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Jivanmukta (जीवन्मुक्तः) (view source)
Revision as of 23:20, 12 October 2022
, 23:20, 12 October 2022→Jada-Bharata: added content
From this drshtanta, it is easy to grasp the all-pervasive nature (in all creatures) of a person who moves about with the knowledge of Brahman.
From this drshtanta, it is easy to grasp the all-pervasive nature (in all creatures) of a person who moves about with the knowledge of Brahman.
=== Jada-Bharata ===
=== उन्मत्तजडान्धबधिरस्वरूपे जडभरतः । Jada-Bharata ===
Long time ago there used to live a king named Bharata, (Ajanabha), the son of Rishabha. He led a pious life and duly discharged the duty of performing all the required dharmik activities. After dividing all the hereditary fortune, he retired to a life of recluse in Salagramakshetra on the banks of river Gandaki. Bharata was rid of all craving for the pleasures of sense and, developing (great) tranquility of mind, derived supreme gratification. Once Bharata went to bathe in a river. A deer had also come to drink water there. While the deer was drinking water, there was the terrible roar of a lion. The deer gave a frightened leap and gave an untimely birth. The baby fell into the river. The mother deer died as a result of the leap. But Bharata rescued the baby deer from the water and raised it in his ashrama (hermitage). Soon he grew attached to the deer and forgot everything else. He had given up his kingdom, his sons, and his friends and forgotten them all. But he could not forget the deer. <ref name=":4">https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-vishnu-purana/d/doc57597.html</ref>
Long time ago there used to live a king named Bharata, (Ajanabha), the son of Rishabha. He led a pious life and duly discharged the duty of performing all the required dharmik activities. After dividing all the hereditary fortune, he retired to a life of recluse in Salagramakshetra on the banks of river Gandaki. Bharata was rid of all craving for the pleasures of sense and, developing (great) tranquility of mind, derived supreme gratification. Once Bharata went to bathe in a river. A deer had also come to drink water there. While the deer was drinking water, there was the terrible roar of a lion. The deer gave a frightened leap and gave an untimely birth. The baby fell into the river. The mother deer died as a result of the leap. But Bharata rescued the baby deer from the water and raised it in his ashrama (hermitage). Soon he grew attached to the deer and forgot everything else. He had given up his kingdom, his sons, and his friends and forgotten them all. But he could not forget the deer. <ref name=":4">https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-vishnu-purana/d/doc57597.html</ref>
Having become deeply attached to the deer, Bharata died watching the deer and thinking of it. Since he thought of the deer while dying, he was born as a deer in his next life. The only difference was that he was born as a '''jatismara deer''', that is, a deer that remembered the incidents of its past life. As a deer, Bharata left his mother and came again to Salagramakshetra because he remembered his old place. He lived on dry leaves and dry grass and eventually died. He was reborn as a '''jatismara brahmana'''. In this life he was truly learned, well versed in all the shastras. Since he had attained the supreme knowledge, he saw no point in reading the Vedas or in doing work. He kept to himself and spoke little, only when he had to. His body was dirty, his clothes were filthy, he rarely ever interacted with people, ate whatever was given/available, spent time within himself and moved very slowly. Because of this, people treated him badly.<ref name=":4" />
Having become deeply attached to the deer, Bharata died watching the deer and thinking of it. Since he thought of the deer while dying, he was born as a deer in his next life. The only difference was that he was born as a '''jatismara deer''', that is, a deer that remembered the incidents of its past life. As a deer, Bharata left his mother and came again to Salagramakshetra because he remembered his old place. He lived on dry leaves and dry grass and lamented as he strayed from the path to realize the Atman due to attachment.
One day, the King of Soubira wanted to go on a palanquin to learn words of wisdom from Kapila Maharshi. The servant of the king looked around for palanquin-bearers and found Bharata. So Bharata bore the palanquin along with the other bearers without any questions. But being a jnani, he was trying to avoid the ants and creatures on the ground. He was careful not to step on any creature and in this process caused an imbalance of the palanquin. Annoyed at the way his palanquin was being tossed about, the king called out to find the wrong-doer. “What is wrong?” Asked the king of Bharata, “Haven’t you borne the palanquin only for a little while? How is it that you are tired? Can’t you bear a little burden? You look quite strong to me.” Bharata’s answer was this. “Who am I and who are you? What you have seen is only my body and your body. I am not my body and nor are your your body. Our atmans or souls are what we really are. My atman is not strong or tired, nor is it carrying your palanquin upon its shoulders.” Having said this, Bharata was quiet again. But the king got down from the palanquin and fell at his feet. He wanted to know who Bharata really was, for such words of wisdom do not come from an ordinary man. Bharata then told him the truth about the atman and enlightened the King.<ref name=":4" />
अहो कष्टं भ्रष्टोऽहमात्मवतामनुपथाद्यद्विमुक्तसमस्तसङ्गस्य विवि-क्तपुण्यारण्यशरणस्यात्मवत आत्मनि सर्वेषामात्मनां भगवति वासुदेवे तदनुश्रवणमननसङ्कीर्तनाराधनानुस्मरणाभियोगेनाशून्यसकलयामेन कालेन समावेशितं समाहितं कार्त्स्न्येन मनस्तत्तु पुनर्ममाबुधस्यारान्मृगसुतमनु परिसुस्राव २९ (Bhag. Pura. 5.29)<ref>Shrimad Bhagavata Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AE Skanda 5 Adhyaya 8])</ref>
After he left his beastly form, Bharata was reborn the second time as a '''jatismara brahmana'''.
