Srimad Bhagavatam - A Yogc interpretation
This is one way of interpretation of Srimad Bhagavatam beyond its literal meanings and stories, and explains the Bhakti Yoga of liberation. Here, the tenth and eleventh canto of Bhagavatam is interpreted in a yogic way. The interpretation is advaitic. The interpretation can be justified using a number of puranas, upanishads and other texts, but the aim of this article is only to present the idea and not work with polemics. The article is copyrighted to me, but maybe used freely for non commercial purposes.
Two distinct stages of Bhakti Yoga are identified, one starting with the beginning of the tenth canto upto the killing of Kamsa, which indicates the crossing over of Kali.
The second stage starts after the killing of Kamsa and ends in the eleventh canto. ( This is the actual Bhakti Yoga)
The major difference between Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga is that in Karma Yoga the Yogi is solely resposible for safegaurding himself against enemies ( like Arjuna in Mahabaratha who does all the fighting), but in Bhakti Yoga the Lord himself does it on behalf of the devotee due to the overwhelming love.( Lord Krishna himself does the fighting in Bhagavatam). Thus Krishna in Bhagavatam stands at a much higher plane than the Krishna in Mahabaratha. Arjuna sees Krishna as a friend and saviour, while in Bhagavatam, Yashoda sees him as her son, the gopis sing and dance with him, and the intimacy is much more, thus reducing the dualty between the Yogi and the Almighty. Mahabaratha is still very much on the plane of dualty, while Bhagavatam is about attaining the non dual union with God.
The narration assumes familiarity with the story of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Part I - The Killing of Kamsa
The story begins with mother earth, taking the shape of a cow and complaining to Brahma about her unbearable burden in the form of asuras who had taken kingly shapes. The earth is symbolic of the human body of an individual who begins to feel that even good actions lead to bondage only. At best they are only golden fetters. The asuras are the powers accrued from the punya karmas. The asuras cannot be anything worse because that is automatic disqualification of Bhakti Yoga. Brahma is the mind. The mind feels that all punya karmas are to be done with the idea that the real object of worship is the Almighty Krishna and the fruits of such punyakarmas should be left undesired. This is the transition from the Karma-kanda of the vedas to the Jnana-kanda of vedanta. By this, Vishnu will incarnate on this earth, meaning the Lord will get a strong hold on the mind of the Yogi.
Evil qualities like desire, anger, lust, ignorance, jealosy and pride are to be overcome as the first step in the union with God.These are the asuras in the human body or earth. To overcome them, we need the help of heavenly qualities like contentedness, love for all beings, generosity, knowledge and modesty. These are the devas who reside in the heaven or Mount Menu. Mount Menu, as used in itihasas always refer to the sushumna nadi. The devas residing in heaven simply mean they are in the unmanifested state. The manifestattion of the above divine qualities is the incarnation of the devas. Without the incarnation of the devas(divine qualities), even Krishna will be powerless against the powerful asuras. That is to say that, it is your sole responsibility to develop these divine qualities to fight against your asuric qualities, without which the Lord will not be able to help you in Yoga. The death of asuras means their change of state. Desire for material objects is converted into that of salvation, anger against others is turned into anger against our own passions etc.
(to be continued)
Re: Srimad Bhagavatam - A Yogc interpretation
Re: Srimad Bhagavatam - A Yogc interpretation
|| om namo bhagavate vAsudevAya ||
|| om para-bramhaNe namah: ||
|| om paramAtmane namah: ||
|| shri kRshNArpaNamastu ||
vasudeva sutam devam kauMsa chANura mardanam
devaki paramAnandam kRshNam vande jagat-gurum
Namaste Truth-Seeker (and others)
This pinDa-BramhAnDa relation that you have presented here, has been experienced and sensed, acknowledged over the years. Swami Chinmayananda also uses this approach in his book on Bhagvat.
Today, ever-kRpALU Gurudev and prANanAtha Mukunda was pinned into a no-movement position saying He has to answer some important questions
and no evasive answers please. (As if the mercy and grace He had been showering since morning in terms of the reward of His transcendental association wasn't enough!).
After feigning a mock-surprise at this behaviour, He conveyed the Truth without words, speech, conversation, as always.
As it is said, the individual body (pinDa) is a replica of the BramhAnDa (Universe). Therefore, the Yogic interpretation is right in its own light.
