For the purpose of creation, sustenance and destruction of the leela vibhuti, Bhagwan comes out of Paramapadam and resides in Vyuha lokam in each Andam. For these 3 purposes, bhagwan takes 3 forms: Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
For the welfare of mumukshus (those desirous of moksha) and for the purpose of creation, protection and deluge, bhagwan becomes four-fold in Vyuha forms, as he is Ananta (infinite).
While Para Vasudeva shows all the 6 shad-gunas, the three Vyuha rupams show two gunams each, which are required for the specific tasks. Sometimes, Vyuha Vasudeva is also taken into Vyuha forms, and thus, the number of Vyuha forms is counted as four. However, Vyuha Vasudeva is not different from Para Vasudeva. He also shows all the 6 gunas and has no role in creation, sustenance and destruction. Since the same set of gunas are meditated in both Para Vasudeva and Vyuha Vasudeva, they are taken as one single Vasudeva moorti, and Vyuha forms are understood as three: Sankarshana, Pradyumna, and Aniruddha.
Sankarsha shows gyaana and bala. Pradyumna shows Aishwarya and Veerya, and Aniruddha shows Shakti and Tejas.The colour of sankarsha is like fresh gold, Pradyumna is like Indra Neelamani and Aniruddha is like Taatkaalika-megha.
It is to be noted that Bhagwan is always purna in shad-gunas in all his forms. However, some of the gunas are shown in particular forms, and some remain hidden.
Bhagwan has no praakrita/material gunas like sattva, rajas and tamas. On the other hand, he has kalyaan gunas like Gyaan, Shakti, Bala, Aishwarya, Veerya and Tejas. Being Bhagwan means having all these gunams in purnata and lack of heya (evil) gunas.
Gyaan, Shakti, Bala, Aishwarya, Veerya and Teja are the shad-gunas of Bhagwan. Vatsalya, Mardav etc. тАУ all other swarupa-gunas come from these shad-gunas only.
Gyaana: Gyaanam is knowing about our karmas. Karmas are recorded in the dharmabhoota gyaana of Bhagwan. When creation happens, he provides names and forms as per our previous karma. He ensures that everyone gets fruits of their karma. Once someone surrenders, he simply deletes all his karmas from his gyaana.
Shakti: aghatit-ghatana-saamarthyam. Elevating a sansaari jeeva from this Samsara to Sri Vaikutham is the Shakti guna of Bhagwan.
Bala: рдмрд▓рдВ рдзрд╛рд░рдгрд╕рд╛рдорд░реНрдереНрдпрдореНред Bhagwan is holding the entire creation and yet he doesn’t get any tiredness. That is his Balam.
Aishwarya : рд╕рдорд╕реНрддрд╡рд╕реНрддреБрдирд┐рдпрдорди-рд╕рд╛рдорд░реНрдереНрдпрдореНред The bhaava of Ishwara is Aishwaryam. Bhagwan is controlling the entire creation, that is his aishwaryam.
Veerya : рдЬрдЧрдж-рдЙрдкрд╛рджрд╛рдирддреНрд╡реЗ рдЕрдкрд┐ рд╕реНрд╡рд░реВрдк-рд╡рд┐рдХрд╛рд░-рдЕрднрд╛рд╡-рд░реВрдк:ред Though Bhagwan is the upaadan-kaaranam or material cause of the creation, just like mud is the material cause for the pot; he doesn’t get any deformation in his swarupa. This quality is Veerya.
Tejas : рд╕рд╣рдХрд╛рд░рд┐-рдЕрдирдкреЗрдХреНрд╖рд╛ рд╡рд╛ рдкрд░рд╛рднрд┐рднрд╡рди рд╕рд╛рдорд░реНрдереНрдпрдореНред Bhagwan doesn’t need any Sahakari-kaaranam or helping cause just like a wheel is for pot in the creation. This quality is Tejas. Or Dominating the foes is called Tejas.
1. Bhagwan Sankarshana
рднрдЧрд╡рд╛рдирдЪреНрдпреБрддреЛрд╜рдкреАрддреНрдердВ рд╖рдбреНрдЧреБрдгреЗрди рд╕рдореЗрдзрд┐рддрдГ ред
Though Bhagwan Achyuta (who never falls from his Shad-guna-purnya avastha) is qualified with all the 6 gunas, Gyaana and Bala erupt or appear in Bhagwan Sankarshana.
The works of Sankarshana are:
1. Jeeva-tattva-adhisthanam (using balam): In the deluge stage, entire mishra sattva dissolves into Mool Prakriti, and Mool Prakriti gets into the stage of tamas. Jeevatmas and mishra sattva get almost non-existent and can’t be distinguished from Ishwara. Jeevatmas are lying as if they don’t exist, without name and form, since mool prakriti itself has attained the stage of avyakta.
Bhagwan Sankarshana makes jeevatmas distinguished from Avyakta prakriti and starts the process of creation from avyakta to mool prakriti.
