INTRODUCTION
Canto 1 and 2 are about the new dawn and a brief introduction to the issue. Now in canto 3, Sri Aurobindo takes us to the flashback.
CANTO 3 STARTS WITH THE YOGA OF THE KING ASWAPATI.
In canto 1, Savitri is introduced; it says about the spiritual dawn in us and for Savitri.
In canto 2, he writes about the issue. What was the big issue for Savitri, and how did she decide to overcome it.
Now in canto 3, we will see the yoga of the king Aswapati. This canto is all about the soul’s longing for the manifestation of the divine.
As mentioned earlier, we can understand Savitri in many ways.
From book 1, Canto 3 to Book 3, Canto 4, the yoga of king Aswapati is explained in detail. It runs about 12,000 lines.
This is not only the yoga of King Aswapati but also the yoga of Sri Aurobindo. We can also take this as our yoga.
The meaning of the word “yoga” is “ to unite”. The yoga that we are doing now is entirely different from what Sri Aurobindo has done and described in this canto.
Most traditional yoga involves body training/ conditioning followed by mind training, the kundalini ascension process, and finally, surrendering to the divine.
Here in this Purana yoga/ integral yoga Sri Aurobindo starts with the surrendering to the divine grace, followed by soul awakening and the manifestation of Divinity in this body.
THIS PRIMARY STEP OF YOGA IS SURRENDERING TO THE DIVINE.
The realisation that we are not our body, we are not our mind, not our emotions, but we are the part of the central being – the psychic being, who has descended to gain the earthly experience.
Here, King Aswapati starts his yoga by realising who he is, what is the mission, and why are we here on this earth?
CANTO 3
THE YOGA OF THE KING:
THE YOGA OF THE SOUL’S RELEASE
Sri Aurobindo introduces the king Aswapati as a “colonist from immortality”.
Indirectly saying that he is a tool chosen by the cosmic worker ( the creator). The well-deserved being whose soul lived as eternity’s delegate, mind a fire assailing heaven.
In Savitri Book 1, Canto 3, Page 23 describes
In Savitri Book 1, Canto 3, Page 23 describes
“THIS BODILY APPEARANCE IS NOT ALL;
THE FORM DECEIVES; THE PERSON IS A MASK;
HID DEEP IN MAN, CELESTIAL POWERS CAN DWELL.
HIS FRAGILE SHIP CONVEYS THROUGH THE SEA OF YEARS” – Sri Aurobindo
Sri Aurobindo makes us clear that the celestial power dwelt in us unnoticed. Our ignorant minds do not know the eternal’s presence.
He describes Aswapati as the one in which the high transition laid its base, an aspirant of supernal timelessness.
There are many points which are to be noted and followed. Sri Aurobindo not only tells about the nature of Aswapati but reveals our original, most authentic nature, that we are the divine.
Do read about our previous article on “THE ISSUE” – 3 min Easy read from Savitri
