Essay name: Srikara Bhashya (commentary)
Author: C. Hayavadana Rao
The Srikara Bhashya, authored by Sripati Panditacharya in the 15th century, presents a comprehensive commentary on the Vedanta-Sutras of Badarayana (also known as the Brahmasutra). These pages represent the introduction portion of the publication by C. Hayavadana Rao.
Page 326 of: Srikara Bhashya (commentary)
326 (of 953)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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INTRODUCTION 265 (trikaranai岣�). This done, he will attain mukti. This is the
V膿dic method; and there is no other method (of obtaining
mukti). For it is said:-A great man (mah膩tma) thinks of
the same (thing) in his word, mind and action in the same way.
So, those who offer sacrifice in their minds (m膩nasa
yagna) without being duly initiated, and without wearing on
their body the linga externally, derive no benefit from it,
for such m茫nasa yagna (without the contact of the linga)
will not have freed them from the three-fold sins of the body
(malatraya dhvams膩bh膩v膩chcha). Just as the previously
initiated person only is qualified to chant the Vedas and to
perform the Sandhy膩vandana every morning, so according to
the Sastras he who wears the linga on his (external) body
is alone entitled to Sivadhyana and Sivagnana (i.c., medita-
ting on Siva and acquiring full knowledge of Him).
Just as fire is necessary to prepare food, so the
external wearing of the linga (b膩hy膩ngasya linga-dh膩ra峁嘺)
is absolutely necessary to enable one to internally meditate
on Siva (antar dhyana). If such a procedure is not adopted,
the previously quoted authorities-Sruti, Smriti, Agama
and Pur膩峁嘺s-will be of no use and everything will be un-
V膿dic (V膿da b盲hyatva prasang膩t). For it is declared
by Manu, Gautama and other Smriti writers that he is a
dhy膩na y艒gi, who during meditation is found to possess on
his body the Sivalinga (Sivaling膩nga-samyuta岣�) and who
repeats the mantra by his mouth, who meditates in his
mind, who wears on his external body-i.e., on his head-the
linga, who puts on the necklace of Rudraksha and holy
ashes and who keeps his tuft of hair (艣ikha) on his head-
for these are the characteristics of a twice-born person (膿t膩d
Br膩hma峁嘺 lakshanam). This procedure-of wearing the
linga is one in accordance with V膿dic requirements and
hence is not opposed to the V膿da. It is stated: M艒ksha-
michch膿t Janardan膩t iti.鹿潞潞
102 This is from the Skanda Pur膩峁嘺 and the full text is as follows:-
Aham bh艒gaprad艒 vatsa m艒ksnadastu Jan膩rdana岣�, which may be
thus translated: Dear boy, I can give every felicity in life, but
as for moksha you should go to Janardana.
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