Jīvanmuktiviveka
By Swami Harshananda
Jīvanmuktiviveka is a dissertation on jīvanmukti or liberation even while living in the body by the famous Vidyāraṇya. He was the founder of the Vijayanagara empire and a pontiff of the monastery at Śiṇgerī from CE 1377 to 1386. He owns a very high place among the writers on Advaita Vedānta philosophy.
Jīvanmuktiviveka Content[edit]
This treatise is in prose and spread over five chapters. The contents of each section covers many inevitable points from various famous literary works and scriptures of the religion. Each section of this literary work has been briefed in segments below.
First Chapter[edit]
This chapter is called as Jīvanmuktipramāna prakaraṇa. It proves the reality of the jīvanmukti state by quoting profusely from many authoritative works that include:
- Bhagavadgītā
- Mahābhārata
- Bhāgavata
- Laghuyoga vāsistha
- Sutasamhitā
Second Chapter[edit]
It is called as the Vāsanāksaya prakaraṇa. It deals with practical methods of overcoming and eliminating vāsanās or evil tendencies carried over from many lives. It suggests appropriate remedies for the same.
Third Chapter[edit]
It is known as Manonāśa prakaraṇa. It details in the subject of manonāśa or ‘apparent destruction of mind’ by drawing heavily from the Yogasutras of Patañjali (200 B. C.). ‘Manonāśa’ simply means the destruction of the tendency of the mind and rise by itself impelled by the old tendencies.
Fourth Chapter[edit]
It is called as the Svarupasiddhi prayojana prakaraṇa. It delineates five kinds of advantages that a jīvanmukta yogi gets in life which includes great bliss.
Fifth Chapter[edit]
It is the last chapter which is termed as the Vidvatsanyāsa prakaraṇa. It gives a detailed commentary on the Paramaharhsopaniṣad, the minor Upaniṣad belonging to the Śukla Yajurveda. It gives all the information connected with sanyāsa including the code of conduct prescribed for a sanyāsin.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore