Secret of Creation (contd.)

The Invisible World

    The invisible world of energy, power and forces, and their interaction, vibration, as well as the silence, and sound are far deeper and vaster than anything known to us so far. It is like an iceberg, only a bit of which is visible on the surface. Our ability to see and understand these unseen subtler aspects is also extremely limited.

  Vedanta gives the fundamentals of creation in 26 principles. These are: 1 supreme power- Parabrahmn. This is pure Consciousness, Light, Knowledge, Sat and Chit. This One only manifests as many. It manifests as the five elements- space (akash), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (jal), and earth (prithvi). Each one of these has its finer, subtler aspect such as sound (shabda), touch/feeling (sparsh), form (rupa), juices (rasa), and smell (gandha), respectively, out of which the five sense organs (jnyanendriyas) are formed to experience the qualities. Together these become 15 principles. To these are added 3 qualities- sattva, rajas and tamas, as well as, the buddhi (Intellect), ahankar (Ego), and manas (Mind). To this may be added chitta (manovrutti); there manifest the five organs of function (karmendriya) that make a total of Twenty-six (26) principles. Thus, we have the entire gamut of creation within these 26 fundamental principles. To these may be added ten more principle of Shiva to make it thirty-six principles in all. These are also replicated in the alphabets- consonants and vowels of the samskruta from a to ksha, called akshara. The vowels and consonants that produce different sounds create the phenomenal world of objects that are expressed in words according to their respective meaning (padartha). This mode of creation of the universe from the Sound, breath of the Divine Mother Sharada. She breaths unto others without Her Self breathing. She is called 'Matrika', akshara malin, the one who has letters of the alphabets as garland) as expounded in Shreevidya. Divine Mother is the supreme power- Shakti, behind all creation.

   The earliest scriptures (the Tantric Texts) attribute creation to one fundamental principle and states, “the entire existence is the manifold play of one vital principle, the power called ‘Shakti’ (also called matrika with its counterpart Consciousness called Shiva”. This is the most complete and comprehensive account of the vital force which is philosophically valid and practically viable and significant (S.K. Ramachandra Rao: Sri-vidya Kosha, Sri Sadguru publications, Delhi, pp. 29-30). Here, “the tantric system presents 36 principle or categories that evolve out of this Shiva-Shakti union, transcendental consciousness (para-samvit) or ‘sat’ devoid of all limitations, differentiations, obstructions, inclinations and urges. This is represented by a point, bindu. From this point called bindu emanates the principle of subjective consciousness called ‘aham’ (I-ness) called Shiva, and the principle of subjective consciousness called ‘idam’ (the ‘other’ or ‘this and that-ness’), the Shakti aspect. Thus, Shiva-Shakti is one only- the subjective and the objective aspects of one undifferentiated and unmanifest fundamental principle of para-samvit, parabrahmn or Parameshvar. However, the first principle of evolution is credited to Shiva and the second immediate to Shaki principle. It is thus the ‘chit-shakti’ (Shiva-shakti) that is at the cause-effect (karya-karana) base of creation. The bindu (point) that expands into a ‘trikona’ (triangle) which stands for three modalities of flow of energies in the form of flow of consciousness- chit-shakti, as ‘ichha shakti’ (will/inclination), ‘jnyan shkti’ (awareness), and ‘kriya shakti’ (action/karma).

    The principle of Brahmn enunciated in the later texts such as Sankhya has the first principle is a slightly modified version. Vedanta gives the fundamental principles of creation in 26 aspects. These are the manifest forms of energy, consciousness called the supreme Lord- Parabrahmn. This is ‘chit’, the pure Consciousness, Light, Knowledge and Fire. This One supreme only manifests as the many. It manifests as the five elements- space (akash), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (jal), and earth (prithvi). Each one of these has its finer subtler aspect (tanmatra) such as sound (shabda), touch/feeling (sparsh), form (rupa), juices (rasa), and smell (gandha), respectively, out of which the sense organs are formed to experience these qualities. Together, these become 15 fundamental principles. To these are added 3 qualities- Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, as well as, buddhi (Intellect), ahankar (Ego), and manas (MIND). Together these are Twenty-one (21) principles. Chitta, the vibrant mental force is also considered as anthahkarana along with the three- manas, buddhi and ahankar. Finally, there manifest the five organs of function that make a total of Twenty-six (26) principles (excluding the supreme One). Thus, we have the entire gamut of forces of creation at work within these 26 fundamental principles. Let’s remember that the ‘One’ only become ‘the many’ here!

