The self is experienced as an inevitable expression of the Divine. Also the self is the signpost to the presence of God.

Astitvamu means the feeling that 'I am there'. Astitvamu is a gross state, it is not the superior "I"ness that we talk about. For ex. if we take a peon in the office, he says that when I am there, why did you enter the office, why did you enter ignoring me? He will prevent you from going inside.

It is a stage at which awareness of self is predominant. It comes in the second knot. We are talking about the awareness of self in the sense of 'ahamta'. The self is experienced as an inevitable instrument for the Divine. That inevitability is the illusion, that if they are not there, what will God do. Also, there is a feeling that the self is a signpost to the presence of God.

The Dwajasthambham in front of the temple is a flag post to the temple. It feels its inevitability and that without its presence the temple/Divinity cannot be known.