Aiśvarya
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Aishvarya (Sanskrit: ऐश्वर्य) means lordship or sovereignty, prosperity or royal or exalted rank.[1] Prosperity, power and recognition by society are the three aspects of a man’s life that constitute aishvarya which term also refers to the aishvarya or greatness of God and of Brahman.
Overview
The word Aishvarya is derived from the word ईश meaning supreme, powerful, lord or master or God as in the phrase - ईशावास्यमिदं सर्वं – God certainly resides in all this (Isha Upanishad Mantra 1). It is directly connected with one’s ego at the individual level, and with the assumed nature of God.
Basic understanding of the term
Prosperity, power and recognition by society are the three aspects of a man’s life that constitute aishvarya. They are the basic needs and aspirations of a man about which he dreams and he plans and for achieving which objectives he performs varying deeds. He also eagerly strives to know about the timing and extent of their fulfillment for which he has devised different means and methods. In
Shakti as Goddess Annapoorna fulfills the most basic physiological need of man that of food items and clothes; as Goddess Durga Shakti fulfills the needs such as shelter and safety from natural and man-made threats; as Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati Shakti fulfills the social needs such as education, social status and recognition in the society; out of the eight forms of Lakshmi, Aishvarya Lakshmi refers to riches and Dhana Lakshmi, to gold and money.[3]
Upanishadic exposition
The sage of the Shvetashvatara Upanishad describes the all-pervading aishvarya or greatness of the Lord (Brahman) in the following words:
- तमेकनेमिं त्रिवृतं षोडशान्तं शतार्धारं विंशति प्रत्यराभिः |
- अष्टकैः षड्भिर्विश्वरूपैकपाशं त्रिमार्गभेदं द्विनिमित्तैकमोहाम् ||
- “They saw him as the one rim (of the wheel), with three tiers, sixteen ends, fifty spokes, twenty fasteners, having six variations of eight extensions, one bondage of infinite forms, three different paths and the two (Virtue and Vice) which cause delusion.”
The wheel is the Brahma-chakra, the repeated cycle of origination and destruction of inanimate things, and of birth and death of all living beings; the rim is the singular non-dual support of the Karya Jagat which is the unreal whole world of phenomenon of effects and has Maya as its source. The Karya Jagat is covered by the three
Aishvarya yoga of Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita in its own way, presents Krishna as the Supreme Godhead and the supreme object of worship. Krishna tells Arjuna:-
- न च मत्स्थानि भूतानि पश्य मे योगमैश्वरम् |
- भूतभृन्न च भूतस्थो ममात्मा भूतभावनः ||
"“Nor do beings exist (in reality) in Me – Behold My Divine Yoga supporting all beings, but not dwelling in them, I am My Self, the efficient cause of all beings.” - Bhagavad Gita IX.5.
In this regard,
Shaivite exposition
The
Aishvarya is the Sanskrit term derived from Ishvara that refers to the opulence and power of God. According to Gaudiya Vaishnavism, God has both a public face and a private face. Manifesting his power and majesty (aishvarya), he is known as Narayana and is served in awe and reverence, when his beauty and sweetness (madhurya) overshadows his majesty he is known as Krishna-aishvarya (God’s supreme divinity and power) is one of the general dimensions of Krishna’s Divinity described by Chaitanya school, the other two being – madhurya ('divine tenderness and intimacy') and karunya ('compassion and protection'). This school favours the madhurya aspect rather than aishvarya aspect in which the Jiva does not experience a love for God as exalted as is experienced by the devotee in madhurya aspect. Manifestations of the aishvarya aspect assist in the realization of Krishna’s madhurya aspect.[10] According to
References
- ^ Vaman Shivaram Apte. "The Practical Sanskrit English Dictionary". Digital Dictionaries of South Asia.[permanent dead link]
- ISBN 9788120821477.
- ISBN 9781596821170.
- ^ "The Svetasvatra Upanishad". Scar Publications.
Sloka I.4
- Wikidata Q108731212
- Wikidata Q854700.
- ^ Jayadayal Goyandaka. Srimadbhagavadgita Tattvavivecani. Gita Press. p. 392.
- ISBN 9788182200005.
- ISBN 9788177558852.
- ISBN 9780231508438.
- ISBN 9781434951717.
- ISBN 9780198034001.
- ISBN 9780199709021.