    Physical, Chemical, and Biological sciences tabulate the elements, compounds, minerals, and other permutations and combinations of these in various forms- such as plasma, liquid, and solid states of matter, giving details of their individual properties. Whether it is spiritual knowledge, Vedanta or material science (padartha vijnyana), it makes no difference since the human brain that creates, thinks, or discerns this knowledge is the same. The only difference is that a Yogi gets intuitional knowledge in a transcendental state of contemplation, where as, the scientist takes to observation, experimentation, and formulations of theories and hypothesis. That way, the Veda and the Upanishads are far superior, ancient, and more reliable; we need not change our opinion once we realize the ‘Truth’ in yogic trance whereas the scientific studies go on changing the very premises of understanding. Science pales into insignificance in the face of spiritual experience. This is the beauty of our ancient spiritual texts.

  The structure and composition of the universe has been stated in a very simple formula in the Vedic texts. These consist of five basic principles- described in brief as Space, Air, Fire, Water and Soil (earth). These Vedic elements are of deeper esoteric meaning and it needs an in-depth study, unlike what we study in physical science.

    In the first place, there should be enough space for anything to occupy and freely move either within or without. This space is by itself a Matter, a matter of conjunction. Everything takes its origin here, exists here, and abides by it. Even Time begins here and moves. The first thing to manifest is thus, Space, ‘Akash’. Since it encompasses everything within and without it is called Brahmn. Everything manifests here and this is the primordial state with primordial matter. The inaudible sound (anahata shabda) manifests here. Vibration of sound begins here. Sound is the subtle aspect of akash and it is carried by wind. Wind moves in space (akash). There must be vast space for wind and sound to move in different directions!

   At first, bhuman, the “nothingness”, In an ocean of quietude (mahattanta shanta), a sort of dynamic silence is visible here. Sound emanates from this ‘sat’ as ‘chit’ (pure Consciousness) due to its vibration (chittavrutti) nd moves out as waves creating the first ever inaudible feeblest sound (anahata dhvani However, at first, nothing is visible here. Sound (Shabdha) emanate here. The first sound is that of AUM, OM. This is the sound that pervades the universe due to the bursting activity (sphota), fusion and fission of Hydrogen atoms creating Helium on the surface of the Sun.

  The ancient sages realized the importance of Sound (Shabda) and its eternality and inseparability. They derived the meaning of the Sound, artha. The sound gradually manifests in air and the human body as in vowels and consonants, or alphabets, and may be formed into word (pada) that gives meaning (artha); incidentally, this also means the object referred to (created by?) it (the sound and the word) Thus, the Sound is the primordial matter here. Normally, Sound comes from movement. The first sounds are created by movement of air (wind), water and such other matter. The sounds so created are classified as the vowels and consonants. These are attributed to Devi Sharada or Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, Veda Mata. It is the breath of Goddess Saraswati that creates the universe. She, the Goddess, breathes unto others without Her Self breathing. Musical notes and artistic renderings of sounds as in flute, beating drums, or singing developed later based on the reverberating sounds in akasha.

    From Space (Akasha) and Air (vayu) comes fire (agni). Fire in its subtler forms are just power, Shakti, force, electricity, magnetism, gravitation etc. Fire (Agni) manifests in different forms and exists in space such as atoms, cells. Fire exists in our stomach (as vaishvanara agnideva), brain (medha), and muscles, skin (tvacaagni), eyes (akshi), and tongue (jihvagni), too.  It is the plasma, boiling hot gas, the Sun in heavens, and it manifests as lightning and thunder, lightning, clouds and rain in the sky and again, the fire appears in the form of coal (gross form of petrified logs of wood), Oil and Natural Gas (indhan)- powerful energy sources for us; there are many other forms such as wind power, atomic energy, geo-thermal and wave energy, hydel (from waterfalls) energy sources on earth and gross fire in logs of wood, coal, or water on earth. It exists everywhere in different forms. Everything found here is Fire (agni) in one form or the other, and everything is sustained and destroyed by fire, when it is not aware of its inherent divinity. Thus, what is created is also destroyed!

