Introduction to the Purusha Suktam

The Purusha Suktam is one of the Pancha Suktams or five Suktams of the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya or tradition. Narayana Suktam, Sri Suktam, Bhu Suktam, and the Nila Suktam are the other four.

The earliest evidence of the Purusha Suktam is seen in the Rig Veda, and it is the 90th Suktam of its 10th mandalam, with 16 Mantras. Later, it is also seen in the Vajasaneyi Samhita of the Shukla Yajur Vedam, the Taittriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajur Vedam, the Sama Veda, and the Atharvana Veda, but with a few modifications and redactions.

In South India, the Purusha Suktam, Shree Suktam, Vishnu Suktam, and Narayana Suktam are usually chanted together. The Gita, Upanishads, Sri Rudram, Purusha Suktam, and the Vishnu Sahasra Naamam are also recommended for daily chanting.

As the Purusha Suktam is present in all Vedas, it is described as the essence of all Srutis by Veda Vyasa in the Mahabharata. Saunaka, Bodhavana, and Apastamba have also written about the use of the Purusha Suktam.

The Purusha Sukta is a powerful hymn of Rishi Narayana’s insight on the Cosmic Divine Being as seen through the multitudinous variety of creation. It is also a shortcut for the seeker of Reality to enter into the state of Superconsciousness. The Sukta has a fivefold force powerful enough to arouse God-experience in the seeker. 

The Seer or Rishi of the Sukta, Narayana, is the greatest of all sages. 

The Bhagavata rightly proclaims him to be the only person whose mind cannot be swayed by desire. The Mahabharata says that even the gods cannot imagine his power. Such is the person to whom the Sukta was revealed and who, in turn, gave expression to it as the hymn on the Supreme Purusha. 

The mantras of the Sukta are also composed in a particular meter which generates a special spiritual force when it is recited. The intonation with which the mantras are recited helps produce the correct meaning that has to be conveyed through the Mantras. Errors in the intonation will produce a different effect. The Deity who is addressed in the hymn is also not an externalized form as content in space and time. It is the Universal Being that transcends space and time. 

The Purusha Sukta is a commonly used Vedic hymn and is recited during most Vedic rituals and ceremonies. It is often used when Vishnu or Narayana is worshipped in the temple, during idol installation and Homas, and also during the daily recitation of Sanskrit texts or meditation. The most commonly used portion of this Sukta has 24 mantras or stanzas. The first 18 mantras are called Purvanarayana, and the rest, Uttaranarayana. 

The Purusha mentioned in the title of the Purusha Sukta is a reference to the Parama Purusha/ Purushottama/ Narayana in his form as the Viraat Purusha. He is the source of all creation. It describes his form – with numerous heads, eyes, legs, manifested everywhere. His form is beyond the scope of all limited methods of comprehension. Creation in its entirety is but a fourth part of him. The remaining is unmanifested.

Purusha, as Brahma was inactive, and Aniruddha Narayana, one among the four aspects of Narayana, asked him ``Why do you do nothing?'' Brahma replied, ``Because of not knowing.''. 

The act of creation grew out of yajna, which is the rite of sacrifice. Who was the object of worship at this sacrifice? It was the Purusha. And it was Brahma, the creative aspect of the Purusha, who performed it. The ritvik priests were the devas, who are the Purusha's senses. The beast of the sacrifice was again Brahma. The altar of the sacrifice was all of nature. The fire was Purusha's heart. The sacrifice was Purusha himself, his great body that contained within it all of creation.

This means that the Purusha would consume himself in the fire of creation, in order to create all the worlds. It was from this sacrifice that all of the creation emanated. This is key to the message contained in the Purusha Sukta.

vedAhametam purusham mahAntam

Aditya varNam tamasaH parastAt |

tam evam vidvAn amRta iha bhavati

na anyaH panthA vidyate 'yanaaya ||

This great Purusha, brilliant as the sun, who

 is beyond all darkness, I know him in my

 heart. Who knows the Purusha thus,

 attains immortality in this very birth.

 I know of no other way to salvation.

This sacred hymn is said to be very useful for people suffering from diabetes and can produce miraculous results if recited daily. Those who lack offspring and are going through marital problems can benefit from this Suktam. It can also make the mind clear and bring success in one’s endeavors.

If you wish to learn how to chant the Purusha Suktam properly, you can download Purusha Suktam MP3 and listen to it.

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