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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00118 Oct 2003

 
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The "Paramam padam" appearing in Rig Veda:
The actual line is "Tad vishNo: paramam padam sadA pashyanti sUray:
divIva chakshurAtatam". - "The sages constantly regard Vishnu's 
highest step, like an eye in the sky ?!".

The context is very much different from what is implied in the 
recent posts. Vishnu in Rig Veda is famous for his three steps, 
which are equated with the movement of sun. Our traditional Indian 
bhashyakaras and Indology commentators interpret it so. Just exactly 
what movement is a matter of speculation. Opinions varies from daily 
movement of sun, through movement of sun through earth,heaven and 
firmament through annual movement of sun.

This line talks about Vishnu's "third" step. From two other suktas, 
we know the following about vishnu's 3rd step -
(a) It has a well of honey
(b) Not even feathered birds dare to venture it (the previous line 
says that men look at Vishnu's first step with wonder, but the third 
step...)
(c) Sages constantly "see" the third step.

Regards,...

--- In ramanuja@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, purohit@xxxx wrote:
> 
> 
> Adiyen
> Regarding the nature of Param Padam a fabulous definition is given 
in Katha
> Upanishad:
> 
> 10-11. When the five sensestogether with the mind cease (from their
> externalised activities) and the intellect itself remains 
tranquil, that,
> they say, is the highest state (Paramam Padam).
> 
> This state can be realised through meditation not through 
discussion,
> argument and forming religio-political stances and being dogmatic.
> 
> Param Padam is not a planet or place in the universe, it is a 
state of
> present being.
> 
> Adiyen
> 
> Sri Ram




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