SALVATION THROUGH YOGA
Pranayam ( Breathing exercises),
Japa ( chanting),
Pratyahar( restraining sense organs),
Dharana (resolution),
Dhyan (meditation) and
Samadhi (deep meditation).
Not running after sensual pleasures by having self control helps a man in diminishing his sins and diminishment of sins pleases the deities who give blessings. Blessings of deities help a man to attain salvation. Pranayam, an important part of Yoga is of two types-‘Garbha’ and ‘Agarbha’. Pranayam, done with simultaneous chanting of a mantra is called ‘Garbha’ whereas in ‘Agarbha’ Pranayam mantras are not chanted.
It is natural for a man to get attracted by worldly pleasures and checking this tendency of the mind is called ‘Pratyahar’. It is not easy to control the mind and concentrate on anything for a long time but ‘Dharana’ helps a man to do that. When a man has successfully controlled his sensual desires, then it becomes very easy for him to concentrate his mind. A concentrated mind finds it easy to meditate. When he has mastered meditation it is not much difficult for him to enter into the deep state of meditation i.e. ‘Samadhi’. In the state of ‘Samadhi’, all sense of dualism cease to exist as one establishes divine link with the Almighty, which helps him in experiencing indescribable divine bliss.
SELF REALIZATION
Once, on being asked by sage Narad about the means that helped a man in attaining self realization, Lord Vishnu told him that only those privileged few who have understood the impermanent nature of this world and have successfully controlled their sensual desires can attain self realization. All the mysteries of this Universe are unraveled to a man of self realization and he attains salvation. Lord Vishnu said-‘ It should be the prime objective of a man to make incessant efforts so that he can experience this divine knowledge of self realization-the real knowledge, for every other kind of knowledge is superficial and of least significance.’
Lord Vishnu went on to describe how self realization could be attained-
‘YADASARVE VIMUCHYANTE KAMA YESHYA HRIDI STHITAH;
TADAMRIT TWA MAPNOPATI JIVANNEVA NA SANSHAYAH.
Meaning– When there is no desire left in the heart then a man is certain to experience the divine taste of this nectar (self realization) in his life time– and there is no doubt about it.
Unraveling the mystery of Universe to sage Narad, Lord Vishnu said-‘ ‘Brahm’ is the cause behind this universe and one who has understood this fact can be rightly called a man of self realization. A man being under the influence of his sensual perceptions falsely believes this world to be real and is unable to understand the real cause behind the existence of this world,
Lord Vishnu went on to describe himself in the following words-‘ I am Pure and beyond the limits of human intelligence. I am beyond the confinement of three basic qualities (Satva guna, Rajas guna and Tamas guna). Only he can experience ME who possesses an enlightened soul because I manifest MYSELF in the heart of every individual as a divine effulgence in order to drive away the darkness which engulfs it.’
BRAHM-GITA
Anybody who studies the sacred texts of ‘Brahm-Gita’ is certain to attain salvation for it brilliantly propounds the theory of divinity of man by proclaiming that in each individual dwells ‘Brahm’-the supreme Almighty. Eulogizing the glory of ‘Brahm Gita’ Lord Vishnu said-‘ Brahm-Gita declares that in each individual dwells ‘Brahm’ and one who has understood this fact becomes free from the bondage of the world i.e. attains salvation. Nobody can deny the fact that God exists because the Almighty manifests himself all around us in various forms both perceptible and imperceptible. All the five elements (space, air, water, fire and earth) are nothing but the manifestations of Almighty God.’
‘ Unfortunately, most of the people are unaware of the presence of divinity in them- the existence of ‘Brahm’ in each of them. The reason for this is not much difficult to comprehend because this fact is so subtle that only enlightened souls can experience it. HE lies dormant and cannot be experienced until and unless HE is awakened by means of austerities and penance. ‘Brahm’ is ever present in a man and does not abandon him in any of the three states of his consciousness- while he is awake, while he is dreaming or even while he is asleep.
Despite being present in every individual he still remains unaffected by his deeds because by nature HE is eternally pure. One more reason why man is unable to feel the presence of ‘Brahm’ in himself is his own ego, with which he falsely develops deep association. So, a person who is desirous of realizing God must first subdue his ego so that ‘Brahm’ manifests himself in all his glory. Without subduing his ‘ego’ a man can never realize God because the sense of dualism is the greatest impediment in the path of God realization and ‘egotism’ only strengthen this sense of dualism.’
‘Once man has successfully subdued his ego, the dawning of God realization becomes imminent because ‘Brahm’ now has no problem in manifesting himself in the changed scenario. ‘Brahm’ who is absolute truth, eternally pure and the supreme Almighty. HE is the eternal bliss dwelling in each individual- the realization which made the Vedas to proclaim ‘Tatvam Asi'(Thou is me) and who is beyond the confinement of time and space.’
Ultimately, Lord Vishnu revealed to sage Narad that ‘Brahm’ whose glory he had praised was none other than himself.