As we know Kashmiri Shaivism is all about 'self realisation'. It can be explained simply by quoting an example i.e. when a person wants to see himself through a mirror ladden with dust and dirt , he is not able to see his true form . Only when dirt is removed from the mirror , a person can visualise his true state and that is self realisation. Now the question arises about the types of dirt or dust embedded on the mirror and what are the remedies to clean it so that a person can see his true image on the mirror. There are three types of dirt or Mala , Maya along with five types of Kanchukas or limitations and four types of remedies or upayas how to wipe away the malas and throw off Kanchukas according to Kashmiri Shaivism .The upayas are actually types of spiritual practices .
Anava Mala
It is the impurity of individuality which makes individual soul to identify himself as a limited being. This impurity gives rise in an individual a feeling of being incomplete and imperfect due to his failure of recognising its completeness . It gives a sense of self in non self and due to this one is not aware of ones true nature.
Mayiya Mala
It reinforces the impurity of limited individuality and gives rise to the perception of duality and diversity everywhere. This sense of difference is caused by the limitation of individual souls freedom of knowledge which separates it from the rest of world .
Karma Mala
This impurity pertains to Karma or Action that comes into play when the individual acts in a state of ignorance and imperfection. Losing his freedom and will, he is prompted by desires of and fears of his personal gain , subjects himself to good and bad acts. This involves him in the cycle of births and deaths .
Maya and five Kanchukas
Maya is the principle of limitation and obscuration . It separates subject and object and creates the illusion of duality. With Maya taking the centre stage, Shiva looses his freedom and becomes a limited individual with restricted powers of will , knowledge and action .
Maya in Kashmiri Shaivism is Shivas own Shakti , his power of self limitation that splits universal consciousness into subject and object .
Maya accomplishes its act by concealing the true nature of reality ,wrapping it in coverings and veils. These coverings of Maya are five in number and are called Kanchukas ( six including Maya ).
The first kanchuka is 'Kalaa' or the limited capacity for action. Shiva ceaselessly performs his acts of creation , maintenance withdrawal etc. His activity is always joyful , spontaneous and perfect. But the restriction imposed on us by Kala is to do one thing at a time instead of everything all at once.
The second Kanchuka is 'Vidya ' or the covering of limited knowledge . Shiva himself is all knowing , but we human beings have not the capacity to know every thing at a the same time. We can perceive reality only in bits and parts according to what we are fed by our senses.
The third one is ' Raga' or feeling of attachment for things outside ourselves. Shiva contains everything within himself and does not need anything , but we limited individuals , forgetting that ,deep inside we are all Shiva , rush to gratify overselves with things we want to have.
The fourth covering is ' Niyati' or power of the natural laws. These laws of cause and effect operate in space. While Shiva' s actions are completely natural and spontaneous , our actions are specific and motivated by selfish ends which leave us in the grip of the laws of karma. Such deliberately chosen actions land us in trouble and determine our destiny.
The fifth and final Kanchuka is ' Kaala ' or Time . All our actions are confined to one particular time and space . Shiva is beyond these bondages of time and space. We have divided the time in past, present and future, which is greatest limiting factor.
The state of Mokhsha or liberation in Kashmir Shaivism , however, is not just throwing off the five Kanchukas and wiping away the Malas. It is a positive state when all the shackles that make us a helpless goat or bonded soul get blown away and we become what we really are , a state in which after dispelling the sense of duality we feel oneness with undifferentiated consciousness. This is the meaning of Mokhsha or liberation for every Kashmiri Shaivist and ultimate goal of his or her penance . He can attain it while he is still alive and achieve the status of 'Jivanmukhta ' , ( one who is liberated while living )
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