рд╕рдЩреНрдХрд░реНрд╖рдгрд╕реНрддреБ рджреЗрд╡реЗрд╢реЛ рдЬрдЧрддреНрддреНрд░рд╖реНрдЯреБрдордирд╛рд╕реНрддрддрдГ ред
A. Creation by Pradyumna is Sadwaraka i.e. using the medium or dwara of Brahma, being his antaryami. Adwarak Srishti or Samasti srishti is done by Bhagwan Vasudeva itself. He creates Andas from his Sankalpa. Then he descends in each Andas in Vyuha loka as Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
B. The creation work of Pradyumna is different from the creation work of Aniruddha.
Pradyumna carries out Shuddha-varga shrishti. He creates sattvika jeevas who are desirous of moksha, worships him alone through the dwaadashaakshar mantra and attains Bhagwan at the end.
It is to be understood here that Aniruddha does Shrishti of jeevatmas full of rajas and tamas. Shuddh-varga shrishti has already been told earlier as the work of Pradyumna. Mishra varga shrishti is done by Aniruddha using dwaara of Brahma (not directly).
Creation of Brahma is also done by Aniruddha only.
Earlier we studied about Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha Vyuha roopams of Bhagwan.
Actually, the Vyuha forms are also infinite. From the 4 vyuha, comes 12 upa-vyuhas and from them comes 36 more. Keshava, Narayana and Maadhava come from Vasudeva. Govind, Vishnu and Madhusudana come from Sankarshana. Trivikrama, Vaamana and Shridhara come from Pradyumna. Hrishikesh, Padmanaabha and Damodara come from Aniruddha. These 12 Vyuhas reside at the 12 places in our bodies. From these 12 vyuhas, Padmanaabha, Dhruva, Ananata etc 36 Vyuhas come. The number of Vyuhas is thus infinite. The entire upasana of Paancharaatrikas revolves around Vyuha roopams.
LOCATION OF VYUHA LOKA
When Bhagwan creates the Andam and 14 lokas inside it, he himself comes to reside in Bhu lokam. Bhu Loka has 7 dweepas including Shweta dweepa and Jambu dwipa. It has 7 oceans including Ksheera ocean and Lavana ocean. The Vyuha lokam of Bhagwan is in the Ksheera ocean. Devas, Rudra and Brahma approach Vishnu at Shweta dweepa, where he gives them darshanam.
From the Vyuha loka in the Bhu loka, Lotus emerges from the navel of Vishnu and reaches Satya Loka. At the lotus there, Brahma takes birth. From Brahma, Rudra takes birth.
At Satyaloka, Vishnu again takes a form and resides with Rudra and Brahma as Trimurti Vishnu. In Satyaloka, there are separate Vishnu Loka, Rudra Loka and Brahma loka. These lokas are attained by their upaasakas. We have studied about the Shuddha-varga shrishti done by Pradyumna. Only those upaasakas have access to Vishnu Loka inside the Satya Loka.
In Srimad Bhagwatam, we came through an incident of 4 kumaras visiting Vishnu Loka and cursing Jaya Vijaya there. It is to be noted that Vishnu Loka is not Sri Vaikuntham but very much outside the Viraja river and exists in each Andam. The Jaya and Vijaya there are also not Nitya Suris.
MAYAVADI’S CRITICISM
Mayavaadis objects at the evolution of one vyuha from the previous Vyuha (Like ‘Sankarshana is born from Vasudeva’ etc).
However, their objections have no ground. It is their inability to understand Paancharatra. Bhagwan is not getting transformed into another form and his nirvikaaratvam is not harmed here. Bhagwan is very much the same. The change occurs only in his mangal Vigraha.
Pancharatra itself tells that it is like a deepam getting lighted from previous deepam. That’s how Bhagwan gets a new body. Aatma remains unchanged as he is vibhu (omnipresent)
ARE THERE THREE TYPES OF VISHNU?
Some people have this misconception. Vishnu is one only. Be is infinite Vyuha forms or infinite Vibhava forms, it’s only the change of body shapes for Vishnu. Bhagwan doesn’t change. But this is true, different gunas are experienced in different forms. However, he is complete with all the gunas in all the forms.
“Vishnu tu trini rupani” refers to 3 Vyuha forms in Pancharatra and not three different types of Vishnus.
shloka that is often referred and misinterpreted it: рдирд╛рд░рд╛рдпрдгрд╕реНрддреНрд╡рдВ рди рд╣рд┐ рд╕рд░реНрд╡рджреЗрд╣рд┐рдирд╛- рдорд╛рддреНрдорд╛рд╕реНрдпрдзреАрд╢рд╛рдЦрд┐рд▓рд▓реЛрдХрд╕рд╛рдХреНрд╖реА ред рдирд╛рд░рд╛рдпрдгреЛрд╜рдЩреНрдЧрдВ рдирд░рднреВрдЬрд▓рд╛рдпрдирд╛- рддреНрддрдЪреНрдЪрд╛рдкрд┐ рд╕рддреНрдпрдВ рди рддрд╡реИрд╡ рдорд╛рдпрд╛ рее резрек рее
Brahma, who earlier received gyaanam from Bhagwan and who protected Vedas and gave gyaanam again to him, got deluded and considered Krishna as some ordinary child. He decided to test him and in turn repents in these shlokas:
Naarayanah na hi tvam? :Are you not NarayaNa? (Meaning, you are Narayana only. It is stressed here)
How, 1. sarvadehinaam aatma asi:Bhagwaam is antaryaami aatma of every jeevatma.
