JIVANMUKTI VIVEKA: Part 1: Post-2. Swami Guru Bhaktananda.

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Wednesday 20,October 2025. 20:50.
JIVANMUKTI VIVEKA: Part 1: Pramana Prakarana: “The Evidence of Liberation” : IN 5 PARTS: THE ENQUIRY INTO LIBERATION 
Swami Guru Bhaktananda'
INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW OF THE WHOLE BOOK 
Post-2.

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The State of the Jivanmukta: 

In the Geeta, at various points along the way – in Chapters 2, 12, 14 and others – we have important pieces that conclude a particular teaching. They describe how the Jnani has  perfected those teachings. Sri Vidyaranya has expanded on the significance of these pieces. He also felt that certain statements in the Geeta needed clarification, especially in terms of the state of the Jivanmukta. For example, references are made to killing in the war  situation that Arjuna finds himself. Vidyaranya expresses what it exactly means to be liberated. How does one know that he is liberated? What are the signs of actual Jivanmukti? In many texts, it is described that the Jivanmukta can do “as he likes”. What does this really mean? To explain these points, the Jivanmukti Viveka was written.

Comparison Between Panchadasi & Jivanmukti Viveka:

In the Panchadasi, Vidyaranya presents “Tattwa Jnana”, the knowledge of the Self. In Jivanmukti Viveka, he focuses on the Phala or fruit of Tattwa Jnana, which is Jivanmukti.  Thus, the former book is the Sesha and the latter book the Seshee (or Seshin). There is a  Sesha-Seshee Bhava between the two texts. Sesha is a ‘part’ and Seshee is the ‘whole’.  Sesha is a limb and Seshee is the entire body. Since the two texts are related in this way, some analysts consider them to form one Prakarana text in itself. They regard it as being one book, and have given it the name  “Shodasha Prakarana”, a compilation of sixteen texts. 

The Arrangement of Jivanmukti Viveka :

There are five ‘Chapters’ in the book, which have been called Parts in this book, to avoid confusion with the Chapters into which each Part is sub-divided. 

The five Parts are: 

Part 1.   Pramana Prakarana   – Evidence of Jivanmukti. 

Part 2.   Vasana Kshaya Prakarana   

Part 3.   Manonasha Prakarana   – Effacement of Latent Impressions. – Dissolution of the Mind. 

Part 4.   Swarupa Siddhi Prayojana Prakarana – Purposes of Attaining Jivanmukti. 

Part 5.   Vidvat Sannyasa Prakarana   – Renunciation of the Knower. 

These five Prakaranas or Parts are now described in brief: 

Part 1. 

Pramana Prakarana – Is there a thing such as Jivanmukti? This is the basic  question answered in this Part. Yes, there is definitely a state of Jivanmukti that can be attained. Not all schools of philosophy accept Jivanmukti as the goal of life. Most schools find it hard to imagine a goal such as Jivanmukti. It is only Vedanta that considers the goal to be nothing short of absolute union with the Supreme Reality. 

Can one really be liberated when the body is still there? While undergoing the  experiences of joy and sorrow, how is it possible to be liberated? Is Jivanmukti just a transcending of the states of joy and sorrow? Does one simply brush aside joy and sorrow as being non-existent? Vidyaranya takes great pains to explain that Jivanmukti is a state of freedom from all the defects of worldly life. All the proofs that convince us about the state of Jivanmukti are brought out by Sri Vidyaranya.

Care is taken to differentiate between Jivanmukti and Videhamukti. The former is attained while living, and is the liberation attained through Vidvat Sannyasa. The latter is attained when the body falls off, and is the liberation attained through Vividisha Sannyasa.  These two types of Sannyasa form the heart of the discussion in this Part. Sage Yajnavalkya is presented as an example of the former. 

Part 2. 

Vasana Kshaya Prakarana – What are the means for Jivanmukti? There are three main Sadhanas to attain Jivanmukti. 

They are: 

i) Tattwa Jnana – the acquisition of knowledge of the Self. 

ii) Vasana Kshaya – the annihilation of the deep-seated desires and impressions. 

iii) Manonasha – the dissolution of the mind. 

In terms of the two types of Sannyasis, the Vidvat Sannyasi already has Tattwa Jnana, while the Vividisha Sannyasi is striving for it. So the focus of the former is on Vasana Kshaya and Manonasha, while the focus of the latter is on Tattwa Jnana. This is not a hard and fast  rule, for even a Vividisha Sannyasi needs to have some degree of control over Vasanas and his mind in order to acquire knowledge. Part 2 brings out clearly this distinction, and also explains how Vasana Kshaya can be done. 

Part 3. 

Manonasha Prakarana – This Part deals with the annihilation of the mind. The tree of the mind has two seeds: Prana Spandha and Dridha Vasana. It is discussed how the mind can be controlled by controlling the Prana. How Vasanas affect the mind is also dealt with in detail. Many useful techniques are given by which the mind may be subdued. 

Part 4. 

Swarupa Siddhi Prayojana Prakarana – In this Part, the various purposes of Jivanmukti are discussed. 

There are five fruits of Jivanmukti: 

i) Jnana Raksha – the protection and preservation of knowledge. 

ii) Tapas – the practice of penance, especially in the context of the seven stages. 

iii) Visamvada Abhava – the absence of all argumentation, quarrels, etc. 

iv) Duhkha Nasha – the cessation of pain. 

v) Sukha Avira Bhava – the manifestation of bliss. 

Part 5. 

Vidvat Sannyasa Prakarana – What are the characteristics of a Jivanmukta? 

How does one know that he has attained that supreme state? These are questions that are discussed in this final Part of the book. 

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Next
The Central Purpose of Jivanmukti Viveka:
The purpose of the entire text can be summed up in the following three points: 
Continues 

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