Sri Bharatamata

Ashtottaram 82

 

82) OṀ MO'KṢHA KĀRAKA BHŨMYAINAMAH:

           OṀ (AUM) -MOK-ṢHA- KAA-RA-KA- BHOO- MYAI- NA-- MA- HA

 

     (Mokṣhah: means-Liberation from transmigratory existence;  Kāraka: means-instrument,

      means, responsible)

 

 

 

The topic of bandha (bondage) and mokṣha (liberation) has been widely discussed in all the systems of Hindu philosophy. Mokṣha is posited as the final purushārtha, the ultimate goal of life. The synonyms for mokṣha are: mukti, kaivalya and nirvāṇa.

 

Man is essentially the Ātman, the pure spirit, of the nature of consciousness; but has somehow forgotten it and has identified himself with the body-mind-sense complex. As a result, he is constantly undergoing transmigration, the cycle of birth-death-rebirth and so on. Whatever suffering a man undergoes, is due to this identification with the body-mind-sense complex, and consequent transmigration brought about by karma. This cycle of transmigration, called 'saṃsāra', can be ended by the destruction of ajnāna or avidya (ignorance) through jnāna (knowledge). Once this is done, mokṣha is attained.

 

Some works like the Sūtasaṃhita- describe four kinds of mukti or mokṣha as follows: 1) sālokya (living in the same world as God);              2) sārūpya (having a form similar to that of God); 3) sāmīpya (living near God); 4) sāyujya (getting identified or united with God). These ideas seem to have existed in the Vedic literature itself (Taittirīya Saṃhita; Aitareya Brāhmaṇa; Bruhaḋāraṇyaka Upanishad; Chāndogya Upanishad).

 

From time immemorial, our land is blessed with so many devotees who not only pursued the path of utmost devotion and love towards God, but also helped the ordinary people and householders to cultivate the same devotion toward God! They wrote and composed hundreds and thousands of devotional songs in simple words and easy style for common folks to sing along. They have incorporated very tough and difficult vedāntasūtrās in those songs. They have been helping us for centuries to achieve our final goal of liberation through the bhaktiyoga (path of devotion). For jnānayoga (path of knowledge) our ṟishis, sages, seers and saints gifted us with Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmasūtrās, Bhāshyās, āgamās, purāṇās, iṫihāsās and many more! Depending on each person's interest, they have provided with so many avenues and so much of literature.

 

In modern days, there is no shortage for swamis, sādhus, gurus in our country to teach us the ways to attain the mokṣha. These swamis are going to foreign countries and every swamy wants to travel abroad as a status symbol and get donations in dollars.

 

The land which has been an instrument, shows means and is also responsible for us to pursue the ultimate goal of liberation is our motherland 'Mokṣha Kāraka Bhūmi'.