(திருப்பாவை – வேதம் அனைத்துக்கும் வித்து)
Artha Panchakam consists of five doctrines that one must gain knowledge of to escape from the entanglements of the births and deaths and gain deliverance from the vicissitudes of life. This knowledge is housed in ThiruppAvai and In this series of posting we have seen how ParamAma SwarUpam has been addressed by AndAl so far. Today we will take up the second doctrine, JeevAtma SwarUpam, the nature and characteristics of the individual soul.
There are three types of jeevans, Baddhar (ever bound), mukthar (liberated) and nityar (ever free).
• Baddhar – These are the jeevAtmAs who are bound by samsara through the cycle of births and deaths. They leave one body on death and are born again in some other body. This category includes right from the four faced Brahma to the smallest of plants like grass. These souls assume bodies in accordance to their past karmAs.
• Mukthar – Those who have obtained liberation from the cycle of births and deaths on extinction of both good and bad karma through means prescribed in the sAstrAs ie Bhakti Yogam or SarnAgathi (prapatti). The knowledge of Artha Panchakam is essential for this.
• Nityar – Those who are eternally free and are never born in the world as a result of karma. Adiseshan, GarudA, ViswaksEnar are all examples of nityar. They are with Sriman NarAyanan forever in His abode (Paramapadam) and render service to Him at all times and in all manner as per His will. They are like Him and share every kalyANa guNas. However, they cannot create, protect and dissolve this universe. They also cannot offer mOksham to anyone.
Further the essential characteristics of the sentient jeevAtmAs
are Gnanatvam (Knowledge), Anandanatvam (bliss) and Amalatvam (purity). But due to the association of material nature, the above characteristics have become temporarily restricted.
This jeevAtma swarUpam is specified in the Thirumantram and Dwayam. This is also described in great detail by Sri VedAnta DesikA in Rahasya Traya SAram and by Sri Pillai LokAchAryAr in Mumukshupadi.
In the next post we will see how AndAl refers to the jeevAtma SwarUpam in her ThiruppAvai.
Will be continued……..
Azagiya Singer Thiruvadigale Saranam
AndAl Thiruvadigale Saranam
by Smt Geetha Rangarajan
