Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study)
by Sadhu Gyanananddas | 2021 | 123,778 words
This page relates ‘Purpose of the Creation’ of the study on the Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam in Light of Swaminarayan Vachanamrut (Vacanamrita). His 18th-century teachings belong to Vedanta philosophy and were compiled as the Vacanamrita, revolving around the five ontological entities of Jiva, Ishvara, Maya, Aksharabrahman, and Parabrahman. Roughly 200 years later, Bhadreshdas composed a commentary (Bhasya) correlating the principles of Vachanamrut.
3.8.2. Purpose of the Creation
After the valid source of scriptural references and sharp arguments, it is now confirmed that the efficient and material cause of the entire universe is Parabrahman. Thus, the creation, development, and dissolution of the world is only due to Him.
Svāminārāyaṇa then enunciates the definite purpose of the world and how it is of benefit to others by firstly citing in the Vacanāmṛta—
“Therefore, Parabrahman created this universe for the sake of the jīvas’ liberation Parabrahman sustains it for the sake of the jīvas’ liberation. In fact, Parabrahman also causes its dissolution for the sake of the jīvas’ liberation.” (Vacanāmṛta Kāriyānī 1, p.251)
He also corroborated his perspective with the purāṇa, translating it thus:
“Parabrahman created the intellect, senses, mind and vital breaths of all people enable the jīvas to enjoy the sense-objects, to take birth, to transmigrate to other realms, and to attain liberation.”[1]
The Bhāṣyakāra also makes the same statement:
sruṣṭyudbhavakramo jñeyaḥ sahajānandavākyataḥ |
naikajīveśvarāṇāṃ hi mokṣāya sṛṣṭisarjanam || Svāminārāyaṇa Siddhāntasudhā Kārikā 286 ||“The order of the creation should be known from Svāminārāyaṇa himself. Parabrahman created this universe for the sake of the jīvas’ and īśvaras’ liberation.”
Svāminārāyaṇa explains that an intellect, senses, etc. are given by Parabrahman at the time of creation. At the time of dissolution, everything absorbed in māyā and māyā also rests in the one portion of Parabrahman.[2]
The Bhāṣyakāra reveals the purpose of the creation in the Prayojanatvaddhikāraṇam:
“paramadayāluḥ sakalajīveśvaroddidhīrṣuḥ paramātmā sahajānandopi sarveṣāmapavargāya kevalayā līlayā sahajameva pariśramaṃ vinaiva prasannātmā san jagadracane pravartate |” (Brahmasūtra 2/1/34, p.184)
“Out of his immense grace, Parabrahman created this universe for the liberation of all. In that process, he does not experience any type of burden but a great pleasure.”
What the Bhāṣyakāra indicates is that this world is not created by mere chance by Parabrahman.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Bhāgavata-purāṇa-10/87/2
[2]:
Vacanāmṛta Pancālā 1