Moksha or Salvation

In Hinduism, the four main Dharma or purposes of a person are : Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. According to Yoga philosophy, the association between Prikriti and Purusha is Bandhan or bondage, while separation of the two is Moksha.

Tadabhavat samyogabhavo hanam taddwasheh kaivalyam.

There are two purposes or goals of Prikriti : Bhoga or consumption and Moksha. It is through intellect that Prikriti at first provides Bhoga or consumption and then it leads to Moksha or emancipation.

Our body is mortal. The soul makes use of the body as a means to attain its goals. It is through it that the supreme goal or ultimate goal is achieved. This goal is the knowledge of the actual form of the soul. When the human body is dissolved in the soul, a practitioner goes on to attain Moksha.

Types of Moksha

Moksha is of three kinds :

1.      Salokya Moksha.

2.      Sarupya Moksha.

3.      Sayujya Moksha.

Let us know about these in brief.

1.      Salokya Moksha : Under it, a practitioner is accompanied by God at all times.

2.      Sarupya Moksha : When this Moksha is achieved, a practitioner attains the form of God.

3.      Sayujya Moksha : When this Moksha is attained, the practitioner is freed from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Achieving this type of Moksha is taken as the ultimate goal of life.

Achievement of Moksha

For achievement of Moksha, a practitioner has to at first bring under control his senses and mind. The eight components of Ashtanga Yoga (Yam, Niyam, Asana, Pranayama, Prityahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi) help to control the senses and mental tendencies. With this, a practitioner can follow any path whether it is Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga or other. Whatever path he chooses, he has to realize control over his senses and mind, and thus illuminate the soul which was until now sunk in ignorance-like darkness, and then blend it with God; and all this entire process needs hard work and struggle. Through these, an individual reaches the stage of Samadhi through devotion. It is during the state of Samadhi that a practitioner goes on to attain Moksha, the ultimate goal of life. This is the state in which a person is freed from the cycle of birth and rebirth.