Studies in Haribhadrasuri

Author(s): N M Kansara, G C Tripathi
Publisher: B L Institute of Indology

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Studies in Haribhadrasūri
of them belong to those who have not cut the knots, while the last one belong to those who have cut the knots. But even then they are not counted as commonplace in view of the fact that they are destined to lead to the yoga-drsti. These eight drstis correspond respectively to the eight famous limbs of Yoga, viz., Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Prānāyāma, Pratyāhāra, Dhāraṇā, Dhyāna, and Samādhi of the system of Patañjali. While they are said to be free respectively from Kheda, Udvega, Kșepa, Utthāna, Brānti, Anyamud, Ruk, and Āsanga, they are accompanied respectively by Adveșa, Jijñāsā, Suśruṣā, Śravaņa, Bodha, Mimāṁsā, Pari-buddhā pratipatti and Pravrtti.
Haribhadra introduces the topic of drsti by explaining the nature of the ogha-drsti in the following verse:
Sameghāmegha-rātrādau sagrahādyarbhakādi-vat / Ogha-drstir iha jñeyā mithyā-drstītarāśrayā //
In the above-mentioned verse the examples of Samegharātri, Amegha-rātri, Samegha-dina, Amegha-dina, etc., are given in order to explain the gradual clarity of the attitudes.
The eight drstis have been compared respectively to the sparks of straw fire, cowdung fire, wood fire, the light of the lamp, the lustre of gem, the light of a star, the light of the sun, and the light of the moon. In the first drsti, called Mitrā, the soul achieves a very faint and indistinct enlightenment. Here the soul accumulates the seeds (bīja) of Yoga which eventually fructify into emancipation. In the second drsti, called Tārā, the soul is capable of some sort of self-restraint and becomes inquisitive about Truth. In the third drsti, called Balā, the enlightenment becomes more distinct and the soul develops a strong desire for knowing the Truth. In the fourth drsti, called Diprā, the power of understanding Truth develops further, and the soul regards his religion dearer than his very life.
Real spiritual progress, however, has not yet set in. The soul is only trying to capture the image of the Truth instead of