Monday 30 November 2020

Vivekachoodamani Sri Shankaracharya Virachitham - The significance of Athmajjanam/The knowledge of 'self'

 


Chapter 6 – Vivekachoodamani  51 – 60

 

The preceptor speaks “Oh!  noble one, the freedom from ignorance and attachments to worldly matters is an individual effort, not like the father’s debt pay off by the children. The load carried on the head can be removed with the help of others, but hunger cannot be removed until and unless the person consumes the meal, the Samsarabandha Nivriththi/getting freedom from the worldly matters and bondage is entirely depended on the practice of an individual who yearns for it. Like, the patient should sincerely follow the medication and strictness in the consumption of the meal to get cured of the ailments; others cannot follow disciplines and medication for the patient. In the same manner, the Samsaranivriththi/getting freedom from grief, miseries, and sorrows, is possible only with the practice of Bhakti, Gnana, Vairagya, like Aushadhi/medicines, along with the observance of the celibacy/Bhramanishta would help to get rid of interest in worldly matters and bondage. The supreme Bhramam resides as the soul is perceivable through Gnana/wisdom, cannot be achieved from the intelligence in all the Shashthras or from the words of intellectuals, like the moonlight and the moon, is perceivable through eyes, cannot be understood from the other’s description. It is impossible to get rid of Pashabandham/attachment to family, wife, children, relatives, companions, money, wealth, richness, fame, etc. and Avidhyakamakarma/performance of various austerities and rites to fulfill one’s own desires, without achieving Athmajjana/knowledge of Paramathma Parambhramam resides as a soul in the Jeeva is like the darkness, that can be removed with the light of Athmajjana. The only source for the Moksha is the understanding of Prathyak Athma/Jeevathma and Paramathma are Abhedha/not dual, and inseparable. The knowledge in Sankhya philosophy, Yogam, Karma, and various Shastra and performance of various austerities, vows, spiritual and religious rites cannot bring freedom from ‘Maya’/illusion. The Jeeva who has achieved the superior state of ‘Athma Bhramaikhyajjana’/Aham Bhramasmi, get released from the worldly matters and bondage/Samsaramuktha. The person who entertains the audience and the King with the melodious music on Veena can lure the hearts, but cannot be the King. The King lead a huge army of skillful warriors to fight against the enemies and wins in the battle, finally, the victory adds glories to the King. The knowledge in all the Shastra Purana, Ithihas, Veda, and Vedantha, and active participation in the debates, excellent pronunciation, and skill in explaining one’s own knowledge may help the intellectuals, scholars, and learned to receive gifts and an abundance of contribution, but it won’t help to earn ‘Samsaramukthi’/getting released from the vicious cycles of rebirths. Oh! Noble soul, it is not that remarkable  to achieve knowledge in all the Shastra Purana, Ithihasa, Veda, Vedantha, unless and until the learned do not understand the ‘Athma Thaththva’/oneness-in all, therefore  the knowledge of ‘Athma’ is enough to achieve the knowledge in all the Shastras. The purpose of learning Shastras, Purana, Ithihasa, Veda, and Vedanta are to get closer to that Paramathma reside as ‘Athman’.   The learned who does not achieve the supreme knowledge of ‘Athman’/self, Prana, Purusha, Paramathma Parambhramam is eternal, pure, unblemished, has neither birth nor death, all those efforts, and hard work put into achieving the knowledge in the Shastras are considered as futile. The Shashtra, Purana, Ithihasa, Veda, and Vedantha are ‘Shabdha Bhramam’, it is endless like a vast ocean. The Sadhaka who has achieved the ‘Athmajjana’ from Acharya remains contented and free from afflictions, is considered as the fortunate soul.”

 

 

Rinamochanakarththara: Pithu: Santhi Suthadhaya | Bandhamochana Karththa Thu Swasmadhanyo Na Kashchana||

 

Masthakanyasthabharadhe : Dhukhamanyair Nivaryathe | Kshudhadhikritha Dhukham Thu  Vina Sevena Na Kenachith ||

 

Padhyam Aushadhaseva Cha  Kriyathe Yena Rogina | Arogya Sidhdhir Dhrishtasya Nanyanushtitha Karmana||

 

Vasthu Swaroopam Sputa Bodha Chakshusha | Svenaiva Vedhyam Nathu Pandithena | Chandhraswaroopam Nija Chakshushaiva | Jjathavyamanyairavagamyathe Kim?

 

Avidhya Kamakarmadhi Pashabandham Vimochithum | Ka: Shaknuyadhvinathmanam Kalpakoti Shathairapi ||

 

Na Yogena Na Sankhyena  Karmana No Na Vidhyaya | Bhramath Maikyathva Bodhena | Moksha: Sidhdhyathinanyatha ||

 

Veenaya Roopasoundharyam Thanthri Vadhana Saushtavam | Prajaranjjanamathram Thath Samrajyaya Na Kalpathe ||

 

Vakvairi Shabdhajjari Shasthravykhyana Kaushalam | Vaidhushyam Vidhusham Thadhvath | Bhukthaye  Na Thu Mukthaye ||

 

Avijjathe Pare  Thaththve  Shasthradheethisthu Nishphala | Vijjatheapi Pare  Thaththve  Shasthradheethisthu Nishphala ||

 

Shabdhajalam Maharanyam  Chiththabhramana Karanam | Atha: Prayajjathavyam Thaththvajjaththaththvamathmana: ||