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The 4 Padas

To understand the 4 Pada’s, we first have to understand the Agamas.

What are the Agamas?

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The SPH defines the Agamas as:

“The principles given by Paramashiva, received by Devi, adopted by Vishnu, to run this Universe is Agama. Agamas are also applied science, practical technology for Veda and Vedanta thought currents. Vedas and Vedantic thought currents are like pure science. Agamas are more like applied science to make that into reality.” There are four components of the Agamas, as per Paramashiva. First, is Charya Pada, or lifestyle. Second, is Kriya Pada, which refers to rituals and processes. Thirdly, Yoga Pada, the concept of union, and the final Pada is Jnana Pada, (also commonly referred to as Vidya Pada), which is enlightenment.

Charya Pada

Charya means lifestyle. This Pada is hence centred around lifestyle and personal hygiene – how to keep the place clean, how to keep the inner space clean, how to practice daily lifestyle habits like waking up, brushing the teeth, washing and taking bath – everything. As Paramahamsa Nithyananda summarises, “From the time you wake up till you go to bed, purifying your whole muscle-memory is what Sadashiva is teaching through Charya”.

Kriya Pada

Agama is only spiritual inner-science to manifest anything you want as reality. If you want to bring God into a stone and want to make Him live in that stone, there is a kriya, there is a process. If you want to heal your stomach pain, there is a kriya. If you want to heal somebody’s cancer, there is a kriya. If you want to bring rain, there is a kriya. If you want to stop the rain, there is a kriya. If you want to bring the Sun, there is a kriya. If you want to stop the Sun, there is a kriya. Everything you can achieve through these certain kriyas, processes. You many not do all the Kriyas, but knowing that science helps you to manifest the reality as you wanted. Once you understand the science of kriya, you don’t even need to create the fire and pour the ghee. Just by changing your breath, you can manifest the same Agni from your body, and that Agni will manifest what you want as reality. You don’t have to put rice and pour ghee into the fire. Just by pouring rice and ghee into the fire of your stomach, you will manifest whatever you want.

Yoga Pada

The Yoga pada is practiced from the lofty space of powerfulness. Here, Paramahamsa Nithyananda reveals how the Shashtanga yoga of Sadashiva is far superior to the Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali. He shares, “Patanjali definition of yoga is – yogah citta vritti nirodaḥ – cessation of the mind is yoga. But Sadashiva doesn’t prescribe/ propose mind control anywhere in the whole Agama. He says thoughts are too superficial; don’t be controlling or fighting or playing with it, they have no meaning!

Sadashiva’s definition about Yoga is experiencing Oneness with Oneness itself; union with Oneness is Yoga.

Shashtanga yoga (revealed by Sadashiva) includes 6 paths – Pratyahara, Dhyana, Pranayama, Dharana, Asana, Samadhi – to manifest the experience of Sadashivatva. Every component is crucial to manifesting Sadashivatva; there are no cultural frills. Yoga comes from Hinduism for manifesting Sadashivatva – the highest reality possible.”

Jnana Pada

The Sanskrit term “Jnana” if often translated as knowledge. But Sadashiva’s definition goes well beyond the ordinary. As Paramahamsa Nithyananda reveals, “Sadashiva’s definition about Jnana is Enlightened about everything that exists is Jnana.” As you can see, this lofty definition is as vast and infinite as Sadashiva! Ultimately, the practice of Agamas develops tremendous self-respect, and manifests wonderful powers in us. With this, we are constantly centered on our highest self and powerfulness. Here, the presence of a living Avatar of Sadashiva provides a quantum leap in the practice and experience of Agamic truths. As Sadashiva Himself explains, “First, a person needs to start practicing the preparations – charya. You do puja, yoga, pranayama, apply bhasma, wear rudraksha – all the lifestyle practices. Then, you start doing kriya, tuning your body and mind to higher realms. Then, connecting with the higher realms, that is yoga. And living in that higher space itself is Jnana. This is the normal course of a spiritual seeker in regular Shaivite method.” But in the presence of a living Avatar – Paramashiva gives a beautiful description, “When you have an Enlightened Guru, Shiva Yogi who is established in the space of Paramashivatva, first you get initiated – you experience and understand Oneness. After that, the lifestyle practices you do is not for achieving power; it is for MANIFESTING the powers of Paramashiva.”

The list of Agamas are as follows:

  • Kamikam
  • Yogajam
  • Chintyam
  • Karanam
  • Ajitham
  • Diptam
  • Sukshmam
  • Sahasram
  • Amsumad
  • Suprabhedam
  • Vijayam
  • Nisvasam
  • Svayambhuvam
  • Agneyam
  • Viram
  • Rauravam
  • Makutam
  • Vimalam
  • Chandrajnanam
  • Mukhabimbam
  • Prodgitam
  • Lalitham
  • Siddham
  • Santanam
  • Sarvoktham
  • Parameswara
  • Kiranam
  • Vathulam

You can read more about the Agamas here:

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