Naara means sarva dehi i.e. all jeevatmaas. Naaraanaam ayanam NarayaNa i.e. one who is the ayana (support, means, destination) of all jeevatmas. The word тАШayanaтАЩ comes from iN gatau dhaatu which gives several meanings to the word ayana.
Bhagwaan, being the antaryaami aatma of all, supports, owns, and holds them, and thus all the jeevatmas, being his body, are subservient to and dependent on Narayana.
2. Adheesh: Bhagwaan is the controller or pravartaka of everyone. He himself says in Bhagwan Gita тАЬmatah sarvam pravartateтАЭ
3. Akhil loka sakshi: Bhagwaan being antaryaami of every jeevatmas, is the drastha of our every activity. (iN gatau is gatyarthaka dhaatu and from тАШgatyarthah budhyarthahтАЩ nyaaya, the word ayana would mean тАЬsakshiтАЭ
and thus, you are NarayaNa (Naaraanaam ayanam). Meaning there is abheda (no difference) between Narayana and you.
How? Here he quotes another meaning of the word NarayaNa which is quoted by Krishna himself in Mahabharata and also quoted in Manusmriti:
Nara refers to Bhagwaan as per Vishnu Sahasranaama (Jahnu NarayaNo Narah). From him is born waters. That was the ayanam (residing place) of Bhagwaan (and thus he is called тАШNarabhujala-ayanahтАЩ) as Vishnu (in Aniruddha vyuha form) or as Vatapatra-shaayi Krishna, who gave darshana to Markandeya. Since, Brahma here is joyous to see the BhagwaanтАЩs form, who had given him gyaanam; the apt meaning here is Vishnu.
Brahma had received gyaanam but he wasnтАЩt able to see him. The story is dealt in detail earlier in Bhagwatam. Now, he is able to see him and his saying, тАЬAre you not the Narayana, who lives on the Ksheera ocean waters?тАЭ
Vidwans like Sridhara swami, Sudarshana Suri, Shrinivaas suri, Sri Shukadeva and Goswami Giridhara laal etc have interpreted the word тАШangaтАЩ as тАШmurtiтАЩ or тАШvapuтАЩ.
The Narayana, lying on the waters is also your form only i.e. you are the same Narayana who gave me knowledge.
It is to be understood here that Bhagwaan as his aatma-swarupa is omnipresent. He is all-pervading, present everywhere. Bhagwaan also takes an asaadhaaran-mangal-vigraha or body to appear to us like Vishnu, Krishna, Rama etc. In Vishishtadvaita siddhanta, Bhagwaan is different from his body. Bhagwaan takes several bodies but that doesnтАЩt make them different as the aatma is same. The shape of the body only differs. What is the asaadhaarana lakshana of his body? ItтАЩs the presence of Mahalakshmi on his chest in the form of Sri Vatsa Chinha. In Ramayanam and Mahabharatam, Valmiki and Vyaasa addresses bhagwaan as one having Mahalakshmi on his chest. Meaning, he is the Bhagwaan, Sarveshwara, Narayana.
Veer Raghavacharya swami quotes a nyaaya here
тАЬRaho: shira iti vat tavaiva angam iti abheda sambandhe shashthiтАЭ. There is a popular nyaaya тАЬRahoh shiramтАЭ
тАЬthe head of RahuтАЭ. What does this mean? The head itself is Rahu. Isn’t it? What does it mean to say the тАЬhead of RahuтАЭ? It means тАШNON-DIFFERENCEтАЩ
Thus, тАШNarayanah angam tavaivaтАЩ here would mean that тАШYOU ARE NON-DIFFERENT FROM NARAYANAтАЩ
Bhagwatprasaadaacharya also gives the same meaning, quoting, тАЬraho: shir itivat tava angam iti abheda sambandhe shashthi. soapi tvameva ityarthahтАЭ
рддреНрддрдЪреНрдЪрд╛рдкрд┐ рд╕рддреНрдпрдВ рди рдорд╛рдпрд╛ : That form/murti is satya and not maayaa.
Also, itтАЩs important to read the shloka, along with the upcoming two shlokas, 15 and 16, failing to which people misinterpret the meanings, which goes contrary to the context.
The Bhagwan who is sarveshwara, Lord of all and niratishaya-anand-yuktah (possessor of infinite anandam/bliss) is forever served by infinite nitya jeevatmas in Sri Vaikuntham.
tad viс╣гс╣Зoс╕е paramam padaс╣Г sad─Б pa┼Ыyanti s┼лrayaс╕е (Rig Veda)
The suris (nitya-aatmas) are always looking towards the highest abode of Vishnu. Are they only looking? It’s upalakshanam for kainkaryam (service). The anubhavam leads to preeti or bhakti and which in turn compels the jeevatma to do loving service for the happiness of Bhagwan. The whole intension of this kainkaryam is not the self-happiness but to bring smile on the face of bhagwan. Thus, it is called ‘bhagwad-anubhav-janeeta-preetikaarita-kainkaryam‘.
