Redemption is liberation, emancipation, release from bondage, mukti or moksha. The jiva is supposed to be the product of sat, chit and ananda, and as such, there is no question of its liberation as long as it is reveling in joy and happiness. But, this is not the case. The jiva comes into a gross, embodied, blemished state from its pure state and is governed by a number of factors beyond its control and thereby suffers. This suffering makes it seek liberation from its embodied state.
In the first instance, it is not clear why the jiva should assume a gross body. The descent of the jiva from its pure and pristine state of sat, chit and ananda is also not explained clearly. It is simply attributed to the 'Will of the Lord'! May be, it is the Lord's sweet will and desire! But why should the jiva suffer? The answer is clear. The jiva, in fact enjoys its existence in its physical, gross embodied state since the Lord has provided for all the enjoyment of the jiva such as food, drink, entertainment, recreation, etc. It is the over-indulgence of the jiva that causes the suffering and God is not responsible for that! Hence, the jiva suffers due to its own ignorance and seeks redemption!
Thus there arises the problem of jivas looking for redemption. The scriptures provide several means of redemption of the jiva. These include sat sang, svadhyaya, nidhidhyasana, japa-tapa, yajnya, daana, tapas, etc. The best way to redemption is surrender to the higher power, sharanagatim. Once you surrender to a guru, there is nothing one can do!
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