Can God be ever described fully? Has anyone successfully explained a Mystical experience? Every religion tries to describe the indescribale Supreme being. In the end we have to agree that all these years God has been described in frail human ways alone and not in ITS real beingness. Today's world cannot understand nothingness, for it is too busy with technological advance. Here's Virasaivism which teaches us great truth.
Virasaivism or Lingayatism and its philosophy have a distinct place in the religious history of our country. Just as Buddha tried to revive Hinduism through Buddhism, Basavanna tried to renew Saivism into Virasaivism (Lingayatism).
Virasaivism is a sect of Saivism that is prominently present in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It originated in the 12th century through Basavanna, who was the PM at the court of King Bijjala in Kalyan (present Gulbarga of North Karnataka). King Bijjala was a Jain king, yet allowed Basavanna to give a prophetic revival to the existing Saivism. This development took place when Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism were trying to establish themselves.
Lingayatism has its roots in Kashmiri Saivism and has many aspects adopted from it. The Linga (Istalinga) is the most prominent characteristic of Lingayatism for they believe that God must is enthroned not only in the temples but also more importantly in their heart always. Basavanna used to gather his disciples at Anubhava Mantap to discuss spiritual matters. This very place gave rise to Virasaivism. Thus, Virasaivism at its core goes beyond caste barriers allowing anyone to be a follower of it. Allamaprabhu and Chennabasava are its two important saints.
The spiritual text of Lingayats is called Vacanas written in Sanskrit and Kannada. “Kayakave Kailasa" (Work is worship or Work is the abode of God) is the favourite inspirational quote of Basavanna.
What is Sunya?
Sunya = nothingness or zero or void. It represents God the primordial reality. Sunya also indicates space (Bayalu) – space of mind and body.Sunya originated to represent the highest reality. Number was the immediate symbol used by the people in explaining nature and functions performed by God. By then Yoga which was familiar to many and was also a technique based on numbers – Astanga (eight), Sadanga, Pancanga(five)etc.
Sunya is another word for zero. We must understand those times, because then number played a major role then to describe something that was special and beyond reach. Zero was adopted because it is both the biggest and the smallest of numbers. It has all and none. It is a transcendental number. Arithmetic figures explained the non-empirical and supra-reality.
Sunya (zero) was also symbolic because it was the expression of balance between positive and negative numbers (neutral). It also speaks of wholeness or completeness or perfection. It was the transcendental point of both dimensions of God. Sunya in Kashmiri Saivism is lower than highest reality, God. But in Virasaivism it is the absolute as with Buddhism. Just as Pythagoras tried to explain the universe using numbers, eastern mystics too believed in the expression through numbers. Greek philosophers describe it as air and water, but eastern mysticism goes beyond senses and reason into transcendental reality experience.
Sampadane = spiritual gain or enlightenment.
In total Sunya Sampadane is the philosophy which helps us to attain spiritual unity with God.
Philosphy of Virasaivism:
For a Virasaivite 3 things are most important. It sums up their philosophy.
1. Satsthala (6 steps in the path to God or Sunya or Salvation).It is fundamental for the attainment of Sunya Sampadane.
2. Pancacara (5 goals of Virasaivism) – Lingacara (dedication to shiva), Sadacara (good deeds), Shivacara (purity of things), Gunacara(following precepts) and Brthyacara (respect for life and equality).
3. Astavarana (8 principles of spiritual life) – Guru, Linga, Jangama, Vibhuti (ash), Rudraksi and Mantra.
Method of attainment of Sunya:
Lingashakti within us is the fundamental ideal of Sunya Sampadane.
Satsthala philosophy is part of this attainment. There are different stages.
1. Bhakti – one needs to have a strong desire for God knowing who he/she is.
2. Mahesha – God gives qualities of patience and endurance as benefits.
3. Prasadi – relishing of benefits.
4. Pranalinga – imbibing the benefits and breathing the breath of God by going beyond the desires of body and flesh.
5. Sarana –Surrender born out of sacrifice.
6. Ikya – Ultimate union (Anga with Linga).
Saivism, Shaktism and Virasaivism are allied religions. Virasaivism makes a clear distinction between the other two. If Tantrism speaks of awakening in terms Kundalini, Virasaivism speaks of Lingasakti in us at the centre of our being that needs to be awakenedA number of Shivayogis have stressed the practice of Yoga as the possible path for this. The final stage (Ikya) is where the mind rests in the blank state. A Saivite believes in this journey from Nissabda (non-word) to Sabda (Word or God) through Bhakti marga.
Existentialism spoke of ‘being-in-the-world’ which was based on reason but Virasaivism believes in experience. It is the grasp from ' within' which helps to understand the deeper experience of humans (Anubhava). To understand Sunya (nothingness) we need to understand Nissabda (supreme nothingness) and Sabda (supreme Word – God). Virasaivism like Kashmiri Saivism believes in self-consciousness and self-experience. Nirvana (eternal happiness or salvation) is possible when we move from Nissabda (silence) to Sabda (God). Here God is the eternal word. It is similar to what Bible says “the word was with God and the word was God.” Therefore God is Sabda.
According to mystics, senses do not give us the correct view of reality. In Sunya Sampadane we reach a stage where we cannot understand or explain reality. It is a new realization. That is why Buddha rightly kept silent about his mystical experience. Several mystics over the years have said “If one tries to describe this experience one will lose the fruit of it. It is wise to remain silent.” Mystical experience is utter silence and pure consciousness i.e. Sunya. Pantanjali described it as ripples on the pond. Sabda (Word) is through uncreated principle with which we are able to enter the reality – God. The Koran says "Word is power." The bible says “In the beginning was the the word …” Sunya can be reached only when the devotee (Anga) and God (Linga) vanish in the union of both. Ultimately, Sunya, Sabda and Linga try to explain the same concept of God. When pure consciousness is reached everything will return back to Siva.
For example: When a tree is burnt it returns back to its original components or basic elements. The basic elementary things here represent Sunya or Nissabda. Sabda is that which is responsible for its existence.
In the case of Human beings, the eye which is the evolute of Agni (Fire) will return to Sivalinga.The nose, the evolute of Prithvi (Earth) will return to Acryalinga.
The tongue, evolute of Jalam (Water) will return to Gurulinga.The touch evolute of Vayu (water) will return to Jangamalinga.The ear evolute of Akash (Space) will return to Prasadalinga.Our whole being will return to God and will be one.
Conclusion:
Mystical experience is not the silence of the sarana (devotee/saint), rather it is the silence of the mind of the devotee. Prophet Mohammad, Valmiki, St. John of the Cross, St Teresa of Avila, Buddha and many other sages found it difficult to describe their mystical experience. Allamaprabhu said “My word was sweet to his (God's) ear and his to mine. The word of both of us became one. Therefore silence and no word penetrate into each of us.”
In Virasaivism ones life experience depends on ones ability to move from Nissabda to Sabda from Nissunya to Sunya. In today’s world, in general, people fail to find time for silence (Nissabda). There is no one even dreaming to think of reaching Sunya because today we live in a sophisticated world of development and technology. Some find no time for mass on sundays or worship at temples. Even the Church authorities have not fully realized that practicing the Eastern form of prayer is fruitful than the Western form of mental prayer.
If we can just find time to be still and know that there is one who is above us all, it will be the greatest achievement for an ordinary individual. This is in line with contemplative prayer that is becoming popular today among a few religious circles. The following words of Basavanna, “Let us be SIVAYOGI. When I am SILENT, there remains no other to talk as I am inherent in God. There is no "I "and YOU”. This means we will ultimately be one with Siva. All this still gives me hope of enriching my own spirituality.
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