Sunday, April 12, 2020

Paramatma Prakash


Preface

If we look for scriptures on Adhyatm (spiritualism)  beyond Kundakundacharya and his Samaysar, Niyamsar etc. then Paramatma Prakash easily stands out. Written by  Sri Yogendu deva sometime in 6th century in Apabhramsha language, it is a creation with high degree of spirituality.  This book was written in answer to a query by a disciple Prabhakar Bhatt on how to overcome the sorrows of the world. In reply Acharya  preaches him the path to Moksha in detail. The gathas are simple to follow and lot of emphasis is laid down on distinguishing the Nishchaya(real)  and Vyavahara(practical) nayas(aspects).

 In  13th century Sanskrit commentary was written by Bramhadeva  who had elaborated it extensively. Further Daulatramji wrote commentary in Dhundhari language in 18th century with  some contribution of his own. I have used Hindi version of his commentary for this translation.

  Bramhadeva had divided Paramatma Prakash   into two parts. The first part has 126 dohas and second part   comprises of 219dohas , thus in all 345 dohas. The first part describes three kinds of souls while second part describes path to Moksha and the benefits of Moksha in 107 dohas. The remaining dohas of second part  comprises of choolika which incorporates subjects not covered earlier.

Acharya Yogendu had also authored Yogsar which is a  smaller book on dhyan which we have already read earlier in this blog. 


Gatha 1: One who has burnt the karma form blemishes by means of fire of the form of dhyan (meditation) and has attained permanent, blemish free and omniscient state ; saluting that Paramatma , I hereby render this granth.

Commentary:  Just as rays of sun are brighter coming out of the obstruction of dark clouds, in the same way with the dissolution of karma form clouds,  Paramatma has been revealed with  extremely pure powers of Keval gyan etc. form infinite four. The infinite four are infinite knowledge, infinite vision, infinite bliss and infinite strength- these are totally worthy of acceptance in every way and are capable of illuminating the lok(universe) and alok (beyond universe) both. When Siddha Parameshthi manifested in the form of infinite four then he was revealed in the karya (effect) samaysar (essence of soul) form. During the state of internal contemplation he was manifesting in karan (causal) samaysar. When he manifested in the karya samaysar form then with the revelation of Siddha form state, he evolved as pure Paramatma. Just as gold after separation of other metallic impurities is revealed   in the sixteenth state of purity; in the same way he manifested into the Siddha form without blemishes of karmas. It is said in Panchastikaya also that he attained Siddha paryaya (state) which was never revealed earlier by the destruction of karmas. This statement is from the aspect of Paryayarthika naya.

From the aspect of Dravyarthika naya , the Jiva is ever pure knowledge form in terms of capability. Just as in spite of mixing with other metals the gold is always in gold form. When other metals are separated then the purity is revealed. To summarize, the capability existed earlier also but revelation occurred after attaining Siddha paryaya. From aspect of pure Dravyarthika naya, all Jivas are pure at all times. The same is stated in Dravya Samgrah that from aspect of pure naya all Jivas are pure in terms of capability and from aspect of paryayarthika naya they manifested in pure form explicitly. Why ? Since he burnt the impurities of karmas by means of fire of the form of Dhyan, then he was revealed as Siddha Paramatma. What is that Dhyan form? In respect of Agam (scripture) that is Veetraga Nirvikalpa Shukla Dhyan, and from aspect of Adhyatma (philosophy) it is Veetraga Nirvikalpa Roopatita Dhyan. The same is stated also in scripture as- “Padastham “etc.

