CONCEPT OF HUMAN BODY IN SIDDHA SIDDHANTA PADDHATI AND HATHA-RATNAVALI

Abstract

Human body is the precious gift of God. In Shri Ramcharitmanas, Goswami Tulsidas says, ‘we get the human body with great fortune and it is rare even for the Gods’. Because, it is such a means through which salvation can be achieved. In Kumarsambhava, Mahakavi Kalidas also mentioned that, the body is the first and best means of religion and the body is the medium to know the religion. In hatha-yogic text Gheranda Samhita, it is stated that Human body is like a pitcher or mud pot externally but internally it has many actions, energies. The body has been created with the different awakened energies inside the body. It is essential to learn about the subtle as well as gross elements that are responsible for building the body.

Gorakshanatha’s Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati and Srinivasa’s Hatha-Ratnavali are important hatha-yogic texts which discusses the concept of human body. Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati and Hatha-Ratnavali discusses that human body is made up of five elements- earth, water, fire, air and ether. Along with this Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati declares that human body is originated with the synthesis of the cosmic energies, therefore body is the part of universal soul. Only through the body one can reach the real goal of life i.e. liberation. The fascinating topic of the analogy of the human body with the cosmos overlaps a number of cultures. But, the discussion on this topic in relation with the liberation is unique in hatha-yogic texts. The present study discusses the unique concept of human body mentioned in hatha-yogic texts Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati and Hatha-Ratnavali and its importance in achieving the liberation. The cosmic body (macrocosm) is evolved through the synthesis of twenty-five energies. The Shiva (macrocosm) is the creative outcome of these energies. According to Hatha-Ratnavali, the Universe has been evolved from the three qualities- Sattva, Rajasa, Tamasa. Human body (microcosm) is evolved with the cosmic energies of the universe. Therefore human body, which is evolved with the synthesis of different energies, has capability to awaken the energies with the help of various hatha-yogic practices and directs it towards the liberation.