जय श्री कृष्ण
Glory to our dear Sri Krishna.
He is described as Buddhi Saakshine ( बुद्धिसाक्षिणे) in the the invocatory hymn by Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada. This calls for some discussion. In my studies I have known that the mental apparatus is classified in the following four ways:
मनस् ( Manas) , चित्त ( Chitta), बुद्धि( Buddhi) and अहंकार ( Ahamkaar).
These can be explained in terms of our common computer. The Computer has a RAM ( RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY). This is where all information interchange takes place. This interchange could be internal or with the outside world. This is equivalent to our MANAS in the mental apparatus. The Computer has a Hard Disk which stores all the information from outside as well as information from work done within. Our CHITTA is the equivalent of the Hard Disk, with the small difference that the Chitta has its own intelligence. Some elders also say that the CHITTA is the store house of the whole World's intelligence. Hence the CHITTA is a dynamic Hard Disk. If one is smart enough he could know about the world at large just by peeing into the CHITTA. Then comes the BUDDHI. In terms of the computer this is the equivalent of the ALU ( ARITHMETIC AND LOGIC UNIT). This is the place where the decisions are taken and calculations made. The one major difference between the Computer and us is the absence of the fourth component AHAMKARA in a computer. AHAMKARA in me represents my awareness of being me. These components exist in all of us.
Now Sri Krishna is mentioned as Buddhi Saakshine ( बुद्धिसाक्षिणे). Buddhi is the apparatus which decides which way our mental faculties will progress. It also decides which way the bodily functions will happen. We understand that the Buddhi can control the Organs of Action and Organs of Perception only. But elders say that even the functioning of the internal organs can be controlled by using the power of the Buddhi. Hence Buddhi shows the direction we think and act. We could act on the basis of the realities of the external situation. Or we could act on the basis of the information made available by the Chitta. But the direction of action is decided by the Buddhi. Sometimes the Chitta appears to be very powerful and appears to be controlling the Buddhi. But this is not true. Only when the Buddhi repeatedly decides to be controlled by the Chitta it slowly becomes subservient to it. But again through proper decision making and resolve it can regain its power and glory. Such is the power of the Buddhi.
Hence the Buddhi is the most power instrument of the mental apparatus. It is the greatest of the mental apparatus. Sri Krishna is said to be sitting in each one us as the Saakshi or witness of this Buddhi.
