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Philosophy
Lord Swaminarayan's philosophy, known as Navya
Vishishtadvaita (Neo-qualified non-dualism), upholds the existence of the
five eternal realities, namely: Jiva, Ishwar, Maya, Brahman and
Parabrahman.
Jiva (Soul) is sentient (chaitanya), subtle and is the knower (jnata)
and enjoyer (bhokta) of things. He is immutable, unpierceable, indivisible
and eternal. Jivas are infinite in number and bound by vasana (impressions
and desires from past births and present birth) according to their karmas.
Ishwars transcend Jiva. Each Ishwar is a conscious spiritual being,
possessing excellence involved in the creation, sustenance and destruction
of the universe. They also are infinite in number and bound by Maya.
Parabrahman is the inner Ruler and Controller (antaryamin) of both Jiva
and Ishwar. Just as the gross, subtle and causal are the three bodies of
Jiva, similarly, Virat, Sutratma and Avyakrut are the three bodies of
Ishwar.
Maya or Prakruti is trigunatmika - consisting of the three
gunas - sattva, rajas and tamas. Its nature is of ignorance and darkness,
and is also the instrument - shakti of Parabrahman. It is non-sentient
primordial matter out of which the whole universe is evolved. Difficult to
transcend, it is the cause of attachment of the Jivas and Ishwars to their
bodies and bodily relations.
Brahman, also known as Akshar, is the highest eternal
reality beyond which stands only Purushottam or Parabrahman. Akshar as -
personal (sakar) is the choicest devotee, eternally in the service of Lord
Purushottam, in the highest abode.This same Akshar, also serves Lord
Purushottam as His infinitely effulgent abode (Dham), wherein Lord
Purushottam and innumerable released souls reside.It is the same Akshar
who, as infinite, homogeneous, all-pervading, sentient - space (Chidakash)
pervades within and without an infinite number of universes and every
element thereof. And, it is the same Akshar, who in the form of the Param
Ekantik Sadhu, perennially manifests on earth to redeem the seekers of
moksha. Akshar is also the medium who embodies Lord Purushottam fully in
his person.
Parabrahman or Purushottam, is the Supreme Reality. He
possesses an infinite number of kalyankari (redemptive) attributes. He
transcends Jiva, Ishwar, Maya and Brahman, and is immanent in them, they
being absolutely dependent on Him. He is the cause, controller, sustainer,
redeemer, the support of all and dispenser of the fruits of all karmas. He
alone is independent.
He is also the indwelling spirit, antaryamin, of the other four realities.
He is eternally full of divine bliss and has eternally a divine form,
shaped like a human being. Nothing transcends Parabrahman. He is the goal
for meditational worship - of upasana, by all, including Aksharbrahman. He
is one and unparalleled and is commonly known as Paramatma, Param-Purush,
Parameshwar, Purna Purushottam and Narayan.
Concept of Moksha
Lord Swaminarayan elaborates moksha or final
emancipation, known as Atyantik Mukti in the Sampradaya, in the following
manner :
Jiva is bound by avidya-karma (Maya). This is ignorance, a delusion of the
Jiva. Therefore, in order to be rid of this ignorance, the Jiva has to
develop Atmanishtha - the knowledge that he is not the body, but Atma.
But to transcend Maya, this type of mere (samanya) Atmanishtha is not
enough. A higher (vishesh) Atmanishtha needs to be realised - in which the
Atma identifies itself with Aksharbrahman to become Akshar-rup - like
Akshar. This is known as true Jnan and true Atmanishtha.
The liberated soul, Akshar mukta, then becomes eligible to worship
Parabrahman - the Lord Purushottam, in Akshardham. This is in consonance
with the Taittiriya Upanishad:
Brahmavid apnoti Param.i.e. One who knows Brahman attains Parabrahman.
'Attaining' Parabrahman does not mean merging in Him, as water merges with
water, or light into light. The servitor - Master relationship - Swami-sevak
bhava, always prevails. The individuality of the sevak - the mukta always
remains.
To become Akshar-rup, the Jiva has to associate with the Satpurush who is
the manifest form of Aksharbrahman, the living embodiment of Ekantik
Dharma, known also as Bhagawata Dharma in the Shrimad Bhagwatam. Only then
does the gateway of moksha open for the Jiva when he associates with the
Satpurush.
In the Swaminarayan Sampradaya, its founder, Lord Swaminarayan is
worshipped as Parabrahman (Purushottam), the Supreme Reality, while
Gunatitanand Swami, His ideal Bhakta, is worshipped as Aksharbrahman.
Aksharbrahman occupies the same place which Shri Laxmi and Radha occupy in
the Vaishnav schools of Vedanta. Therefore in spite of being a form of
pure Vaishnavism, it is popularly known as Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan
Sampradaya, and its philosophy is best described as Neo-Vishishtadvaita.
After incarnating on earth, Parabrahman Lord Swaminarayan, manifests
continuously through the Gunatit Guru, the Param Ekantik Sadhu, the living
embodiment of Aksharbrahman.
Today,
His Supreme Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and His Supreme Divine
Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the current manifest form of
Aksharbrahman.
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