A more accurate and specific mapping of each aspect inside the individual
is given in Bhagavatam itself - e.g. SB 3.26.21 - 39, 68,69,70(chaturvyuha upAsana). (found notes from last year - fortunately)
( Table:
vyuha (whorl) # | adhishthAtri devatA (presiding deity) | upAsya devatA (worshipable Deity) | Adhibhautik (physical element) | adhyAtmik ( inner element)
vyuha 1 | kshetrajn~a AtmA | VAsudeva | mahattattva | chitta
vyuha 2 | Rudra | sankarshaNa (balarAm) | panchabhUta(5 elements) + indrIya(senses) + mana(mind) | ahaMkAra (ego)
vyuha 3 | chandra | aniruddha | mana (mind) | mana (mind)
vyuha 4 | bramhA | pradyumna | buddhi (intellect) | buddhi (intellect)
(The asuras are also explained as aspects of vices in detail in VANipedia (as explained by the GauDIya VaishNav AchAryas).
All 14 material lokas (worlds), all devatA (presiding over the sense organs (indrIya), mind, ego, intellect, all daivI guNa (divine qualities) personified, all asura (demoniac instincts), KRshNa, RAdhA, Gop-Gopis,
the chaturvyuha, SadAshiva, Gauri, go-mAtA, VAsudeva-KRshNa(DwArakAdheesh) as Guru, the disciple, NArAyaNa,
Shri, all pArshads, HanumAn, all reside in this deha.
This appearantly local deha (body) is a universe in itself, and that was [re-?]realized in a flash. Want to preserve this flash-moment, a precious chintAmaNi-gift from that Govinda Mukunda DAmodara MAdhava.
There is no I in this deha. The whole exercise of finding or [re]discovering the "I" is futile, because the moment you put a finger on one saying "This is I", that is not "I" anymore.
Yes, the sAkshi(witness) is I... but there is more to it. The SAkshI is VAsudev and therefore VAsudeva = I. However, when VAsudeva says the highest sAkshi in you is Me, He is using that same logic to convey to us.
The devotee in this mini-universe is dissappointed by that being the end of story, because then who will taste and experience the sweetness of that sweet Mukunda, the granter of muktI (liberation) ? Who will be left to express tears of gratitude to that most compassionate JanArdana, the innermost compassionate Guru Who showed the disciple the moon?
Therefore, the good news is, Mukunda, Radha, RukmiNi, all forms of Shri, Nanda Yashoda, GaruDa, SankarshAN, Aniruddha, SadAshiva, Gauri, GaNesh, all share one AtmA - inside the deha (body) as well as outside pervading the Universe.
This AtmA "transcends" the gross effects of PrakRtI (inside and outside), therefore,
Just as AtmA is alipta - aloof from the [material] body-pinDa ;
Goloka dhAm, VaikunTha and BramhajyotI are "beyond" the [material] BramhAnDa-universe;
Beyond does not mean spatially beyond. It means in a plane of consciousness, a platform of existence untouched by the gross aspects of the universe. And birds of a feather flock together. Consciousnesses of one kind flock together in their loka.
To play leela, some form of pure subtle ego is necessary. This ego can be the disciple, a form-fraction of Shri, a manjari of Radha, a servant of Lakshmi-NArAyaNa, a follower of Hanuman, etc.
However, the jnAni-ego knows that this is just a role that gives AtmAnanda, bliss and satisfaction to the AtmA. This is why we are taught that the purpose of devotional service is to give pleasure to Shri KRshNa, and not for some selfish ego-centric entertainment.
One's Guru also lives in the body-universe. There is no need to just simply wipe the board off till there is no board left. Turn off the external world-TV. Watch the internal-movie. Don't eat too much transcendental
popcorn. Even if it was made in Vraja, with corn harvested by the Gopis.
_/\_
Kartik navami, 11 Nov 2013
Re: Srimad Bhagavatam - A Yogc interpretation
Devotion is like a raging fire, or like gasoline that causes a fire... people who only do bhakti get caught in a web of concepts.
Bhakti is only safe when there is jnana, essentially, one needs to break through the "ego barrier" that is set up, and POP, so that they see the genuine divinity behind all things; ie Brahman, Krishna, Devi, etc.
Only after realization of the supreme an utter faith be put into use. Blind faith does not lead one to liberation
Re: Srimad Bhagavatam - A Yogc interpretation
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the sadhu
Bhakti is only safe when there is jnana, essentially, one needs to break through the "ego barrier" that is set up, and POP, so that they see the genuine divinity behind all things; ie Brahman, Krishna, Devi, etc.
Namaste,
Yes, it is called dnyAnottar bhakti - bhakti after(uttar) dnyAna/jn~Ana.
Quote:
Only after realization of the supreme an utter faith be put into use. Blind faith does not lead one to liberation
Yes, certainly, no one recommends blind faith without knowledge. However, bhakti should be there before during and after knowledge. The bhakti before knowledge is work-in-progress, important, and not necessarily blind. Bhagvan graces the devotee with knowledge (see BG 10.10,11)
Bhakti after knowledge is parA bhakti.
_/\_