(5) What is Vaaraanasee?

द्वितीयोङ्क:

SECOND ACT

INTRODUCTION-

The City of Vaaraanasee filled with various types of saints and philosophers is where the next scene takes place.

What is the meaning of Vaaraanasee?

VAARAANASEE- (Shruti explanation)

Sage Atri questioned Yaajnavalkya-

य एषोsनन्तोsव्यक्त आत्मा तं कथमहं विजानीयामिति? 

How will I know the Self which is endless and unmanifest?

Yaajnavalkya said-

सोsविमुक्त उपास्यो य एषोsनन्तोsव्यक्त आत्मा  सोsविमुक्ते प्रतिष्टित |

That non-liberated should be contemplated upon as this endless eternal Self as established in the non-liberated.

Atri asked-

सोsविमुक्तः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्टितः ?

Where is that non-liberated one established?

Yaajnavalkya said-

वरणायामस्यां च मध्ये प्रतिष्टितः |

He is established in the center surrounded by swallowing.

Atri asked-

का वरणा? का असी ?

What enveloping? What swallowing?

Yaajnavalkya said-

सर्वानिन्द्रियकृतदोषानस्यत इत्यनेनासी भवति |

It swallows all the faults connected to the sensory actions.

(In ordinary language, this conversation means-

How does one find the Self? 

The ‘I’ which is embodied is the ‘I’ which is the ever-liberated Self!

Where is this Self?

It keeps swallowing always! That is the clue!

What does it swallow?

That which perceives is the bound Self. Non-perceiving leads to the changeless Self-state!

Contemplate on the Self which transcends the sense perceptions.

Vaaraanasee is the center of perceptions of the embodied Self. Each individual Self is Vaaraanasee.

Now the City of Kaashi situated at the confluence of rivers Varunaa and Assi is known as Vaaranaasi or Vaaraanasee.

In the first act, the general plot of the story has been briefly mentioned.

King Viveka has to destroy MahaaMoha and his army in the forthcoming battle; unite with Upanishat Devi with the consent of his loyal wife Mati and beget PrabodhaChandra.

In the second and third acts, the author presents a brief glimpse of the deterioration of knowledge in the society. Using humor as his tool he brings out the faults of the heretic philosophies; the immoral life led by the followers of Buddhism and Jainism; the unethical violent practices adhered to by the followers of Pashupati (Shiva); the Vedas and Upanishads used by the ignorant foolish Brahmins as the means of looting the public.

The author is not condemning any particular religious head or leader. But he brings out the pathos of all these philosophical thoughts as they become just tools in the hands of the wicked for looting the rich and   get mis-interpreted in the name of the revered Gurus.

This may be a subtle method used by the author to request King Gopaala to re-establish Dharma and punish the wicked. The author wants King Gopaala to use his Viveka or Discrimination, give the revered status to Upanishads, develop devotion of Vishnu in the minds of the populace and destroy the atheist trend of the society.

CONTEXT OF THE PLAY:

At present the city of Vaaraanasee is in the hold of MahaaMoha. In other words, the individual Self who swallows sense perceptions from all sides is the city of Vaaraanasee and he is in great delusion.

The deluded man is now in the hold of Dambha (hypocrisy), the chief servant of MahaaMoha!}