On Life and Liberation

Author(s): Mukesh Chhajer
Publisher: Mukesh Chhajer

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On Life and Liberation
description of Alok-akash. In tantra, it is said that the prana flows through other than the nadis passing through the spine in the lower life forms. Therefore, a jiva has to first attain the human form, and even then, it can attain liberation only when the prana starts to flow through the sushumna, something that is not possible in other life-forms.
If one looks at the description of Madhya-loka, it is divided into various concentric circles with alternate dvip (island) and sea with jambu-dvip in the center. Jambu-dvip itself is divided in seven different continent separated by six mountains and each continent is further subdivided into six section by smaller mountains and two rivers. Of the seven continents, Videha (or Maha-videha) is in the middle with Mt. Meru at the center of the Jambu-dvip. Of the other six continents, Bharat-kshetra is in south and Airavat in north each of which are divided in six khandas. Only those jiva who are born in Arya-khanda in southern part of Bharat-kshetra or of Airavat-kshetra and Videha-kshetra can attain Moksha. Other kshetras are called Mlechha-kshetra and jiva born in those kshetra cannot go directly to Moksha. This is a broad description of the Madhyaloka though many details have been ignored here.
Let us first try to understand why one has to be born in Arya khanda to be able to attain Moksha. Arya means noble, therefore, an Arya khanda means a noble part. What is noble from the point of a jiva? Birth as a human being. Only from the human birth, a jiva can attain Moksha. What is the characteristic of a human body? Human beings are the only creatures with erect spine and the southern part (i.e., lowest part) of the spine is the seat of dormant kundalini at mooladhar chakra. Only jiva from Arya khanda are able to get to Moksha and not from other khanda or other continents refers to the idea that only human
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