Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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qualities and blemishes. He is beyond the three gunas of prakhti. He reigns supreme by His transcendence, immanence and excellence, power and infinite number of auspicious qualities. He is the moral governor, inner ruler, savior and redeemer. He is the highest perfect person. He is the one and only one who is unparalleled and matchless (ekamevādvitiyam) as the Supreme Ontological Reality.
Between metaphysics and ethics of Swāminārāyana Vedānta, the science of love and aesthetics stands as the unifying principle. Love mediates between thought and will. The transcendental beauty, irresistible charm of God's personality and the inexhaustible flood of unalloyed bliss of the Lord ravishes sensuality and earthly attachments from the heart of the longing devotee. All worldly pleasures and happiness pale into disutility and insignificance before the infinite bliss and joy of God's effulgent divine personality. He thus is the parama sundara: the Supreme Beauty. His beauty excels the beauty of crores of cupids.
Parabrahman, as the Supreme Godhead incarnates as avatāra through His permeation of power in the person of Isvaras. This permeation is propotional to the purpose to be served. However, when God Himself has His descent on earth as the Lord of all avatāras (avatāri), He descends with all His glory, excellence and powers along with His abode with akñarabrahman. Though He appears, like a human, is not born in sin nor born to reap the fruits of karmas like other mortals. He is not the slave of material body, but He is the Master of it. And is divine and divinizing. Similarly His arcā forms (icons) and saint-form (as akñara-guru) through whom, He keeps His presence (manifestation) continuous on earth are also regarded as un-material and divine.
Akñarabrahman: Next to Parabrahman, in order of being an ontological reality is Akñarabrahman Parabrahman is higher than akñarabrahman and akñarabrahman is higher than māyāprakhti, Isvaras
and jivas. Akñarabrahman is frequently addressed merely as 'akñara' and · Brahman in the Swāminārāyana tradition. Akñarabrahman is uniquely on
and matchless and singular as a reality subservient to Parabrahman alone. Akñarabrahman is vibhu or infinite like Narayana (Parabrahman). Although ontologically and functionally different from Him, he nevertheless is psychologically and lovingly (devotionally) one with Him. Though one and only one without second, Akñara serves Lord Purunottama variously and thus becomes - (a) Eternal Sevaka Bhakta co-eval with Him (b) Dhāman i.e. the permanent divine abode of God. (c) Sarvādhāracidākāśa i.e. all supporting consciousness-space and (d) the Akñara-Guru i.e. the medium of God's continuous manifestation.
(1) Akñarbrahman, in his personal aspect is the 'sarva śreñoa-carnasevaka', the Best Devotee nearest and dearest to Lord Purunottam, As His
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