SUKTAMS are chants in the Vedas that sing the praise of a deity. There is the Purusha Suktam, the Narayana Suktam, the Sri Suktam, Bhu Suktam, Durga Suktam, Saraswati Suktam and even Ratri Suktam. It is a eulogy on a particular principle in creation.
Swami Akshara, founder of a socio-spiritual organisation called the Akshara Foundations is here in Chennai to conduct a five-day meditation programme on the Narayana Suktam.
Is there any particular context to Narayana Suktam today? I asked him and he said that this is a hymn on Narayana who represents the creation aspect of the Hindu trinity. It is relevant not just today, but on any day because everything that is created is directly attributed to Narayana. The creativity in oneself on any given day is enhanced when one realises the hidden forces of creativity in oneself. The life-sustaining element of creation is solely responsible for running this universe henceknowing Narayana or the creativity principle in oneself is necessary, he says.
Narayana is not a person, but the presence in all persons, he adds. When Vaishnavaites pray to Narayana giving him a particular form and style, familial connections and relatives like any other human being one wonders how they could have limited it to a form and name, I ask. Swamiji replies that in the Hindu tradition the form is very important for the purpose kindling reverence in oneself. Worshipping of a form is to indicate that all forms are enlivened by the creativity principle of the Universe. “Those who cannot worship a form or a personal deity can never have reverence for any other forms in this world,” he says.
The meditation event will be held from 6 to 10 July between 630 and 8pm. at the Asthika Samajam in Venus Colony, Alwarpet, Chennai. This will help gods bestow one with boons. These are descriptions of the indescribable are only possible in Samskrt.