Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study)
by Sadhu Gyanananddas | 2021 | 123,778 words
This page relates ‘Ishvaras’ Bondage’ 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.
2.3. Īśvaras’ Bondage
Here the being of the Vairāja Puruṣa (also known Virāṭa Puruṣa) as a īśvara, who is bound by māyā but lives longer lifespan. His life entails two parārdhas (2x1017 human years). Since īśvaras are suffered from ignorance, Svāminārāyaṇa mentions explicitly in Vacanāmṛta Gadhadā II/31 that Virāṭa Puruṣa has bondage of māyic cycle. Therefore they require brahmavidyā.
But can they attain it? Bhadreśadāsa answers: yes.
“jīvakoṭigatānāmīśvarakoṭigatānāṃ cobhayavidhadevānām api brahmavidyāyāmadhikārosti” (Brahmasūtra 1/3/26, p.112)
“They are eligible for Brahmavidyā just as the jīva.”
Afterward, they attain the ultimate liberation via arciradi marg. The Bhāṣyakāra deciphers:
“uttarāyaṇaṃ… jīveśvarāṇāṃ kṛte mokṣamārgatayādhārabhūtam” (Praśna-upaniṣad 1/10, p.182).
“The northern way (celestial way to the abode of Parabrahman) is the substratum for the jīvas and īśvaras providing the way to liberation.”
So, in conclusion, we got the point that īśvaras are subject to bondage and liberation like the jīvas.