The Avadhoota Awareness

Perfection in Renunciation

Q: What is an Avadhoota? What is the avadhoota awareness?

A: A man who always exists in super conscious state and is a perfect and complete renunciate can be called an avadhoota. He has no interest in any worldly emotions, achievements, name, fame or  possessions. He usually possesses all the siddhis (spiritual powers) that happen automatically with spiritual evolution, but, does not express them unless extreme necessity happens. He usually has no transactions or give and take with the world and exists on earth only to guide people to liberation. The world of an avadhoota is perfect because He usually exists in His inner world, basking in the glory of supreme consciousness. An avadhoota never gives lectures nor writes books. His life itself is His teaching. The consciousness level of an Avadhoota can be compared only to that of the supreme almighty. We cannot fathom it or explain it. If I may borrow the lines of Adi Shankaraacharya, we could possibly get a glimpse of the awareness level of an Avadhoota. Mind you, the following lines are not expressions based on intellectual understanding from the mind of an Avadhoota, but His living reality.

Great Master Shankaraachaarya

Mano budhya ahankara chithaa ninaham,
Na cha srothra jihwe na cha graana nethrer,
Na cha vyoma bhoomir  na thejo na vayu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham

Neither am I the mind, nor intelligence ,
Nor ego, nor thought,
Nor am I  ears  or the tongue  or the nose or the eyes,
Nor am I earth or sky or air or the light,
But I am Shiva, the all pervading happiness,
Yes, I am definitely Shiva.

Na cha praana samgno na vai pancha vaayur,

Na vaa saptha dhathur na va pancha kosa,
Na vaak pani padam  na chopa stha payu,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham

Neither am I the  movement due to life,
Nor am I the five airs, nor am I the seven  elements,
Nor am I the five internal organs,
Nor am I voice or hands or feet or other organs,
But I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes, I am definitely Shiva

Na me dwesha raghou na me lobha mohou,

Madho naiva  me naiva matsarya bhava,
Na dharmo na cha artha na kamo na moksha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham

I never do  have  enmity  or  friendship,
Neither do I have vigour nor feeling of competition,
Neither do I have assets, or money or  passion or  salvation,
But I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes, I am definitely Shiva

Na punyam na paapam na soukhyam na dukham,

Na manthro na theertham na veda na yagna,
Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhoktha,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham

Never do I have  good deeds or sins or pleasure or sorrow,
Neither do I have holy chants or holy water or holy books or fire sacrifice,
I am neither food or the consumer who consumes food,
As I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes, I am definitely Shiva

Na mruthyur na sankha na me jathi bhedha,

Pitha naiva me naiva  matha na janma,
Na bhandhur na mithram gurur naiva sishya,
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham

I do not have death or doubts  or distinction of caste,
I do not have either father or mother or even birth,
And I do not have relations  or friends or teacher or students,
As I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes, I am definitely Shiva

Aham nirvi kalpi nirakara roopi,

Vibhuthwascha  sarvathra sarvendriyanaam,
Na cha sangatham naiva mukthir na meya
Chidananada Roopa Shivoham, Shivoham

I am one without doubts , I am without form,
Due to knowledge I do not have any relation with my organs,
And I am always redeemed,
And I am Shiva the all pervading happiness,
Yes, I am definitely Shiva

One Soul – We are SHIVA – Shivoham

If we can digest this properly and live it fully, we attain the awareness level of an avadhoota. We attain Shiva. This is the essence of all Upanishads and all scriptures. Deepest and humblest Pranaams to the Great teacher Shankaraacharya for this garland of precious jewels.

Q: Ashtanga Yoga

A: Yama – Niyama – Asana – Praanaayama – Pratyahaara – Dhaarana – Dhyaana – Samadhi.

