[Advaita-l] sarvAtma bhAva as explained by Bhagavatpada

[Venkata sriram P]

Namaste,

शन्करभगवत्पादः while commenting on शीक्षावल्ली - षष्ठ अनुवाक​ (6th mantra from shIkSA valli of taittirIya AraNyaka), mentions about the "sarvAtma-bhAva" and also the means to attain that.

.......मार्गश्च "सर्वात्मभावप्रतिपत्तये" वक्तव्य इत्यनुवाक आरभ्यते - ....

A detailed explanation is given as how to do a vyAhruti upAsana viz., bhUH, bhuvaH, suvaH
and mahaH. 

By knowing the 4th vyAhruti ie., महः, the one becomes brahman and attains "sarvAtma-bhAva".

तेष्वात्मभावेन स्थित्वाप्नोति ब्रह्मभूतः स्वाराज्यं स्वराड्भावं स्वयमेव​ राजाधिपतिर्भवति । अङभूतानां देवानां सर्वेऽस्मै बलिमावहन्त्यङ्गभूता यथा ब्रह्मणे । आप्नोति मनसस्पतिम । सर्वेषां हि मनसां पतिः "सर्वात्मकत्वाद्ब्र्ह्मणः" ॥

Infact, this anuvAka also covers the yOga-mArga rahasya and Shankara mentions the 
subtle nervous system called सुषुम्ना नाडी while commenting on the mantra "अन्तरेण तालुके".

There is another important mantra in this anuvAka which mentions as 

सेन्द्रयोनिः । यत्रासौ केशान्तो विवर्तते । व्यपोह्य शीर्षकपाले ॥ 

This is a very esoteric mantra which has a tAntric explanation and Sankara
explains this mantra from "kuNDalini yOga" perspective.

This mantra, also had a special significance of Shri.Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni
that has lead to his kapAla-bhEdana (व्यपोह्य शीर्षकपाले).

regs,
Sriram