Progressive stages to realise Siva

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Om Namah Sivaya

 

Saivites consider that there are FOUR Progressive

stages to realise Siva, termed Charya,Kriya, Yoga and

Jnana. These four categories are the natural sequence

of the soul's evolutionary process, much like the

development of a butterfly from egg to

larva, from larva to catapillar, from caterpillar to

pupa, and then the final metamorphosis from pupa to

butterfly.

 

Charya is the performance of altruistic religious

service and living according to traditional

ethicalconduct & culture and is the stage of

overcoming basic instinctive patterns. This has the

magical effect of softening ego bringing forth the

soul’s innate devotion. Here the soul relates to God

as servant to master

 

Kriya is joyous and regular worship (includes

puja,japa, fasting and scriptural learning). In this

stage one overcomes the obstinacy of the

instinctive-intellectual mind. We now look upon the

deity image not as cave stone, but as living presence

of the God. Here the soul relates to God as son to his

parents.

 

Yoga is internalized worship which leads to union with

God. In this stage the kundalini fire of consciousness

ascends to the higher charkas, burning the dross of

ignorance and past karmas and leads first to Savikalpa

Samadhi, the contemplative experience of

Satchidananda, and ultimately to Nirvikalpa Samadhi,

experience ParaSiva. Here the soul relates to God as

the best friend.

 

Jnana is divine wisdom emanating from an enlightened

being, a soul in its maturity, immersed in Sivaness,

the blessed realization of God, while living out

earthly karma. He is the liberated one, the

jivanmukta. Here the soul identity itself with

Siva.One does not become a Jnani simply by reading and

understanding philosophy as the state of jnana lies

beyond the intellect.

 

Lord Siva Himself thought these progressive spiritual

stages to the sons of Brahma, who are sages Sanaka,

Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara (the first

inhabitants of the earth)and by the grace of the Lord

they attained immortality.

 

Namah Sivaya

 

 

 

 

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