Shiva Sutra

JAGRATSWAPUASUSHUPTBHEDE TURYABHOG SAMVITA
GYANAM JAGRAT
SWAPNOVIKALPAHA
AVIVEKO MAYASOWSHUPTAM.
TRITIYA BHOKTA VIRESHAHA.

Concise:
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP-EACH SEPARATELY – THE FOURTH STATE IS ATTAINED.
CONSTANCY OF KNOWLEDGE IS THE WAKING STATE.
CHOOSING IS THE DREAMING STATE.
UNCONSCIOUSNESS AND LACK OF SELF-AWARENESS CREATE THE ILLUSION OF DEEP SLEEP.
HE WHO IS AWARE OF ALL THREE IS THE SUPREME HERO.
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP – EACH SEPARATELY – -TURIYA,
THE FOURTH STATE, IS ATTAINED.

Turiya, the fourth state, means supreme knowledge. The fourth state means that there is no
darkness of any sort within. All the inner landscape is illuminated; no area of darkness remains.
Nothing of ourselves, neither within nor without, is unknown to us. The light of wakefulness makes
every thing visible.

As we are now, we are either awake or dreaming or in deep sleep. We have no idea of the fourth
state. When we are awake we see the outside world, but we ourselves are in darkness. Objects
become visible, but we have no knowledge of our inner self. The world lights up but not the soul.
This is the state of semi-wakefulness, half-wakefulness.
What we call waking up in the morning, is just this half-wakeful state. This is not really worthwhile
because it is the useless which is visible; the useful remains hidden. We see the rubbish, but the
diamonds remain in obscurity. We cannot see our own selves though the whole world is made visible
to us.

The second state is the state of dreaming. In dreaming we lose not only ourselves, but also the
outside world. All we see are images floating in the mind, reflections of the external world. We see
these reflections as we would see the moon or the stars mirrored in a lake. On waking we see things
distinctly; in dreams we see them as reflections.

The third state that we are acquainted with is deep sleep. In this state, first the external world, the
world of objects is lost to us; then the reflections fade, dreams disappear and we are left in total
darkness. This is known as deep sleep. In this state we have no knowledge either of the outer world
or of the inner world.

In the waking state we have knowledge of the external world. In the dream state, which is between
wakefulness and deep sleep, we have knowledge only of the reflections formed in the wakeful state,
but no knowledge of the objects without.

The fourth state is turiya. This state is the goal we are striving to reach. All meditations, all yoga, are
endeavors to reach the fourth state. The fourth state means knowledge of both, what is within and
what is without - complete wakefulness; there is no darkness within or without. This is what is known
as buddhahood. Mahavir called this enlightened state, jinatva. The light spreads everywhere, inside
and out; and in this light we know objects and also know our self. These sutras show how the fourth
state is attained.

The first sutra says:
KNOWING WAKEFULNESS, DREAMING AND DEEP SLEEP – EACH SEPARATELY – TURIYA, THE FOURTH STATE IS ATTAINED.

Importance of Namaskar

There are several ways in which people pay obeisance (namaskār or salutation) to the Divine. Various types gestures or postures accompany prayers or obeisance. Some people hold their hands up as if in asking, while others bring their fists together, while yet others may pray with hands folded, as seen above. For the simple reason that it is the most scientific way to attract the divine consciousness (Chaitanya) from God towards oneself.

Origin and the meaning of the word 'Namaskar'

The word 'Namaskār' is derived from the root 'Namaha,' which means paying obeisance or salutation. In the Hindu Science of Justice (Nyaayashaastra), 'namaha' is a physical action, expressing that 'you are superior to me in all qualities and in every way.' The main objective of doing Namaskār to someone is to derive spiritual as well as worldly benefits.

Worldly benefits

By doing Namaskār to a Deity or a Saint, unknowingly their virtues and capabilities are impressed upon our mind. Consequently, we start emulating them, thus changing ourselves for the better.

Spiritual benefits

- Increase in humility and the reduction of ego

While doing Namaskār, if one thinks, 'You are superior to me; I am subordinate; I do not know anything; You are Omniscient,' it helps to reduce ego and increasing humility.

- Enhancement in surrender and gratitude

While doing Namaskār, when thoughts like 'I do not know anything; You alone get everything done; Grant me a place at Your Holy Feet' come to mind, this helps in increasing ones surrender and gratitude.

- Gaining the sattva component and making faster spiritual progress

Among the various postures used for paying obeisance, we receive the highest amount of sattva component from the posture (mudrā) of Namaskār, recommended by The Hindu Dharma.
By doing Namaskār to Deities or Saints we receive the subtle frequencies They emit, for example, the frequencies of sattva or Bliss.
By doing Namaskār to Deities or Saints we also receive Their blessings in a subtle form. This helps in expediting our spiritual progress.