SAIVA-SIDDHANTA

"
The
"
"
But
THE NATURE OF THE JlVA. 319
often the expression of the face and sound of voice grow
similar, and even the features grow alike. Sometimes a child
will look more like its nurse than its mother ?." This causing
power of the mind or as Professor Kunte calls it, the potential
power of the man is its <$/& ^^ ^$ppxnir>,
and lies at the
root of all Upasanas and sanctification, and it
explains also how
we got at our bondage. If we were perfect, pure and free,
how is it, we became imperfect, impure and bound ? To say
that we did not bocome so, would be against all experience and
common sense. To meet the question by saying that we do
not know, would be begging the question and would be
illogical. Have we evidence that the perfect became the
imperfect ? How do we know then ? Aptavachanam and
Sruti would be the last resort of philosophers of this school.
Siddhantins could quote
text for text from the Sruti also to
show that man is not God, and the few texts that, alone can be
counted in favour of the other school would be found explained
below. The Theory of the soul herein set forth would be
found to explain how man got bound and impotent. The soul,
different from the body, five senses etc., identified itself with the
body, five senses &c., and on this mistaken identity, its actions
flowed. He cared for the body. He did whatever gave
pleasure to the body and the five senses, and avoided what
gave him pain. In seeking these transitory pleasures of the body,
Jie ibrgot his duties to others and to God, and he committed
sins, Karma, good and bad. Desire Tanha Trishna
possessed his soul and man is dragged down,* as by force
constrained.
* Cf. Glta III 36, 37, 38, where the classical simile of crystal and
colour is also brought out to explain the subject. dragged on by
what, does a man commit sin reluctantly indeed, O Varshneya, by
force constrained ?
beloved Lord said : It is desire, begotten by the rajas energy
all consuming, all polluting. Know thou this our foe here on earth,"
"As a flame is enveloped by smoke, or a mirror by dust,, as an embryo
is
wrapped by the womb, so this (man) is enveloped by it."