Jiva's Profundity in Vishishtadvaita

Foreword Sastras declare that there are eighty four lakhs of living beings in this universe. It expresses that the physical body is not the soul. The thought perception, emotion, intelligence are all the functions of the physical body. Jiva is an entity behind all these functions. It is not placed in one particular part of the body. Every living being possesses jiva or the soul. When it leaves the body, the physical body is dead, but the soul is not dead. It takes another form and gains properties.

There will be a quest always in every human being, that 'what is life, what will happen when one dies? what is there beyond death?' For all such questions, this book will provide answers. The author of the book has put forth in detail about the jiva's existence in the body, and it's upliftment to a better body or gets moksha or mukti. This book will be a good path setter for those who would like to know about what life is and how to gain moksha.

According to Sastras, Jiva is made of knowledge and bliss. It is self luminous. To know it's importance, let us all gain the knowledge by reading this book.

Hope, this treatise would enlighten many souls. May Lord Sri Venkateshwara shower His blessings on all the Jiva Risis of this universe?

Introduction Prelude :

"Who are You?"-The religious speaker raised this question and requested all the learned audience to write down their answers in a piece of paper and pass on to him. Majority of the audience had written down their names, while some had mentioned their professions like Doctor, Engineer, Advocate etc., few others had mentioned their nativity. But only one had written as `human'. The speaker commented that all had described their personality using different words. He added that we often say "This is my body, I see, I hear, I know my mind." What is that consciousness? The correct answer is "T is Atman." Any intelligent person will have queries like "Who am 1?", "Who is God?" what is the relationship between me and God?" "What is my duty?"; "Why am I suffering through the process of birth, old age, disease and death?" "What is death?" When a person dies, is there anything in him that survives and continues further? What is that implied by which, the senses and the mind of a living person are active? These are highly important queries which lead one to search for the realities.

Vishnu purana verse (2.13.98) states that the Jiva is not a celestial, human, animal or plant; the differences in the bodies the Jiva occupies are due to the results of his past actions... Broadly Jivas can be classified as scripture controlled and scripture free. The bound Jivas whose knowledge depends upon the sense organs are controlled by scripture. Such a knowledge does not exist in animals and non-ambulant. There are three natural laws that control the life in this world. They are (I) Law of destiny, (ii) Law of karma and (iii) law of Reincarnation or Rebirth.

(i) Law of destiny: The nature of a man is the cumulative effect of all his past thoughts, desires and actions. Past activities are the cause. Present nature or constitution of the man is the effect. God is the prime mover or the substratum of all activities that determine the destiny. All men direct their moments.

(ii) Law of Karma: It explains that one is not only the product of his past but producer of the future. With reference to the past actions one is a product, with reference to the one's future he is the producer. The word Karma refers to actions done in the previous births. Both good deeds (punya) and evil (papa) are accounted for. The karmas are of three kinds (a) Sanchita Karmas are past Karmas which have not begun to yield fruits. (b) Prarabdha Karmas are Karmas which are responsible for the present life. And (c) Agami Karmas are Karmas done in the present life which will give fruits in future life. Unless all the Karmas are exhausted by experience of pleasure or pain, the cycle of rebirth will continue. As a result of the Saranagati (self surrender) properly done, the Lord will relieve the Saranagata of all past karmas, Sanchita Karmas, as well as Karmas that will give fruits in future Agami Karmas. Only the Prarabdha Karmas remains.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages