ca vidyutya ca (7:13)
Meaning: Salutation to the One, who is in the form of cloud and lightning.
Notes: He is Brahman in the form of Prakti, also known as Nature. Devoid of changes
here mean, with regard to twenty three tattva-s. They are mahat [It is a product of
prakti. It is the great principle, of buddhi, the Intellect, or the intellectual principle.
According to the Skhya philosophy the second of the twenty three principles
produced from prakti and so called as the great source of ahakra, (ego) selfconsciousness and manas, the mind], ego and five tanmtra-s (sound, taste, smell, light
and touch) are called cause. Five organs of perception, five organs of action, five basic

elements and mind make the balance sixteen. These sixteen are called
action. Therefore prakti is made up of cause and action and purua is devoid of
this. But for creation both purua and prakti are required. This points out to iva-akt
union. Ka says, Those who know the difference between ketra and ketraja and
the phenomenon of liberation from Prakti with her evolutes, reach the supreme eternal
spirit.
( )
namo dhriyya c''tapyya ca (namo dhriyya ca tapyya ca) (7:14)
Meaning: Salutations to the One, who is in the form of autumn clouds (autumn sky is
said to be without clouds clear sky). tapya means sunshine. Salutations to Him in the
form of sun and its light.
Notes: The sky being clear, the rays of the sun falls on the entire world. This is with
reference to His acts of creation and sustenance. Without sunlight, the world cannot
exist and He is in the form of sun, protecting everyone.

namo vtyya ca remiyya ca (7:15)
Meaning: Salutations to the One, who is in the form of thunderstorm with heavy rains
and hailstorm causing destruction in the form of deluge (pralaya).
Notes: iva dances fiercely at the time of great dissolution and none was around except
Lalitmbik, who just witnesses this terrible act of iva. The great dissolution means
the universe ceases to exist and nothing remains except iva and akt. The
dissolution is called the fourth act of the Brahman, the other three being creation,
sustenance and destruction. The difference between destruction and dissolution is
noteworthy. Destruction is transmigration of a soul. The soul leaves the body to be
born again. Death is only for the physical body. Dissolution or annihilation or the
deluge means the death of entire physical body as well as all the souls. When
dissolution happens, nothing exists. Everything dissolves into iva in the presence of
akt, who witnesses the great dissolution. When annihilation unfolds, the entire
universe gets dissolved into iva. This happens exactly in the reverse process of
creation. At the time of creation ka was born out of the Brahman, air was born out of

ka, etc. At the time of annihilation, air gets dissolved into ka and ka gets
dissolved into iva. This process is known as involution as opposed to evolution, a
process that happens during creation.

namo vstavyya ca vstupya ca || (7:16)
Meaning: He is the protector of wealth, vehicles and all other objects in a residential
house. He is also in the form of house, site, ground, building or dwelling places, etc.
Salutations to Him.
Notes: He is in the form of both sentient and insentient. Hence He presides over
immovable and movable assets. He is also the vstu purua, who controls various
dimensions of a building. gama-s are traditional doctrines or precepts that lay down
guidelines for various rituals, mostly with temples. It is a huge subject and is the
combination of vstu stra, astrology, astronomy, etc. There is a mythological story
about vstu purua. Once upon a time, there was a fight between gods and demons.
One of the demons caused innumerable trouble to gods. But gods pushed him down on
the ground. The demon sought the help of Brahm, who named him as vstu
purua. Brahm gave him a boon that all constructions on the earth should be
commenced and concluded after worshiping him. Thus came into existence vstu
stra. Vstu is derived from Vasu or the earth or a group/class of gods.
End of anuvka 7