Swami AlvandAr says in stotra ratnam that infinite eternally blemishless jeevatmas (nitya suris) are forever ready with the instruments for your service, whose sole delight consists in being spontaneously devoted to your service.
Forever, Bhagwan is united with her consorts (Sri, Bhu and Nila are the pradhaan maheeshis) and experiencing the divine rasam:
The four auspicious arms have the rough scars of the bowstring, and which speak of their contact with the crest-lily, the ear-ornament and the loose curls of the braid of your beloved. (Indicates loving aalingan of the divya dampati.)
Thus, the bhagwan, who is forever enjoying divine union with mahishis, served by infinite nitya jeevatmas, why does he feels being alone? Vedas says: Sa EkAkI na ramatE. He doesn’t like to be alone.
the тАЬSatтАЭ wished that тАЬI become the multitudinous (expanded-StUla) chit and achit tatvas ie., the universeтАЭ. The тАЬSatтАЭ became many, as it wished. This is тАЬSatтАЩsтАЭ first Sankalpam (Wish).
Though Rama is served by Lakshmana whose *sheshatvam and paaratantriyam is of no match and loving wife Sita, he feels very lonely in absence of Bharata. He goes on to say to Lakshmana, that when shall I meet YOU, though he is very taking bath with him in Godavari. It shows that in the pain of separation of Bharata and Shatrughna, Rama couldn’t relish the association of lakshmana.
(The Sheshatvam of lakshmana is extolled in the verse: рднрд╡рд╛рдВрд╕реНрддреБ рд╕рд╣ рд╡реИрджреЗрд╣реНрдпрд╛ рдЧрд┐рд░рд┐рд╕рд╛рдиреБрд╖реБ рд░рдВрд╕реНрдпрддреЗред рдЕрд╣рдВ рд╕рд░реНрд╡рдВ рдХрд░рд┐рд╖реНрдпрд╛рдорд┐ рдЬрд╛рдЧреНрд░рдд рд╕реНрд╕реНрд╡рдкрддрд╢реНрдЪ рддреЗредред2.31.25редред, while, his paaratantriyam is extolled in the verse: рдкрд░рд╡рд╛рдирд╕реНрдорд┐ рдХрд╛рдХреБрддреНрд╕реНрде рддреНрд╡рдпрд┐ рд╡рд░реНрд╖рд╢рддрдВ рд╕реНрдерд┐рддреЗред рд╕реНрд╡рдпрдВ рддреБ рд░реБрдЪрд┐рд░реЗ рджреЗрд╢реЗ рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрддрд╛рдорд┐рддрд┐ рдорд╛рдВ рд╡рджредред3.15.7редред. What to say of Seeta: рддреБрд▓реНрдп рд╢реАрд▓ рд╡рдпреЛ рд╡реГрддреНрддрдореН рддреБрд▓реНрдп рдЕрднрд┐рдЬрди рд▓рдХреНрд╖рдгрдореН | рд░рд╛рдШреЛ рдЕрд░реНрд╣рддрд┐ рд╡реИрджреЗрд╣рд┐рдо рддрдо рдЪ рдЗрдпрдореН рдЕрд╕рд┐рдд рдИрдХреНрд╖рдгрд╛)
Sri Lokacharya swami tells in Mumukshupadi that just like a parent who is living with 3 children is forever worried about his fourth children living away from him (or, in opposition to him) and doesn’t enjoy the association of the three children in the pain of separation of his fourth child; similarly bhagwan though forever served by nitya suris and Mahalakshmi, is forever worried about his children i.e. us who are in opposition to him and in turn suffering in sansaar saagaram. Furthur, he says that a child was in opposition to his parents and left the home. The compassionate parents still arranged for his food, cloths and stay quietly in the night-stay-home on his way. Similarly, Bhagwan is also taking care of all the jeevatmas, even those who are against him, turned away for him; out of his compassion.
Bhagwan started the creation with the hope that Jeevatmas will utilise this opportunity to shackle the prakriti-sambandham and come back to his abode. Thus, creation itself is an outcome of compassion of Bhagwan. Before the creation, jeevatma were lying without gyaanam, limbs or sense organs. It lies just like an achetana. Seeing them, bhagwan gets full of compassion and creates samsaram with the purushakaaram of Mahalakshmi.
However, jeevatmas fail to utilise this opportunity, and he keeps on adding Vaasana and Ruchi. As a result of Vasana and Ruchi, he indulges in prakriti-sambandham, does papas and punyas, and in turn develops even more Vaasana and Ruchi, which furthur impels him to do karma, and thus Avidya keeps on increasing. Bhagwan feels that it’s need of the hour to put a brake his vaasanas and ruchis or else he will keep on falling into samsara-sagara. Thus, bhagwan dissolves the creation. Thus, pralaya/dissolution is also an act of compassion of bhagwan.
Q. If Bhagwan is compassionate, how can he be a creator of a samsara full of sorrows? There is a differentiation of rich and poor etc. Doesn’t it make Bhagwan cruel?
