Sadhan Samar: Battles in a Sacred Quest (Devi Mahatmya: Glory of the Goddess) A Spiritual Commentary on Sri Sri Candi or Durga Saptasati by Brahmarsi Satyadeva (in 3 Vol Set)

Brahmarşi Satyadeva (Saratcandra Bandhopdhyāyā), was born in 1883, in the village of Navagram in Bariṣāl district in what is presently Bangladesh. He was given the honorific Brahmarşi for his exalted spiritual attainment. Brahmarşi passed away in 1932. Sadhan Samar is an enlightened and much-admired spiritual interpretation of Devi Mahatmya in Bengali. It was written by Satyadeva in the early 1900s and first published from Calcutta in 1920.

To look for the source, one has to travel to Varanasi, the land of Siva, where in the loving arms of Mother Annapurna, a blissful child lives in immense bliss. One has to go to the banks of the river Ganges, into its water, where a sentient being swims and floats in its depths, where truth-beneficence-beauty is immersed in the samadhi of yoga. We have to travel to the feet of Viśvanath where he has taken mobile form, to the lotus feet of the great yogi Trailanga Swami, where in silence he explains the principles of Brahman, where he is distributing his infinite yogic energy for the benefit of humanity. Slowly, coming to the final act of his own human drama, he tenders his divine body into the heart of the Ganges. It was an offering by Viśvanath of his love and affection for the world. In the distant past, Mahadeva had borne the divine river Ganga on his matted locks. This time, the auspicious Gangā accepted the human form of Siva Maheśvara, carrying yoga-sakti of the lord of yogis towards union with the ocean.

But, he did not reach his destination. In a section of the great awareness of this knowledgeable soul, appeared the grief of this world. Viewing this nature of ignorance on earth, the heart of Viśvanath melted with mercy. Touched by sorrow, he landed at a quay at Haora'. Wisdom (prajñā) materialized in a divine birth. Self-realized from birth, appeared yogi Acarya Bijayakṛṣṇa. 'I am your disciple, instruct me, I seek refuge in you". To enlighten the prostrating Viśvarupa, he recited the nondual, ambrosial words of courage of the Gitä. He propounded the eternal mystery of yoga, in a yogic commentary of the Gita. At the conclusion of the yoga of liberation, Bijayakṛṣṇa took up all burdens of the surrendering disciple, desiring to reveal the intense, deep secrets of the principles of sakti. There were obstacles at every step, but the fearless spiritual aspirant, ignored all warnings and went forward. By an electric contact with an immense force, gross configuration dissolved into luminous form.

But the wish of this sage was not in vain; it waited for the right time and place. His spiritual work wanted to flow downstream. That is why, leaving the river, we have to board a train at Hãorā station. We reach a secluded room in Karmatar, where the paternal Bijayakṛspa has taken new form as an affectionate mother, where the charioteer of Pärtha has become the Mother of this universe, where Brahmarşi Satyadeva is reaping the principles of the energy of the serene, where the Gita has ended and the tune of Candi has begun to play, where the 'yogic explanation of the Gita being completed, the 'sacred conflict has directly appeared. In this battle, the force of the guru is carrying the infant awareness of this universe towards its total nature. The knots of worldly existence are being torn, one after another. The eternal hunger of the five shells of worldly person are being satisfied by the grace of Mother, the darkness of ignorance is being removed. That is why the Mother of this universe is sometimes the warrior Durgā and sometimes the bestower of knowledge and renunciation, Annapurna. Traveling on the path of Gita and Candi, the power of the guru wanted to uncover dharma of truth of the Upanisads. This great maternal spirit, overwhelmed by love for the children, attracted the illness of a favored disciple. The material body of truth-natured Brahmarşi dropped off untimely.

Sadhan Samar, a commentary in Bengali on Devi Mahatmya, was written by Brahmarşi Satyadeva in the early 1900s and first published from Calcutta in 1920'. It is an enlightened interpretation of the original scripture. Sri Satyadeva was born Saratchandra Bandhopdhyaya, in 1883, in the village of Navagram in Barişāl district in what is presently Bangladesh. He was given the honorific Brahmarşi for his exalted spiritual attainment. Brahmarşi was initiated by Sri Bijay Krishna Chattopadhyay (1875-1947) who was popularly known as 'Haorar thakur. Satyadeva authored several books such as Puja Tattva, Satya Pratiṣṭā, and Matr Darsan. Brahmarşi passed away in 1932. One of his disciples, Sri Narendra Nath Brahmacari was the founder of Dev Sangha Asram, which has a monastery in Deoghar, Jharkhand, India. This English translation is based on the three volumes of Sadhan Samar published by Dev Sangha Aśram, Deoghar in 2006.

One of the oldest Indian scriptural texts, the Markeṇḍeya Purana is said to have been compiled in the Gupta period in its present form. Devi Mahatmya, (also known as Durga Saptasati and Sri Sri Candi) is the portion of the Purana, comprising chapters 81 to 93. Devi Mahatmya now exists as an independent, sacred scripture. It plays a key role in Säkta philosophy, just as the Bhagavat Gita does in Vedanta. Devi Mahatmya is recited on a daily, seasonal and annual basis for ceremonies in temples and homes in many parts of India and now all over the world. There are many Samskrta commentaries on Devi Mahatmya. Brahmarşi refers several times to one named Tattva Prakāšikā. Other available ones are Durgapradipa, Guptavati, Caturdhari, Santanavi, Nagojibhatti, Jagaccandracandrika and Damoddhara.

1. Sadhan Samar

The text of Sadhan Samar, by my Paramguru Brahmarşi Satyadeva, is a resource for all spiritual seekers. In the context of a spiritual commentary of Devi Mahatmya or Sri Sri Candi Brahmarşi has composed a beautiful, harmonized interpretation of the three scriptural paths. Many seekers have collected fabulous jewels from the three volumes of this precious book and benefited in their lives. Stringing together a small garland of gems will clarify the beauty of these spiritual paths towards liberation. This is the purpose of this introduction.

2. Brahman is Real, the world is unreal

The word 'granthi' means a knot. Just as a tangled or knotted piece of string or rope is not of much use the knots of worldly existence keep sadcidānanda' Brahman nearly functionless. If one were to begin tugging around, without looking at the knots, they will get more tangled and tighten. If one attempts to take oneself on a path of liberation without having a general idea about the knots of life, the results are opposite to those desired. In some cases, by tugging around, the knots do loosen or come apart. But, a spiritual seeker no longer has to go forward with uncertainty in his life, because previous teachers have analyzed the principles of these knots very beautifully and directed a way towards liberation. With the blessings of Brahmaṛşi, a figure of intellect of our revered sages, a path that is as difficult as walking on the edge of a razor, is now much easier.