4. Jnana Yoga: The Path of Knowledge

Jnana Yoga begins as an intellectual enquiry into the nature of one’s reality. It requires a strong and powerful will. It begins by negating everything else (not-self), to intuitively experience finally the Reality, the Self. A realized Jnani sees the self in all and all in self. For him, he himself is the Spirit, all the world and all the beings are but Spirit alone, and none and nothing else is apart from Self/God

These different paths are meant to suit the varying mental / psychological make-up of different people. For one with active temperament, Karma Yoga is better suited; for an emotional man, the Bhakti Yoga is better suited; and for one with a highly rational temperament, Jnana Yoga will be better suited, for one with both emotional and intellectual temperament, Raja Yoga is better suited. In their ultimate reaches however, all the Yogas converge together and lead to one and the same goal-to the state of same Divine consciousness and, Self, Awareness. During the intermediate stage, i.e., until one has not attained to the ultimate state, there could be some misconceptions that one Yoga is superior to the other, etc., But in the ultimate stage, a Karma Yogi is as much a Bhakta and is also as much a Jnani, and vice versa.

Jnana Yoga Story:

This is a story again centered on Nama Deva. Nama Deva was a very great devotee of Vithal. The Vithal idol of the Pandharpur temple used to talk to him; it used to even accept food offered by him. He had a gifted voice and was a brilliant composer of Kirtans. He used to charm everybody by his singing.

During his time there were many other great devotees of Lord Vithal, Sawta Mali (gardener), Janabai, the servant-maid, Narahari Sonar the Goldsmith, sena the Barber, Chokha Mela of the low caste, Gora the potter, and the three brothers and one sister, viz., Nivrittinath, Jnaneswar, Sopandev and Muktabai. Once they had all a chance meeting. As Namdev was approaching, all rose up to greet him as an indication of their respect ot Namdeva, spoken by everyone as the most favourite devotee of Lord Vithal. The young Muktabai however did not get up and remained as if Namdeva was just a persona non-grata. Jnanadev felt bad and embarrassed, and admonished her for her indiscreet behavior and for not showing respect to such a Mahabhakta as Namadev. Mukta said “Namdev is just a kaccha.. a raw person.. and still very much unbaked”. Her impertinence annoyed the brothers. She said “If what I say is not correct, let uncle Gora test and give the verdict”. Gora the potter, was asked to give his verdict on the spiritual stature of each one of those assembled there. Gora went on tapping the head of each one of them with his fingers, just the way he tests the pots to see whether they are baked properly or not. Everyone there, he said, was fully baked, fully blossomed and ripened, spritiually, excepting one and that was Namadev, although he happened to be the most favourite Bhakta of Lord Vithal. Mukta’s indifference and assessment was vindicated!.

Namdev felt a great sense of shock and frustration. When Gora says that he is not still ripe, it must be true, his is most infallible judgement. Namdev rushes to the Vithal Mandir. He prays sobbing to the Lord.. to show him the way. Vithal tells him, ‘you go to Visoba Khechar of afar away village and learn from him spiritual wisdom’. Namdev sets out to meet Visoba. As he entered the village, on enquring he was told, ‘that Visoba must be lying asleep somewhere in the temple. As he enters the temple to what he sees! He saw a very old haggard lying asleep with his feet outstretched and resting on the holy Sivalinga! Namdev felt aghast. What a bhasphemy! And to this ignorant fool, Vithal directed him! God is also fooling him like the arrogant and conceited girl Mukta! He shakes up the old man, angrily shouting, “Don’t you know where you are keeping your feet? Don’t you have any other place to rest you legs than the seat of God?” The old man, slowly and in it feeble voice says, “I am sorry, you see I can’t even properly see. I am so weak and I can’t move my legs. I request you to please help and move my legs away from the Sivalinga”. Namdev, in annoyance and anger, pulls aside the old man’s legs from the Sivalinga Lo! The Sivalinga also moves as if it is welded to the feet of Visoba… Namdev was dumbfounded.

Knowledge and wisdom lashed on Namdev. Vithal is not convined to, the temple of Pandharpur. Where is the spot in this all expansive; which is not his seat? That is Jnana, to see God (Self) in all and everywhere and all in the Self, i.e., God