108 Names of the Moon: Chandra Ashtottara Shatanamavali #68

Moon - a royal planet Om sarvagamajnaya namaha: Salutations to the One whom all kinds of knowledge and wisdom are within.

Glossary

sarva: all
jna: knowledge, wisdom
jñāna: San. n. (from jñā – to know) true intuited understanding; spiritual wisdom; higher knowledge. ‘What use is information which does not bring about transformation?’
gama: from āgama — Vedic principles
āgama: of the Vedas

The mind is not the master of the human person. We should learn when we are young how to manage the mind, and be the witness of all that passes before us in life. Yes, our parents are the first teachers, and are honoured for giving us our first learning. However, we grow, mature and pass through the various stages of life: Brahmacharya (or brahmacarinya), (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (retired) and Sannyasa (renunciate). In all of these stages, we should be managing the mind, and be the mastermind.

A pure mind can achieve much. The Sage Vasishtha teaches the young Rama like so: To begin with, if the mind is treated with strictness and deprivation and then it is dealt with respect, it becomes very cooperative. The mind is controlled in such a manner that it does not run after sensual gratifications. By this approach, the mind becomes very gentle. After this, if it is engaged in mundane functions it is no longer hostile and becomes very friendly and helpful. Then the jiva enjoys great bliss (ananda). As a kite (bird) keeps flying in the sky until it finds flesh on earth, and then it descends on land, so does the mind descend to the world when it finds sensuous gratifications; but if it is denied gratification, then with the pull of discrimination it continues to fly high.

A well formed mind can have us astute or sharp in practical matters, and of keen penetration or discernment into what comes before us or is proposed for us. A well formed mind may be mentally bright, having sharp or quick intelligence.

Much discipline is required, for Lord Krishna tells of the “mental structure” that accompanies the soul from death to birth again:

“This is the universal law, Arjuna. The sum total of all thoughts and feelings during the whole span of your life condense into a single state of mind at the time of your departure from the body. You assume a particular mental makeup at the instant of death. Whatever occupies your attention throughout life will inevitably be your consciousness at the moment you die – and to that realm of consciousness you will go. Then, some time later, that same mental structure is manifested back into the world. This is called the next birth. -Bhagavad Gita 8:6

Om sarvagamajnaya namaha: Salutations to the One whom all kinds of knowledge and wisdom are within.

Chandra - the Moon God

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