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Multiplex Concepts of Yoga: As per the Philosophical Framework of
Vāllabha Vedānta.
Shyam Manohar Goswami
Introduction: Conceptual Background on Pramă la & Prameya:
The philosophy of Sri-Vallabhācārya, (1478 - 1530) is not speculative in nature but it is reflective as far as the interpretation of the śāstras is concerned. It is thus the four pramā as namely śruti (sabda or Verbatim), pratyaka (Perception), anumāna (Inference) and aitihya (Legend), as proposed in the śāstras' -- are accorded in the school of Vāllabha Vedānta. However, Sri-Vallabhācārya has accepted a different measure on authenticating the conceptual framework of Vedänta from that of all the other schools of Vedānta. In this case, the Vāllabha Vedānta proposes the following Quadra-level cognitive systems (CS) (pramā lavyavastha):
The First level of cognitive system is operative at the time of receiving the śāstropadeśa (śästric instructions from the teacher) or at the time of investigating the conceptual foundation of the śāstras or in other words, at the time of having strong desire of knowledge', that is inevitable prior to the śāstric understanding of the entities related to the Brahman and / or the Brahman itself.
The Second level of cognitive system is operative at the time when there is a concrete understanding the conceptual foundation of the śāstras or in other words, at the time of investigating / debating the śāstric concepts with those who accept the śāstras as pramā las only after the verbal cognition raised of the intrinsic nature of the entities related to the Brahman and / or the Brahman itself. The Third level of cognitive system is operative at the time when there is an realization of the Brahman or in other words, when the brahmaj (a visualizes the Brahman The Fourth level of cognitive system is operative only at the time of incarnation of the Lord.
Mahāprabhu Śrī-Vallabhācārya, opines on the first level of cognitive system that, when the statements of Sruti (the Vedas), Bhagavad-Gītä, Brahmasutra and śrīmadBhāgavatam are found in complete coherent with each other, they alone are accepted to be valid. Because, whatsoever theme is not clear in the statements of the śrutis, it is made clear
The article was originally written in Hindi by Goswami Shri Syam Manoharji entitled “Yoga ke Vividha Rapa - Vallabha Vedānta ke Anusār". It is translated into English from the original Hindi by Achyutananda Dash, Professor of Sanskrit, Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar.