Anonymous: After a recent Yajyen held at Haridwar, Swamiji asked the attendees to raise any questions or doubt. One of the disciples raised the following question to Swamiji:
What are different kinds of sharirs?
Swamiji gave the answer that is being posted on the website for the knowledge of all concerned.
Swami Ram Swarup: There are three shareers: Sthool which is panchbhautik and is seen by eyes, suksham wherein five prann (vital airs), five gyan indriyan (organs of sense), five suksham bhoot, mann and buddhi exist. This shareer (body) remains with the soul during birth and death. It has two kinds- Bhautik i.e., which is made of part of suksham (the minutest, the subtlest) bhoot. Second is called swabhavik shareer (natural body). Natural body remains with soul while attaining salvation.
In Shatpath Brahmin, kand 14, the following natural qualities/power of the soul have been mentioned:-
Shrinvan Shrotam Bhavti, Sparshyan Tvagbhavti, Pashyan Chakshurbhavti, Rasyan rasna Bhavti, Jighran Ghrannam Bhavti, manvaano mano bhavti, Bodhyan Buddhirbhavti, Chetyanshchittam, Bhavatyahang Kurvanno Ahankaro Bhavti.
Meaning: During the salvation the soul has its satya sankalp-swabhavik gunn (natural, pure qualities). That is, when he wants to listen then becomes ear i.e., uses sankalp ichchamatra shareer (ear); if he wants to touch then skin; if wants to see then eye; if wants to taste then tongue, for smell nose; for sankalp-vikalp (thoughts) then mann; to decide uses buddhi; to remember chitta and to use ahankar (feeling of individuality) then uses natural power of ahankar.
Through the said natural body, the soul enjoys divine pleasure, remaining along with Almighty God. So, my dear son, you had put the question about shareer (body) and not the natural qualities of soul by which the soul experiences the divine pleasure during salvation. I remember, the above qualities have already been described by me on internet and in books, long time back.
When the soul does not attain salvation then the soul has the three bodies – sthool, suksham and karann and suksham shareer always remain with the soul, until soul gets salvation. Till the time the soul does not attain salvation, then soul has to face the result of deeds- good and bad, in the shape of happiness and sorrows respectively. Soul only becomes free to face the result of deeds when soul attains salvation.
Four Vedas and shastras have already declared the truth that God manifests in the heart of yogi. Yajurveda mantra 37/2 states that a yogi indulges his mann-buddhi within God. Yajurveda mantra 40/7 states “Ekatvamanupashyataha” i.e., the yogi who has done the hard practice of Ashtang yoga in a right way under the guidance of his acharya (Ashtang Yogi) he attains Samadhi and realises God. Idea of Yajurveda mantra 17/14 is that a Yogi in reality knows the Almighty God.
Yes, the mukta soul actually uses the natural body explained above but as stated in Atharvaveda mantra 9/10/11, they also attain suksham and sthool body. Then come and sit like Sri Krishna Maharaj who at his own accord i.e., own thought took birth and got suksham and sthool body.
Suksham sharir has five suksham prann, five suksham indriyan and five suksham bhoot.
Swamiji also told that mukt aatamayen (souls who have attained salvation) come in suksham sharir (minutest and subtlest bodies). The suksham sharir (minutest body) are of two kinds: bhautik (made of prakriti) and second are swabhavik (natural body).
Anshul: I am from Haridwar. How will be my future?
Swami Ram Swarup: Future is based on pious deeds, hard working towards a right path and God helps those who help themselves. It depends on your hard working and pious deeds. One should worship God daily to get His blessings in every matter. Good job, education, richness, happiness etc., is the result of previous life’s pious deeds and present life’s hard working, dedication, devotion, hardworking, honesty etc. And in this life one should always also do real worship of God to finish the obstacles if any which may be due to previous life’s bad deeds. So worship is always required along with hard working, devotion, dedication towards right path to get progress in the life.
Rashmi: Panchmukhi hanumanji ki photo kis disha mein lagayee jaati hai?
Swami Ram Swarup: You may install moorti of Hanumanji consulting a pujari of temple or a Purohit but in this regard, I paste my answer.
You can place photo facing sunrise also. However, I would like to preach you about the eternal Vedas’ knowledge which emanates direct from God. In Vedas, there is only one God to be worshipped, who is formless, omnipresent, omniscient, creates, nurses and destroys the universe. My article on this matter is appended below-
God is formless
Being formless there is no need of statue or temple of God according to Vedas. As a matter of fact, you, I or every human being, lives in a body. Body is separate, we are called souls. Vedas say soul has no form even. Then also we know each other. For example even if you have not seen the photograph of King Akbar then, you can know Akbar by means of the study of his qualities. So is the case with the God. If an aspirant really goes to his Guru and listens Vedas like Shri Ram, and ancient kings and their public then he will be able to know hundred percent about formless God. Then comes realization for which Vedas (especially Samveda) says that he who performs Yajna, does jaap (according to Vedas) and practises Ashtang Yoga Philosophy while remaining in family like Shri Ram etc., he sure realizes, being eternal law.
If we will meditate concentrating outside our body which is also against Vedas/Ashtang Yoga Philosophy, then our attention will always naturally remain outside i.e., attached with outer world i.e., decoration/music/dances etc. In that case subject matter of God will be over. It will be converted into spending fun, doing dances and singing attractive songs by ladies and gents, which is totally against Vedas. Thus the chapter of praising God, True Acharya, Rishi-Munis, performing Yajyen, practice of Ashtang Yoga, eternal knowledge of Vedas etc., will be over.
