3 malas

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The Three Malas (or limiting conditions)

 

Anava Mala

Mayiya Mala

Karma Mala

 

Mala: dust, dirt, impurity, taint; dross. Dross is the best English equivalent.

Mala is what covers and conceals and limits the pure gold of divine

Consciousness. it is of three forms, anava mala, mayiya mala, and karma mala. As

used in this system, mala means those cosmic and individualistic limiting

conditions which hamper the free expression of the spirit.

 

Anava mala is the mula-mala, the primal limiting condition which reduces the

universal Consciousness to an anu, a small, limited entity. It is a cosmic

limiting condition over which the individual has no control. It is owing to this

that the jiva (individual soul) considers himself apurna, imperfect, a separate

entity, cut off from the universal Consciousness. The greatness of Shiva in this

condition is concealed, and the individual forgets his real nature. The anava

mala is brought about in two ways:

Bodha or knowledge loses its svatantrya or unimpeded power

and

Svatantrya of shakti losis its bodha or inherent knowledge.

 

Mayiyamala is the limiting condition brought about by maya, that gives to the

soul its gross and subtle body. It is also cosmic. It is

bhinna-vedya-pratha--that which brings about the consiousness of difference

owing to the differing limiting adjuncts of the bodies. Maya possesses the five

kancukas, or coverings:

 

Shakti

Shakti

as existing in Shiva as existing in the

limitation of man

 

1.Sarvakartrtva--omnipotence Kala--limited authorship or

efficacy.

 

2.Sarvajnatva--omniscience Vidya--limitation in respect

of

knowledge.

3.Purnatva or Nitya-trpti-- Raga--limitation in

respect of

perfection or fullness desire

(desiring this or that).

 

4.Nityatva--eternity Kala(first a is

long)--limitation in

respect of time.

5.Vyapakatva or Svatantrya-- Niyati--limitation in

respect of

all pervasiveness or freedom space and cause.

 

 

Karma-mala is the vasanas or impressions of actions done by the jnanendriyas*

and karmendriyas* under the influence of antahkarana*. It is the force of these

vasanas that carries the jiva from one life to another.

 

 

*jnanendriyas are the five powers of sense-perception:

1--smelling (ghranendriya)

2--tasting (rasanendriya)

3--seeing (chakshurindriya)

4--feeling by touch (sparshanendriya)

5--hearing (shravanendriya)

 

*karmendriyas are the five powers of action:

1--speaking (vagindriya)

2--handling (hastendriya)

3--locomotion (padendriya)

4--excreting (payvindriya)

5--sexual action and restfulness (upasthendriya)

 

*Antahkarana means literally the inner instrument i.e., the psychic apparatus of

the individual. It consists of the tattvas by means of which there is mental

operation. These are Buddhi, ahamkara, and manas.

 

Buddhi--Ascertaining intelligence.

 

Ahamkara--This is the product of Buddhi. It is the ego or I-conciousness.

 

Manas--This is the product of Ahamkara. It cooperates with the senses in

building up perceptions, and it builds up images and concepts.--Aum Namah

Shivaya

 

Mahabhakti

M