4 Types of Mukti

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Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

“Q. You say that being devoid of body is Mukti. Some people say that some

‘liberated’ souls are shining in the sky in the form of heavenly stars. Which

one of the above is correct?

 

Both are correct. The scriptures mention four kinds of Mukti. They are:

 

Saalokya Mukti: When a devotee worships a particular god, he will ultimately

obtain a place in the heavenly abode of that particular god. This is called as

‘Saalokya Mukti’. The method of worship followed here is called as ‘Charya’. It

is a method in which the seeker considers himself a slave and the god as the

Supreme Lord.

 

Saaroopya Mukti : A devotee practising even more intense devotion will not only

obtain a place in the heavenly abode, but will also acquire the qualities of the

god he worships. The method of worship followed here is called as ‘Kriya’. Kriya

here means performing Pooja, Homa and other rituals.

 

Saameepya Mukti: If the worship is even more intense, the seeker will not only

acquire the qualities of the god he worships, but will also gain a godly form

and a place very near to God. This method is called ‘Yoga’. Here Yoga means the

eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga.

 

Saayujya Mukti : When the worshiper transcends the Saguna form and reaches the

Nirguna form, the seeker will realise that Jeevatma and Paramatma are one and

the same. This is called Saayujya Mukti. The instrument to obtain this is

‘Jnana’. Jnana means realising the Atma Tattva with the help of Nitya Anitya

Vastu Viveka.

 

The first three are not important. Although they are referred to as Mukti, the

real meaning of Mukti is not reflected by them because those three kinds of

Mukti are not permanent. Also, in each of the three, the Jeevi will be having

some sort of form. After the merit is exhausted, he will lose the celestial body

and will again take birth as a mortal.

 

The fourth type of Mukti is different. In this, the Jeevi will not have a body

and will not have another birth either. Only this should be considered as real

Mukti.

 

The term Yoga also conveys two meanings. One meaning is described above. The

other meaning is ‘to realise the oneness of the Nirguna Parabrahma and

Jeevatma’. It is to stress this meaning that several scriptures have declared

‘Atma Darshana is possible only through Yoga’. For instance, the Bhagavad-Gita

says:

 

Ayam hi paramo dharmah yadyoge naatmadarshanam (achieving Atma Darshana through

Yoga is the greatest Dharma). In such contexts, the second meaning should be

considered."

 

Sri Swamiji

Lessons in Vedanta - 32 part VIII

Bhakti Mala, June - July, 1998

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

 

 

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