Sanskrit

[Sunder]

<!--QuoteBegin-Ashok Kumar+May 6 2004, 09:30 AM-->QUOTE(Ashok Kumar @ May 6 2004, 09:30 AM)<!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sargadhishu Pruthag-vibhoothayas-chathasrah Aathmanah Yassya Saha Chathuratma.
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The literal translation is:

In the beginning of creations (sarga), the Self (Atma) who has four distinct "vibhootis" , is Chaturatma.

Right now I don't know what these four "vibhootis" are. By the way are Shankha, Chakra, Gadaa & Padma called vibhootis? One meaning of vibhootis is decorations, so these may fit the meaning, especially when referring to Vishnu. But most probably Sri Shankaracharya had an esoteric meaning in mind related to Atman. Nirguna Atman, when seen from the Maya of created world can at best be described by a Saguna version where it has three attributes of Sat-Chit-Ananda. But this doesn't fit into four 'vibhootis'.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks Ashok, the literal meaning is quite evident <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> I was looking for the "figurative meaning". For example, the name <b>Chathur-vyuuhah</b> has the following explanation:

<b>Vyoohyatmaananam chathurdha vai Vaasudevaadi-Moorthibi.h</b>

Literally, they are four "formations", of Vasudeva etc.. but figuratively the meaning is as follows:

<i>The Bhagavatas say that Vaasudeva whose nature is pure knowledge is what really exists. He divides Himself fourfold and appears in four forms (Vyuhas) as Vaasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. Vaasudeva denotes the Supreme Self, Sankarshana the individual soul, Pradyumna the mind, and Aniruddha the principle of egoism, or Ahamkara. Of these four Vaasudeva constitutes the Ultimate Cause, of which the three others are the effects.

They say that by devotion for a long period to Vaasudeva through Abhigamana (going to the temple with devotion), Upadana (securing the accessories of worship). Ijya (oblation, worship), Svadhyaya (study of holy scripture and recitation of Mantras) and Yoga (devout meditation) we can pass beyond all afflictions, pains and sorrows, attain Liberation and reach the Supreme Being. </i>

Incidentally, I found this explanation while reading the Brahma Sutra.