HASTAMALAKIYAM (Jul )
By Swami Suprajnananda
Summary
The text addresses the objection that if the Atman cannot be perceived by the mind or senses, its existence cannot be validated, making it illusory like a hare's horn. The sloka explains that the Atman, being self-luminous and pure, reveals itself to pure-minded individuals. Unlike inert objects like pots and cloths, which require external light, the Atman is its own light. Just as the sun, though one, appears reflected in multiple water pots, the Atman, though singular, manifests as many in different intellects. Shankara Bhasyam clarifies that the Atman is eternal knowledge and self-revealing, requiring no external illumination. Swami Vivekananda elaborates that the individual souls are mere reflections of the one universal Soul, akin to the sun's images in water globules. These reflections are not separate from the singular, infinite Self, which is the true, eternal reality behind all apparent diversity. The text emphasizes that the perceived multiplicity of selves is illusory, and realizing the oneness of the Self as the ultimate, eternal truth dissolves all delusion.
Conclusion
The HASTAMALAKIYAM (Jul 2017) addresses the fundamental Vedantic question of the Atman's cognizability, resolving the paradox of its existence beyond sensory perception. It asserts the Atman's self-luminosity, contrasting it with inert objects that depend on external light. Just as the sun's singularity manifests as multiple reflections in water pots, the one Atman appears as diverse selves through individual intellects, yet remains eternally unified. This distinction clarifies that the perceived multiplicity of souls is illusory, a surface-level appearance masking the underlying oneness. The text underscores the necessity of purity of mind to realize this truth, emphasizing that the Atman, as eternal knowledge, transcends empirical validation. Ultimately, it reaffirms the non-dual reality of the Self, dissolving the illusion of separation and guiding the seeker toward the unity that underlies all existence.