Ponderings

Talk and meditation on Kashika Stotram Verse 1 manojña-vṛttiḥ paramopaśāntiḥsā tīrthavaryā maṇikarṇikā ca |jñāna-pravāhā vimalādi-gaṅgāsā kāśikāhaṃ nija-bodha-rūpā || 1 ||This opening verse distills the essence of inner pilgrimage to Kashi, from an Advaitic viewpoint:• मनोज्ञवृत्तिः परमोपशान्तिः — When the mind’s activities (vṛtti) become serene, attractive (manojña), and ultimately stilled in supreme peace (parama-upaśānti), one experiences the true sanctity.• सा तीर्थवर्या मणिकर्णिका च — That inner stillness is the greatest of holy places (tīrtha-varyā), the Manikarnika within. In Vārāṇasī, Manikarnika is the cremation ghat where liberation is promised. In the yogic sense, it is the place within where the ego and ignorance are cremated.• ज्ञानप्रवाहा विमलादिगङ्गा — The ever-flowing current of pure knowledge (jñāna-pravāha) is the spotless, Primeval Gaṅgā (vimalādi-gaṅgā). This is not the physical river, but the unbroken awareness of the Self.• सा काशिकाहं निजबोधरूपा — That Kāśikā, the city of inner light, i