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Wellsprings
hindu-liberationfeatured in 2 works

Liberation While Living (Jīvanmukti)

Free here and now — the body lives on, but the bondage is already gone.

Jīvanmukti is 'liberation while living': the idea that one can be fully free here and now, before death, while the body continues. The liberated sage still walks, eats, and teaches, but is no longer caught in ignorance or craving — the momentum of past actions simply plays itself out. The notion is prized in Advaita and in Kashmir Shaivism; some theistic schools are more cautious about it.

How it traveled

  1. Tantrasāra
    Śrīnagara (Srinagar), Kashmir · 1000
    explains
  2. Vivekacūḍāmaṇi
    Śṛṅgeri (Sringeri) · 1400
    explains

Key passages(18)

Spanda-kārikā · Bhaṭṭa Kallaṭa

Very high

Vivekacūḍāmaṇi · Śaṅkara (traditionally ascribed; authorship doubted)

Very high

Vivekacūḍāmaṇi · Śaṅkara (traditionally ascribed; authorship doubted)

Very high

Aṣṭāvakra-gītā · Aṣṭāvakra

Very high

Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

Very high

Haṭhayoga-pradīpikā · Svātmārāma

High

Vijñāna-bhairava · Anonymous (Bhairava Āgama / Tantra)

High

Paramārthasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Gheraṇḍa-saṃhitā · (attributed to Gheraṇḍa)

High

Paramārthasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Tantrasāra · Abhinavagupta

High

Upadeśasāhasrī · Ādi Śaṅkara

High

Śiva-stotrāvalī · Utpaladeva

High

Chāndogya Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

Kaṭha Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

High

Bhagavad-gītā · Vyāsa (Yoga-bhāṣya commentator)

Moderate

Kaṭha Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)

Moderate