Krama Mukthi - Gradual Liberation of the Soul

Knowledge and meditation aim at the realization of the Supreme Parabrahman / Moksha. Moksha is not the effect or product of knowledge, it is knowledge itself. Moksha is neither a mass of consciousness nor self-consciousness. Moksha is the very life and order of the Universe, ever present, unchanging. 

Meditation on the nirguna brahman is the greatest eye-opener. It casts away the veil of maya and the jiva (soul of the meditator) realizes its identity with the brahman. This state of realization is known as Sadyo Mukthi - Immediate Liberation. It happens to very few. The instant illumination is a unique experience. There is no gradual stages in Sadyo Mukthi. It is at once being Brahman.

Then there is Jivan Mukthi, which means liberation when one is still alive. When the gross body of the jivanmuktha dies, the jiva attains Videha Mukthi. The jiva then drops off the subtle body (mind) and leaves the cycle of samsara for good. 
The Jivan Muktha is in the highest state of knowledge (Jnana) - the state of self-absorption, non-related and self- identical (I am that I am). There isn't much difference between the jivan muktha and videha muktha, because a jivan muktha is unaware of his body. He still dons a body due to the lingering traces of Prarabda Karma. 

Upasana on the saguna brahman also leads to mukthi - but not directly or immediately. When the gross body dies, the jiva (soul) along with the subtle body is led to the brahma loka (the loka of brahma not Brahman), along the deva marga (the path of light). The sense of duality of the jiva continues. The jiva along with its subtle body enjoys the proximity with the saguna brahman, which is now called kaarya brahman/ hiranyagarbha/ prajaapati etc. The jiva that has been to brahma loka does not have to re-enter samsara. This is considered as a step towards final mukthi. So termed Krama Mukthi. 

Bonalu - Festival of Telengana

Bonalu is the annual festival of Telengana. It is celebrated in the month of Ashada, in July - August. The festival involves the worship of Mother Goddess in regional forms - Mysamma, Yellamma, Pochamma, Pedamma, Dokkalamma, Ankalamma, Poleramma, Maramma, Nookalamma. Special poojas are performed for the Goddess on the first and last days of the festival. It is also a festival of thanksgiving to the Goddess for the fulfillment of wishes. 

On the festival day, women dressed up in silk sarees and jewellery walk to the temple carrying a pot (Bonam) of specially prepared food, an offering to the goddess, balanced on their heads, accompanied by the rhythmic beating of the drums. 
Women carrying Bonalu are believed to be possesed by the spirit of Mother Goddess. On their walk towards the temple, people pour water on their feet to pacify the the aggressive spirit of the Goddess. A bare bodied man smeared with turmuric, wearing anklets and a lemon in his mouth, wearing  red dhoti and neem leaves accompanies the women carrying pots, who dances to the rhythm of the drum beats. He is called Potharaju. He is supposed to be the brother of Mother Goddess. He is the initiator of the festivities and the protector of the women who are in a trance. He lashes a whip and dances to the beat of drums. Every group of devotees also offer a Thottelu (a tower shaped structure made of colorful paper and sticks), as a mark of respect.

The festival Bonalu is celebrated as the homecoming of the Goddess. So the devotees prepare special meals and offer it to her amidst great festivities to show their love and affection, just as they would do when their own daughters visit them annually. 
There is another story associated with the origin of Bonalu, related to the army. In 1813, when the Hyderabad Military Battalion was deployed in Ujjain, a plague broke out in the Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, in which thousands perished. The soldiers prayed for the eradication of the plague in the Mahakaali Temple in Ujjain. They offered to install her idol in their city when they returned. The plague was eradicated and the soldiers installed the idol of the Goddess in the city and offered food (Bonalu), as thanksgiving. This tradition is followed to date. 

The festival kick starts on the first sunday of the month of Ashada, in the Mahankali Temple located inside Golconda Fort. Next sunday at Ujjaini Mahakali Temple (known as Lashker Bonalu), Balkampet Yellamma Temple. Then at Sri Simhavahini Mahankali Temple and Sri Akkanna and Madanna Mahankali Temple in the old city of Hyderabad. 

On the monday following the Bonalu festivities, an oracle foretells the future. The oracle is an unmarried lady.  This is known as Rangam, after which the procession starts with the Ghatam.

The home-coming of the goddess is in the form of Ghatam, which is a copper pot decorated in the form of the Goddess. After Rangam  is the procession, Bonalu Jatara, with the  Ghatam carried by the priest. A decorated picture of the Goddess is carried in the procession on an elephant through different lanes of Secunderabad. This is known as saganampu. Festivities end with the immersion of the Ghatam.

A feast follows the festival.