In Hinduism, the concept of moksha or liberation from the cycle of birth and death is central to spiritual teachings. The Suta Samhita, particularly in its Muktikhanda section (3.28), delineates four distinct kinds of mukti:
Salokya: This refers to attaining a state where one resides
in the same world as Bhagavan Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism.
It is a form of moksha where the liberated soul dwells in the divine presence
of Vishnu.
Sarupya: This entails achieving a form similar to that of
God, specifically Vishnu. It signifies not only being in the same realm as
Vishnu but also adopting a divine form akin to the deity.
Samipya: In this form of moksha, the liberated being lives
in close proximity to Vishnu, experiencing a profound spiritual connection and
intimacy with the divine.
Sayujya: This represents the highest form of liberation,
where the individual soul merges or becomes identified with Vishnu. It is the
state of complete union with the divine, transcending all individuality and
merging into the ultimate reality.
These concepts of mukti are not unique to the Sutasamhita
but have roots in Vedic literature as well. References to these ideas can be
found in various Vedic texts such as the Taittiriya Samhita (5.7.5.7), Aitareya
Brahmana (2.24), Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.3.22), and Chandogya Upanishad
(2.20.2). These texts provide philosophical and spiritual insights into the
nature of liberation and the different paths leading to it within Hindu
thought.