Arya Samaj

Shishya · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject: Vedic Exegesis of Nature

Vedic Exegesis of Nature
by
Inder Dev Khosla

The whole history of religion is the history of the search after the material out of which this phenomenal world has been produced. Apart from the question as to the efficient cause (God), apart from the question as to why He created the universe, apart from the fact that this world is for the enjoyment of living beings, the great question of all questions is: Out of what did He create this phenomenal world? We shall try to give answer to this question according to the Vedas and other Vedic literature.

The material out of which this universe has been created by God is called Prakriti, the realm of matter, the creation, especially that part of it by which man is surrounded. The present universe is but one of the series of worlds that are past and worlds that are to be. There are two phases of this Nature i.e., one is potentiality and the second is actuality. The phase of potentiality is known as 'annihilation' and the phase of actuality is known as 'creation'. Like God and Soul this Prakriti is also without beginning and without end. It is everlasting. It is, however, inert and inanimate. At the potential stage, known as primordial (Mula) Prakriti, it has no dimensions. Hence it cannot be the object of perception or cognition. It only manifests itself when it is manifested by the efficient cause. This Prakriti is not directly cognised, but it is inferred from the cognition of the modified from. When we see a gold bangle, we infer that it is made of gold. Similarly, when we see an earthen pot, we feel that we are perceiving clay. This is because the cause is not annihilated while passing on to an effect. At the manifestation stage, this visible Prakriti is known as Vikriti. The word Vikriti means two things. Firstly, it connotes the modified stage of Prakriti. Secondly, it implies that it can now produce Vikara in our cognising senses. When in torpid stage, this Prakriti is described by Sankhya Muni as Avyakta Prakriti and when manifested, it is known as Vyakta Prakriti. The former is also called 'indestructible' and the latter 'destructible', though only in reference to it's form.

From its cause undistinguished stood the world.
But Lo! Thereafter, from its darking state,
yet undistinguished from its cause, it rose,
by the pure will of THAT made manifest.

Prakriti (Nature) is tripartite or is the union of three qualities (Gunas), namely, pure [or harmonious] (Satva), midding [or dynamic] (Rajah) and inert or inactive (Tamah). It is like a rope consisting of three threads duly twisted. Literally, Prakriti means the 'state of eqquilibrium'. It is called Trigunatmac. These three gunas are the essential modes or actions of Nature. When there is an equilibrium of these three Gunas, it is called Samyavastha.

An infinite number of subtle substances, which agree in certain characteristics, as self-shining and plasticity, are called Satva Guna. Those which behave as units of activitiy are called Rajah Guna. Those which behave as factors of obstruction, mass or materiality are called Tamo Guna.

According to Sankhya philosophy, there are three stages of nature, namely Vyakta, Avyakta and Gya. Avyakta is the root or the primordial matter. It is also called Pradhana, being the main cause of the created things. The whole phenomenal world springs out of it. It is also described by Sankhya philosophy as Gunakshobhini and Bahudhanaka Prasanna Dharmani. Vyakta Prakriti consists of Mahattatva and five gross elements, viz., water, fire, air, earth and ether. The basic or principal cause of the universe is Prakriti which is without any cause, whereas it is the cause of all the things existing on the material plane. It existed before this visible world came into being. It is the foundation of action and the first primary cause of the universe. The stage of Vikriti is known as Kriyavastha or the 'state of effect'. It is in the primordial stage that this Prakriti is all-inclusive, that is, it is all embracing. It is 'one' potentially having 'many'.

There are three causes of creation, namely Nimitta, the efficient cause, Upadan the material cause and lastly, Sadharanna, the instrumental cause. The efficient cause is the one without which nothing can be made, which moulds everything into various forms and which causes it to decay. The material cause is the cause of the production of the body, senses and other things. The instrumental cause is that with the help of which something is made. The chief efficient cause is the Supreme Spirit who creates the world.

Man, He is the Supreme Spirit, from whose hands this world of diversified objects hath come into being and who sustaineth and destroyeth it who is the Lord of the universe and in whom this universe liveth.
(Rig. 10.129.7)

Soul is the instrumental cause which brings about different kinds of results out of the material cause. The material cause is the primordial matter or atoms (Anu). This Prakriti being inert and inanimate, can neither transform itself into anything nor be decomposed itself. It stands in need of another for such transformation. So we see that nothing can be without these three causes, viz., the efficient cause, God (OM), the instrumental cause, the Soul (Atman or Purush), and the material cause, atoms (Anu).

He is the one controller of all the many non-active objects (the world of non-selves). He, out of one seed, produces the manifold.
(Shveta. 6-12)

(Source)

Prabhat · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:06 am Post subject:

Prakriti.

this is the begining of the universe, so let start from the start.

what is prakriti, and why did he make the universe.
_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat

Shishya · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:45 pm Post subject:

Namaste Prabhat,

You might want to read the article again. Prakriti is the material cause of the universe, not the efficient cause.

For example, if we look at a chair, 'wood' is the material cause (or perhaps metal), while the carpenter is the efficient cause.
_________________
Namaste,

Shishya
ॐ

ॐ सह नावतु । सह तौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्यं करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु मा विद्विषावहै ॥
"Together may we be protected. Together may we be profited. Together may we do a hero's work. May we learn intelligently. May we never hate one another."
-Brihadaranyaka & Taittiriya Upanishads

Prabhat · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 12:02 am Post subject:

Like God and Soul this Prakriti is also without beginning and without end. It is everlasting.

So did God always had souls with him. dos this means. God en souls are 2 or 1 thing?
_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat

Prabhat · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

Namaste,
i must be getting old. there already was a topic abouth it. but still i have a few questions. Crying or Very sad

i copy/past a piece of the satyart prakash and found this. if the soul whas never created by god. that means the soul was created by someone else. correct me if i am wrong. so is it than that the soul make humans like us?
i always thought that God created everything. And we always say he sent us to earth. So thus this means he didnt have the powers to make souls.
please explain someone.

Q. When you hold that the soul and the Prakriti (matter) are eternal and were never created by God, why should He have any control over them, as they are independent?

A - Just as a king and his subjects live contemporaneously and yet they are subject to him, so are the soul and the prakriti under the control of God. Why should not the soul, with its finite powers and the dead inert matter be subject to His powers when He creates the whole universe, awards souls the fruits of their deeds, protects and sustains all, and possess infinite powers. It is clear, therefore, that the soul is free to act, but is subject to the laws of God in reaping the fruits of its acts, while the Almighty God is the Creator, Protector and Sustainer of, the universe.

even this i dont understeand. this is a piece of the topicopener. at says god created prakriti, and then later on at says that the prakriti is without any beginning. do help please.

The material out of which this universe has been created by God is called Prakriti, the realm of matter, the creation, especially that part of it by which man is surrounded. The present universe is but one of the series of worlds that are past and worlds that are to be. There are two phases of this Nature i.e., one is potentiality and the second is actuality. The phase of potentiality is known as 'annihilation' and the phase of actuality is known as 'creation'. Like God and Soul this Prakriti is also without beginning and without end. It is everlasting.
_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat

Prabhat · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:38 am Post subject:

Ajitwsapl · Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:52 am Post subject:

Prabhat · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject:

Namaste Ajit,
finaly someone gave me a answer.
thanks, if i have question i wil ask them.
_________________
Namaste,
Prabhat