It implies that the Dhyan of Namokar Mantra etc. is called “Padastha”; contemplation of the own soul existent within  pind (body) is known as “Pindastha” Dhyan. Dhyan of Arihant Deva who is Paramatma is known as “Roopastha”; while Dhyan of pure Siddha bhagwan is called “Roopatita” dhyan. If considered from the aspect of nature of a thing then the Nirvikalpa Samadhi(contemplation) of pure soul in the form of indivisible trio of Samyak darshan, Samyak Gyan amd Samyak Charitra leads to generation of veetraga equanimity form pure blissful experience which is its nature ; which  should be considered as characteristics of Dhyan.  By the effect of this Dhyan only, the karma form impurities were destroyed and Siddhahood was attained. Karma blemishes are of the form of Dravya karma and Bhava Karma. Out of them the pudgala matter form Gyanavarana etc. eight karmas are Dravya karmas; and raga etc. form contemplation-resolution are called Bhava karmas. Here bhava karmas are destroyed from aspect of impure Nishchaya naya while the dravya karmas are destroyed from aspect of Asadbhoot Anupacharita Vyavahara naya. From aspect of Pure Nishchaya naya, Jiva does not have Bandh or Moksha.

- In this way , the one who has become Bhagwan after destruction of karma blemishes, how is he ? Such Bhagwan Siddha Parameshthi is permanent, pure, knowledge form. Here the adjective permanent is used to explain to Ekanta vadi ( follower of one sided view) Bauddha , who does not believe soul to be permanent and believes it to be momentary. The soul is permanent from aspect of Dravyarthika naya. Soul is knowing natured dravya like an engraving in stone. This has been described by calling him permanent.

Now the purity without blemish is described. The followers of Naiyayika principles say , “ After lapse of 100 kalpa kaal, the world becomes blank and all the jivas get liberated at that time. Then Sadashiva gets worried about repopulating  of the world. Therefore he again transforms the liberated Jivas into worldly ones in conjunction of karma form ointment.” Such is the belief of Naiyayika followers. To address them only, the purity without blemish is described wherein the conjunction  of dravya karma- bhava karma- no karma does not take place ever again for the Siddhas. That’s why Siddhas are called  Niranjan ( pure without blemish).

Now followers of Samkhya principles say, “Just as a person in sleeping state does not get knowledge of external objects; in the same way the liberated Jivas do not have knowledge of the external objects.” Thus in Siddha state they believe the knowledge to be non existent. To familiarize  them with the concept of keval gyan having capability of knowing entire lok-alok  and all their contents at the same moment is described which is the inherent capability of Siddhas. Such Bhagwan is permanent, without blemishes and knowledge form. Saluting such Siddha Paramatmas, now I proceed towards the description of the Granth.

This salutation is spoken word form dravya namaskara from the aspect of Asadbhoot Vyavahara naya. Bhava namaskara by recalling his infinite qualities like Keval gyan etc. is  carried out from aspect of impure Nishchaya naya. Such dravya and bhava salutation is performed in practitioner state from aspect of Vyavahara naya. From aspect of pure Nishchaya naya , the bhava of one saluting and other being saluted does not exist.

In this manner by breaking the sentence, Shabdartha (word meaning) is described. Further by dividing into naya forms the Nayartha ( different aspects) is also told. Then description of Bauddha, Naiyayika , Samkhya beliefs is given in the form of Matartha (various beliefs). Thus Siddha Parameshthis having infinite qualities have been liberated from the world; this is the meaning of the Siddhant ( Agamartha) . The message is that permanent- pure- knowledge form paramatma dravya is worthy of respect and attainment , which is the Bhavartha.

Thus the description has been  carried out in the forms of Shabdartha, Nayartha, Matartha, Agamartha, and Bhavartha which should be understood in the subsequent narrative.

Now the means for crossing the world form ocean, which is a ship of the form of Veetrag nirvikalpa meditation , boarding which those who would attain the blissful incomparable knowledge in future; I offer obeisance to  them.

Gatha 2: Experiencing the supreme meditation in future, those who would attain blissful, incomparable knowledge, I offer salutation to those infinite Siddhas.

Commentary: I worship all those who would attain SIddhahood. How will those Siddhas be in future ?  Adorned with wealth of Moksha in the form of Keval gyan etc. and accompanied with Samyaktva etc. eight qualities, those would be infinite. How would they achieve Siddhahood? Acquiring the scarce knowledge of the path described by Veetrag Omniscient Deva, king Shrenik and other jivas would attain Siddhahood. Again how will they be ? Shiva i.e. the spirit of own pure soul , born out of which is the Veetrag supreme blissful experience, they would be of such form. All shall be incomparable and adorned with keval gyan. How would they attain it ?   They shall be ornamented with the jewel trio of real belief-knowledge-conduct of the pure soul of the nature of vision and knowledge. The world is of the form of ocean filled with salted water of sufferings of hell etc., full of Mithyatva (false belief), passions , sensual desires etc., which they would overcome with the spirit of pure soul leading to blissful pleasure, boarding a ship of the form of supreme meditation, those infinite Siddhas would make the crossing.

