A CHRISTIAN PORTRAIT OF A BHAKTA YŌGI: BLESSED CHAVARA
Keywords:
BHAKTA YŌGI IN HIS DARSANAVEEDU, “WHAT A WRETCHED MAN I AM!”, TURNING DYNAMICS OF CHAVARA’S SPIRITUALITY, FAMILY VISION OF THE BHAKTA YŌGI, BHAKTA YŌGI AS A ‘SEEING’ SON, APPAN AND MANAVNLAN: A MYSTIC’S VISION, Jesus as ManaavalanAbstract
The title reflects the Indian y¯ga tradition, which consists of bhakti, jaana and karma trends. The term y¯gi derives from the root yuj, ‘yoking’ (to another). It refers to yoking mind and body to achieve perfect unity, which functions on the profoundest levels of the unconscious, and flows freely in the currents of the energy that pervades space and time.Bhakti y¯ga denotes reintegration the scattered life through love and unswerving devotion. Jana y¯ga implies reintegration through knowledge. Karma y¯ga indicates reintegration through action.
References
Bernard McGinn and John Meyendorff, Christian Spirituality, vol. 1 (New York: Crossroad, 2000), 395-426.
Braj Sinha in Hindu Spirituality, ed. K. R. Sundararajan and Bethika Mukerji (New York: Crossroad, 1997), 144-155.
Chavara, Colloquies, “Act of Humility.”
Chavara, Colloquies, “Preparatory Prayer of Meditation.”
Chavara, Colloquies, Meditation I.
Chavara, The Chronicles (Mannanam Chronicle), I.71, 75.
Compunction of the Soul, VII.2: “Jesus as Maavālan.” Hereinafter Compunction of the Soul will be referred to as CS.
CS I:129; III:55; Appendix 64,67; V:142,144; Last Petition: 3.
CS I:6, 17; Chavara, Colloquies, “Act of Contrition,” and “Act of Humility.”
G. N. Ganapathy in Hindu Spirituality, ed. K. R. Sundararajan and Bithika Mukerji (New York: Crossroad, 1997), 232-252.
Harper’s Dictionary of Hinduism (London: Harper & Row Publishers), s.v. “Yoga,” by Marjrete and James Stutley.
Kallistos Ware, in Christian Spirituality, vol. 1, 399-402.
Keith J. Egan in Christian Spirituality, vol. 2, ed. Jill Raitt (New York: Crossroad, 1988), 50-62.
Kieran Kavanaugh, in Christian Spirituality, vol. 3, ed. Louis Dupre and Don E. Saliers (New York: Crossroad, 2000), 74-80. For Chavara’s deep love for Church, see his letters to the Pope (The Letters, I/1), Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Propagation of Faith (The Letters, II/1-5), and the Bishops (The Letters, III/1-10). Chavara had a profound veneration for the Eucharist. See his letters to the sisters (The Letters, VII/2,4,6,9).
Letter of Fr. Louis, 12 January 1936. For other instances, see Fr. Valerian CD, Vannya Divyasree Chavara Kuriakose Eliachan, p.242.
Sunny Pulparambil, “The Spiritual Vision of Ātmānutāpam” (M.Th. Thesis, Bangalore: St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute, 2002).
Swami Chidananda, “Foreword” to Nāma Japa by Vandana Mataji (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1995).
