Sambodhi 2002 Vol 25

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 18

Vol. XXV, 2002
THE INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS DARŠANAS....
From this it appears that according to Abhinava aesthetic experience is far ahead of the state of Samprajñāta Samadhi which according to Vedānta is a little away from the asam-prajñāta samadhi due to the obstruction of Rasāsvāda, the last of the four obstructions on the way to reach the a-sam-prajñāta samādhi, the other three being laya (mental activity), viksepa (distraction) and kasaya (Passion) 125. At this stage 'the yogi remains steeped in the beautific vision without the will to abandon the duality of the seer and the seen. It is the tasting or enjoying (āsvāda) of the substantial sap or flavour of the self. It is as though someone tasting palatable food should prolong indefinitely the act of holding it on the tongue'126.
According to Dr. Pandey aesthetic experience, as Abhinava explains, belongs in its final stage to the level of Vyatireka Turiyatita in which all objectivity merges in the sub-conscious and the subject itself shines in its ananda. This stage bears comparison with the stage of rasāsvāda mentioned above, but the difference lies in the fact that in the former the vikapla merges in the subconscious while in the latter it is there.
We have seen how the various interpretations differ. But it should not be forgotten that the chief aim of all the great scholars and Acharyas was to find out the process of the apprehension of Rasa. They should therefore not be thought to be contradictory theories. Each one of these writers had a constructive approach. These theories are the several rungs of the same ladder as Abhinava has pointed out, and Abhinavagupta stands on the shoulders of all these and has the last Word in the solution of this problem. That is why he says -
ūrdhvordhvam āruhya yad artha-tattvam dhih paśyati śrāntim ävedayanti / phalam tadadyaiḥ parikalpitānām vikāsa-sopāna-paramparānām // tasmāt satām atra na dūsitāni matāni tāny eva tu śodhitāni / pūrva-pratisthāpita-yojanāsu müla-pratisthā-phalam amananti //