T Ram Sewak

VIGYANMAYA DEEP

Furthermore, in Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.117, Kakabhushundiji urges Garuda to ignite the lamp of divine wisdom. He states:

ehi bidhi bigyanamaya, jatahin saba

"In this manner, kindle the radiant lamp of higher wisdom (vigyanmaya deep), whose intense brilliance incinerates the moths of arrogance and other negative tendencies".

Once the lamp with ghee is stable and the firm wick is in place, it must be lit. It can be ignited either by another burning lamp or by a separate source of fire. For some sadhaks, it is kindled by the Guru, who imparts the wisdom of Tat Tvam Asi (You are That), signifying the unity of the self (Atma) with the Supreme (Paramatma), thereby illuminating the disciple's lamp. For other sadhaks, Buddhi (intellect) employs the Yoga Agni to light the lamp of knowledge, utilising the power of deep meditation (Samadhi).

Vigyanmaya refers to Nididhyasan Gyan (knowledge acquired through profound contemplation), which differs from Manan Gyan (knowledge obtained through reflection). It leads to Aparoksh Gyan (direct or experiential knowledge), in contrast to Paroksh Gyan (indirect knowledge gained through scriptures, etc.).

Kakabhushundiji also illustrates the profound impact of the intense brilliance of Vigyanmaya deep and highlights mad (arrogance), thus underscoring the gravity of its eradication. Pride originates from the delusional identification with the body, which is an expression of prakriti (nature) and the three gunas (qualities). Nevertheless, with Vigyan, the self becomes wholly detached from the three gunas and the three states (turiya awastha), transcending the sway of arrogance and all other distortions (vices) that arise solely due to the gunas.

This is the transformative power of Vigyanmaya deep. As Shri Krishna elucidates in Gita 7.2, Vigyan is the profound experience of the divine, knowing which nothing further remains to be known. Vigyan is not merely an intellectual pursuit; it is a fire that purifies the sadhak, burning away ahankar (arrogance) and avidya (ignorance), rendering the jeev pure and luminous! / DAILY WORLD /

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com