Sushmajee
Dictionary Of Hindu Religion | Dictionary
Dictionary-K | |
Kaivalya |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Q R S T-U V-W-X Y-Z Act. Salvation. Emancipation. Liberation from this Sansaar (world). Mukti. Moksh. It is the fifth state in which modification is extinct, and when it remains alone with its own nature. The word "Kaivalya" is derived from the word "Keval" meaning "only". Kaivalya gives one absolute bliss since one can enjoy Nir-Gun Brahman ie pure Consciousness without the limitations of the Dehaatm Buddhi which is the real bondage. A-Dwait View
A closer reading of the Geetaa reveals that Krishn is not talking only as Krishn, son of Vasudev or as Shreeman Naaraayan, but as the Supreme Being (Paramaatmaa), who has no form (Nir-Aakaar), no attributes (Nir-Gun) etc etc. That Supreme Being is the Self (Aatmaa). Hence the expressions Self-realization and God-realization (Eeshwar Praapti or Bhagavat Praapti) refer to the same ultimate goal (Param Dhaam, Param Padm etc) of beings. The Purush Sookt of Rig Ved says - "Purush evedagum sarvam.... ....meaning Purush alone is the entire world, both past and future; he is also the Lord of immortality. This great Purush, brilliant as the Sun, who is beyond all darkness (Tamasah Prastaat) I know Him in my heart. Whoever knows the Purush thus attains immortality in this very birth. I know of no other way to salvation (Naanyah Pantaa vidyate ayanaaya). Take a look into a couple of the selected verses from Bhaagvat Puraan to
understand this terminology: There is one Upanishad also named after "Kaivalya". (See the List of Upanishad) Vaishnav View
Vaishnva sect distinguishes between Self-Realization (Kaivalya) and
God-Realization, the latter is the true liberation or Moksh, a service
at the feet of Vishnu (attaining Paramapad). According to Vaishnavism, Kaivalya is liberation of the soul from rebirth; it is Self-realization; while A-Dwait say that "true liberation is God-realization" meaning you serve at the feet of Vishnu for ever. God-Realization is superior to Self-Realization (Kaivalya). Because in Kaivalya you see God through a Glass Ceiling but never get to serve Him in person. Simply put, what do you like to do? Do you want to gain entry into your house or hang around the compound wall just looking at your house from outside? HTML clipboard Gyaan Yog is not generally recommended for salvation in Vaishnavism; it leads to enlightenment and bliss of the soul and freedom from metempsychosis. All this amounts to Kaivalya and not God-realization. Kaivalya is Aatm-Anubhav (Self experience) and NOT Bhagavat-Saakshaatkaar. Aatm Anubhav is the realization of the knowledge of one's own soul and not the realization of God . It is knowing oneself and NOT the God. Kaivalya guarantees complete release from mundane existence and thus lets the individual soul enjoy its true nature. Kaivalya is not enjoying the Universal Soul (Bhagavaan). The true Moksh is to serve God, without any interruption, in Vaikunth or Parmapad. Real Moksh is simply not a state of negation (which is Kaivalya), absence of bondage; rather it has a positive aspect to it in that one gets close to Bhagavaan, gets touched by Bhagavaan, and perform interminable eternal service to Bhagavaan. In modern parlance, the Moksh Purush has earned his tenure and no one can fire him from Vaikunth.
|
Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on
06/09/11