ABSOLUTE FEEDOM/ SUPREME BLISS- SAMADHI
The ultimate culmination of Atma Nivedanam, given in scriptures and also taught in various sessions by the author is the thoughtless state/state of supreme bliss or ananda/Samadhi!.
For the time being, we will confine ourselves to having a glimpse of Samadhi in the context of Bhakti Yoga, i.e., Saguna Upasana.
Samadhi is the state in which one Exists eternally, after Atma Nivedanam or absolute merger of jiva with God.
According to Vaishnava scriptures, there are four types of salvation known as Salokya, Samipya, Sarupya and Sayujya.
According to Vaishnava scriptures, there are four types of salvation known as Salokya, Samipya, Sarupya and Sayujya.
SALOKYA
To live in the same domain as God is one kind of attainment. If God is in heaven, you also are in heaven; you may not be very near to God, you may be far away, but you are in the same kingdom; where the king rules, that country is your abode also; you may not be able to see the king but you are happy that you are in the same land which is ruled by the king. This is salokya mukti. This is also a great thing. After all, you are in the Land of God though you may not see God.
SAMIPYA
Samipya means nearness to God; you are living just by the side of the Ruler of the country; you will feel some elation – the King’s Palace is just here and I am here. Though you have nothing to do with that Palace, you will gain nothing by the nearness, but the mind will say ‘I am so near the Palace of the King; He is here only!’ Thus, nearness to God also is a stage in liberation. This is samipya, closeness.
SARUPYA
Still greater freedom is sarupya, assuming the same form of God; you become an ambassador of God. God has given you the powers which He wields. The ambassador has practically all the powers of the kingdom which he represents; he can speak for the whole country of which he is the ambassador.
The Vaishnava scriptures say sarupya means not merely becoming an ambassador, because the ambassador does not himself look like the king, though he can be adored and invested with all the paraphernalia of the king also, there is something more here.
In Vaikuntha, Abode of Vishnu, Narayana, they shine like Vishnu Himself. When you see the attendant of God, you cannot know whether He is God Himself or is an attendant; he will shine like God Himself, though he is not God. This is called sarupya.
It is said that when Bharatha walked into Ayodhya to make preparations for welcoming Sri Rama who was returning to Ayodhya after 14 years,the Ayodhyavasis mistook Bharatha for Sri Rama Himself. Bharatha's form was exactly like Sri Rama's form. There was no difference between the two. The Bhajan " Jaya Kausalya bandana Ram" echoes this feeling of ayodhaya vasis, waiting for their Sri Rama, as explained by Brother Hari beautifully- " Mangala pavana naam, Jaya Sundara vaidehi Ram...."
SAYUJYA
The last one is sayujya, merging in God, the Highest attainment. All these come under what is known as Saguna Attainment, meditation on God as adorned with all the good qualities – ananta koti kalyana guna sampanna – all the blessed things are there in God.
In tamil, when a person seeks a very high position/ pocession/ status in life, we often say, " O,YOU SEEM TO BE ASKING NOTHING LESS THAN THE SAYUJYA PADAVI "(The title of Sayujya)
In tamil, when a person seeks a very high position/ pocession/ status in life, we often say, " O,YOU SEEM TO BE ASKING NOTHING LESS THAN THE SAYUJYA PADAVI "(The title of Sayujya)
We touched upon this subject while learning the samarpan bhajan- Bhavadharini partiswari where the word " SAMRAJYA DAYINI" was explained and learnt as the SAMRAJYA OF SAMADHI.
We learnt thus:-
"Where the yagna is Total Surrender and the Samrajya is what is referred in Sivananda Lahiri- as "Sayujya".
Now, if you have carefully read the post on Atma Nivedanam, you would recall and you would also understand why the author begged to re-word Atma Nivedanam as Atma Sayujya!!!
To be continued...
We learnt thus:-
"Where the yagna is Total Surrender and the Samrajya is what is referred in Sivananda Lahiri- as "Sayujya".
SAAROOPYAM THAVA POOJANA SHIVA MAHA DEVETHI SAMKEERTHANE,
SAAMEEPYAM SHIVA BHAKTHI DHURYA JANATHA SANGATHYA SAMBHASHANE,
SAALOKYAM CHA CHARACHARATHMAKA THANU DYANE BHAVANI PATHE,
SAYUJYAM MAMA SIDDHA MATHRA BHAVATHI SWAMIN KRIDHARTHOSYSMAHAM.
The Mukthi of my becoming you (Saroopyam) is in thine worship.
The Mukthi of my coming near you (Sameepyam) is in singing about you and calling you “Hey, Shiva” and “Hey Madhava”
The Mukthi of living with you (Salokyam) is in sweet conversation with thine devotees, who in their mind live with you,
The Mukthi of forever mixing with you (Sayujyam) is in thinking forever of your moving and stable form which is the universe,
And so I get all these in this birth itself,
Oh God who is the consort of Bhavani,
I am thankful to you for all these."
Now, if you have carefully read the post on Atma Nivedanam, you would recall and you would also understand why the author begged to re-word Atma Nivedanam as Atma Sayujya!!!
To be continued...
Love.
