Query:
I wish to know more about Videha Shetra?
Vijay
Kumar:
The term
Videha Shetra corresponds to a region in space from where one can gain enlightenment
even during the Kali Yuga (as detailed in the scriptures of Jainism). I repeat
as explained in various scriptures of Hinduism and Jainism... in the present Kali
Yuga persons desirous of gaining emancipation and finally moksha salvation need
to enter Videha Shetra.
The scriptures clearly prescribe that during the present Pancham Kaal it is not
possible for one to gain emancipation and finally salvation moksha directly. The
only remedy is to enter the Videha Shetra from where multitudes of atmans (souls)
are gaining enlightenment every moment... the prime reason why videha shetra is
given great importance in Indology.
The
above surmise is based on whatever the scriptures say. To assimilate the inner
meaning of scriptures... higher levels of mental powers needs to be exercised.
Only then can one truly understand the meaning of Videha Shetra.
The meaning of Videha Shetra becomes clear after reaching the state of Nirvikalpa
Samadhi... never before! It is only when one gains control of all the five senses
and the mind... the concept of videha shetra becomes clear.
Trying
to understand the meaning of Videha Shetra... we need to first understand the
meaning of Videha. By Videha we mean negating the presence of a body... something
bare... and this bare thing in the Spiritual domain can only be our atman the
soul within. A Jiva (living being) without a body reduces to the state of an atman
the soul within.
If we need to enter the videha shetra... we need to cast aside the body! And how
can the body be cast aside? It is only possible when one realizes God... gains
enlightenment. It is this stage of emancipation when atman the soul within becomes
active and the body... the physical self loses its meaning. This happens only
after one gains enlightenment. The moment our atman the soul within gains enlightenment...
in other words becomes free from the cycle of various manifestations... the circle
of life and death ceases to exist... our atman the soul within becomes free of
the bondage from manifesting a body.
Our atman the soul within having become detached from the body mentally... one
crosses the threshold of bodily life... the physical aspect of the self. A stage...
when our atman soul enters the videha stage of life... meaning the physical body
has lost its meaning! One finally crosses the threshold of various manifestations
to the glorious original form of the self... the purified atman soul state.
Videha Shetra is not
a sacred space in the cosmos but it is only a concept that is best understood
after realizing God. It has to be experienced before one truly realizes the meaning
of videha shetra. Videha meaning... something devoid of deha (in hinduism deha
stands for the body)! Having transcended the bodily form of life, any soul that
becomes enlightened enters videha shetra.
King Janaka is the only example in history of mankind who continued with the affairs
of his kingdom inspite of having realized God (gained enlightenment) . He did
not leave his bodily form... yet he was far away from it. He carried out the affairs
of his kingdom with a detached attitude... the path undertaken by a true nishkama
Karma Yogi. One truly can work with a detached attitude having gained emancipation
(becoming free forever from any type of bodily attachments).
Reaching the stage of Videha Shetra... it is difficult for one to even recognize
his wife, children, relatives and friends for all Jivas (living beings) living
on Mother Earth become one for him. Having gained enlightenment it is but not
possible for one to distinguish one from another. For a God realised soul all
become children of God. King Janaka's daughter Sita who was married to King Rama
was also known as Vaidehi... one belonging to the Videha Shetra! As her father
King Janaka in his lifetime entered the domain of Videha Shetra... she came to
be known as Vaidehi.
There are many references
in Bhagavad Gita and various
Upanishads but most references are indirect. Having explained the meaning
behind the word Videha... it would now be possible for you to search for references
in Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads. I shall shortly start writing a commentary on
Bhagavad Gita which shall be available on the following web site gradually (it
would take approximately a period of two years minimum for putting forth a commentary
on all the 700 shlokas contained in the Bhagavad
Gita)
The moment
I come across passages relating to Videha Shetra... I shall revert back.
I want to make one
thing clear... people searching for Videha Shetra in the physical realm of life
live in an illusion of their making. Such people never understand the real meaning
behind Spirituality...
Always immersed in rituals that carry no meaning in the present scientific age.
Rituals were required in the time of Vedas. The moment Lord
Krishna precipitated all the four Vedas and presented them to the society
in form of Bhagavad Gita... the purpose of rituals ceased to exist.
In the present scientific
age what purpose conducting rituals. We have only three alternatives in the present
spiritual pursuit of life... either we follow the path of karma yoga, bhakti yoga
or jnana yoga. Anything beyond is not least necessary. It is a different matter
that on the path of jnana yoga one need practice celibacy to its extreme... Only
then one realizes God and finally salvation moksha.
Any
further clarification desired is welcome.
Always
there to clarify your queries (send
your query),
Vijay
Kumar "Atma
Jnani"
Vijay Kumar... The Man who Realized God in 1993 on Videha Shetra.
For more details on videha shetra transcending the bodily self videha visit -
videha
shetra. Send
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Full text of query:
I wish to know more about Videha Shetra, are there any references in the Hindu
scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita or Upanishads or even the Tirumantiram that
refers to the need or means to attain such a place?
