Thursday, September 3, 2015

VIDEHA - A TRAIT OF THE LIBERATED

The one who is on the path of realisation is called mumukshuvu (seeker).  Becoming aware of the ephemeral nature of the world around,  he starts detaching himself with all activities related to his body senses.  He becomes unaffected by the dualities of pleasure and pain, hot and cold, sense of good and bad, right  or wrong, likes and dislikes, tastes and fragrances, without any feelings for any thing  that comes across.  Acts he does, but he will not be in them ! His incessant preoccupation is with that of identifying himself with the Supreme Consciousness.  Once liberated he comes to be known as Jivanmukta.  He continues to be in  this world only for getting his prarabdha karmas annihilated without remanants.  He does karma as per his swadharma ( actions behoved of  him as per his vocation in  this world), When Karmas to be cleared off are zeroed, then he becomes videhamukta.and merges into  the Super Consciousness.

In Mahabharata we hear about a character by name Vyadha, a realised soul (jnani)  eking out  his livelihood as a butcher !   King Janaka  too,  being liberated, continued to rule his kingdom  dis-
passionately, even endowed with the title, Videha ( beyond body consciousness).  It is said that, when certain information came to him that his capital Mithila was ablaze, he maintained his cool and responded saying that every thing was God's creation and thus His property only.  Hence  He was  at liberty in dealing with His property as He liked.  A story about king Janaka's Videha title.......

A celibate brahmin  who heard about the title Videha of Janaka got puzzled how one could be without  body consciousness.  He went straight to the king Janaka and requestedsumtlavishfication about him being called Videha. The king invited the brahmin  for lunch next day afternoon at the royal palace saying that the brahmin would  get clarification about his doubt after finishing his lunch. The brahmin turned up promptly at the royal palace the next day afternoon.  The king's men took him to the royal dining hall, offered the brahmin an ornate floor mat for having his lunch. Serving the food they told him that since the king was busy  in deliberations with his council of ministers, he could continue with his lunch.  The brahmin took a look at  the beauties of his surroundings - the gorgeous oil paintings on the walls, exquisite sculptures, flower pots decorated  in vibrant colours and hues. At last he turned his head towards the ceiling, saw the floral designs and chandeliers.  But  he also noticed to his astonishment  and sudden fear a sharp sword hanging on a slender thread  right over his head. The sword looked as if it was about to fall on him  any time cutting his head into two pieces. As the king's men were watching him for finishing his meal, he gulped hurriedly into his mouth whatever items his hands could lay upon but with his eyes constantly gazing at the dangling sword with the threat of death any moment. Within minutes he completed  his meals, got up  and washed his hands. Just by then king Janaka entered the room and asked  the brahmin how he enjoyed the sumptuous meal with lavish royal dishes naming them one by one.  The brahmin however lamented before the king disclosing that due to fear of imminent death right on his head, he could not relish any of the royal menu. Then the king revealed that the fear of death  experienced by the brahmin just for a few minutes before was experienced by him long ago which made him realise the transitory nature of this worldly existence and  that made him detached from the dualities and liberated, thus making him Videha !


Om Shanti !                                                                                                                                              

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