Words on the Way - Muz Murray Mantra Yoga Master

P—WORDS on the WAY
Påda
da(m)
(pah-dah or pah-dam)
Var: Padam, paada, paadam
Sense: ‘Foot, feet or ultimate support’ (of the universe).
The Awareness-Consciousness which is the substratum of the
manifested universe is metaphorically considered as the
‘supportive base pillar’ or ‘sustaining “foot” on which all
apparent existence rests.
Quotes: a) “Because it bears and sustains the whole world, the
completely perfect being-consciousness is termed Padam.” 1
The Må~∂¨kyopani‚ad (Må~∂¨kya Upani‚had) defines the
Brahman as having four quarters (pådas), signifying states of
consciousness. Operating through a human being, the first ‘påda’
is called vaiçvånara, the activity of which is the waking state
(jågarita
jågarita); the second påda is called taijasa, relating to the dream
state; the third påda is pråjña, which is operative in the state of
deep sleep (su‚hupti
su‚hupti); and the fourth påda is the state of
absorption in Absolute Brahman, known as turiya (literally, ‘the
fourth’).
Other:
a) Pådas are quarters of verses in the Vedas, which contain
the complete sense of a single idea in that portion.
b)
c) A word.
Refs:
1 Padamalai—The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi, Recorded by Muruganår. Ed. David
Godman (Avadhuta Foundation, USA). ISBN: 0-9711371-3-7.
Påda Puja (pah-dah poo-jah)
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