Vigraha and Anugraha

Graha means catching, holding on to something. The whole Universe is moving very fast and whatever is holding the Universe is all Grahas. They are being held by orbits, that’s why they are Grahas, that which holds on. It remains there forever. If not forever, at least relatively, not in absolute terms.

        Agraha is insisting, you hold on to something and you insist, that is agraha. Then Nigraha is where you control, it’s again a type of holding. Then comes Vigraha, that is trying to hold on to something, your goal is to hold on to something which is ethereal, which you cannot perceive or hold on to. But in a special manner you try to hold on to, that is Vigraha.

           The infinite, absolute, unmanifest divinity cannot be held. But through some special means you want to establish a sort of relation, communication or a sort of connection. You are already connected, but when you are trying to feel the connection with infinity through some means, that means is called Vigraha. You are holding on to something to which you can never hold on, with a special means, the means which helps you to grasp the incomprehensible is called Vigraha. And Anugraha is that which holds you up, grace, blessings, that which holds you up.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji