This great mantra is taken from Taithreeya Aranyakam (1.22) of Yajur Veda. It is one of the most famous of all veda mantras and remains quite popular till date. It is normally sung in a chorus by all the priests together after performing any Pooja (worship) or Yajna.
The basic message contained in this mantra is that water is the basis of this universe.
However, one can experience much deeper spiritual meaning. Serious readers would surely ponder deeply at the hint in the mentioning of a “raft” in the paragraph “Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam ….” of this mantra.
॥ Mantra Pushpam in English
॥
Yopam puspam veda
Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Chandramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati.
Agnirva Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo agnerayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Vayurva Apamaya tanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati।
Apovai va yorayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda
Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati.
Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Chandrama Vama pamayatnam
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda
Yo pamayatanam veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye evam Veda
Yopamaya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Parjanyova apamayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ye Evam veda
Yopa maya tanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam
Ayatavan bhavati
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda
Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati.
Rajadhi rajaya Prasahya Sahine।
Namo Vayam Vai Sravanaya Kurmahe
Samekaman Kama Kamaya mahyam
Kamesvaro Vai Sravano dadatu
Kuberaya Vai Sravanaya
Maha rajaya Namah.
॥ Mantra Pushpam Meaning
॥
He who understands the flowers of water,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, progeny and cattle.
Moon is the flower of the water,
He who knows it to be so,
He becomes the possessor of flowers, progeny and cattle.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
Fire is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Fire,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of fire,
He who knows it to be so,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
Air is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Air,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of air,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
Scorching sun is the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Scorching Sun,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of scorching sun,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
Moon is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Moon,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of moon,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
Stars are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Stars,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of stars,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in himself.
Clouds are the source of water,
He who knows the source of the Clouds,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of clouds,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows the source of water,
Becomes established in his Self.
(Note: The following paragraph has got a hidden meaning – this is to say that there is a raft available to cross over all the forces of Nature and to see the God beyond all of them – God himself is the raft – we have to seek His help to see Him. We need to understand that He, indeed is the raft. This paragraph also makes the serious reader wonder on what is the real meaning of the word “water” used throughout this mantra.)
Rainy season is the source of water,
He who knows the source of Rainy Season,
Becomes established in his Self,
Water is the source of rainy season,
He who knows this,
Becomes established in his Self.
He who knows that there is a raft is available,
Becomes established in that raft.
{This stanza is included in some versions of mantra Pushpam –
Om thad Brahma,
Om it is Brahma
Om Thad Vayu.
Om it is air
Om Thad Athma
Om it is the soul
Om Thad Sathyam
Om it is the truth
Om That Sarvam
Om it is everything
Om That puror nama
Om salutations to that Purusha
Anthascharathi bhootheshu Guhyam Viswa Murthishu
That which is inside all beings secretly is that Universal God
Thvam Yajna
You are the fire sacrifice (Yajna),
Thwam vashatkara
You are the personification of Vedic sacrifice
Thwam Indra
You are the Indra
Thvam vayu
You are the air
Thvam Rudra
You are the Rudra
Vishnus thvam
You are the Vishnu
Brahmasthvam
You are the Brahma
Thvam prajaipathi
You are the Lord and saviour of all beings (prajapati)
Om Thadhapa apo jyothi raso amrutham brahma bhur bhuvasuvarom
Om water is light, the essence is the nectar and the concept of Brahma is in all the seven worlds.}
King of kings, we praise thee,
Who is the giver of all victories,
Who is the fulfiller of all desires,
Please bless me with wealth,
To fulfill all our desires,
Oh, Kubhera, we praise thee,
Salutations to the king of kings.
(The last stanza is normally recited by priests while giving back Prasada after performing an Archana in all temples)
Note: Kubhera is the Lord of wealth.