Word

Sadhana Vidyas

Sanskrit

साधनाविद्य

IAST

sādhanavidya

In General

Upanishad uses the word vidya as a technique to do spiritual Sadana. It is meditation and also all other faculties like memorizing, wishing, understanding, aspiring, contemplating and physical activities like developing personality. The technique help the Sadhaka to finally evolve into a supra physical spiritual life. It is true that all the Sadhanas of the U. lead to and converge in the realization of Brahman; but the starting point differ, the lines of approach vary, the result seen on the way in the working of the sadhana, may be diverse and the ultimate realization itself, essentially one, is distinguished with a certain stress on one or other aspect of Brahman.

Veda

The U. besides delineating various spiritual experiences, also give a few hints on sadhana, i.e., paths of spiritual realization. These methods of sadhana are called vidyas. According to Kapali Sastry, the Vidyas correspond to the many possible ways of approach to the Reality and also to the varying temperament and fitness of the aspirants. They delineated the many ways of attaining to the Brahman and were naturally different depending upon what aspect of that Supreme Reality they sought to realize and dwelt upon – Brahman with Qualities, saguna, or without them, nirguna, Brahman as the Self, Purusha, Atman or as Consciousness in its diverse manifestations or as Bliss. The Vidyas were known either by terms expressive of their central features (e.g. Bhuma Vidya, Samavarga Vidya, Prana Vidya, Udgitha Vidya, Dahara Vidya, Vaishvanara Vidya) or after the Teacher (e.g. Shandilya Vidya, Satyakama Vidya) who expounded them or even after the disciple who first pursued the Vidya with notable results (e.g. Nachiketa Vidya, Brigu Vidya, Bhargavi Varuni Vidya, Upakosala Vidya, Balaki Vidya).

There are no detailed procedures given on these Vidyas in U. but only general instructions. These Sadhanas, these methods of approach were transmitted by the Master to the disciple through subtle means (i.e. thought transference) and verbal instruction when necessary at all to accompany the initiation given was either not recorded or only briefly hinted at in these Scriptures. And this is so because the real sadhana, begins with initiation and not with oral instruction though the latter may be in some cases helpful giving just a sort of mental satisfaction. The actual and definite working out of the sadhana takes place only when the would-be-sadhaka receives the help, the influence, the power from some source human or Divine or more truly from the Divine in the human. The teacher who was always a seer admitted the disciple for initiation on being convinced of his fitness for receiving the Vidya. He trained him for the life, put into him the necessary seed of realisation, allowed it to grow and bear fruit in the right season. Thus these Brahma-Vidyas were communicated in silence through the influence and example of the Guru, rather than through precept which occupied a brief and formal place in the scheme of the spiritual culture of these ancients.

Reference

Lights on U. by T.V. Kapali Sastry, Pub: SAKSI, Bangalore