Manana/Meditation Sessions on Śivānanda Lahirī

The Bhāratīya Parampara emphasises a 3-stage learning process:

  • Śravanam (श्रवणम्) or conceptual learning
  • Mananam (मननम्) or reinforcing the concept through deep contemplation
  • Nididhyasanam (निदिध्यासनम्) or complete absorption and assimilation of concepts being contemplated which eventually culminates into Samadhi

Our Itihasas and Puranas are full of stories reiterating this process. Of these, Mananam is accorded the highest importance and is compared with the process of rumination by cattle. The mental rumination on a concept can take many forms. It could be a solitary mental contemplation, a collaborative study effort with peers, etc.

Smt. Sujatha Mahadevan has brought about a meditative approach to Mananam. She takes us through a lucid visualisation process of complex ideas presented in our Shastras. In other words, this is an experiential reinforcement of a concept through guided thought experiments. The concepts are usually learnt apriory by the students. This is not a prerequisite, although it helps to have a background. The sessions are in simple English for everyone to grasp. She has successfully led many such sessions on various topics taught by Prof. B. Mahadevan, including some of the chapters of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Atma Bodha, Pancadashi, etc.

In the instant case of Śivānanda Lahirī, she takes us, Shloka-by-Shloka, to various levels of contemplation. These are mental picnics that start on a worldly plane – with something wavering and wandering – but eventually culminate at the feet of Parama-Shiva. Each session is well curated to reinforce the concept of the specific Shloka under study.

Video lecture on Śivānanda Lahirī

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