MOKṢA: A STUDY OF ŚAṄKARĀCĀRYA’S UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION

Abstract

In this research paper I’ll try to elucidate and examine the uniqueness of the philosophical concept of Mokṣa as described by Adi Śaṅkarācārya, according to whom, the knowledge of Brahman (Brahmanjñāna) is the Summum bonum or Parama-puruśārtha or Mokṣa of human life.  Indian thinkers allocated all the desires of human life into four categories, called puruśārtha that are essential to lead a happy life. Out of four puruśārthas, Artha, Kāma and Dharma support us to attain the ultimate goal, i.e., Mokṣa. Most of the Indian philosophical systems accept the self or Ātman as part of Brahman is eternal, pure and free, but due to nescience, the self identifies itself with its body and tolerates various sufferings, and Mokṣa is the goal of life, i.e., end of the death and rebirth cycle, and each and every individual can conquer ignorance and reach total freedom. Thus, Mokṣa. or emancipation is regarded as the highest value or basic ends of individual life.   Like other Indian philosophical schools, Śaṅkarācārya, also states Avidyā, or ignorance as the reason of all griefs and miseries. Śaṅkarācārya claims that Brahman is only one reality and Mokṣa is realization of Brahman, as in realizing Brahman, he says, jīva or human beings can escape the endless cycle of birth and rebirth.