Q. Bhagwan is said to be dosha-mukta (blemish-less). In your Siddhanta, Bhagwan is feeling sorrow for the state of baddha jeevatmas and delighted about getting them on the right path. Doesn’t it bring dosha to Bhagwan? How can anandaghana bhagwan feel sorrow? How does something else make him delighted?
Reply: Bhagwaan feeling sorrow seeing the plight of a jeevatma is an outcome of his compassion. It’s a form of his daya. Getting pain or pleasure from the karma or prakriti-sambandha only brings blemishes. That’s not the case here. Bhagwan’s sorrow isn’t prakruta or born from three gunas of prakriti but from his own sankalpam.
In Sri Ramayanam, maharshi valmiki tells a quality of Bhagwan:
рд╡реНрдпрд╕рдиреЗрд╖реБ рдордиреБрд╖реНрдпрд╛рдгрд╛рдВ рднреГрд╢рдВ рднрд╡рддрд┐ рджреБрдГрдЦрд┐рддрдГред рдЙрддреНрд╕рд╡реЗрд╖реБ рдЪ рд╕рд░реНрд╡реЗрд╖реБ рдкрд┐рддреЗрд╡ рдкрд░рд┐рддреБрд╖реНрдпрддрд┐ред 2.2.40редред He grieves profoundly whenever people are afflicted by misfortunes and rejoices like a father on festive occasions.
Thus, the sorrow and happiness of Sarveshwara out of compassion are his gunam and never a dosha. In fact, if some mighty person lacks the feeling of sorrow on seeing the plight of his subjects, it brings dosham (blemish) to him. How can someone be a rakshaka (protector) if he lacks these? In Sri Ramayanam, when Rama saw the plight of tapasvi rishis in Dandaka forest, he was filled with grief and lifted his bow to take a vow that he will eliminate the demon clan from the entire Dandaka Forest. Of course, it was disliked by Sita but that’s another aspect that highlights the vatsalya of a mother. Infact she herself was delighted later when Rama used his bow to eliminate the mighty army of Khara single-handedly (рддрдВ рджреГрд╖реНрдЯреНрд╡рд╛ рд╢рддреНрд░реБрд╣рдиреНрддрд╛рд░рдВ рдорд╣рд░реНрд╖реАрдгрд╛рдВ рд╕реБрдЦрд╛рд╡рд╣рдореНред рдмрднреВрд╡ рд╣реГрд╖реНрдЯрд╛ рд╡реИрджреЗрд╣реА рднрд░реНрддрд╛рд░рдВ рдкрд░рд┐рд╖рд╕реНрд╡рдЬреЗредред3.30.39редред). Let’s see the sorrow of Rama when he saw the plight of the ascetics of Dandakaaranya:
Be pleased that brahmins like you have approached me while I should have come to you has put me to shame immeasurable.
Rama’s grief for Seeta is mentioned by Hanuman:
рдЕрдирд┐рджреНрд░рд╕реНрд╕рддрддрдВ┬а рд░рд╛рдордГ рд╕реБрдкреНрддреЛSрдкрд┐ рдЪ рдирд░реЛрддреНрддрдордГред┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬а ┬ард╕реАрддреЗрддрд┐ рдордзреБрд░рд╛рдВ рд╡рд╛рдгреА рд╡реНрдпрд╛рд╣рд░рди рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдмреБрдзреНрдпрддреЗредред Ram , best of men ,has no sleep , usually . And even when he sleeps, he wakes up uttering the sweet words `Sita , Sita .
Ramayana Sundarakandam 34.52
Bhagwan’s efforts to gain the Jeevatma
As per shastras, the Jeevatma belongs to Bhagwan. The jeevatma is the property of Bhagwan and its inherent nature is to be dependent on bhagwan and being subservient to Bhagwan. Thus, it’s the owner who makes efforts to gain his possession and not vice versa. Similarly, Bhagwan is making efforts or sankalpam to gain the jeevatmas.
What’s easier? We reaching bhagwan through our efforts or Bhagwan achieving us through his sankalpam? Certainly, the latter one. Even in loka, we can observe that reaching the sun is difficult while the sun can reach us easily. So, what’s to be done on the part of a jeevatma? What bhagwan expects from us is just the reciprocation of his efforts to gain us. Unless we acknowledge and reciprocate, the sankalpam of Bhagwan won’t work.
Let’s take an example. A person is stuck in the flood water, and fortunately, he got the rescuers to save him. They dropped a rope and told the person to hold tight and he would rescue him. What’s the expectation of the rescuer? He just wishes the person to accept him as upaaya (Means) and follow his instructions. is holding of rope on the part of the person is the means to be rescued? Certainly not. It’s just reciprocation to the efforts of the rescuer and in any case, it’s rescuer who is means for the person to get out of flood.
Now suppose, the person accepts the instruction of the rescuer, but he thinks that he should make some efforts from his end as well and starts putting his hands randomly in the water. Now, aren’t his efforts to swim a hindrance to the efforts of the rescuer? Similarly, a jeevatma who is fully surrendered to bhagwan, should be paratantra like achetana and should not make efforts from his end to rescue himself.
Let’s discuss the other details in Part 2 of the post
(Note: The language of the translation is kept very simple and informal intentionally, and standard scholarly language has been avoided.). (Apologies for grammatical errors.)
