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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
628
Atman and Mokşa
saints who popularised the Vaisnava religion. among the people, removed the barriers of caste distinctions, and preached that any body could attain liberation on the strength of one's pure and wholehearted devotion (bhakti) to the Paramatman, who is named in different ways. It was not essential for the seekers of Moksa to be very well conversant with the original Sanskrit scriptures; nor was it necessary to follow the orthodox path of Karma and religious rituals, but it was sufficient even for an illiterate person to know the name of God and he could attain Moksa by repeating the name of God with singular devotion, love, adoration, and complete surrender to the Almighty who could redeem His devotees by his grace. I propose to give an account of the concepts of Atman and Mokṣa which occur in the writings of the Medieval Saints of the Vaisnava Cult. I propose to refer here only to the most outstanding saints like Jñanes'vara, Kabir, Suradāsa, Mirābāi, Tulasidasa, Narasimha Mehta, Chaitanya, Tukārāma and Ramakṛshna Paramahamsa.
Jnanes'vara
Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
Jñanes'vara has been recognised as the most prominent saint of Maharaṣṭra. He lived in the thirteenth century during 1271 A.D. and 1296 A.D. He ended his life quite prematurely at the age of twentyfive as his mission was fulfilled. He was an exceptionally talented person and could propound his philosophy at an early age of 20. He did not form any particular cult of religion. He had attained the realization of God, and therefore, his writings
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