The living beings (jiva rashi) seem to be the end products of the processing mill where the raw materials are the five basic elements, the qualities of nature found in combination of the three gunas- sattva, rajas, and tamas, and a number of other factors, such as, the inner instruments (antahkarana) like the mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), ego (ahankara). desires and aspirations, and so on. The jiva gets so entangled in the mire that it gets lost in wilderness! Suddenly, one day, a jiva here and a jiva there, realizes the mistake of the embodiment and its consequences and craves for release! This craving is so feeble as the inner voice of the soul (Atman) that the jiva does not hear it in its hussle buzzle of daily life. However, it hears this inner voice of intent desire and craving for total emancipation when it sits calm and quite after a long journey! Thus the process of return journey starts and the jiva seeks a guide to help him/her. When the jiva cries intently for this redemption, the supreme Lord may take pity and send a guru. There is no alternative but to seek a guide here, and the easiest way o find one is the supreme Lord Sri Krishna Himself in the Gita!
The living being (jiva) craves for total emancipation (moksha). 'Gajendra moksha' episode is an example. The crocodile is holding the leg of the elephant king, Gajendra. The elephant appeals to the Lord for liberation from the clutches of the crocodile. The croc. is the symbol of worldly mundane existence here! The Jivatman exemplified by the Elephant-king seeks redemption! Lord Vishnu comes to the rescue of Gajendra here. It is absolutely essential that the jivatman craves for redemption. Otherwise, the question of redemption does not arise!
There are different types of liberation, redemption, emancipation, mukti or moksha. The jiva gets relieved of its mortal existence when the body deteriorates and is cast away. This is not total emancipation since the jiva looks for another suitable body to fulfill its unfinished jobs and desires. It may take any form of living beings to suit its requirement and thus again runs the mill. It craves for total emancipation only when it is tired of repeated embodiments. However, it is not assured of that!
There is another type of redemption. Here the jivatman wants to prolong its journey on this living planet, Earth, but does not want any sufferings! The supreme Lord is so gracious that He blesses the jiva with whatever its wish it craves for. Thus, there are great sages who enjoy princely life untouched by the blemishes and sufferings of worldly existence. This is Raja Yoga. We have examples of persons living in palatial buildings attended by devotees! some of them go to remote forest and hill-sides and get what all they need without effort. This is really astonishing! But this also is not total emancipation.
The real emancipation comes only when the jiva asks for mukti or moksha of the highest type. Here the jiva surrenders to the supreme Lord, totally abdicating his/her self! There is no desire or craving for fulfillment here. The jiva takes the advise as stated in the Gita and surrenders! The Lord asks the jiva to join Him, merge his ego and all that he/she possess in Him. He says, "manmana madbhava madhyaji namaskuru || He says maam upetya sarva papebhyo mokshayishyami .. ma shuchaa | He even assures punar janma na vidyate | Thus, the jiva is redeemed and total emancipation ensues!
The most interesting point of this 'total emancipation' is that "It is experienced by the jiva while it is still engaged in the worldly existence, not after death, discarding the body it inherited! Such a person is called jivanmukta, the most blessed guy, Indeed!
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