Baddha Jeeva is sleeping (slumber) out of ignorance anaadi Maya. This Maya is Eternal (without any beginning) and thus, the bondage of the jeevatma is also eternal. As a result of the sambandham with the Maya (anaadi-achit-sambandham), the Jeevatma has been sleeping since time immemorial. The Jnana of the Baddh Jeevatma* has diminished (рдЕрдирд╛рджрд┐рдорд╛рдпрдпрд╛ рд╕реБрдкреНрдд:). (The very nature of prakriti is to conceal the knowledge. Since the jeevatma is associated with achit shareeram, the gyaanam of the jeevatma has got concealed)
“рдЖрддреНрдорд╕реНрд╡рд░реВрдкрдВ рдкреНрд░рдХреГрддреЗ: рдкрд░рдВ рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд╛рдирдВрджрдордпрдВ” The Aatma is devoid of the knowledge that I am different from the Prakriti and superior to it. My Swaroopa is of Jnanam and Aanandam (he is of the nature of knowledge and bliss). (рднрдЧрд╡рджрдирдиреНрдпрд╛рд░реНрд╣рд╢реЗрд╖рдордЬрд╛рдирдиреНрддреЛ). Out of ignorance, the Atma is unaware that he is subservient exclusively to Bhagawan Narayana. He is not eligible to serve anyone other than Bhagawan. He belongs neither to others, nor even to himself.
(*Baddha Jeevatma:- The jeevatma are categorized into three categories: Nitya, mukta, and Baddha. Nitya jeevatmas are those who had never been associated with samsara bandhan, while muktamas are those who were in the samsara earlier and now achieved Moksham due to the causeless mercy of Bhagwan, and now they are sitting in the goshthi of nitya jeevatmas. Baddh Jeevatmas has always been to the samsara, since time immemorial, and is tormented by the three modes of prakriti. They are again divided into mumukshu (one desirous of moksham) and bhubhukshu (one desirous of enjoying vishayanubhamas)
As a result of this Eternal Prakriti-sambandham, the Jeevatma identifies itself with the body. E.g., the body is Devta, the body is Manushya, Tiryaka, etc but the Aatma identifies itself as Devta, Manushya, Tiryaka etc. The meaning of “I” is taken as Devta, Manushya, etc. (рджреЗрд╡реЛрд╜рд╣рдВ рдордиреБрд╖реНрдпреЛрд╜рд╣рдореН). (He performs all the actions for the fulfillment of body and nothing for the self)
After the adhyayana of Shaashtraas and Updesha of Acharyas, somehow the knowledge evolves in him that I am different from the body. I take the bodies of deva, manushya, tiryaka, sthaavar etc.
Still, as a consequence of the anaadi-achit-Sambandham, i.e., Maya, he falls into Swaatantraya-abhimaanam, i.e., he feels himself as Swatantra (independent) and not as Paratantra (dependent) on Bhagavan. Instead of considering himself shesha* to Bhagavan, he thinks that I am Swatantra i.e., I am the enjoyer of myself. (рдИрд╢реНрд╡рд░реЛрд╣рдорднреЛрдЧреА) I am the owner, and I shall enjoy the bhogas.
*Shesha is defined in Mimansa as “Shesha: paraarthtvaat”. One who exists of his master is Shesha. Bhagwad Ramanuja furthur refines this meaning, “paragata atishaya aadhaanechhaya upaadeyatvam yasya swarupam, sa shesh:, parah sheshi” i.e. one whose swarupam is to do atishaya to his master (doing something for his pleasure or adding to his glory) is shesha. The other is Sheshi.
Even if he gets the Sheshtva Gnana (рд╕рддреНрдпрдкрд┐ рд╢реЗрд╖рддреНрд╡рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдиреЗ) i.e., he is subservient to Bhagavan (I am not Swatantra; I am Paratantra to Bhagavan), he utilizes his knowledge in achieving the Apraapya Vishayas i.e. the bhogams which are not befitting to his swarupam (e.g, doing service to loukika people, or devatantaram, etc.). He engages himself in achieving those bhogas, the vishayas (shabd, sparsha, rupa, rasa, gandha are the panch-vishayas).
(The first pit is Dehaatma buddhi, the second is Swaatantrya buddhi and the third is Anya-sheshatvam. Even if one crosses one pit, he gets trapped in the next.)
рдПрд╡рдореН
рдпреЛрд╜рдиреНрдпрдерд╛ рд╕рдиреНрддрдорд╛рддреНрдорд╛рдирдордиреНрдпрдерд╛ рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдкрджреНрдпрддреЗ ред
Aatma is shesha to Bhagavan, but it considers itself to be the shesha of sansarikas and achetan objects. Due to this anyathaa pratipatti (considering the nature of aatma differently), what a great sin he is doing! He has done the greatest paapam since he has done the Apaharanam (the kidnapping) of its Aatma-swaroopam, which is a property of bhagwan. What other Paap (sin) is left for him to commit? i.e., he has committed all the sins. The aatmapahaara is the root of all the paapams and consequently, he gets engaged in temporary and meagree vishanya-anubhams (sensual pleasures).
