gUDha-gulphA

SuklAmbara-dharam-viShNum-SaSi-varNam-caturbhujam|

prasanna-vadanam-dhyAyEt-sarva-vighnOpaSAntayE||

SrIgurbhyOnamaH

sarva caitanya rUpAm tAm

adyAm vidyAm ca dhImahI

buddhiM yA naH pracOdayAt|

gUDhagulphA

guDha – secretive/hidden

(guhyatEsma gUDham – one that is kept secretively, hidden)

gulpha – ankles

gUDhagulphAyai namaH

One whose ankles are hidden.  Amma’s ankles are hidden under her saffron colour saree.

This is the superficial meaning.

Among the namas that describe Amma, three namas corresponding to trimarma places (kadamba-manjarI-klupta-karNapUra-manOharA, aruNAruNakauSumbha-vastra-bhAsvat-kaTItaTI, gUDhagulphA) are described to be hidden or covered. Earlobes covered by kadamba flowers, hip and ankles covered by saffron colour saree: Let us see the secret behind these places being covered.

marmANi-nAma  mAMsa-sirA-snAryAsthi saMdhi sannipAtEShu svabhAvata Eva prANastiShThaMti

(Susruta samhita – Sarira sthanam – Ch 6 – 20Sl)

The junction point of flesh, veins, ligament and bones where prana is concentrated in human bodies is known as a marma. Since prana is here, marma points are important prana/consciousness points or vital points in human beings.

saptOttaram marmaSatam asmin SarIrE skandhaSakhAsamASritamagnivESa|

tEShAmanyatama-pIDAyAm samadhikA pIDA bhavati, cEtanAni-bandha vaiSEShyAt||

(Charaka samhita – Siddhi sthanam – Ch 9 – 3Sl)

Human body made up of five fundamental elements, has 63 marma points in the skandha part (from the bottom of the neck to the hip) and 44 marma points in the sakha part (hands and legs). If a marma point is injured, one will suffer more pain compared to any other part of the body.

Injury to some of the marma points could even be fatal. These are critical marma points.

tatra SakhASritEbhyO marmabhyaH skaMdhASritAni garIyaMsi, SAkhAnAm tadASritatvAt skandhASritEbhyOpi 

hrut-vasti-SirAMsi; tanmUlatvAccharIrasya (ibid 4Sl)

Since sakhas are issued out from skandha, skandha marmas are considered to be of higher importance. Of further importance are the thri-marmas, the three marma points hrudaya, vasti and siras (heart, hip and brain).

The reflex points of brain are said to be the ears and that of heart, ankles. According to Varma-Kala theory, it is possible to revive consciousness of an unconscious person by stimulating these three marma points. (Philosophy of Thanuology, S. Chidambaramthanu Pillai – Ref – Lethal spots, Vital secrets by Roman Seiler).

In order to indicate the importance of the caitanya/consciousness concentrated vital trimarma points, Vagdevatas seem to have described the corresponding parts (earlobes, hip and ankles) to have been covered.

Praying to Amma’s gulphas that I may have the darshan of akhanda chaitanya rupini amma, soon.

SrImAtrEnamaH