Thuryavastha

After some days Srinivasa Rao came from Lokikere and took Rangappa with him. Rangappa performed Arathi in Anjaneya Temple and went with him to a patients home, examined him and prescribed a medicine.

He spent some days interpreting Kumaravyasa Bharatha. One day they went to Srinivasa Rao's field where Rao questioned him about Hata Yoga. Rangappa answered curtly don't worry about yoga which does not get you anywhere near Mukthi. Bhakthi and Jnana are the Mahadwaras (main gates) for mukthi. Your Kundalini is under my control. So saying Rangappa just moved his last finger upon which Srinivasa Rao fell unconscious (kundalini of an eligible person is under the control of a purna siddha). When they returned home, Srinivasa Rao washed the feet of Rangappa and sprinkled the water upon his head. He took Him into the drawing room made Him sit on a cot, performed Arathi with burning camphor in the palm of his hand. He prostrated at Rangappa's feet. Getting up he said in a loud voice "Shankaralinga Bhagawan Maharaj Ki Jai". Shankaralinga then began a discourse on Brahma (also called atma with reference to ones body). He took no food nor did he sleep for thirteen days. Those who sat before him did not rise up for hours together. They heard him with rapt attention

Many adhyatma sadhakas came to meet him. One such person was Belliganur Chennabasappa a follower of Siddhartha of Hubli. He had many followers and one day he came to Lokikere. He came saluted Shankaralinga and asked "when did you come?" Shankaralinga answered "we neither come nor go" Chennabasappa "I had the physical body in my view, when I asked the question" Shankaralinga asked "where is the physical body?"

Chennabasappa could see only a divine light where Shankaralinga sat He said "forgive me O! Paramasiva, I took you to be a man when I talked with you.

On 10-9-1932 Shankaralinga stood up from the cot and danced in ecstasy singing some bhajans.

Yarigu tiliyadu nammooru sukha saraveyaagide nammooru (Nobody knows my hometown. It is the very essence of happiness)

Shiva Shiva enu elo manuja Bhavabhandana kalevudu Sahaja (Oh man say Siva Siva with devotion surely the bond will disappear)

He declared thrice "My father is the greatest Datta".

He went to the backyard of the house sat near the well there and said "The guru should be bathed with the accompament of Chanting of Rudra prasna.

Accordingly the mantras were chanted and 108 pots of water were poured on the head. The steam coming from the head rose up to ten feet. After the abhisheka, Shankaralinga came to the pooja griha of the home. He was dressed with a silken cloth. For uttariya he said "drape me with it." All the clothes they tried were refused because they were not "it. They gave a silk uttariya . Sri Sri Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati of Sringeri had come to Lokikere while returning he gave a silk cloth and said "I will return and ask for it."

Shankaraling said "that it it" He was worshipped with 16 upacharas and with tulasi for Vishnu sahasranama and bilva for Shiva sahasranama. All the people were treated with boori bhojana(Grand lunch)

Next day Shankaralinga returned to Nulenur and told his son "Chidambara manifested himself as Guru and showed lilas."

This is how Shankaralinga attained Thurya. Thurya means the fourth(state)

Every Jeeva experiences three states. Jagratha (Awakened), Swapna(Dream) and sushupti(deep sleep). Jeeva is one who thinks that he is the body or the mind . Due to this he acts and reaps the fruits of his action. This is due to Avidya(ignorance). He doesn't know who he is.

In the awakened state both the body and mind are at work. In the dream state body is inert but mind is at work. In deep sleep both the body and the mind submerge in Atman and there is no activity but the body continues to be alive. These states come one after another and there is no end to the cycle. This in turn causes the vicious circle of birth and death (samsara).

The vrithis of mind (response to the sensory organs and active organs) action accordingly indulge in, makes us move endlessly in many lives. But some of these attachments continue to the next life. These attachments mainly concerned with woman, wealth and property. The attachments are called vasanas. They are of three kinds. (1) Body (2) Outside world (3) Learning

None can go beyond this and the turmoil becomes endless.

Now the question arises: Can we go beyond these states? Yes, we can. The solution lies in the cultivation of Gurubhakthi and rendering services to Him.

Shankaralinga writes in one of his letters thus: As you progress in the path shown by Sadguru, the mind gets rid of the desires. Resolute practice of Japa, Dhyana, seva and tatwachintana is a necessity. As one progresses in this path Vasanas disappear, mind is annihilated and you get the knowledge of tatwa(that you are the very Brahman whom you were searching)

One should desist from aspiring for money belonging to others and go after women who are not his own wife. Desist from scolding others, injuring others. One should strictly practice nitya karma of his own varna. One should cultivate company of pious men, study Upanishads aspire for liberation in this very life, approach a sadguru who is an Atma-nishta, serve him and follow the path he shows and obey his advise. Consider one's samsara as one given by Guru, dedicate one's self to him, renounce grief and happiness.

Shankaralinga had been blessed by his Guru. Hence he knew that his own Atma was paramatma. It is loosely talked that jeevatma becomes one with paramatma. As a matter of fact the realiasation that there is no separate Jeevatma is the act of unity.

In thurya the three states are like seeing a serpant in a rope. One experiences Akhanda Sahajananda(the Dharma of Brahma, the one without a second, having no links or organs) It is all pervading Ananda which is always everywhere. Things which we consider to be wonderful and great have no value there . what we deem to be happiness is as insipid as liking a finger dipped in water. One in Thuryavastha seems to be a man but he has no desires. Hence it is also called Triptavasthe (state of contentment)

At the beginning of the fourth (but the only one) state chants like this "I am Anna (food taken by men) and the Annada (eater of Anna) It is " I" who Is the creator and substance of Upanishads (and Vedas). I am the first born prior to the Gods. I am the hub of Amritha (the divine drink). I am the light which enlightens the whole world from its center" (Thairthariya).

He who has achieved Thurya is verily Sivachidambara. Hence he is capable of saying that he can liberate Jeevas.

He can experince Sahajananda secretly and rest in it. But those who are directed by their Gurus are called Avatharikas and are here to enlighten their disciples