Understanding a Jogan

(On behalf of Sigrid)

The word Jogi is a regional corrupted form of the word Yogi. Jogan is the female form for the word jogi. Yogis are of many types. There are those who deny the body its comforts and those who give the body its basic needs like food, clothing and shelter and contemplate on the "higher" levels of existence. And there are more types. The Gita talks of four types of yogas one could adopt to experience the world and beyond- karma (yoga of action), gyana (of knowledge), bhakti (of devotion) and raja (royal secret).

To write off Radhika as a Jogan who will never come back to Dev is not true. A jogan is a sincere seeker who wants to contemplate about what life is and where the individual fits in the bigger picture (call it divine will if you wish). And where better to do this soul searching than in a serene atmosphere of an ashram where she can choose the relationships she wants rather than be handed a bunch of relationships that the "outside" world has thrust on her.

This will be a pivotal point (if the creative are doing the right thing, that I suspect they are doing) where Radhika's character will be finally established. Now, when she goes back into the world, she will not be "shaken" by people's opinions or expectations of her. She will stand up for what her truth is and that truth which she will discover is that Dev is like air and she breath, that he is chandan (sandalwood) and she water... (Prabhuji tum chandan mein pani, tum moti hum dhaga, tum sona hum suhaga...type.)

As she was never given an opportunity to contemplate thus, she should use this time wisely and hopefully the Guru will also guide her and clear some of her confusion and clarify the silly actions she has taken like renouncing her love for Dev for Vishaka's sake. She can renounce Dev's love for a "higher" calling like Kanha, but not for a selfish brat like Vishakha, there is no jan kalyan (good for the world) in that act.

Jogan need not be confused with the vows of becoming a nun. While jogans do swear a life of celibacy (which Radhika already is in spite of being married!), it is not an immutable change. She can always go back to the "sansar" (material world) where relationships do matter- but with the wisdom that all that is mithya (illusion).

The beauty about Hindu dharma is that in the varnashrama dharma, each group of people with their respective occupations have 4 distinct phases to experience- one of bachelorhood and celibacy (brahmacharya), of marriage and responsibility (grihasta), of retirement and wisdom (vanaprasta) and finally of renunciation (sanyasa). A jogan is not necessarily to be interpreted as a sanyasi (renunciate) who takes diksha from the guru to leave behind the sansar.

Thanks Blokes for the clarification of the Jogan.

That is a neat explanation of what a Jogan is. Thanks! I learned something today.

Yes that is the correct description and in fact in earlier days, some kings would take this timeout period to contemplate either the result of their actions or their decisions. I do hope that you are correct in that Rads be left to do this rather than some other twist happening (which is my fear) since she is main character and what can they show about a Jogi life.... remember the rule is to forget about emotional ties.

Beautiful Blokes. I can not say how happy that you are back. You serve to really educate and enlighten me with your thoughtful and cerebral posts. Thank you. There are times when I think about your posts when I am washing dishes, driving my kids two school. You really add to my life and I want to say thanks!

Now Radhika will not be able get her family and Dev out of her mind. She will get caught talking to herself (that's what they all do) about promising to be with Dev always and not fulfilling her promise. Sadhu will tell her beti you are not yet ready for this life.

Originally posted by: jpalagrawal

...Your words make me think that it will be Rad that goes to save Dev. Maybe Vish will make such a mess that Dev's honor will need saving. Would it not be neat if our new enlightened Rad goes and saves him for a change?

wow!!! I mean!!!! just wow!!!!
but i have got a confusion....slight that is..... is there difference between a jogan and a sevika.... I mean..... like a sevika is not supposed to think about her family or even THE THOUGHT OF GETTING MARRIED.......so... is there any difference in that aspect?

pw- is that what Rads will be called at the ashram? A sevika simply means one who serves- does seva. I doubt there are any issues with being a "jogan" or a "sevak"/sevika (feminine). For a change she can do the "work" as seva not as "duty"- kartavya (a favorite word of Rads- apna kartavya nibha rahin hoon kanha!).
I still think this point will be a momentous one to transform Rads character. At the same time I do not want Dev to look like a wimp either- crying for his rads. I want him to own up to his love and come clean in front of samaj and say- no more vishaka or no more rads (anyways) I will dedicate my life to the prohit trust or some such thing- he can get friendly with Nandu and do some good for kids and elder people...