The message conveyed in this narrative is that the blissful, incomparable, knowledge form pure natured soul alone is cherishable.  

Further I offer salutation to the Shri Seemandhar Swamy etc. who are existing in Maha Videh Kshetra in present times burning their karmas in the fire of supreme meditation.

Gatha 3: Burning the fuel of karmas under the blazing fire of supreme meditation destroying them completely, those who are attaining Siddha hood now, I offer salutation to all of them.

Commentary: I offer salutation to those Siddhas with real devotion of the form of Veetrag Nirvikalpa own experience knowledge.  How are they?  In the present times in five Maha Videh Kshetras , shri Seemandhar Swamy etc. are stationed. What are they doing?  They are adorned with the spirit of Veetrag supreme Samayik form conduct, accompanied with the indivisible  jewel trio of real belief-knowledge-conduct ; they are engaged in burning the karmas as fuel in the fire of supreme meditation.

The epitome is that nirvikalpa meditation is the real means for the attainment of pure soul substance.

Further those great Munis who attained Nirvana and became Siddha by acquiring their own soul substance by means of right knowledge of the form of own soul experience thereby destroying the karmas;  I hereby worship them.

Gatha 4: Those who are heavy with the knowledge  in the three lokas but still do not fall  into the world form ocean, I salute those Siddhas existent in Moksha form.

Commentary: Those who are heavy and great sink into the water. However Bhagwan is great in all the three loks but still he does not fall into the world form ocean. I offer prayers to those Siddhas who were Tirthankara supreme Devas and Bharat, Sagar, Raghav, Pandava etc. who attained own pure soul nature by means of Veetrag Nirvikalpa own experience form knowledge destroying the karmas and acquired the supreme Nirvana status – this is the essence.

( And how are they?  They are Gurus of the three loks having own experience form keval gyan illuminating the lok and alok both. The three loks are illuminated in the supreme own soul form Nishchaya substance in which the different substances are reflected as Vyavahara substances. Since they illuminate them with Keval gyan from the aspect of Vyavahara naya, they  are Gurus. From the aspect of Nishchaya naya , they illuminate the lok and observe own supreme soul nature and from the aspect of Vyavvahara naya they observe pudgala etc. substances, illuminated with Keval gyan they are stationary in their own self form Nirvana state. Hence the Nirvana state is cherishable  -  this is the essence.)

Further, although those Siddha Paramatmas are stationary in Moksha form at the top of the lok, observing both lok and alok from the  aspect of Vyavahara naya, even then from aspect of Nishchaya naya they are stationary within themselves; I offer salutation to them.

Gatha 5.  I again offer obeisance to those Siddhas who are directly observing the entire lok and alok both  with total clarity and at the same time they are stationary within their own soul.

Commentary: Again I bow to the Siddhas for destruction of my karmas. Who are  stationary within themselves from aspect of Nishchaya naya and from aspect of Vyavahara naya observe the entire lok and alok both directly with total clarity. Who is not permeated within the substances but is pervaded within own self. If he were pervasive within other substances then they would be happy-unhappy with the happiness-unhappiness of them but this is not so at all. From aspect of Vyavahara naya, by means of Keval gyan they know all the minutest and biggest directly with clarity and do not have any attachment or aversion towards any object. If they knew some thing with attachment or aversion  then they would be having spirit of attachment and aversion which would be  a great  flaw. Therefore it is concluded that from aspect of Nishchaya  naya  they are stationary within their own nature and not others. Further due to their knowing nature they know and see all directly.

Here the own nature is described to be stationary within own self from aspect of Nishchaya and which is worthy of worship. This is the essence.  

Continued…….

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