137. Mantra of A to Z.

Physical entities like us (manifested) are invariably affected by two delusions. The first, yoga-maya, born of the three gunas, increases ahankaar (aham-karta or the sense of “I am the doer”), though actions arise from the interactions among the gunas. The second is the delusion created by the polarities of longing and aversion, which leads to desires to possess things, influence people, and pursue pleasurable experiences, while developing aversion to anything contrary to them. These two complement each other. While ahankaar justifies desires; desires, especially fulfilled ones, enhance ahankaar. Gita encourages us to be a witness to actions created by gunas without longing or aversion.

In this regard, Krishna says, “Those who strive for liberation from old age and death (jara-marana-mokshaya), taking asritya (refuge) in Me, they realise the Brahma (the whole/absolute), Adhyatma (spirituality/individual self) and akhilam-karma (all aspects of action) (7.29). Those who know Me as Adhibhuta (above elements), Adhidaiva (above God’s) and Adhiyajna (above sacrifices) even at the time of death, they, steadfast in mind, know Me” (7.30).

Interestingly, Krishna mentions death and old age immediately after delusion, as these delusions instill fear in us, such as the fear of our desires not being fulfilled or our ahankaar being hurt. But death is the root fear which takes many forms of fear and overcoming this will help us transcend delusions, hence, many cultures use death as an instrument of vairagya (dispassion) to control the mind and overcome all fears. Krishna advises ‘asritya’ which is taking refuge in Paramatma, leading to complete understanding of Divine.

Asritya accepts all outcomes as the Lord’s blessings in response to his prayers. His prayer is like reading letters from A to Z, knowing that everything required - and everything that unfolds, is already embedded in their arrangement. He prays Paramatma to arrange these letters as He deems fit.