It is also baseless to say that study of Vedas and practice of yoga philosophy is difficult. It is self made story because Vedas are also called Shruti i.e., Vedas are to be listened first and not to be studied. So to listen to the Vedas, a learned Acharya is needed. The Acharya will explain the Ved mantras in the Yajna in your own language i.e., in English or Urdu etc., and for an aspirant to do asan, pranayaam, meditation etc., is also not difficult. It is all difficult for those human beings, including present false prophets, (who are against the Vedas), who are lazy, can’t awake early in the morning to listen Vedas and fail to do practice of yoga philosophy. Those people are always after money, materialistic articles and pomp and show etc.
Vedas are not written or spoken by God. This knowledge is emanated from God and is originated in the heart of four Rishis as stated above. God is Almighty i.e., He has all powers. So He needs no assistance to do universal deeds. In human body alive soul resides and soul is dependent, soul requires mouth to speak, eye to see, hand to write etc., etc. but not God. From His power God originates the knowledge of Vedas in the rishis without writing, or speaking etc. Vedas’ knowledge is divine. The fundamental of the Vedas is this that it was not written or spoken. The knowledge by the power of God was originated about one Arab 96 crore, 8 lakh and 53 000 years ago. Then first time the four rishis of unsexual creation started pronunciation of the mantras by the power of God. God wanted them to know word meanings and senses of the mantras and therefore the rishis knew all. Then first time the four rishis started pronunciation of the mantras. They taught the
mantras to other ignorant people. Then another rishis were produced who knew the Vedas by heart by listening only. There was no paper, ink or pen there. The Vedas were being learnt by mouth to mouth and traditionally this process is yet in force. But mostly not by heart but taking help of the printed book. So printed books are not called Vedas but these are called samhita.
Samhita means the collection of Ved mantras. Therefore Present printed books cannot be considered as Vedas and will never be in future, but samhita. Kapil Muni throws light on this point in his Sankhya Shastra 5/48 that when a rishi does tapsya in the shape of Yajyen, study of Vedas, practice of Ashtang Yoga then the Ved mantras still (now also) originate in heart of the Rishi and the rishi pronounces the mantras. Those mantras are called Vedas, which emanate from God. So Vedas must first be listened (study) from alive Acharya (Guru who knows Vedas). Then only Samhita (books of Vedas) can help.
Reason for idol worshiping
The God’s worship is in Vedas which emanate direct from God, wherein idol worship is not mentioned. I have previously quoted several examples that idol worship is not required. For-example you know me and I also know you, we both reside in bodies, being souls and souls are also shapeless. So we know each other, but how? Only on the basis of qualities and not on the basis of statue/photos etc. If you or I will try hard then we can also meet together. This is worldly example even.
So on the basis of the qualities of the God, as mentioned in Vedas, God is known and when an aspirant follows/obeys the path of Vedas i.e., worship, Ashtang yoga practice, listening of Vedas, Yajyen etc., under guidance of an acharya, then he attains samadhi i.e., realizes God too. So, as per Vedas, no need of idol worship.
If someone believes that God is everywhere then why does he avoid wine, smoking, theft, etc., etc. inside the temple and does outside? Actually realization is subject of deep study of Vedas and to observe thereon. Sagunn means with eternal qualities mentioned in Ved mantras because the meaning of Sa+Gunn means ‘with qualities’. So God has unlimited qualities like formless, omnipresent, etc., etc. and nirakar means shapeless. One can not break the rules and regulations of God mentioned in Vedas. Vedas are self-proof and cannot be denied.
As regards Brahma, Vishhnu , Mahesh my article regarding the same is appended below.
In Yajurveda it is stated —
“VISHNUHU (omnipresent God) PARMAM (the supreme) PADAM (stage) SADA (always) PASHYANTI (see) SURYOHO (yogi)”.
Meaning: – The Yogi who studies Vedas and does hard practice of ashtang Yoga Philosophy and as a result attain Dharm megh Samadhi, he only sees i.e., realises God.
Vishnu means –Omnipresent God. There are unlimited qualities of God and accordingly there are unlimited names of formless, God who creates, nurses and destroys the universe.
For example- Vishnu is the name of Almighty God containing the quality of being omnipresent. Brahm/Brahmaa is also the name of formless God containing the quality of being supreme i.e., there is no one even equivalent to God.
Mahesh is the name of formless God who contains the quality of being supreme, the creator.
Om:- is the name of God containing the unlimited qualities, one of which is He is the saviour of entire universe and so on.
Therefore God is one but His names are unlimited as stated above.
In Rigveda mantra 1/22/18, it is stated “VISHNNUHU TRINNI PADANI VICHAKRAME” i.e., (VISHNNU) God who is omnipresent (TRINNI) three (PADANI) matters or behaviour i.e., three types of matters or behaviour – first, which are known, second — to be known and third — which are achievable. (VICHAKRAME) holds.
Idea is that God creates the universe and in the universe, He creates several matters for the benefit of human-beings. Human-beings must know the matters and get the same for beneficial use. I mean to say that there may not be such three footsteps of Almighty God. There are unlimited names of God based on His divine unlimited qualities as is also stated in Rigveda mantra 1/164/46.
In the above Rigveda mantra, His name is quoted ‘Vishnu’. The meaning of pious word “VISHNU” is Vishlari Vyaptau Vishnu i.e., omnipresent. You know, omnipresent means, there is not even a minutest place in the universe where God does not reside. That is why, He is omnipresent. Secondly, the God is formless. Then from where the three footsteps came when God is omnipresent. He being formless, God doesnot have any foot etc. We will have to follow the path of eternal knowledge of Vedas which emanates direct from God and must not follow the self-created path of human-beings.
