In this post, we elaborate Shriman Adinarayanan's response to the question "What are the different types of Mukti?".
Mukti, or moksha, refers to freedom or liberation. To understand mukti, we must first recognize what limits us. As youth, we often feel restricted by rules and seek freedom from external limitations like parents, teachers, institutions, and society. However, as we mature, we realize that our true limitations come from within—our own conditionings, desires, and thought patterns.
The root of suffering lies in conditioned desires. This doesn't mean desires are inherently wrong but that they can limit us due to our lack of understanding and control over them. Mukti is a crucial goal, or purushartha, in human life, alongside dharma, artha, and kama. Enlightened beings guide individuals toward moksha, recognizing our inherent desire to be free from limitations.
The journey to mukti involves overcoming inner limitations by working on our inner (antahkarana) and outer (bahyakarana) instruments, particularly our conditioned responses. By making these unconscious patterns conscious, we can overcome them and not be bound by relative conditionings.
1. Salokya Mukti
Salokya means being in the same world or realm as the deity (Ishta Devata) one worships. This form of liberation implies that the devotee attains a plane of existence where their chosen deity resides.
Salokya Mukti reflects the desire to be in the presence of a divine being or spiritual ideal. It is akin to living in the same community or environment as someone you deeply admire and revere. This type of mukti allows the devotee to be in a spiritual environment that constantly inspires and uplifts them. It is about being in a realm where divine qualities are prevalent, facilitating spiritual growth and deeper connection with the deity.
If one’s Ishta Devata is Lord Krishna, attaining Salokya Mukti would mean residing in the realm of Goloka, the abode of Krishna. It’s like living in a sacred place where every aspect of the environment resonates with the divine presence of Krishna.
2. Samipya Mukti
Samipya means being in close proximity to the deity. It is not just about being in the same realm but being near the deity, enjoying a personal and intimate relationship.
Samipya Mukti embodies the idea of closeness and intimacy with the divine. This is more profound than just being in the same realm; it is about having a special, close relationship with the deity. This type of mukti signifies a deeper level of connection where the devotee can interact closely with the deity, receive guidance, and share a bond that is intimate and personal.
Continuing with the example of Krishna, Samipya Mukti would mean not only living in Goloka but being a close associate of Krishna, perhaps as a friend or attendant, constantly in His presence and service.
3. Sarupya Mukti
Sarupya means having the same form as the deity. In this state, the devotee attains a form similar to that of their chosen deity, reflecting divine qualities and appearance.
Sarupya Mukti symbolizes transformation and identification with the divine. It represents a state where the devotee’s essence aligns so closely with the deity’s that they take on a divine form. This type of mukti indicates a profound level of spiritual attainment where the devotee embodies the attributes of the deity, both internally and externally. It signifies a unity of form and essence with the divine.
For a devotee of Vishnu, Sarupya Mukti would mean acquiring a form that resembles Vishnu, complete with divine attributes like the four arms holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus.
4. Sayujya Mukti
Sayujya means complete union with the deity. This is the highest form of liberation where the devotee merges entirely with the deity, losing all sense of individual identity.
Sayujya Mukti represents the ultimate state of oneness with the divine. It is the dissolution of the individual self into the supreme consciousness, where there is no distinction between the devotee and the deity.
This type of mukti signifies the highest spiritual achievement. It is a state of absolute unity where the devotee experiences complete and unbroken communion with the divine, beyond all dualities.
In the context of Krishna, Sayujya Mukti would mean merging completely with Krishna’s divine essence, where the individual soul no longer exists separately but as part of the divine consciousness of Krishna.
Each of these muktis represents a progressive deepening of the relationship with the divine, starting from sharing the same realm (Salokya), to being in close proximity (Samipya), transforming into the same form (Sarupya), and ultimately achieving complete union (Sayujya). These stages highlight the journey of a soul from external association with the divine to complete identification and unity with the divine essence.
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