Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study)
by Sadhu Gyanananddas | 2021 | 123,778 words
This page relates ‘Distinction (form, function, and nature of Ishvaras)’ of the study on the Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam in Light of Swaminarayan Vachanamrut (Vacanamrita). His 18th-century teachings belong to Vedanta philosophy and were compiled as the Vacanamrita, revolving around the five ontological entities of Jiva, Ishvara, Maya, Aksharabrahman, and Parabrahman. Roughly 200 years later, Bhadreshdas composed a commentary (Bhasya) correlating the principles of Vachanamrut.
2.2. Distinction (form, function, and nature of Īśvaras)
After a brief explanation of the similarities to jīvas, we now concentrate on the distinct characteristics of the form, function, and nature of īśvaras. Svāminārāyaṇa states:
“The five bhūtas resting in the body of īśvaras are known as mahabhūtas and those bhūtas sustain the bodies of all jīvas. On the other hand, the five bhūtas in the body of the jīvas are minor and are incompetent in sustaining others. Also, the jīvas possesses limited knowledge compared to the īśvaras, who are all-knowing. One should learn such a method of interpretation so that the jīvas and īśvaras are not understood to be equal to each other.” (Vacanāmṛta Pancālā 2, p.356).
Thus, they both are ontologically different entities.
Īśvara’s form
(Vacanāmṛta Sār. 6, Aitareya-upaniṣad 1/1/2 and the Svāminārāyaṇa Siddhāntasudhā Kārikā 350-51)
| Body | State | Name | Examples |
| Virāṭa | Utpatti | Vairāja | Brahmā |
| Sūtrātmā | Sthiti | Hiraṇyagarbha | Viṣṇu |
| Avyākṛta | Pralay | Īśvara | Śiva etc. |
Three bodies and three states are the same in jīvas, īśvaras according to their power. As a result, they too, have to do spiritual endeavors for emancipation. They also need to attain Brahmavidyā for final liberation.
Now, Svāminārāyaṇa explains the lifespan of the īśvaras:
“The lifespan of that Virāṭa Puruṣa (īśvara) is two parārdhas (i.e., 2 x 107 human years). The creation, sustenance, and dissolution of this world are his three states, just as waking, dream, and deep sleep are the three states of the jīva. virāṭa, sutrātman and avyākrta are the three bodies of that Virāṭa Puruṣa.” (Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā I/12).
Bhadreśadāsa also follows this principle:
“dviparārdhakālasīmitaṃ tadāyuḥ” (Aitareya-upaniṣad 1/1/2, p.419).
Īśvaras as we said, are different and superior to jīvas. Īśvaras and jīvas are both under the authority of Parabrahman.