(The punishment for theft is decided on two bases: (a) the value of the object the thief has acquired and (b) the position of the possessor, whose object has been stolen. Here, we have taken the dearest object of Sarveshwara, the greatest person. Also, we have stolen the most valuable object.)
NOTE
(samyak gyanam: Knowing the object as it is correctly along with it’s attribute.
Anyatha Gyaanam: identifying the object correctly but making the wrong identification of the attributes of the object. (E.g., mistaking the white dhoti as yellow dhoti).
Vipareeta gyaanam: Identifying the object itself wrong e.g., mistaking shell as silver or rope as snake).
рд╡рд┐рдЪрд┐рддреНрд░рд╛ рджреЗрд╣рд╕рдВрдкрддреНрддрд┐рд░реАрд╢реНрд╡рд░рд╛рдп рдирд┐рд╡реЗрджрд┐рддреБрдореН ред
рдЗрддреНрдпреБрдХреНрддрдкреНрд░рдХрд╛рд░реЗрдг рдХрд░рдгрдХрд▓реЗрд╡рд░рд╡рд┐рдзреБрд░рд╛ рднреЛрдЧрдореЛрдХреНрд╖рд╢реВрдиреНрдпрд╛ рдЕрдЪрд┐рджрд╡рд┐рд╢реЗрд╖рд┐рддрд╛ рдмрджреНрдзрд╛рддреНрдорд╛рдирд╕реНрддрд┐рд╖реНрдардиреНрддрд┐ ред
In Pralaya Kala (during deluge), the Aatma remains without any body, limbs or the Dharmabhoota Gnanam (the attributive knowledge). It was just like Jada Padartham/Achita Tattva. Seeing that, the Paramatma, ShrimanNarayana, has given a very mysterious wealth (vichitra-sampatti), i.e., the Deh/Shareera (body) to the Jeevatma. Why has He given this? (рдИрд╢реНрд╡рд░рд╛рдп рдирд┐рд╡реЗрджрд┐рддреБрдореН ) To do aatma-nivedana to Bhagavan (Ishvara), to surrender itself to Bhagavan. (Thus, such a great wealth in the form of Shareera is given to a Jeevatma, so that it can perform sharanagati to Bhagavan, but the Jeevatma who is devoid of this knowledge remains as he was earlier, being entangled in the samsaara just like Jada padartham.)
Thus, not utilizing the wealth given by Bhagwan, the baddha aatmas remain without Karana and Kalevara (body and limbs), just like Achit.
Seeing the Jeevatma in the state of helplessness in the Pralaya kaalam, being without any Kaarana or Kalevara, (without any Indriyaas, body, attributive knowledge, and lying just like Jada Padartham/Achit Tattva), out of His dayaa (compassion), Bhagavan gives them a Shareera.
Why?
He gives the Jeevatma a body as an instrument/means, so that they can perform Sharanagati/Samaashrayanam at the lotus feet of Bhagavan. However, the Jeevatma, even after getting the body/ujjeevanam, does not perform Samaashrayan of Bhagavan.
Shathakopa Azhwar says, (рддреНрд╡рджрддреНрдд рд╢рд░реАрд░ рдорд╛рд░реНрдЧреЗ рднреНрд░рдорд╛рдореА) “Oh Bhagavan! The body that you have given me for Aatmakalyaanam, I am misusing it and wandering from one body to another.“
Bhagavan has given us a boat so that we can go out of this Samsaara. But what did the Jeevatma do? Instead of utilizing it to go out of the ocean, it was misused to enter it even deeper. (рдкрд╛рд░рдВ рдЧрдиреНрддреБрдВ рджрддреНрддрдВ рдкреНрд▓рд╡рдорд╛рд░реБрд╣реНрдп рдкреНрд░рд╡рд╛рд╣рдорд╛рд░реНрдЧреЗрдг рд╕рдореБрджреНрд░рдВ┬ардкреНрд░рд╡рд┐рд╢рдиреНрдд) So now, using the boat (i.e., body), the Jeevatma enters the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirths. And because of that, the Jeevatma has accumulated countless Punya and Paap from its countless lives, and in accordance with that, it gets births in 84 lakh yonis of Jeevas. And in every birth, it is haunted by the Taapatrayam, (Adhyaatmik, Aadibhautik and Aadidaivik Taapams). (рдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдЬрдиреНрдо рджреБрд░рдиреНрддрддрд╛рдкрддреНрд░рдп рджрд╛рд╡рд╛рдирд▓ рджрд╣реНрдпрдорд╛рдирд╛) The Jeevatma burns in the fires of the Taapatrayam. (рдЕрдирд╛рджрд┐рдХрд╛рд▓рдВ рд╕рдВрд╕рд░рдиреНрдд:) Although, the Jeevatma is travelling in this Samsaara saagara through many and many births, because it lacks knowledge of previous lives, it lives in the Samsaara without any remorse that it has lost so many opportunities that Bhagavan has provided. (рддрддреНрд░ рд╕рдВрд╕рд╛рд░реЗ рд╢реЛрдХрд░рд╣рд┐рддрд╛) Thus, without any remorse, the Jeevatma is getting the seven states of: being in the womb, taking birth, baalyakaala (child age), yuvavastha (youth), vriddhavastha (old age), Maranaa (death) and going to the Naraka. The Jeevatma goes through these seven states again and again. (рд╕рдВрд╕рд╛рд░рд╕рд╛рдЧрд░реЗ рдордЧреНрдирд╛ рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдХреБрд▓рд╛рднрд╡рдиреНрддрд┐) And thus experiencing this Dukh-Parampara, the Jeevatma drowns in the Samsaara Saagara and becomes Vyaakula (restless).
