Unity/Totality (samshthi) and Diversity (vyashthi)

The Veda ('vid'), meaning 'Knowledge' (jnyan) is one. In fact, people use the term 'Vedas' that means 'knowledges' that is wrong. In the beginning the Veda was imparted by the Supreme Lord Narayana to His manifest form Sankarshana. This is known as 'Ekayana veda'. This knowledge was lost with the pralaya and again, the Veda was imparted by Brahma to his first-ever brainchild Atharvana. This came to be known as Atharvana Veda. This contained more than a lakh verses and chants of the Veda had to be completed before taking food. Those who were practicing this Vedic chants everyday found it difficult to complete the chants before noon. So they requested Sri Krishna Dvaipayana, the incarnate of Vishnu to help them. Sri Krishna Dvaipayana classified the Veda and bifurcated the mantra aspects as Rk Veda, the prayer aspects as saman, the function aspects for yajnya as yajus and the social aspects as atharva veda. Thus, it was helpful for daily practice and this supreme Lord Sri Krishna was addressed as Veda Vyasa Deva, a pen name for dividing the Veda into four divisions.  Thus, 'Knowledge' or 'the Veda' is one only, not four, as misunderstood by all. Further the uppercase 'V' or capital letter is not there in Samskruta Bhasha. We have taken to the ENglish way and spoiled our system of studying the scriptures in Samskruta.  

  Thus the 'totality' or 'oneness' is to be properly understood. One only become many! 'Samashti' is totality, what includes everything. 'Vyashthi' is what manifests in different  names and forms. As long the jiva does not realize that it is not in any way different from Shiva, it has to wander aimless in jagat. This Shiva-jiva-jagat is the triputi. Shiva only becomes the jiva and the jagat. All that manifests as the objective phenomenal world is Shiva only. If Shiva is paramatma, the jiva is his own manifest amshatmika 'Atman'. Atma eva brahma | says the Veda. The spark of fire and the fire and its flame are all same. So also, the Ocean and its waves, the Sun and its rays of light. However, it must be noted that the Waves do not constitute the Ocean. The Ocean is permanent and the Waves come and go due to the winds. Similarly, the sun rays cannot exist without the Sun. The spark of fire can create fire! This is the beauty! When there is fire a spark that comes from the friction of bamboo, or stones or wood will create fire. Thus, nothing prevents  Atma from shining in the glory of Paramatman. This is what is expected of the humans. The humans should try to bring out their 'inherent divinity' and shine with all the quality we attribute to God, or at least just sit keeping quiet in one place like God! The world will be peaceful. The world becomes a heaven when we realize this behave as humans, not animals with cruel propensities. Even animals are peaceful, not aggressive unless they are offended and agitated; we only cause disturbance everywhere (in forests, too). That is the reason why the Shanti mantra is given. It says, let antariksha (akash) be peaceful; let vayu (wind) be peaceful; let vanaspati be peaceful, etc. Om Shantih, Shantih,Shantih. ||