...There three specific ways prescribed to attain Moksha, Gyan Marg, Karma Marg and Bhakti Marg.
In Gyan Marg which is the knowledge path to salvation, a man can achieve Moksha by gaining the knowledge that the soul and Nirguna Bruhm are non-different to each other as told in non-dualism or Advaitvad. There is no need to die to achieve Moksha and there will be no next birth. This kind of Moksha is available only to Bruhm Gyanis who can only belong to three threaded Varnas. Shudras are not eligible for achieving Moksha in this way.
In Karma Marg (or path of action) which is propagated in world renowned Gita, a man can achieve Moksha by following the Karma related to his Varna which is known there as Swa-dharma. Here all the Varnas are eligible for achieving Moksha provided they follow swa-dharma. The untouchables are not included. Here somebody is allowed Moksha because following Swa-Varna-dharma-Karma is following divinely ordained order of the society. Therefore anybody following God’s desired social order is helping the God in his work. This makes him eligible to attain Moksha. However a Shudra who is desirous of raising his standard of living by leaving his Varna dharma and following the dharma of higher Varna is not eligible for Moksha. For example a potter cannot achieve Moksha by studying Vedas; only a Brahman can achieve Moksha by studying Vedas. All the Shudras have to stick to their heredity profession.
In Bhakti Marg or path of devotion to attain Moksha, a devotee is eligible to attain Moksha through intense devotion. This follows from Saguna Bruhm School. Lord Vishnu represents Saguna Bruhm in this world and can grant Moksha to a devotee if pleased with his devotion. The Bhakti movement had Gurus from various castes. Incidentally the followers of each Guru usually came from the caste equivalent to him or from the castes lower down the scale. It is difficult to find the followers of a Guru who belong to higher Varna than him. It would have been totally adharmic subordination that goes contrary to Varna dharma. Varna dharma appears everywhere. None of the untouchable saints of Bhakti movement were eligible to enter any of the temples; the practice of untouchability continued with the spread of spirituality....
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
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