   The scientists specializing in physics come out with experiments and show us how light, heat, electricity, magnetism, gravity, etc. work. These different types of power have been digitized to the smallest number, up to almost zero and the smallest unit of space, time, thoughts, and Soul (Atman) are also included in it.

    The physicists have mathematically proved that beyond the known energy there are some unknown energy called ‘dark energy’. This dark energy covers almost 70% of the observed universe and is responsible for overcoming the force of gravity and for making the universe expand faster. There is also chemical energy, which came into play in the universe when intensity of the heat declined sufficiently and the fusion process of combination among particles gave way to chemical processes.  This energy in combination with some unknown cosmic energies may be responsible for activating the genes and the genetic codes, somewhat like electrical energy activating virus in computers.

    The vital energy, the life-force (Energy) in all the living beings is called prana shakti. This energy is infinite, omnipotent, and omnipresent, like the akasha and manifests everywhere. Everything manifest from Brahmn, space (kham / akash). This is not a single form of energy but a combination of many unknown (forces?) ones.

    Cosmic energy is incident all the time (also a form of energy) on all forms of matter and it is known as akasha. Akasha is the infinite, omnipresent material of the universe. Prana dwells in akasha.  A significant fact to be noticed in crystal wafers of a quartz or silica is that the mechanical energy is incident on one side electrical energy is emitted on the other side and vice versa. This phenomenon is called piezoelectricity. It is used in quartz watches. Similarly, certain other materials show pyroelectricity, heat-electricity- heat transformation. A few other materials show photoelectric emission. Living organisms also work all the time in this manner.

    If we consider incident energy (solar radiation) as the primary energy the emitted energy is the secondary energy. Primary energies are incident on the cells of the body, interacting with the DNA gene, RNA, and the protein molecules. As a result of this interaction various kinds of secondary energy are emitted from the cells of a body and new cells are produced through self-replication.  These emitted secondary energies conjoin with external primary energies and become primary energies striking new cells.  This process becomes more and more complicated producing more and more complex proteins and cells- enzymes, hormones, neurochemicals, etc. This sort of conjoining and breaking up of energy goes on all the time with an organism. This complex system of energy incident, emergence, creation, and transfer has to be carefully understood. Photo voltaic cells are good examples.

  The first thing to appear as life-form is a kind of simple microbe- bacterium; it is a single cell without any cover or membrane. It is called prokaryote. Nobody knows how it came into existence! Stephen Hawking calls it a product of pure chance. Science reveals many such chance products. Is chance almost a regular phenomenon (!) in scientific discoveries and inventions? But, does science contribute to anything that is not substantiated such as luck, chance, destiny, or Will of God? Yes, it does! It borrows this concept from Vedanta since Vedanta is the first higher spiritual knowledge, para vidya. All else is apara vidya, lower material science.

     A cell is normally covered by a membrane of protein and there are Seventy-seven thousand types of proteins that go to deliver as many characteristics to the beings. Ech cell possesses within it the chromosomes, genes with all the codes embedded, and the DNA and the RNA in addition to the amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, etc. This is the primordial state of a living being that comes fully loaded with Knowledge, Information, Technology and Knowledge about Transformation (KITKAT). Once this activity of a cell begins there is no limit to its expansion, multiplication and diversification and distribution.  Thus, we see a multitude of life-forms starting from a unicellular amoeba, algae, mosses and lichens, plankton, to a rose, lilly, and butterfly, or an ant and an elephant, a fish, frog, and a whale and shark, or or different species of the mammalians- primates like the gorilla, chimpanzee, orang utang, gibbon a monkey to Man.