Ishwara and Mukta

Sri Ramana Maharshi

From 'Annamalai Swami's Diary Extracts'

Q: God is omnipresent. Why should He become an avatara age after age? Couldn't He perform His function just by being present everywhere?

B: By the order of Ishvara authorised beings (adhikarika purushas) along with their devotees, are sent to take birth on earth. These beings become avataras in order to give their grace to those who have done nishkamya punya (meritorious acts done without any desire for reward). They also come to punish sinners. When they have accomplished the mission for which they came, they go back to their own earlier positions. Though different bodies come to the avatara purushas, the experience of the unity of the Self never changes. A man, after being born, undergoes the various stages of life - childhood, youth, manhood and old age. But in all these stages the thought that he is the same person who was born remains unchanged. Likewise, the avatara purushas knowingly remain as the one self even though they go through many births. For them, it is rather like seeing ten different dreams in one night. 

All these questions will not occur when you know yourself.  Without knowing the truth about oneself it is a waste of time trying to understand the differing teachings of other people. 

Q: What is the difference between Ishwara and the mukta (liberated one)?

B: Ishwara and the jnani are one and the same except that the mukta was at first forgetful of the Self. Later by the strength of his practice, he eventually came to know the Self. For Ishwara, it was not like that. Being the eternally liberated (nitya mukta), God is performing the pancha kriyas (the five fold functions of creation, preservation, destruction, veiling and grace).Because of this, his vritti functioning is called Brahmakara vritti (activity in the form of brahman). That is like calling the river which has merged in the sea samudrakara nadi (the river in the form of the ocean). The vrittis (activities or functioning) of Ishwara and the jnani are one and the same. But for the avatara purushas the bodies will change until the end of the kalpa. This does not happen with the jnanis.