Nishprapanchaya

Nishprapanchaya is a description of one of the aspects of God, bliss, in the sequence "being, consciousness, bliss" in Hindu monotheism. As such it is sung daily in some Hindu temples and ashrams.

Meaning

Nishprapanchaya (निष्प्रपञ्चाय niṣprapañcāya IPA: [n̪iʂprəpəɲcɑːjə])is variously translated as "He is beyond world-consciousness",[1] "He is transcendent",[2] and "Who is above this world".[3]

Grammatically, niṣprapañcāya is the dative of a Sanskrit noun, niṣprapañca, where niṣprapañca is "unmanifest":[4] niṣ- means the negative/"without", and pra-pañca means "manifest, of the world" and -ya is the dative suffix meaning "to" or "for".

Nishprapanchaya occurs in some popular mantras, as following Om Namah Shivaya (plus a string of datives giving qualities of Shiva), thus:[1][2]

Om Namah Shivaya Gurave (oṃ namaḥ śivāya gurave) (Om. Salutations to the guru, who is Shiva.)
Satchidananda Murtaye, (satccidānanda mūrtaye) (His form is being, consciousness, and bliss.)
Nishprapanchaya Shantaya (niṣprapañcāya śantāya) (He is transcendent, calm,)
Niralambaya Tejase. (nirālambāya tejase) (free from all support, and luminous.)

Expounded in more detail, Muktananda glosses the second half of the verse as describing an "aspect of God, the inner Self", and meaning "Dwelling in everything as its inmost essence, the basis of love, supremely blissful, free from occupations and agitations (nishprapanchaya shantaya), he needs no other support (niralambaya) and yet he sustains and supports all.".[2]:xii

Usage and context

Nishprapanchaya occurs in some forms of the Guru Stotram.[1] A form of the Sri Guru Stotram is sung daily in the Shivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Swami Sivananda, Divine Life Society (August 29, 2008). "Divya Jyoti". Guru Stotram. Spiritual India. pp. verse 15. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 Swami Muktananda (1972, 4th Edition 1983). "Introductory Mantras". The Nectar of Chanting. SYDA Foundation. p. 2. ISBN 0-914602-16-0. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. 1 2 Ramachander, P.R. "Sri Guru Stotram" (PDF). Translation. Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  4. ↑ Sathakopan, Varadachari and Mandayam N. Ramanuja. "Sri Venkatesa Sahasranaamam". Annotated Commentary in English. pp. 209 (note 477). Retrieved February 1, 2012.
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