Maharishi Celebrates the Vedic Day of Dhanvatari,
the Day of Perfect Health

7 November 2007

Highlights

During the global celebration on 7 November 2007, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Founder of the Global Country of World Peace, spoke in detail about the unified state of reality, Totality. Beginning with global Puja [Vedic ceremony of gratitude] to his Master, Guru Dev*, Maharishi then gave an inspiring discourse on the aspect of intelligence, Dhanvantari, that is responsible for the health of the universe. His talk was in terms of the constituent sounds of the name Dhanvantari, and the value of Dhanvantari in promoting Brahm Vidya, the knowledge of Totality.

Maharishi: 'Today's Puja to Guru Dev has awakened in us that aspect of Brahmi Chetana**, which is expressed in the word of "Dhanvantari". Dhanvantari is a level of intelligence that is an aspect of the Constitution of the Universe that connects the unmanifest source of the constitution with the manifest expression of the constitution which governs the universe, which governs the health of the universe.

'It is very beautiful what has happened to us today, on Dhanvantari. Today's Puja to Guru Dev has been in terms of Puja to Dhanvantari—Dhan-vanta-ri. "Dha" is intellect; "Dhi"—Buddhi. "Dha", "Na"—Buddhi in the unmanifest state, unmanifest Buddhi. Unmanifest Buddhi is that which manifests Buddhi. And it structures "Dhan". "Dha", "Dhi"—Buddhi in the Nakaratmik, that means in the unmanifest state, Buddhi in the unmanifest state. Buddhi at that level from where expression begins—the transcendental level, from where the mind begins, from where intellect begins, from where ego begins, from where multiplicity begins from the state of complete self-referral unity.

'Complete self-referral unity expresses itself as "Dhan". That is "Dhan". "Dhan" has a meaning in wealth; there is a source of wealth—Dhanvantari, custodian of wealth, custodian of health, wealth, and wisdom, the custodian—Dhan.

' "Van", "Va", means—now you look at it from the different points of view, either this or this; or "Van"—"Va", again "Na". "Van"—again look at "Na" in terms of "Van-ta". "Ta", "Ta"—"Tad Brahm", in terms of Brahm, in terms of Brahm. Brahm is totality of multiplicity and unity—"Ta", "Tad Brahm", "Tad Brahm". "Tat tu samanvayat"—Brahm is unification of two opposite values, one unified, and multiple [di]versified—unified, united with versified.

'This union is called Brahm, Totality. This is the junction point of unmanifest and manifest. Here is a unity of unmanifest and manifest. There is a unity of manifest, unmanifest. This is what we see, the actuality of Dhan-van-ta. "Ta" is a unification of one and many—one and many together. One neutralizes many, and many neutralizes one, so it becomes again unmanifest. But unmanifest, it is the impulse of unmanifest.

' "Ra" is the impulse. The impulse of the unmanifest, and this impulse is in terms of "Rrrr"—"I". "Ra" is Atharva, impulse of "A". That is an impulse of "A" in terms of "I"—Kriya Shakti. Here is the awakening of Kriya Shakti, on the ground of complete unified state of reality. This is the actuality between Parashakti and Purusha—Purusha [infinite silence] and Parashakti [the unmanifest dynamism within silence]—Purusha and Parashakti, the junction of Purusha and Parashakti. The awakening of Parashakti and Purusha, this is Dhanvantari Day.

'And this has dawned in our mind when we have surrendered our individual ego to Guru Dev—"Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishur, Guru Devo Maheshvarah, Guruh Sakshat Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah". Puja to this, do a Puja to Brahm, but spelled out Brahm in terms of creator, maintainer—Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnur—Maheshvarah, complete silence and still in awakening.

'Today we are in the junction of the Absolute in reality. Today, we are in the junction. With this Puja, our awareness has been awakened in terms of the total reality which is a combined status of manifest and unmanifest. Today is the day where our awareness is stationed on a level of all possibilities, inside outside, junction point, Dhanvantari. This is the day, Dhanvantari Day.

'Dhanvantari Day—we are on the junction point of relative and Absolute. We are on the level of the constitution of self-referral unity, which is the constitution of the ever-expanding universe. Puja to Guru Dev has awakened in our awareness that reality which is together in oneness of infinite silence and infinite dynamism. Oneness of the two opposites, this is Brahm. Brahmi Chetana is that reality which is the relationship of Purusha and Prakriti.

'In the common expression, the ruler of the diverse universe is held up in its unity state—the constitution, the practicality of the constitution in the field of knowledge, and application of knowledge in terms of technology. That is why the Dhanvantari is on a level which upholds the reality of the unmanifest, the eternal reality of the unmanifest—non-changing, eternally non-changing, and the ever-changing reality of the relative field.

'It is a very precious day. A very precious Puja we have performed today, and we are basking in Brahma Vidya [total knowledge of Brahm, Totality]. We are floating in the ocean of Brahma Vidya. Brahma Vidya—Vidya of Brahm, Total Knowledge of Brahm. Two values together, multiplicity and unity together, Dhanvantari. This is Dhanvantari Day, a very precious day of the Indian calendar—probably the most precious day of the Indian calendar today. And we have identified in our awareness while doing Puja to Guru Dev—Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnur, Gurur Devo Maheshvarah, Guruh Sakshat Param Brahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namah.

