What's in a Name?

What’s in a Name?
( “When from our better (read inner) selves we have too long been parted by the hurrying world, sick of its business, of its pleasures tired, how gracious, how benign is solitude!”)
-----William Wordsworth.
“What’s in a name?....” wrote one respected member recently in one of his humorous posts.
“Everything” he would say; the Shakespeare quote, “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”, not withstanding…….i.e. after he reads about my chance encounter with this Sastriji. Let me begin at the very beginning.
She looked cute with a pony tail tied with a rubber band; all of four years old; one tooth missing; grand niece of my friend. We were only too happy to escort her and reach the little girl over to her parents at ‘P’. Her name? Well that’s what this piece is all about.
My wife unlike me is a great planner. Though we usually have our meals before leaving for any rail journey, a four-layer Tiffin carrier packed by her is always a part of our luggage item in the event that hunger should attack us any time. The menu is standardized- lemon rice, curd rice and idlies soaked and smeared with ‘gun powder-gingili oil’ amalgam; papadam and varuval packed separately. This time we shared our coupe with just one other passenger a friendly, elderly Iyengar who we were to learn later was Srinivasa Sastrigal (not his real name), a retired Sanskrit teacher.
“Un per enna? What’s your name?” quizzed Sastrigal bending low towards the little girl sitting beside me. There was no reaction. The girl turned her head with an expression of extreme consternation and yawned.
“This is the problem. The children have pet names, surnames, middle names, name as per numerology, nick names, later maiden names. Bengalis even have a Bhaalonaam, a good name for identification in the outside world.” I volunteered.
“Un per sollumma thaathaakku...” I encouraged. After what seemed to be an eternity she gave out “ Hamsa…Hamsa...” repeating it twice. Sastriji rewarded her with a Parle’s Glucose biscuit.
“What a name!” exclaimed Sastriji. “This name is special. It reminds us all the time about the very essence of our existence”.
“Yes??” I blurted out rather puzzled. “How come?”
Sastriji began in right earnest. When he finished his exposition I felt as though I was still in SIES school attending ‘Shanbouge’s’ Sanskrit classes in the early fifties (fully awake this time).
“Heard about Ajapaajap?” Sastriji continued. “Na japyathe, na ucchaaryathe (apithu swaasa praswaasayo: gamana aagamanabhyaam sampaadhyathe) ithi Ajapa. Meaning, even without japam per se or utterances, mere inhalation/exhalation of ours itself constitute japam which action (without utterances) should be called Ajapam. In Agnipuranam, it is said that through inhalation/exhalation, the Atman enshrined in all living beings appears to utter continuously, silently and involuntarily (anaayaasa) “Hamsa…….Soham” (in reverse)...alternately. Something like what Valmiki was advised to keep reciting mara mara mara which in fact through his non-stop chant turned out to be Ramanama. Similarly, uttering continuously hamsa hamsa hamsaham saham saham turns into soham soham; and this the seers say is ajapa (involuntarily) by your Swaaasocchwaasam reminding us of the underlying esoteric philosophy.
“Ummm.. Now that’s a new one on Hamsa”, I thought when sastriji continued.
uccharathi swayam yasmaath swadeha avsthitha; siva:
tasmaath thathva vidaam cha eva sa evaajapa ucchyathe.

“Taking birth as a human is a rare gift. Be it as it may, we all strive to be with the Atman. There are many ways. One such is being conscious of the Ajapaajap. No matter what state we are in, every breath recites silently ‘Sa: aham or soham” meaning’ I am That. Aham bramaasmi’”
“But why Paramatma be termed ‘hamsa’”? was my wife’s doubt as I took a Glucose biscuit much to her discomfiture.
“Because merger with the Paramatma puts an end to the cycle of Samsaara.”, replied sastriji…………………’Hanthi jeevasansaaram ithi Hamsa:”

“ucchswaasa: cha ni:swaasa: Hamsa ithi aksharadwayam
thasmaath praanastha Hamsaakhya aathmaakaarena samsthitha:

And finally,
Ajapaa naama gaayathri yoginaam mokshadaayini
Thasyaa: samkalpamaathrena jeeva muktha na samsaya:

Thus ended Sastriji leaving us speechless. Little Hamsa who triggered the discussion had gone to sleep oblivious of what went around.

“Arul purivaai……karunai kadale”, hummed my wife the only accompaniment being the rhythm of the wheels on the tracks and some strange sound as the train crossed an occasional bridge.
“Hamsadhwani raagamaa?’ queried Srinivasa Sastrigal with a smile.
“Of course yes. Sa ri ga pa ni sa…… sa ni pa ga ri sa……No ‘ma. No ‘da’ ..Hamsadhwani…. meaning ‘The sound of the SWAN??” said I munching one more biscuit.

Epilogue

Soham. Our breath says it all; every moment; anaayaasa; despite us; So much for the name Hamsa! , my friend’s grandniece, whose real name (itta per) is Seetha lakshmi.
It set me thinking like our revered member Viji posted a story- as to how the supreme God decided to hide the Godhead, the source of all its potential………inside the hearts of every man and woman and child for they will never think to look there.
“Aamaam. Like we say, “Okkalle kuzhanthayai vechundu oorellaam thedinaalaam’”, had the last word……..you know who.
“Isn’t it ironic that in a world of God worshippers, none would recognize God if they see Him/Her/It... eyeball to eyeball. In our present state of evolution if we did recognize Him, we would demand that He performs magic tricks to prove Himself. Others may even demand that He heals someone to demonstrate His worth and authenticity.” I lamented and went back to solve the crossword under the night lamp.

V V R
20 Nov 007