Can anyone explain me the complete meaning of
'अस्तो मा सद्गमय ’
Quantumly…
Can anyone explain me the complete meaning of
'अस्तो मा सद्गमय ’
Quantumly…
Wow! So nostalgic,I love this quote since childhood, simple meaning is , “lead me to the right path from darkness”
It’s so broad and can be used in any context. It’s a simple yet powerful prayer. Often we see life through the lenses of fear, prejudice and illusion. This is to remind us to move from confusion and fear to clarity, to remind us to follow a path to our inner peach, contentment and happiness. Everyone has their own interpretation, it’s like asking the divine for guidance. Thank you for sharing ![]()
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From this perspective, for me personally is like - wipe your lenses and look beyond the things as they seem. Look at the deeper meaning which I often miss
sometimes I get impulsive and don’t behave myself ![]()
very good question my blessed @kobrakulsh
The literal meaning as per little understand is, “when it’s about sunset or Unreal (असतः), show me the path [to light..]” गमय (lead) to सत् (Real)
the beauty of Sanskrit and our upanishads is, they do not have an explicit name for the It
They, That… and such are like the fingers pointing at the moon but it’s not the moon! because That is Agochara… beyond the sensory perception !
Connecting this to Gayatri, as if its the continuation..
तत्स॑वि॒तुर्वरे॑ण्यं॒ भर्गो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ धीमहि। धियो॒ यो न॑: प्रचो॒दया॑त्॥
“May the Divine Light illumine our intellect…” to have the Viveka on what is Real and Unreal!
| Mantra | Inner Meaning |
|---|---|
| Asato Ma Sadgamaya | From Unreal to Real-- Eternal Truth |
| Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya | From the darkness / grossness of to Light, Awareness |
| Mrityor Ma Amritam Gamaya | From Death/fear to freedom/immortality |
Intention… volition… finds a way to express itself in these words… which we call prayer… same intent repeated in our own words has the same impact… I humbly submit that they dont have to be in Sanskrit only, any language is equally the same, because where it springs from there is no language.
So true! Internal prayers have feelings that’s not restricted by the barriers of any language. It’s your connection to the divine, even for people who can’t speak, like they say ‘किस्मत की लकीरें उनकी भी होती है जिनके हाथ नहीं होते’ it’s more like ‘दिल से दिल के तार जुड़ना ‘
Thanks a lot Venu sir for a clear explanation.Always you are there for us
Respected Venu Sir,
Thank you once again for such a beautiful explanation. ![]()
Sat with your words for long… especially the part about the Upanishads not naming “That” directly because it is Agochara, beyond sensory perception, a contemplation arose within me.
In recent years, while reading a little about quantum physics, I often come across the idea that what we perceive as solid reality is not quite as solid as it appears.
At the deepest levels there seem to be probabilities, possibilities and an underlying field from which forms arise.
While I understand that science and spirituality are different domains, I couldn’t help but wonder whether the sages were pointing towards something similar when they prayed:
" असतो मा सद्गमय."
Not merely from falsehood to truth, but perhaps from taking appearances as the whole reality to recognizing the deeper substratum behind appearances.
Your beautiful statement that words like “It”, “That”, or “They” are only fingers pointing to the moon is soo deep.
It raised a question in me,
Is “असत्” primarily the external world of appearances or is it more about our mistaken identification with appearances?
Is the illusion not in the world, but in the way the mind perceives and labels reality?
Another question that arose while reading your connection to Gayatri,
If Gayatri is the prayer for illumination of बुद्धि and विवेक, would it be correct to say that “असतो मा सद्गमय” is not asking to be taken somewhere else, but asking for the clarity to recognize what has always been present?
Almost as if सत् is not a destination but a revelation?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this, Sir.![]()
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Every time you share, I find myself receiving answers, but even more importantly, better questions. ![]()
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With gratitude and pranams,
Another question that has puzzled me for years…
If ब्रह्मन् is beyond words, beyond thought, beyond sensory perception,
then who is it within us that recognizes Truth when it is spoken?
What is it that feels a silent “Yes” when wisdom is heard?
The mind understands concepts.
But sometimes something deeper recognizes Truth instantly.
The Upanishads often speak of remembrance rather than acquisition.
Could it be that “असतो मा सद्गमय” is ultimately a prayer to remember what the soul already knows?
I would love to hear your insights
Venu Sir![]()
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With gratitude and pranams. ![]()
Beautifull
@ Harmeet,
Absolutely, everyone has their own interpretation. Perhaps this is the magic of these ancient prayers…
they meet each person exactly where they are and gently guide them one step closer to themselves. ![]()
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, Harmeet, I can relate to this…
Maybe this is exactly why this prayer has survived for centuries, because most of us spend our lives cleaning our lenses over and over again. ![]()
Further to our discuss my blessed @kobrakulsh we have an Abhasa like after we wake up from a very deep sleep we dont remember the particulars but just that I had a good sleep…
The light is not from the lampshade, the source is different. The light form the lampshade is due to the light from the source ![]()
you consciousness is already at the pinnacle of Jiva’s achievements…
Because I know you personally, let me email you something so profound you will for sure find all your answers. And we will come back here and continue.
Beautifully explained, Sir. ![]()
Thank you for pointing me back to the source. ![]()
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Respected Venu Sir
Your words always leave me with a sense of gratitude more than anything else.![]()
I honestly do not know whether I deserve such a generous assessment. What I do know is that whatever little understanding has arisen in me has come through the grace of teachers like you , life experiences, sincere inquiry and countless moments of being shown how much more there is to learn.
The deeper I look, the more I realize how little I truly know.
I will eagerly wait for your mail, Sir. Whenever you share something, I always approach it slowly, not as information to be collected, but as something to be contemplated and lived with.
Thank you for your kindness, your patience and for continually encouraging deeper inquiry.
If better questions are arising in me, much of the credit belongs to the quality of guidance I have been fortunate enough to receive from you.
With gratitude and pranams. ![]()