Bhartrahari’ s Wisdom Bhartrahari is one of India’s ancient thinkers and philosophers who also wrote grammar for Sanskrit. His theory is called Sphoota theory. According to him, there are four types of knowledge within all of us and if one can reach the domains of knowledge, his capability to be full is high. And in order to access these domains, one has to be in a transparent (sphoota) state. The Four Knowledge Domains:

Archaic knowledge- Puratheena Gnanam From time immemorial, from very ancient time, the knowledge that we have gained if not fully at least some of it is accessible to all of us. An Ant living in a two dimensional universe with a life span of not more than a few days, would surprise us human beings with its marvelous termite hill. It is a marvel of civil engineering as there are several chambers inside, which are built one over the other, with roots of accessibility to each one of the chambers, and the chambers act as storage house for the gatherings of the ant. There are no cements or no steel structures used to build such a multi-storey architecture. In fact, the ants cannot even imagine in its puny brain a structure of such complexity and cannot even conceive the basic architectural plan for such a multi-storey endeavour. From where such a marvelous intelligence did the ants receive? Understandably, it hasn’t gone to any civil engineering colleges to learn such a trick. And Bhartrahari concludes that it comes to ant from the archaic knowledge domain. Every ant possesses this knowledge-system in its legs. He also says that it is possible by every species in this World to access this knowledge.

Magical knowledge- Manthrica Gnanam The magical knowledge that Bhartrahari speaks of is of a knowledge system which has therapeutic value both psychologically and physically. The mongoose which fights and kills a cobra knows exactly which [plant cures the poisonous bite. Other than pets grown in houses all other natural and wild animals do not seek a veterinarian help to cure any of their illness. The kids know how to breathe, what to eat, when to eat, when to fall asleep. It is we the parents who teach the kids to eat and sleep in a particular time, lovingly as well compellingly bringing all the diseases to the kids. According to Bhartrahari, by nature we all had this magical knowledge but lost it by the way of changing our life. Certain sounds can heel both physically and psychologically. There are vibrations of certain words that can create peace and tranquility in the minds of people, plants and animals. This according to him brings the magical knowledge domain. And he says, that the Vedic scholars knew this very well and embedded such vibratory

sounds in the Vedas and called them as mantric verses. They even identified specific mantras to cure specific illnesses of both physical and psychological in nature.

Mythical knowledge- Pauranica Gnanam Mankind has to live with several unanswered questions throughout its life, because logical search for answers to such questions ends abruptly facing a blockade of wall. This is the limitation to logic. Imagine as a child when you asked your father why the sun rises in the east, what possible logical answer could he give? In fact no logic can answer that question. Similarly we all live with, until we die, a perennial question “what is the purpose of my life?” Or “why was I born at all?” Only a myth can in its own way, without answering such questions can pacify the mind. Instead of logically answering the child, if the father starts telling the child a story (myth) that once upon a time there was a man deep in meditation, passes under the spell of a meditative state, when opened his eyes, saw the entire world immersed in darkness, decided to bring light to the universe. He so created an ever lining ball of fire and threw it in one direction and stationed it to that direction and called that direction EAST, the child will listen in such awe and may even forget its original question. The myth has thus pacified its innocent mind. We need myths. If we had no myths, our logical minds without answers to many of our questions would have derailed and imprisoned as inmates of mental asylum. Myths helped us live. In fact, at a deeper level, myths lead us to a meaningful life.

Scientific knowledge- Vignanam This is the logical spectrum of knowledge in which we all live and lead our day-to-day life. Bhartrahari does not diminish the relevance and importance of this knowledge, which has brought several fantasies into realities. Without this knowledge, man’s capabilities to realise his dreams would not have occurred. Application of this knowledge helps man to acknowledge his creative powers. This is how he exhibits his “God-like nature”. He is playing God by creating new things and making it into a reality. However, this knowledge is available at the conscious state of man, while the other three remain at the unconscious state. Bhartrahari also states what type of thinking is needed to access each of the domainsDOMAIN OF KNOWLEDGE Archaic Magical Mythical Scientific

THINKING Intuitive thinking. Imaginative thinking. Speculative thinking. Logical thinking.

Accessing the unconscious domain Bhartrahari says the mind is operating continuously on a specific pattern of thinking. When we observe, without getting attached to those thoughts, the thoughts evaporates into thin air making the mind a Sphoota from where the other domains of knowledge and the ability to think emerge on its own. One can cultivate such thinking capabilities that can provide access to the other unconscious domains through meditation.