Meaning of the Moolamantra

by Purnima Dasaji

Om Sat-Chit-Ananda Parabrahma
Purushothama Paramatma
Sri Bhagavathi Sametha
Sri Bhagavathe Namaha

Om is the primordial sound of which the whole universe is made of.

Sat-Chit-Ananda Parabrahma refers to the Divine which is formless and without attributes. If we think about our body for example, it’s not only matter, there is an intelligence and a consciousness there that guides all the activities in our body. How do you think your heart is beating or your cells reproduce in such an exact way? So Sat-Chit-Ananda Parabrahma refers to this intelligence, this consciousness which is guiding and controlling the universe. It guides the deer to escape from the hunters. It guides ants to find food. It guides each creature on this planet. This intelligence that guides your body is to be found in each cell and it's the same intelligence that guides the whole universe. In the leaf, the tree, the ocean… Everything is permeated with this Presence. And this Presence goes beyond our understanding.

Purushothama refers to the highest supreme qualities. From time to time this formless Presence incarnates on the planet and it flows through a human body with all the auspicious qualities: Wisdom, compassion, joy, intelligence… Though it is a human body it is the consciousness of the Divine that flows through. These beings are called Avatars. Avatars come to Earth with a divine destiny, to take mankind to the following phase of their evolution. This is the goal and purpose of an Avatar.

When this form without form which is everywhere takes form within you, we call it Paramatma. This is the Indweller, Inner Presence or Antaryamin. The Paramatma is the one who is totally dependent on you and who loves you completely. The one who responds to your prayers and takes care of your well-being and your security. It's this God in your heart that operates miracles and the one who solves your problems, the one who is concerned about your suffering and wants to liberate you. It's this God who is so willing to be one with you and that you dissolve in Him.

This cosmic consciousness that we call sat Sat-Chit-Ananda Parabrahma is also your divine Father and Mother. From them you were born. That's why the Mantra says: Sri Bhagavathi Sametha Sri Bhagavathe Namaha – I bow to my divine parents.

The sages of the past, when they realized that cosmic reality was ONE they perceived it in many ways. There are a million infinite ways to perceive the Presence. If there are six billion people in this planet the Presence will be experienced in six billion different ways. Though it is one it is many. Though it is the same it's different in each one of us. Though it is so personal, so intimate like a lover or a mother it cannot be understood with our minds. It can only be experienced, it cannot be understood. And it can only be experienced in the way it reveals Itself to you.

Maybe in this very moment it manifests like a deep silence. In Another moment it manifests like vast expanded consciousness, or an intense awareness of what you are doing. Other times it will manifest like an intense feeling of love, devotion or surrender. Sometimes it may be complete void or emptiness.

Everything is the Presence. Just be whatever is going on.