[Advaita-l] The Grandeur of the Atman transcending time

[V Subrahmanian]

In the Panchadashi, Swami Vidyaranya makes this mind boggling statement
about the Atman transcending time:

*मासाब्दयुगकल्पेषु गतागम्येष्वनेकधा । *

*नोदेति नास्तमेत्येका संविदेषा स्वयंप्रभा || 1.7*

Through the many months, years, ages and world cycles, past and future,
consciousness is the same; it neither rises nor sets (unlike the sun); it
is self-revealing.

When we contemplate on the above, we are reminded of the famous statement
in the Purusha Suktam:

पुरुष एवेदं सर्वं यद्भूतं यच्च भव्यम् ।

All this observed creation is Brahman, and all the past and the future.

The Veda says that the creation is Brahman alone, appearing so. All that
has gone by, all that is experienced in the present and all that is to come
by, is Brahman.  The observed does not stay but the observer Consciousness
is eternal.

We are also reminded of the famous statement in the Vishnu Sahasra Nama
mangala:

सहस्रनाम्ने पुरुषाय* शाश्वते* सहस्रकोटियुगधारिणे नमः ॥

 Salutations to thee, oh Lord, Who runs the immeasurable time of thousand
crore yugas..

Thus, the Atman is the substratum, adhishThAnam, for the creation that has
been appearing all the time.

This contemplation frees one from the fear of death, the fear of losing
existence.  One can experience here and now that one is eternal.

*See also this article: *
https://www.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/2014-March/036856.html

The BG 2.16 and The Three States (avasthAtraya)


Om Tat Sat