तत्रापि स्वजनसङ्गाच्च भृशमुद्विजमानो भगवतः कर्मबन्धविध्वंसनश्रवणस्मरणगुणविवरणचरणारविन्दयुगलं मनसा विदधदात्मनः प्रतिघातमाशङ्कमानो भगवदनुग्रहेणानुस्मृतस्वपूर्वजन्मावलिरात्मानमुन्मत्तजडान्धबधिरस्वरूपेण दर्शयामास लोकस्य २ (Bhag. Pura. 6.2)<ref name=":5">Shrimad Bhagavata Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AB/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%AF Skanda 5 Adhyaya 9])</ref>
In this life he was truly learned, well versed in all the shastras. Since he had attained the supreme knowledge, he saw no point in reading the Vedas or in doing work. Apprehending his fall through attachment to his people in the previous incarnation and (therefore) terribly afraid of such attachment, he kept to himself and spoke little, only when he had to. He showed himself to the world as an insane, stupid, blind and deaf fellow, clasping firmly with his mind the divine feet of Shri Mahavishnu at all times. He roamed about like a bull, barebodied alike in heat and cold (शीतोष्णवातवर्षेषु वृष),<ref name=":5" /> his body was dirty, his clothes were filthy, he rarely ever interacted with people, ate whatever was given/available, spent time within himself and moved very slowly. Because of this, he was called JadaBharata and people treated him badly.<ref name=":4" />
One day, the King of Soubira wanted to go on a palanquin to learn words of wisdom from Kapila Maharshi. The servant of the king looked around for palanquin-bearers and found Bharata. So Bharata bore the palanquin along with the other bearers without any questions. But being a jnani, he was trying to avoid the ants and creatures on the ground. He was walking slowly and this process caused an imbalance of the palanquin. Annoyed at the way his palanquin was being tossed about, the king called out to find the wrong-doer. “What is wrong?” Asked the king of Bharata, “Haven’t you borne the palanquin only for a little while? How is it that you are tired? Can’t you bear a little burden? You look quite strong to me.” Bharata’s answer was this. “Who am I and who are you? What you have seen is only my body and your body. I am not my body and nor are your your body. Our atmans or souls are what we really are. My atman is not strong or tired, nor is it carrying your palanquin upon its shoulders.” Having said this, Bharata was quiet again. But the king got down from the palanquin and fell at his feet. He wanted to know who Bharata really was, for such words of wisdom do not come from an ordinary man. Bharata then told him the truth about the atman and enlightened the King.<ref name=":4" /><ref>''Shrimad Bhagavata Purana'' by Gita Press, Gorakhpur (Page 464 - 478)</ref>
In this anecdote we see that the person who realized Brahman, is very careless about his body and name in the world where he roams around finishing only the Prarabdha karma. He is not bothered about what people think of him, and many times they present a totally opposite personality so as to detach themselves for the world.
=== Rajarshi Janaka ===
Janaka Maharaja of the Videha lineage was another notable person who was a Jivanmukta. He is known for his famous line
मिथिलायां प्रदीप्तायां न मे किंचित्प्रदह्यते।। (Maha. Bhar. Shan. 12. 176. 56)<ref>Mahabharata ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-176 Shanti Parva Adhyaya 176])</ref> which has been quoted by Bhishma to Yudhisthira in teaching what vairagya is. Janaka, was called Videha, as he had no attachment to the body or worldly things. Janaka Maharaja who ruled a great empire with Mithila as his capital is not worried even if Mithila is on fire, he says nothing burns inside me. No matter how many duties are being performed by a person, as long as his mind is fixed on the divine Ishvara or in samadhi, he is a Brahma-nishta.
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Advaita Vedanta]]
[[Category:Advaita Vedanta]]
[[Category:Vedanta]]
[[Category:Vedanta]]