A Moksha Fixation

 

Madurai Minakshi

 

For a upāsaka of Bhagavatī, Upaniṣat, Advaita, Jñāna, etc. are but a few approaches to Parāmbā and SHE is the sole focus, not the rest. Anandasāgara stava was a favorite of my Guru Brahmasri Asthana Vidvan K P Shankara Shastrigal, and it answers such questions one may have. Let us examine what Nīlakaṇṭha Dīkṣita thinks of Mōkṣa:

nāhaṁ sahē tava kathāśravaṇāntarāyam
nāhaṁ sahē tava padārcanavicyutiṁ vā |
mōkṣaṁ diśaitadaviruddhamidam na cētsyā-
nnaivāstu mātarapavarga-mahōpsargaḥ ||

Amba! Mīnākṣi, daughter of Pāṇḍya Bhūpāla, the one whose gaze is sweeter than sweetness, I am told by many that mōkṣa is the goal. Everyone seems to be doing something to achieve this mōkṣa! As for me, I cannot withstand for a minute, not listening to your divine līlā viśēṣa. I cannot bear for a second, separation from the worship of your lotus feet! If this “mōkṣa” that people so desire is something that does not disturb either of these, then give it to me! Else, I do not care for that apavarga which is actually upasarga (misfortune or a great disease)!

kāśyāṁ nipātaya vapuḥ śvapacālayē vā
svargaṁ naya tvamapavargamadhōgatiṁ vā |
adyaiva vā kuru dayāṁ punar āyatau vā
kaḥ sambhramō mama dhanē dhaninaḥ pramāṇam ||

Mīnākṣi, śyāmalē, Mantriṇi, my most precious wealth! What do you want to do with me ah? Give me death in Kāśikā – the sannidhi of Viśālākṣī, or ordain me to death in the midst of caṇḍālas (śvapaca is technically an outcaste born to a brāhmaṇa strī through a caṇḍāla). Give me the luxuries of heaven or even liberation. Or, make me burn in hellish netherworlds. If you choose, grace me today and now or make me wait for lifetimes! Why do I have to hurry or whirl round in all this? I and my well-being are not my worries but yours. Wealth is the owner’s responsibility and not of itself. When I have surrendered to you completely, I am your vastu and my well-being is your responsibility. With the responsibility of my head resting on the lotus feet of Mahātripurasundarī, I am free of every worry, always taken care of and blissful.

A friend, who is a polytheist from a different tradition wrote: “Polytheism is focused absolutely on the Gods, on active service to Them in everything I do. For me, there is no separation between the Gods and everyday life. The Gods are front row and center in all that I do. Putting Them first fulfills the aims of the deity-centric religion. Kemeticism is a praxis-centric experience of religion, not theory-based. It seeks to continue the work of creation with the Gods, which is action-based, not speculative or belief-based. It is vital that Polytheists embrace the living Gods as Gods, openly, and refuse to clothe our beliefs in monotheistic language to make others comfortable. We must restore devotion and our traditional cult images. We must serve our Gods out in the open.”

There is much wisdom in these words that a sincere student of deity-centric Tantra can imbibe and practice; to not only avoid unconscious corruption from monotheism but also to avoid some aspects of monism that smārtas are prone to.

ādāya ca gurōssākṣādādiśaktērmukhāmbujāt |
galitaṁ paramānandarasasāraṁ pibāmyaham ||

 

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