(Seeing that anartha i.e., the misuse of the body by Jeevatma to get material happiness, experiencing the samsaaric vishayaas; and the boat that Bhagavan has provided to get to the shore of the ocean is being used to get more drowned in the Samsaara Sagara, Bhagavan dissolves the creation (pralaya) to stop the Vasana and ruchi, being the well-wisher of everyone.)
Seeing this anartha (misfortune), Bhagavan who is suhrida* to all the jeevatmas, creates the sansara for their ujjivanam (revival). Seeing that the Jeevatma is trapped in this Samsaara Chakra, as a result of their own karmas, seeing its plight across births, the kripa/mercy evolvesin the heart of Bhagavan Vishnu.
(*Suhrida: Sobhana aashamsi hridayam yasya sah, One who wishes welfare of all is called Suhrida
kaapi kripa: Some kripa, for which the reason isn’t known/ ahaituki kripa)
And thus, out of the endless compassion that has taken birth in the heart of Bhagavan, He looks at the Jeevatma at his birth (рдЬрд╛рдпрдорд╛рди рдХрдЯрд╛рдХреНрд╖рдореН). When Bhagwan looks at the Jeevatma, out of his compassion; the Jeevatma becomes Saatvika in nature and thus a Mumukshu (one who desires Moksha). (Prerequisite for becoming a mumukshu is sattva gunam). (рдирд┐рд░рд╕реНрддрд░рдЬрд╕реНрддрдорд╕реНрдХрд╕реНрдп рдкреНрд░рд╡реГрджреНрдзрд╕рддреНрд╡рд╕реНрдп) Thus the Rajas and Tamas Gunas of the Jeevatma vanishes and the Sattva Guna increases.
(рдореБрдореБрдХреНрд╖реЛрд╢реНрдЪреЗрддрдирд╕реНрдп рддрддреНрд╡рдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдиреЗрди рд╡рд┐рдирд╛ рдореЛрдХреНрд╖рд╛рд╕рд┐рджреНрдзреЗрдГ) For such mumukshus, getting Moksha is not possible without tattva Gnanam. Tattva Gnanam can be attained by two means, by Shaashtras or Upadeshas of Sadacharyas.
The knowledge, which is achieved from the Shaashtras, gives lots of Klesha/Dukham (pains) and can even make mind Chanchala (volatile), as the Shaashtras are huge, and our intellect is very limited. It takes a lot of time to understand the Shaashtras, while we have very limited time in our lifespan. (People who learn the shastras by themselves and interpret their own meanings, Mamunigal calls them ‘MURKHAS’ in Upadesha Ratnamalai. ) However, when we receive the knowledge through Upadeshas, we get the Shaashtra Gnana without any Klesha and Dosha. (Knowledge earned through shastras are like self-earned money and knowledge gained from upadeshams are like money inherited from parents).
Considering the low intellect of the jeevatmaas and infinite obstructions,. (e.g, without Upanayanam, one cannot study Vedas), it is difficult for everyone to attain the knowledge. Stree or Shudras cannot study Vedas. Even only a handful of Dwijas are qualified to study Vedas because many have given up their daily rituals for worldly pursuits. Even for them as well, who have undergone Upanayanam, the Shashtra Gnana is really difficult to comprehend.
When the Gnana is received through Upadesha, from a Sadacharya, all these obstructions vanish.
Shri Lokacharya Swami, who is an expert in all the Shaashtras and is highly compassionate, explains these tattvas, which is difficult to understand from Shruti, Smriti, Itihasas or Puranas, for the benefit of the Jeevatmas of the Lokas.
The Chit-tattva, the Achit-tattva and the Ishwar-tattva are explained in great details in this Shaashtra. Krishnapaad Suri (Vadakku Tiruveethi Pillai) and Krishnapaada Suri (Periya Achchaan Pillai) has also given the same meanings in the prabandhaas authored by them.
Isn’t the writing up of so many prabandhas by the acharyas, who have no self-ego, are not desirous of fame, and wish the welfare of everyone, unwanted? As one prabandha (book) itself is enough, what’s the need for them to write separate granthas?
The doubt is not right. Saying the meaning from the same throat by so many divine suris (Alwars) proves the authenticity of the subject. Acharyas have also said the same concept about the same throat in different granthas.
The reason for the emphasis on the same concept in different granthas by the different acharyas is to bring faith to the low-intellect people in the subject matter. Also, some acharyas have written something in brief, while others have written it in detail. Some acharyas have explained the concept in the light of some particular mantras or pasurams, while others have explained it using another set of mantras and pasurams.
Thus, it’s proper by many acharyas to author different works on the same concept.