Scriptures and the teachings of acharyas offer insights into the spiritual path. The path is difficult, steep and hard. Self-control, self-discipline and renunciation of worldly attractions form the foundation for the spiritually inclined. That is why among those interested in spiritual literature, there are those who may wish to know these subtle matters and not really desire to strive for liberation. But he who is determined to be released from the bondage of samsara is known as a Mumukshu.
Adi Sankara’s text Upadesa Sahasri is a manual to guide a mumukshu to strive and attain the goal, liberation, pointed out Goda Sri Venkateswara Sastrigal in a lecture. The seeker is prompted to analyse and examine oneself in the context of the world. Parikshit, the sole survivor of the Pandava race, got this name from his tendency to examine carefully whatever appears before him. At the end of the Mahabharata war, Asvathama aimed the Brahmastra to destroy the Pandavas in toto. The Lord protected the Pandavas and also entered Uttara’s womb in a miniature form to prevent the astra from attacking the foetus. The sudden brightness and brilliance of the Lord’s presence had made an impact in the consciousness of the foetus which looked in all directions to assimilate this form. Hence, the child came to be known as Parikshit — a term which means one who observes, examines and analyses with discrimination. A spiritual aspirant who seeks permanent happiness should learn to observe every thing in this world and assess its true value. He has to cultivate the ability to discriminate between the good and the pleasing, the real from the non-real.
