Path to self realisation 

Author Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh  – The Warrior Monk
 Indian Martial Arts Guru | Spiritual Visionary | Founder, Agasthyam Foundation | Author & Filmmaker 

                      Let me share something timeless from our tradition  the path to Self-realization.

In Vedanta, we say the journey to truth has three stages: Śravaṇam, Mananam, and Nididhyāsanam.

Hearing, reflecting, and deeply meditating it’s not just theory, it’s a living process.

Let me tell you the story of a seeker named Sivayogi.

 The Journey of Sivayogi

Sivayogi was not just a learner  he was a longing soul, a man on fire with the desire to know the truth of existence.

He had read scriptures, practiced austerities, chanted the names of Shiva… but something inside still remained unsatisfied. He knew about the Self, but he hadn’t yet realized it.

So one day, he climbed a sacred hill to meet a Jnani a silent sage who was known to speak only when the heart was ready.

Sivayogi bowed and said, “O Master, I have done everything. But I still feel separate… incomplete. Please help me.”

The sage simply said:

 “First, listen…”

Śravaṇam – Listening to the Truth

And so, Sivayogi sat humbly. He didn’t argue, he didn’t question he listened.

The Guru said:

"You are not the body. You are not the mind. You are not born, and you will not die. You are the infinite you are pure awareness, like the space that holds everything but is untouched by it."

This is śravaṇam sacred listening.Not just hearing words, but allowing them to pierce your illusion.And yet, listening is only the beginning.

 Mananam – Reflecting with Clarity

After hearing, Sivayogi went to the banks of a river. He sat there, in silence, letting those words echo within him.

But doubts arose.

• If I am not the body, why do I feel pain?
• If I am not the mind, then who is thinking these thoughts?
• How can I be the Self if I still feel this separation?

That was the stage of mananam reflection.Sivayogi didn’t suppress his doubts he faced them, one by one, like a warrior with clarity.And slowly, like mist lifting at dawn, the doubts dissolved.What remained was a still awareness a knowing beyond the intellect.

Nididhyāsanam – Meditative Absorption

Now Sivayogi didn’t want to speak anymore. He didn’t even want to ask questions. He just wanted to abide to sit, to breathe, to be established in that Self.

He would sit under the peepal tree each day, not trying to reach anything   just being what he already was.This is nididhyāsanam deep, steady contemplation. Not doing meditation but being meditation.And one day… the shift happened. The seeker disappeared. Only Shivam remained.

 The Inner Awakening

Sivayogi came down from the hill not as a knower of truth, but as truth itself .Silent. Luminous. Free. He didn’t teach with words his presence itself became a teaching. So remember this path isn’t a shortcut.

It’s a sacred fire that transforms you through:

• Śravaṇam – receiving truth from the Guru
• Mananam – burning doubts through reflection
• Nididhyāsanam – dissolving into silence

And through it, the Sivayogi in each of us awakens.

Element	Source	What it Gives	Type of Prana
🔥 Fire	Sunlight	Energy, vitality, digestion	Active, energizing prana
💧 Water	Rivers, Rain	Nourishment, cooling	Flowing, hydrating prana
🌍 Earth	Food, Ground	Strength, structure	Gross, sustaining prana
🌌 Space	Thought, Silence	Awareness, clarity	Subtle, expansive prana
🌬️ Air	Breath	Life force, consciousness	Immediate, dynamic prana

Five elements relate to the body:

 

1. Earth (Prithvi)

• Represents: Solidity, structure, stability
• In the body: Bones, muscles, tissues, nails, hair
• Qualities: Heavy, dense, grounding
• Role: Provides form and support; gives strength and endurance

 

2. Water (Apas or Jala)

• Represents: Fluidity, cohesion, movement
• In the body: Blood, lymph, saliva, urine, sweat, plasma
• Qualities: Cool, soft, flowing
• Role: Maintains hydration, helps circulation, regulates temperature

 

3. Fire (Agni or Tejas)

• Represents: Transformation, metabolism, energy
• In the body: Digestive fire (Jatharagni), body temperature, vision, intellect
• Qualities: Hot, sharp, radiant
• Role: Digests food, transforms energy, powers perception and intelligence

 

4. Air (Vayu)

• Represents: Motion, lightness, breath
• In the body: Breath (Prana), nerve impulses, muscular movement
• Qualities: Dry, light, mobile
• Role: Governs movement of thoughts, limbs, and internal organs

 

5. Ether (Akasha or Space)

• Represents: Space, openness, receptivity
• In the body: Cavities mouth, nostrils, thorax, abdomen, cells
• Qualities: Subtle, light, expansive

Role: Provides the space for all bodily functions to occur

Integration in Traditional Systems:

• Ayurveda: The balance of these five elements determines one’s constitution (doshas Vata, Pitta, Kapha).
• Yoga & Kalaripayattu: Practices aim to harmonize these elements through breath control (pranayama), physical movement (asanas or meypayattu), diet, and meditation.
• Healing: Blockages or imbalances in any element can lead to disease; correction restores health.

ABOUT AUTHOR

Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh, is a fifth-generation Kalaripayattu master, celebrated as a “Warrior Monk”,a self-realized spiritual leader and founder of Agasthyam kalaripayattu. Deeply rooted in a 129-year-old lineage, his journey is marked by profound self-awakening and dedication to Kalaripayattu. His teachings unify physical mastery, mental clarity, and spiritual insight, making Kalaripayattu a global path for holistic well-being. As co-principal investigator of the IKS Center for Kalaripayattu and Siddhar Tradition, he promotes Kalaripayattu’s healing wisdom as vital for modern life. An author and filmmaker, Dr. Mahesh’s legacy inspires resilience, self-discovery, and unity in seekers worldwide