The occult doctrine of Brahmajnana
or Atmabhakti needs neither the authority of the scriptures nor the guru.
In Nirguna-Mahatmya it is said, for instance, that the principles of Brahmajnana
had been hidden at the time of creation in the Vedas by gods by order
of Anadi Brahma or Visnu; the Vedas are compared with a cuckoo egg that
does not know its own origin. By this the authority of Vedas with in the
creation is not abolished, but of course modified. It is pointed out that
they may mislead, but the revelation of the new occult doctrine as the
true interpretation of the Vedas can even surpass them. For the same reason
that the true salvation doctrine is hidden in the Vedas, the institution
of Guru is totally rejected; the real Guru is Alekha Parama Brahma or
Sunya Brahma; since he lives in every human being. He is in reality identical
with the disciple and can be seen in his real form (svarupa) with the
correct realization. Just like authority of the scriptures, the authority
of gods is also modified. They are only agents of creation who have to
worry about the world constantly and resign themselves to its pleasures.
They can be satisfied with a little asceticism and themselves need the
institutions about the principles of Brahmajnana.
The doctrine that Narayana can be found equally in every manifestation
of this world makes a certain modification of caste system possible, as
it is found more often in Vaisnavism. For example, it is emphasized that
the same Brahma lives even in the lowest Candala. The practical consequence
of the doctrine of the Omnipresence of the one Brahma is every human being,
the common feast between the members of different castes had became an
institution in the Jagannatha temple, remains, however a generally ritualistic
exception (see below under satsanga goshti). This appears generally typical
for the bearing of this esoteric texts on the orthodox tradition: indeed
they do question the tradition, but they don't fight against it openly.
The orthodox tradition in its usual interpretation rather applies further
to the uninitiated masses who do not know its true cotents in its esoteric
interpretation.
This type of re-interpretation and modification of the orthodox tradition
is in no way unusual, especially in Vaisnavism. But the Panchasakha go
even further. While heralding their doctrine in the so-called Malikas
as the religion of the future they link it with a regular attack on the
ruling orthodoxy. The Malikas which have to be examined more thoroughly
depict the end of the present age (kaliyuga) in prophetic apocalyptical
visions, which is part deal with the period of Panchasakha themselves-
for example, the rule of the last independent king of Orissa Mukunda Deva
an the invasion of the Muslim General Kalapahar (1568)
The Kaliyuga terminates in the end of Visnu's ninth Avatara as Buddha
or Jagannatha. Jagannatha will leave his temple in Puri, will appear in
new forms and manifest his Mahima. The well known conception of Jagannatha
and Balabhadra who leave the temple and ride out on their black and white
horses points to Kalki who manifests himself with one soul in both forms
and is Niranjana or sunya Brahma or Adi Jagannatha himself. Niranjana
as the real "mystic" (gupta) Kalki fight will manifests his
Mahima and the Dhrama corresponding to it and kill in apocalyptic fight
with the help of goddesses those who do not accept this doctrine. Only
those can be saved who follow the new doctrine or already possess the
occult knowledge of Brahmajnyana. These true bhaktas are particularly
enumerated and some of them interpreted as reincarnations of great bhktas
from earlier yugas; for example, the Panchasakha themselves appear as
the five Pandavas born again who are gathering for the final revelation,
that can take place in Kaliyuga only. For according to Vaisnava conception,
the descending order of yuga in which the dharma becomes more and more
decayed, corresponds to an ascending order of manifestation through mightier
and mightier Avataras which balance the loss of Dharma. The manifestation
at the end of Kaliyuga which will be a prelude to a new "golden ages"
(satyayuga) stands higher than all previous manifestation. According to
the declaration of Malikas, it will first of all bring about a final conquest
of the authority of Vedas and the general abolition of caste system which
are already heralded in the occult doctrine of Brahmajnana.
As the real prophet of this doctrine, it will not be Kalki to appear,
but it will be another manifestation of Narayan who will appear, after
the end of Buddha Avatara as a Samnyasi or a Avadhuta, a wandering ascetic.
Who will wear a Kaupina. The description of the Samnyasi sound in part
like the descriptions of Mahima Gosvami and possibly are partly interpolated.
The true nature of the Samnyasi, i.e. his identity with Sunya Anakara,
will first lf all remain hidden. In the beginning of his appearance he
will stay in the Himalayas, will practice Brahmajnana at first on Kapilas
under the guidance of Siva, before roaming through the country and gather
his bhaktas round himself.
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