For Seekers by Seekers

While this episode is controversial because of the wrong way caste system is implemented in Indian society since age immemorial, our scriptures are very clear: four castes exist because of the differing mental attributes and the preference to the type of work we all have, and NOT determined by birth. The head of the Brahman is imagined as brahmana (brahmin or the knowledge sharer, the shoulders as Kshatriyas (or protectors), the thighs as vysyas or traders and the feet as sudras or people who serve other three.

Just as gold can be made into different ornaments and as soon as each ornament is created (given a shape) by the goldsmith, we give it a shape and name - ear ring, bangle, necklace etc. but all of these are just gold + names + forms. Likewise the entire world is consciousness + names + forms. Take away the gold, name and form does not exist in ornaments. Same with the material universe.

Purushasukta imagines the entire manifested universe as a giant human body with the moon as the mind, sun as the eyes, ears as directions, navel as space, earth as feet etc. such an imagination is useful for us to not appreciate the mysteries of universe but also be able to meditate on the formless, shapeless, all pervading, all permeating consciousness principle

If a mere product manufacturer has the intelligence to create a user manual on how to use the product, let’s not forget the fact that the Supreme Intelligence- Brahman, which is the source of our intelligence, must have also thought through this. Yes, the Vedas are the user manual he has created for us to learn and use the universe for our benefit.

Unlike popular scientific Big Bang Theory, the Purushasukta says that the creation is a cyclical process and not a straight line. There is no Time =t0! Being cyclical it is a continuous process of creation, destruction. This is a powerful logical explanation that explains how anything can be created at all. Creation can NEVER happen out of nothing. So, explaining creation as a cyclical process which takes the basic material from consciousness and brings variety - right from space all the way to smallest microbe is perhaps a logical way of reconciliation.

When in deep sleep, we don’t recognize the universe - we know nothing. The Purushasukta says that the universe and the individual need to ‘interact’ for the universe to be validated. Else, the universe does NOT exist for us. This connection is presented symbolically in the sacrificial fire analogy as a ‘pouring in’ of the 21 elements we are built up with INTO the supreme sacrifice / yagna/ sacrificial fire that is built by the seven elements - 5 basic elements, cosmic mind and cosmic ego.

The Brahman offered itself as raw material to create this universe and it was a selfless action. Looking around our immediate nature, we see only selfless actions. It’s only us as humans who have selfish desires & actions because for millions of births we have become conditioned by exercising our mind in wrong directions. This has to be undone.

Symbolism in idols reveals the mystery and shows us the path. Chinmudra - a hand gesture where index finger and thumb touch and make a circle reveals that we have to focus our efforts at achieving infinite bliss - which is the goal of human life. Listen to this to learn more how!

For any creation, we need two - material and intelligent causes. If we need to create a pot we need clay (material cause) and potter’s intelligence (intelligent cause). The supreme consciousness is the intelligent cause that uses its special power called Maya and creates the entire universe. The efficient and material causes of creation is the same - the consciousness itself, just like a spider is the efficient and material cause of the web it spins - using its saliva and its innate intelligence to spin the web.