ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः
Swami
Dayananda Saraswati, attained Maha Samadhi on 23.9.15 . This led me to think
about what the Shruti says about Videha Mukti. Below are some verses from the
Mundaka Upanishad which clearly tell us about what happens when a ब्रह्मनिष्ठ drops His body.
The
Shruti says that such a jnani has understood clearly that He ever was, is and
will be free. He is Brahman. He is firmly established in this knowledge and
description of such a jnani can be found in several places in the Gita, notably
the स्थितप्रज्ञ portion in the
second chapter. In essence, He is no more an individual, but now exists as the Total, the Lord itself.
सम्प्राप्यैनमृषयो ज्ञानतृप्ताः
कृतात्मानो वीतरागाः
प्रशान्ताः
ते सर्वगं सर्वतः प्राप्य धीरा
युक्तात्मानः सर्वमेवाविशन्ति
॥ 3.2.5
Having
attained (known) this Brahman, the sages are satisfied with knowledge. Having
transformed themselves ( from jivatma to 'I am Brahman'), they are free from
attachment and totally tranquil.
Having
totally attained the all pervading Brahman (चैतन्यम्), they become everything. That is, He
is no more enclosed consciousness, but all-pervading चैतन्यम्
वेदान्तविज्ञानसुनिश्चितार्थाः
संन्यासयोगाद् यतयः शुद्धसत्त्वाः ।
ते ब्रह्मलोकेषु
परान्तकाले
परामृताः परिमुच्यन्ति
सर्वे ॥ 3.2.6
Through
renunciation, the pure-minded sannyasis have clearly ascertained Brahman, which
is the object of Vedantic knowledge. Having become one with the Infinite Brahman
(while living), they resolve completely into Brahman at the time of death. (Note, their 'death' is called 'parantakaala')
गताः कलाः पञ्चदश प्रतिष्ठा
देवाश्च सर्वे प्रतिदेवतासु ।
कर्माणि विज्ञानमयश्च
आत्मा
परेऽव्यये सर्वे एकीभवन्ति ॥ 3.2.7
Their
fifteen parts go back to their sources. (That is the physical body merges back
into the Anatma material universe, the subtle body too merges back into the
subtle elements). The divine powers – i.e. the Devata Amshas blessing the sense organs go back to
their presiding deities. ( Each sense organ has a presiding deity blessing it) .
The ego and its karmas all resolve into the supreme imperishable Brahman. (There is no enclosed consciousness. He is now the Total consciousness. The next mantra gives an example to explain)
यथा नद्यः स्यन्दमानाः समुद्रेऽ
स्तं गच्छन्ति
नामरूपे विहाय ।
तथा विद्वान्
नामरूपाद्विमुक्तः
परात्परं पुरुषमुपैति
दिव्यम् ॥ 3.2.8
Just
as rivers flowing down resolve into the ocean, giving up name and form, in the
same way, the Wise is freed from name and form and ‘attains’ the effulgent
Brahman which is beyond Maya.
