Types of gyanis
The term gyani (Devanagari: ज्ञानी ISO15919: jñānī) means those who walk on the path of gyan. These people desire to attain Nirakar Brahm.
it is commonly known that for attaining any goal one needs to attain knowledge of the goal. Then one pursues that goal. Finally one attains that goal. The path of gyan also has gradation. Based on how par along they have travelled the path of gyan the gyanis are further classified into following five categories.
Let us explore these briefly
Theoretical Gyani
The people who have read the Scriptures but don't comprehend the meaning those words are called shabdik gyani (Devanagari: शब्दिक ज्ञानी ISO15919: śabdika jñānī).
They have theoretical knowledge but have not started putting that knowledge into practice.
Practicing Gyani
The people who have theoretical knowledge of the scriptures and make an attempt to put that knowledge into practice are called kriyatmak gyani (Devanagari: क्रियात्मक ज्ञानी ISO15919: kriyātmaka jñānī).
Self realized Gyani
These are the people who overcome tamas guna and rajas guna are called jeevanmukt gyani (Devanagari: जीवनमुक्त ज्ञानी ISO15919: jīvanamukta jñānī).
They are also called atmagyani (Devanagari: आत्मज्ञानी ISO15919: ātmajñānī).
This is a very elevated state. These gyanis overcome two out of three veils of Maya namely asatva-padaka- avarana, abhanapadak avarana. In other words these gyanis overcome the Swapooravarika Maya or Avidya Maya.
Even at this high spiritual state the gyani is still shrouded with anandapadaka avarana. They are still under Gunavarika Maya or Vidya Maya. This aspect of Maya cannot be overcome without the grace of the Bhagawan-Shri Krishna.
That is why they are still prone to fall from this state just like Jad Bharat fell from the
Brahm Gyani
As long as the jeev is still in the human form, he is called Brahmaleen Gyani (Devanagari: ब्रह्मलीन ज्ञानी
ISO15919: brahmalīna jñānī).
Liberated Gyani
After death, that jeev merges into Nirakar Brahm, and is called Mukta (मुक्त ज्ञानी).