'Guru—complete Brahm and also Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, and then also unification of all that, complete unmanifest: manifest and unmanifest. And here is a courtyard, here is a courtyard; on this side and that side, all lighted in one light. [This is the] awakening of Brahma Vidya, the seat of all action, all dynamism. It's a very fortunate day that we have floated in the ocean of Brahm by performing our Puja to Brahmananda Saraswati, Guru Dev.

'A beautiful day for us is dawning today, Dhanvantari Day. Dhanvantari—the custodian of Ayur-Veda. Veda is from "A", single "A" [the first syllable of Rk Veda]. Ayur Veda [is] from double "A". Double "A" gives us the junction point of the two fullnesses, relative and absolute. Dhanvantari is sitting on the junction point. That is the day today.

'In all these 360 days of the Indian calendar, this is the one day which is a unity of all the 360 days, and that unity of all 360 days in terms of Total Knowledge and total organizing power of pure knowledge. There is no hesitation to say that this is expression of the Constitution of the Universe. This is the expression of the Veda. This is the expression of Atma [the Self]. This is the expression of Brahm.

'Atma means "At-Ma". "Ma" back to "A", "At-Ma", "Ma" back to "A". "A" has memory of "Ma";"Ma" has memory of "A", so "At-Ma". "At-Ma" is made of memory. Atma [the Self] is made of memory—forward going memory, backward going memory, forward going memory, and backward going memory. Atma is made of memory.

'Memory in the Vedic Language is Smriti. Atma is made of Smriti. Atma is made of Smriti, and because there is back and forth, there is backward and forward. Pure memory, backward and forward, pure memory, but the two memories, opposite to each other. This rubbing sound, out of that, some sound is produced. Sound is not heard. It remains unheard. But nevertheless, two opposite directional activity, two opposite directions in activity create a sound which is unmanifest, and this sound unmanifest is a sound of Veda.

'The Veda is the expression, Veda is the flow of the sound—which sound, "A" in itself is pure memory, Smriti. So from Smriti emerges Shruti. "Shruti" means that which is heard. Smriti and Shruti, that which is heard. So Shruti and Smriti, that which is pure unheard, and it is heard. "Heard" means it is open to sensory perception, the senses. So that is on the expanding level.

'From where it expands? It expands from unmanifest. So, unmanifest and manifest together, the opposites are together, and the two opposites together is Brahm. So Brahm, Brahm is the ancient [Puran]. All about Brahm is Puran version of the Veda, Puran version of the language. Smriti. Puran version is like the ocean, complete silence, because two opposites are there—manifest and unmanifest. They neutralize each other and make it complete. Unmanifest, that means silence eternal, like a silent ocean, Purusha [infinite, eternal silence]. Silent ocean, Purusha, and this has a memory of itself, self-referral.

'Memory is not something separate other than its own status. [It is] self-referral, self-referral. So there is the literature, the language of Puran, that speaks of Brahm, and this memory is like a wave in the silent ocean. Wherever there is a wave, there is a sound. And where is the sound—that is Smriti, Smriti then wave, then wave creates sound, and sound is Shruti. So, Shruti is based on Smriti, Smriti is based on Puran, Puran is Atma.

'In itself, Atma, "Ma" to "A", it's all made of memory. All made of memory, and memory like a wave, and wave is based on silent ocean, unbounded eternal silence, Purusha, Purushottama, the ruler of the universe.

'So, this is the day of complete disclosure to pure knowledge, complete disclosure to life. This is the value of health. Health in the Vedic Literature is called "Svasth". "Sva" means Atma, and "Stha" means established in Atma. Healthy is he, who is established in Atma. Healthy is he, who is established in Atma. And "established in Atma" means established in the two opposite values, opposite values—many and one, opposite values. It is the transcendental value of Brahm.

'This is the day of complete knowledge. And inherent, complete dynamism with complete knowledge. That is why the silent day. It's a silent day, and where do we find it? We find it in the person of Guru Dev. Guru what? "Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshvarah"—Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh, the creator, maintainer and the sustainer, silence, and complete combination of them all—Brahm, Brahm, Brahm, Brahm.

'So not only Brahm, but the constituents—that of which Brahm is made—the constituents of Brahm. So this is the day, completely ready and fully awake in all possibilities. . . . This is the day when we have offered ourselves to Guru Dev, and we have actualized this day's value in our awareness.

'At every offering of it, at every offering of Guru Dev, we have the waves connecting us with that undivided wholeness, the materialized value of Prakriti and Purusha together, total value, Brahma Vidya [knowledge of Totality]. This is the day of complete Brahma Vidya, and we have offered our awareness to that, so our awareness is awake, awake, awake, awake.

'[It is a] beautiful day for us, a beautiful day for us, when many, many, many Vedic Pandits are offering their Puja [Vedic ceremony of gratitude] to Guru Dev, and raising their awareness to the full competence of all possibilities. This is the day of supreme Vedic festival. Fortunate we are.

'Dr Feldman***, request the Vedic Pandits from India, invite them to bless us with the traditional Vedic expressions, Vedic chantings, so that our celebration assumes a highly purified structure in terms of the eternally coming on Vedic recitations to get their blessings. We want to flow now in the traditional, eternal Vedic expressions of the day of Dhanvantari.'

* Guru Dev: Maharishi's Master, Shri Guru Dev, His Divinity Brahmananda Saraswati, Jagatguru Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math, Himalayas.

** Brahman Consciousness, the highest state of human development. Brahm, Totality, is the all-time reality of one's cosmic awareness.

***Dr Benjamin Feldman, Minister of Finance of the Global Country of World Peace.