Report
Shri Shankar Shankar Shikshayatan organized the seventh seminar in the series of vedic discussions on Pandit Madhusudan Ojha’s Sharirikavimarsha on October 31. 2023. Sharirikavimarsha has 16 chapters. The present seminar focused on the 14th chapter.
The seminar was chaired by Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla, Centre of Sanskrit and Oriental Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Coordinator, Shri Shankar Shikshayatan.
The main speakers at the seminar, besides Prof. Shukla, were Prof. Bhagwat Sharan Shukla, former Head of The Department, Department of Grammar, Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vigyan, Kashi Hindu University, Varanasi, Dr. T.V. Raghavacharyulu, Acharya, Department of Agama, Rashtriya Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Tirupati, Dr. Rajiv Lochan Sharma, Head of Department, Department of Nyaya, Kumar Bhaskar Verma Sanskrit University, Assam and Dr. Raghu B. Raj, Assistant Acharya, Department of Advaitavedanta, Central Sanskrit University, Ved Vyas Campus, Himachal Pradesh.
Sharirikavimarsha has presented vivid explanations of different learned men on Creation. They have offered different causes for creation.
In the 14th chapter, the focus is on atma tatva. According to the Vedanta philosophy, the Atma Tattva is a special element from east-west, not limited by numbers, always in unlimited form, with emotional matter, the treasure of the whole forces, the unbroken soul, the Supreme God. This is the essence of the soul.
According to Sankhya philosophy, the soul is attained: When the non-special element is possessed by the power of Maya and is covered by the force of Maya, then it becomes a special purusha. These purusha are of three types – Maheshwara, Ishwara and Jeeva.
According to Yoga philosophy, the essence that is devoid of suffering, karma, and desire for karma is called Ishwar. He is known as Avyayapurusha. In this philosophy too, Ishwar and Jeeva are the two main elements.
According to Vedanta philosophy, the special element is nirguna. Here it is being considered from the point of view of virtue. Therefore, vedanta philosophy has been used twice. There are two distinctions of the purusha element with visible form – Ishwar and Jeeva. Then there are two distinctions of Jeeva, Brahma and Atma.
According to Sankhya philosophy, purusha element is atma.There are different kinds of purusha. All jeevas are not born at the same time, nor do they die at the same time. Thus jeevas are distinct. The Sankhya viewpoint has been mentioned here twice–one to establish the identity of purusha and another to prove its distinctness.
According to Bhagavatdarshan, the Vishnu element is supreme. This Vishnu is known as Prajapati. Vishnu, along with prakriti, is the basic element of atma. Shiva is also portrayed as atma tatva; Shiva represents agni and soma.
According to Charvakadarsha, Viratprajapati is atma.
In his address, Prof. Bhagwat Sharan Shukla said that in the 14th chapter of Sharirikavimarsha, only the principle of Ishwar has been considered in the light of Nyaya Kusumanjali. He said all philosophers have interpreted the same principle even while presenting Ishwar in different forms.
Pro. T.V. Raghavacharyulu said that Nirvishesh Upanishad can be called pure consciousness. Dr. Rajiv Lochan Sharma while explaining this episode stressed on purusha, the main argument of Sankhya darshan. The person who dwells in the body is called a purusha. The same man is Maheshwar, Ishwar and Jeeva.
Dr. Raghu B. Raj said that the element which has no adjective is unique. The same subject is also described in Vedanta as Shuddha Chaitanya, Ishwar Chaitanya and Jeeva Chaitanya.
In the presidential address, Prof. Santosh Kumar Shukla said that all philosophers have accepted the existence of atma but have differed in their views on the nature of atma. Pt. Ojhaji has presented the views of all philosophers here. An indication of this is found at the end of the book. There is a difference of view based on the five entities of the soul. In fact, the soul is one.
The program was conducted by Shri Shankar Shikshayatan’s Dr. Laxmikant Vimal and Dr. Mani Shankar Dwivedi. Professors and research scholars from various universities, colleges and other educational institutions of the country made this seminar successful by their participation.