CHAPTER FIVE

Bhana Darsanam—Vision of Vital Awareness

Verse - 1


अन्तर्बहिर्वदासीनं सदा भ्रमरचञ्चलम् ।

भानं द्विधैव सामान्यं विशेषो इति भिद्यते ॥ १ ॥


Situated inwardly and outwardly, always moving to and fro like a bee

Vital awareness is thus divided into two types, the generic (and) the specific.


Sree Narayana Guru

Commentary


In Narayana Guru's gloss (didhiti) on this verse, he defines bhana as "what is the foundation of all actions, having the nature of mental activity." The Amarakosha (204 & 206) has the word bhanur which pertains to the glowing sun (e.g. bhaskara). In other texts bhana means "appearance, brightness, lustre, splendour," being formed from the root bha (e.g. Maitri Upanishad VI. 7).

Bhana is vital awareness which shines forth. Here the sage divides vital awareness into two classes, the generic and the specific, and in the next verse he shows us what belongs to each. He is borrowing a good part of his philosophical vision in this chapter from the Mandukya Upanishad, as well as adding his own contribution.

Sree Narayana Guru