Lessons in Vedanta

Lesson-19

Sthoola Srishti (Creation of the manifest world)

Let us now learn about the gross creation.

We learnt in the 18th lesson that the Moola Prakriti with the predominance of Tamas will act as Avarana Shakti(power of illusion) and Vikshepa Shakti.(power of projection) We also learnt that the Apancheekrita (not compounded of the five gross elements) Sukshma Pancha Maha Bhootas (subtle elements) come from these very forces. It was also deduced that because the sookshma bhootas come from the prakriti,(characterised by the Trigunas) the Trigunas permeate the Pancha bhootas. It was also shown how the five Jnanendriyas (organs of perception) come from the Sattva aspect of the sookshma bhootas and the five Karmendriyas (organs of action) as well as the five pranas (vital forces) come from the Rajas aspect of the sookshma bhootas.

Pancheekarana (process of causing anything to contain the five elements)

Now let us understand about the destiny of the Tamas aspect of the subtle mahabhootas.

1. First, bifurcate each bhoota (element).

2. Retain the first half as it is and divide the second half in to four equal parts. Now, there are four bits of 1/8 parts.

3. Follow the same scheme for each bhoota.

4. Let us consider the example of the Prithvi (earth) mahabhoota (see figure) This contains earth - 1/2 portion and 1/8 portion of the remaining bhootas.

5. The second part of the Prithvi merges in the remaining four bhootas

6. The same holds good for other bhootas; the first half constitutes the particular bhoota and the remaining half containing the other four bhootas merges in those respective bhootas. Because each bhoota is formed out of all the five types of bhootas, they are called as "Pancheekrita bhootas" (pancha=five)

7. This process is called Pancheekarana.

8. Although each bhoota contains all the five aspects, depending on the predominance of one particular element, that bhoota is called by that name, In the above illustration, the Prithvi bhoota is so called because half of it (major portion) is Prithvi.

9. This is the manifest or gross form of the mahabhoota.

10. The visible forms of all the other bhootas are in fact in their pancheekrita form (compounded form)

Sthoola Shareera (Gross body)

The creation of the manifest world takes place from these gross, compounded five elements. This manifest creation has 14 lokas (worlds). The beings of these world are broadly classified as

1. Ud-bhid ja - those which take birth piercing open the ground (plants)

2. Svedaja - engendered by moisture and heat (germs)

3. Andaja - those which hatch out of egg (birds etc.)

4. Jarayuja - those which come out of womb (mammals)

These beings have certain bhoga vastus (objects of enjoyment) like food, water etc etc. Even these objects are formed of the five maha bhootas.

All the objects formed out of the five mahabhootas constitute the gross creation. All these put together form the gross body of Ishwara. The jeevis have their individual bodies.

It is the wakeful state for Jeeva or Ishwara, when they are in their gross body. This gross body is also called as Annamaya Kosha (sheath of nourishment)

(To be continued)