Test of independence
The criteria of anya nirapekshata (Devanagari:अन्य निरपेक्षता ISO15919: nirapēkṣatā) means the path that does not require any other expedient.
Testing the three paths elucidated in scriptures for spiritual upliftment to determine which of them stands this test.
Testing karma
God cannot be attained through the path of karma. Therefore the question of independence of the path of karma does not arise. Whoever has attained God by following the path of karma has done so by practicing bhakti along-with karma. Remember the best possible result of doing path of karma alone, by following all the rules and regulations, is swarg.
Testing gyan
Similarly, God cannot be attained by the path of gyan either. Gyan bestows self-realization (3) and nothing beyond that. Those who have attained Brahmanand did so by coupling gyan with bhakti. Hence there is no independence in path of gyan either.
So we have proven that karma and gyan do not fulfill the condition of anya nirapekshata. So now let us test if bhakti is independent? In other words, does bhakti bestow the bliss on its own or does it need assistance of karma and gyan to unite the jeev with God?
Testing bhakti
Devotion does not require any other expedient to grant the fruits. Devotion itself is capable of independently uniting the jeev with God and bestowing the bliss of divine love, premanand.
But in the scriptures, all followers of the path of karma have been given the principle directive that karma should be accompanied with bhakti. brahmacharya, grihastha, vanprastha and sanyas, the four ashrams and the four varnas have been instructed to do bhakti . Only by combining bhakti (the higher principle) with varnashram dharma, the result of bhakti can be achieved. God realization or cutting asunder the bondage of Maya cannot be done by mere karmakand.
Now a dilemma arises. If it is essential to follow varnashram dharma with Para-Dharma (superior ideal), how is it appropriate for a karma sanysi to totally abandon varnashram dharma?
श्रुतिस्मृति ममैवाज्ञे यस्ते उल्लंघ्य वर्तते।
आज्ञाच्छेदी मम द्वेषी मद्भक्तोऽपि न मे प्रियः॥
śrutismr̥ti mamaivājñē yastē ullaṁghya vartatē।
ājñācchēdī mama dvēṣī madbhaktō'pi na mē priyaḥ॥
God said in the Vedas that “The one who does not obey my instructions written in Vedas about following varnashram dharma is my enemy. How can he be dear to Me”?
However God Himself provided the answer to this apparent contradiction in Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana written by Ved Vyas Ji Maharaj as -
आज्ञायैवं गुणान् दोषान् मयादिष्टानपि स्वकान् ।
धर्मान् सन्त्यज्य य: सर्वान् मां भजेत स तु सत्तम: ॥
भागवत 11.11.32
ājñāyaivaṁ guṇān dōṣān mayādiṣṭānapi svakān ।
dharmān santyajya ya: sarvān māṁ bhajēta sa tu sattama: ॥
bhāgavata 11.11.32
“Though the violation of My instruction regarding the observance of varnashram dharma is punishable as per My spiritual doctrine, those who perform My bhakti abandoning the tenets of varnashram dharma are very dear to Me”.
Hence it is confirmed that the Vedic law of following varnashram dharma does not apply to a person who performs bhakti of God.
सर्वे वेदा यत्पदमामनन्ती तपांसि सर्वाणि च यद्वदन्ति । क. 1-2-14
sarvē vēdā yatpadamāmanantī tapāṁsi sarvāṇi ca yadvadanti । ka. 1-2-14
That is, "all the hymns of the Vedas inspire and take an jeev only towards God”. Shandilya Muni also says -
न क्रिया कृत्यनपेक्षणाज्ज्ञानवत् ॥ शाण्डिल्यभक्तिसूत्रम् 7
na kriyā kr̥tyanapēkṣaṇājjñānavat ॥
śāṇḍilyabhaktisūtram 7
“Just as there is no expectation from the followers of the path of gyan to do karma, in the same way, karma is not mandatory for those on the path of bhakti”. It is up to the will of the bhakt whether he wishes to do karma or not.
That is why bhakti has been called independent. According to Ved Vyas -
अहैतुक्यव्यवहिता या भक्तिः पुरुषोत्तमे ॥
भागवत 3.29.12
ahaitukyavyavahitā yā bhaktiḥ puruṣōttamē ॥
bhāgavata 3.29.12
“Bhakti is not subservient to gyan or karma”. According to Ramayana -
भक्ति स्वतंत्र सकल सुख खानी
bhakti svataṁtra sakala sukha khānī
"Bhakti is independent and is the source of all bliss". As per Shri Roop Goswami and other Rasik Saints -
अन्याभिलाषिता शून्यं ज्ञानकर्माद्यनावृतम्।
anyābhilāṣitā śūnyaṁ jñānakarmādyanāvr̥tam।
“Bhakti should be selfless and ought not be concealed within gyan, karma, penance etc”. Bhakti is independent.
Bhakti can independently bestow the aim of life. All the other paths must turn to Bhakti Mahadevi to give the fruits of their respective paths. Therefore, out of all the expedients of spiritual upliftment ONLY bhakti is independent.
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