Our scriptures declare that there are different levels of joy experienced by an individual. The joy experienced in seeing an object of desire is called ‘Moda’, on possession, the joy is named ‘Āmoda' and on the usage of the object of desire, the joy is called ‘Pramoda’. These three are collectively called ‘Sukhākāra vṛtti’. The joy which is inherent in these three states and is its basis is known as ‘Ānanda’ or Bliss.
An explanation of the cause of these three levels is explained in Śāstras. (Mana) the mind is born out of prakṛti which has all the three gunas (sattva, rajas, and tamas) in equilibrium, hence devoid of any particular experience. The desire to enjoy a particular object (or have a particular experience) causes agitation in our mind by the Rajo guna (active principle). When the object of desire is visible, this agitation is somewhat subsided. This results in the rise of the aforesaid equilibrium, we feel this as a joyous experience. On possession of the same further agitation subsides resulting in the evolving of the equilibrium and hence the experience of a further level of joy. On enjoyment (having the desired experience/usage) this agitation disappears completely, resulting in the mind settling down like a clear mirror. The Ātmā (individual consciousness) is reflected in this state of mind resulting in the experience of Unlimited Bliss or ‘Ānanda’. As said earlier this final state experienced is our original state of being but is not being continuously experienced by us at all times for we are led to believe that this joy is due to the external object of desire. Hence we have the experience of joy on possessing or enjoying a desired object and sorrow on possession or usage of an undesired object. This state is due to a veil called Ignorance of the true state of ‘Being’. When this veil is lifted continuous experience of Unlimited Bliss is there due to an uninterrupted vision of ‘Self’ (Ātmā). Bhagavan Paraśurama in Kalpasūtra has declared ‘Ānando brahmano rūpam tacca dehe vyavasthitam tair abhivyañjagāh pañca makarā’ - The form of Eternal Consciousness (Brahman) is Unlimited Bliss; it is situated in the body; Five M's manifest it.
Śrī Bhāskararāya in his commentary on Bhāvanopaniṣat has stated that The Eternal Brahman without any attributes is called Śrī Mahā Kāmeśvara, with a special attribute called Unlimited Bliss is known as Śrī Lalitā and with four attributes which are mind, intellect, ego, and senses are called the sādhaka/upāsaka (individual consciousness). The above is the true form of Our Upāsanā devata Śrī Lalitā Mahātripurasundari. Navāvaraṇapūjā with the five M's is an attempt to lift this above veil (āvaraṇa) and merge all the three states into the One Eternal Consciousness - BLISS. This can be achieved by sādhaka’s constant aspiration with deep faith in the grace of Śrī Guru while performing the ritual in total LOVE for the Divine.
Source: "Meditative Texts - Revised Thoughts on the Way" by Yogamba Sameta Atmanandanatha (Ramesh Kutticad)
Yogamba Sahita Atmanandantha (Ramesh Kutticad) is a Śrī Vidyā Guru from Chennai. He is associated with Guruji since 1996. Smt. and Sri Ramesh have painstakingly written the following scholarly, research. We're grateful to him for allowing us to make these articles available for the public.
