Srimadbhagavatham-skandha2-chapters2and3

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Chapter2- The method of meditation and

mukthi through yoga

 

 

Sukha describes the attractive form of the Lord to be meditated as being inside the heart, `Chathurbhujam kanjaraThAngaSankham gadhADharam,' four armed, with lotus, disc, conch and mace. One should see Him like this in his mind's eye.

`prasanna vadanam nalinAyathekshaNam pisangavAsasam sphuran mahArthnakireetakundalam srivathsakousthubavanamAlAvirAjitham'

 

With smiling face lotus-like long eyes, wearing yellow robes, and adorned with crown of precious gems and ear ornament, garland of flowers on His chest marked with srivathsa and kousthubha.

 

Then Sukha elaborates the method of Dhyana. One should concentrate on His form limb by limb and proceed upwards starting from the feet. This should be done till one attains bhakthi.

 

There are two paths of spiritual progress, said Suka, namely the path of immediate salvation, and that of gradual salvation for those who proceed along the yogamarga

 

1. Immediate salvation:

One gives up all conception of time and space and the mind gets absorbed in buddhi which in its turn absorbed in ahamkara. The individual ego merges with the universal ahamkara and thus the yogi leaves his body and attains param padham vaishnavam. This is achieved through raising his vital energy(kundalini) through the six centres, denoted by the six charkas, moolADhAra, manipoora, anAhatha,viSuddhi ,AjnA and sahasrara.

 

2.Gradual salvation:

The yogi leaves the body with his mind and indriyas unrestricted and reaches the first stage, the sphere of agni where he is freed from all impurities caused by desire and goes to the second stage signified by the saisumara, the wheel of Hari, when he attains extremely subtle body. The next stage is the maharloka , where those who contemplate on Brahman inhabit. The yogi leaves the maharloka at the time of naimitthika pralaya when the heat of the fire from the mouth of Adhisesha burns up all the three lower worlds. Then the yogi halts at the thapas loka and leaving it reaches the highest loka of Brahma, where the highly evolved souls inhabit. After the two parardha of Brahma the souls merge in the absolute along with Brahma.

 

Suka concludes saying that of all the paths that of devotion alone is the safest and easiest. The Lord Hari alone is to be heard and sung at all times and at all places.

 

Chapter3- The path of Bhakthi

 

The devotion to the Lord arises through the association with the bhAgavathas and this is the door to salvation. Suka advised that the life which is wasted otherwise should be made fruitful by hearing about the Lord Hari.'asou sooryah udhyan asthma gacchan yath yena kshaNah neethah thasya Ayuh vrThaiva harathi,' the lifespan of man is shortened by each moment when the Sun rises and sets every day and is wasted. If it is said that the very living is fruitful, even the trees do that. Animals have life and they also breath and eat. Man is also an animal if his ears are not filled with the name of Hari. The tongue that does not speak the stories of Hari is like that of a frog (croaking in vain) The crown or headdress of a head which does not bow down to the Lord is a burden. The eyes of one who does not see the beautiful form of the Lord are similar to the eyes in the feather of a peacock. One who does not use his legs to travel to the holy places and does not wear the fragrance of the tulasi leaves from the feet of the Lord are like corpses though living. Those whose heart does not melt and eyes do not shed tears with devotion are like stones.

 

So one is advise to worship Hari, whether he has no desire or wish for everything or aspires only for salvation, through bhakthiyoga.