Guest guest Posted March 16, 2001 Report Share Posted March 16, 2001 First my praNaam-s to everyone. If I am aloud to ask some questions to the learned members of the list related to nature of moksha, Lakshmi, in VishishhTaadviatic tradition. These are for my own clear understanding of the darshaNam since I do not know. I posted one yesterday but it did not go through since by mistake put bhakti-list unsubscirbe in the To: block - sign of getting old! I appreciate answers with shruti and/or smR^iti pramaaNa-s if possible. ------------------ Question about Shree Maha Lakshmi - the post that bounced back before: >...... >She was born along with nectar during the churning >for Amrutham from the milky ocean. Hence , She is >addressed as "SudhA Sakhi". Her great affection for >those , who seek Her is hinted by Her Name "Rathi" >(preethi). >. > >SrimathE RanganAyaki jayathu >Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan > Enjoying the beautiful description of Shree Maha Lakshmi. 1. My question is related to the birth of Shree Mahaa Lakshmi - How is her birth accounted? Was she not there before ksheerasaaraga mathanam? Or is there some philosophical significance for this birth. - As I understand Shree is always there with NaaraayaNa. Purusha suuktam says:- hRiishchate lakshmiishcha patnyau - aho raatre paarshve -implies that she is there with Him all the time - This birth implies as if she was not there before the mathanam took place. Any explanation and pramaaNa-s for her existence before the ksheerasaaraga mathanam and if so why she took birth again. -On the other hand, - jaatasya hi dhruvo mR^ituH says Giita - Does she also undergo cycles of birth-and-death if she is born - or does this statement applies to only leela vibhuuti. What is the explanation of her birth during the mathanam? 2. About creation -As I understand (a) jagat and jiiva-s are satyams -(b) It is cyclic process and not linear process. I assume then that the creation is the grossification from subtle states. I am aware of Bhagavaan Ramanuja's criticism of avidya of adviata doctrine. Is not avidya the cause for the bondage of the jiiva in VishishhTaadvaitic tradition too - my understanding as of now is that jiiva-s do not realize his aswatantra nature due to avidya - am I right? And this avidya is also anaadi? Hence there is no beginning for the bondage but only end. Please correct me if I am wrong. How did jiiva-s get into that state of avidya - if avidya is not their intrinsic nature. - I understand the anaadi aspect of avidya - but why they have- that is my question? 3. Next related to Consciousness in moksha: I understand Bhagavaan Ramanuja considers consciousness is as an attribute of jiiva not swaruupa lakshaNa of jiiva - am I right? In moksha, what exactly is the nature of jiiva? I know he is tiny at least that is what I gather for the interpretation of the word suukshhmam implies. And I also realize he is a conscious entity - but if it is his attribute, my question is related to the locus of that attribute. Actually this may have deeper question that has been bothering me -I am trying to understand the attributes of an object and the locus of these attributes. I realize Bhagavaan Raamaanuja and Shree Vedanta Deshika discuss the relation between the attributes and objects in terms of samavaayu of taarkika-s. What exactly an object then -sans attributes or what is its intrinsic nature - or can we ever know an object - If I say I see a pencil there - what exactly is the pencil - I can describe its attributes and say pencil is there - but attributes are not the pencil since it is the locus for the attributes - Is pencil only an inference in the mind since one cannot have a pencil without its attributes or does the pencil really exists and on what basis would I know without the mental inferences involved. I know jagat is satyam - since jagat is assemblage of all objects - essentially it boils down to does an object exists without mind inferring its existence - how can we know that without bringing mental inferences into picture since only attributes are recognized by the senses? I am applying the same logic to jiiva as an object what exactly its intrinsic nature and how is it recognized from one to the other. I gather jiiva is given a divya shariira in the moksha - is it not? without that shariira he cannot operate? I am all puzzled about all these concepts. 4. Is there a hierarchy in the jiiva-s in moksha - that is one superior and one inferior etc. Like Maha Lakshmi is superior to Brahma, Sanatkumaara-s, Narada and other deities and then jiiva-s etc. On what basis this hierarchy is set or is it intrinsic to jiiva-s in terms of their nature (here again I am coming back to previous question in essence) . This aspect is unclear to me. I know in dwaita it is - they give an example of small pot and a big pot - the pot size is intrinsic to jiiva - why it is so is not clear to me either other than it is so-In moksha each pot is full with aananda but one is bigger pot compared to the other etc. Is it similar what exactly the nature of jiiva swaruupam - I think that is my central question. I understand shesha-seshii bhaava but what exactly does he do in moksha - What does service of the Lord in Moksha exactly mean? I realize that Lord does not need our service, then exactly what does service really imply? Why does one want to serve or is it again the intrinsic nature of the jiiva - to serve. I would like to be clear on these concepts. 5. When ones goes to VaikunTa there is no return back, is it not? yadgatvaa na nivartante tat dhaama paramam mama - says Giita. Then I hear about the story of Jaya and Vijaya who were guards at the vaikunTa. Their behavior towards Sanatkumaara-s indicates that they are subjected to rajo guNa even in VaikunTa - and they were cursed to return back to the earth. How do we account the triguNa-s even in Divyavibhuuti - and that jiiva-s are still under their influence. If jaya and vijaya can return back then other jiiva-s can too. But that violates B.G. statement. Any clarification? I hope I am not offending the list members with my inquisitive questions. I want to be clear about my understanding of vishishhTaadviata principles. With Pranaam-s Hari Om! Sadananda -- K. Sadananda Code 6323 Naval Research Laboratory Washington D.C. 20375 Voice (202)767-2117 Fax:(202)767-2623 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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