Mahasamādhi

Mahāsamādhi (the great and final samādhi) is the act of consciously and intentionally leaving one's body. A realized and enlightened (Jivanmukta), yogi (male) or yogini (female) who has attained the state of nirvikalpa samādhi, will, at an appropriate time, consciously exit from their body and attains Paramukti. This is known as mahāsamādhi. This is not the same as the physical death that occurs for an unenlightened person.

Enlightened yogis take their mahāsamādhi during their final practice of samādhi: and they transcend during this final sādhanā practice. Therefore, mahāsamādhi occurs only once in a lifetime, when the yogi finally casts off their mortal frame and their karma is extinguished upon death.

An enlightened or realized yogi is one who has attained the nondual state of nirvikalpa samadhi where duality of subject and object are resolved and the yogi becomes permanently established in the unity of full enlightenment (Paramukta).

Each realized yogi enters and prepares for mahāsamādhi in a unique fashion.

References

• Blackman, Sushila (1997). Graceful Exits: How Great Beings Die: Death Stories Of Tibetan, Hindu & Zen Masters. New York: Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0391-7.