• Yama = Ahimsa (moral codes or non violence in thought, words and action), Satya(truth), Asteya(non-covetousness, theft or entering into debts), Aparigraha (non possessiveness, absence of avarice), Brahmacharya (Appropriate use of vital essence. Celibate when single – faithful when married, Divine conduct, Continence), Kshama (Patience, responsive and not reactionary, always in the present.), Dhriti (Steadfastness, completion of all tasks to possible perfection, overcoming non-perseverance, fear or indecision.) Daya (Compassion, Natural expression of love, kindness and compassion towards all beings. Never harm or injure any being) Arjava (Honesty, straight-forwardness, renounce deception, dishonesty or wrong doing of any kind). Mitahara (Control in consumption. No emotional consumption. Never eat too much or too little. Average appetite. Never consume any dead organisms or organisms without any praana – like fish, seafood, meat or eggs.) Shaucha (Cleanliness of body and mind)
• Niyama = Saucha (Clean body and mind ) Santosha(Happiness), Tapas (discipline & thereby mental control), Svadhyaya (which means becoming close to oneself, through meditation and self-exploration) Isvarapranidhana is to lay all your actions at the feet of God).
• Asana = Postural Perfection, while mind kept steady over Self.
• Praanayaama – Perfection through breath. Touching the subtler plane of our existence. Concentration through breath control. Health through proper breathing.
• Pratyaahaara – Sense control. Detaching senses from sense objects through consistent practice. This does not amount to suppression of desires.
• Dhaarana – Concentration on the sub straatum – the seat of  desires and observing them like a witness. Desires reduces systematically and awareness increases gradually.
• Dhyaana – Meditation. Awareness on the self or what ever is the object of meditation.
• Samaadhi – One with the self and from there to the supreme self or one with the object of meditation. Existing in one consciousness level. One awareness level. Unity. Oneness.

Q: Ashta Siddhi
A: They are:

1. Anima (capability of making the body minute)
2. Mahima (increasing body size),
3. Laghima (ability to become light),
4. Garima (power to make the body heavy),
5. Ishitva (possess divine powers – lordship),
6. Vashitwam (power to attract others ),
7. Prapti (power to secure anything),
8. Prakamya (ablity to become invisible).

Siddhis are automatic, as we evolve. Preserving them as sacred keeps our potential intact. Mis -using them degenerates our spirituality. The equation is simple. If Moksha is the purpose of our existence, we have to go beyond the temptations of siddhis and stay steadfast in the path of liberation. Siddhis could pull a saadhak down to the quagmire of karma.

Q: Nava Nidhi
A:  Nava Nidhi means nine types of wealth. They are:

1. Parakaaya Pravesha – Ability to enter another body – even a dead body.
2. Haadi Vidya – Siddha has no hunger nor thirst. This vidya helps detach from the requirement of food and water.
3. Kaadi Vidya – No seasonal changes affect the man. Seasons cannot touch him. This also means winter and summer cannot affect the Siddha. He does not feel heat or cold.
4. Vaayu Gaman Siddhi – Siddha becomes lighter than air which facilitates His air-travel. He travels from one place to another in a few seconds.
5. Madaalasa Vidya – Siddha increases or decreases the size of His body using this knowledge. Hanumanji has famously done this many times.
6. Kanakadhaara Siddhi – Siddha acquires unlimited wealth through this siddhi – if he chooses to. Avadhootas are hardly bothered about money and wealth. They live in a perfect world of supreme consciousness.
7. Praakya Sadhana – Directing souls to wombs – even to the extent of motherhood to barren women.
8. Soorya Vigyan – Through the power of rays, transformation of materials are achieved. Sun rays are used to nullify and re create materials or transform them to the form they choose. Surya vigyan is an ancient technique used by siddhas.
9. Mrita Sanjeevani Vidya – Rejuvenating the dead. Dead can be brought to life using this siddhi.

Siddhas are not bothered about these powers. They have no necessity to prove to anyone. They exist in bliss state always. Siddhis are based on eligibility. It happens when the seeker is ready. But, siddhis are also double edged swords. They can prevent spiritual growth and essentially  moksha(Salvation). Do not get stuck with siddhis or even the thought of siddhis. Let it come and go, if needed be. Stay always close to your soul and the Brahman.

Understand that the potential of every being is the same, irrespective of whether he is rich or poor. The awakening of it makes the difference. None are empty. None are high or low. All possess the same quality of soul. All souls are children of the supreme soul. All belong to the Supreme Father. Everyone’s ultimate aim is to reach Him. Every body has a duration. Every form, name and identity will dissolve and disappear sooner or later. No one is immune to changes. All are one. ONE SOUL. All are SHIVA. Shivoham!!!

God Bless All

Love
M