A: We learn from the Brahma Soothra (Chapter relating to ‘paraayatha’) that the Supreme Lord provides freedom of action to the individual soul in his maiden attempt. The individual soul, by making use of the initial freedom may choose to attain the lower state of moksha of experiencing his own soul called ‘kaivalya’ and resorts to one of the austerities required for such an achievement. As soon as the individual soul completes the exercise of austerities meant for ‘kaivalya’, the Lord accords the individual soul the desired fruit. Since ‘kaivalya’ is also a kind of moksha, the Lord relieves the individual of the effects of all karma and helps his enlightenment (knowledge) to expand and spread throughout. However, as sought by the individual soul, the Lord gives exactly what has been sought, i.e. the state of enjoying his own self (soul). The individual, who seeks ‘parama moksha’ and resorts to the appropriate discipline of leaving everything, including the means of attainment to the Lord Himself (‘a prapanna’), is relieved of the effects of all karma, and after causing his enlightenment to expand everywhere he is accorded ‘parama moksha’. The choice of the means makes a great difference. The effort of the self as against the effort of the Lord!
The Q&A of the day is an excerpt from "Two-fold Vedic Vision", a Sri Vaishnavite handbook based on Sri Sudarsanar’s 1008 Catechisms in Tamil written by Sri. Kidambi Sridharan. The collection contains invaluable information on the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Ithihasas, the lives of Alwars, Acharyas from Sriman Nathamunigal to Sri Manavala Mamuni, the 108 Divya Desams and answers to various other related questions. This book is available for kindle in e-book format for purchase on Amazon.
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