Our Place in this Universe

   Do we really exist as an entity? Where do we exist? What is our place in this Universe (brahmanda)? This Universe is like a ball within a ball. There are layers after layers like an onion and nothing remains when each layer is peeled off! That which remains when the sheaths are removed one by one, that which is invisible, that which supports the universe is the Atman! The living beings are also like mini universe. The humans that appear as solid gross bodies are 75% water and the remaining solid portion is also, in a way, not solid. The scientists say, "Solid is not solid"! Solids are the condensed forms of the gaseous state. The sun is a hot gaseous body out of which all the so called solid gross planets and their satellites are formed. The Bhu (Earth) is one such. There is enormous space between galaxies, stars and even considerable space exist between the Planets and the Satellites. This space is called akasha. Nobody knows the extent of this akasha, but they say there is One who folds it like a mattress and goes away! The great sages have visualized these different levels of existence and called them the vayhruti, realms or spheres of existence. What exists here is also said to be almost like, "It is, it is not"! Nothing is certain. At the most seven vyahrutis are recognized and these are stated in the Gayatri mantra as bhurbhuvasvah maharjanahtapahsatyam| Of these, the first three are said to be more important to us. These are the realms of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun.
  Thus, the three realms, vyahruti or loka, stated in the Gayatri mantra are the lower levels.The three  higher levels, or realms, known as the janah, tapah, and the satya are separated by the mahar lok. These seven realms of existence are filled with different types of creation gross, subtle, and the subtler most. The Earth supports plants and other living beings, such as, the aquatics, amphibians, reptiles, avian or the arboreal, quadrupeds and bipeds like the primates and man. The nature of existence and the types of creation at higher levels are not well known to us. However, we are told, as in scriptures, these higher levels also support different types of creation, albeit, of subtler and subtler nature as forces (waves and vibrations)! For instance, we find very powerful forces, shakti, that influence us, our thoughts, ideas and actions called 'Devi Devata' in the Mahar Loka. The other realms are the home of manes or pitrus (janah lok), the jnyani, yogi or Rishis (tapo lok), and finally, the divine souls that have attained the brhamn, satya loka, or the Brahma lok. Thus, there are the gross, subtle and subtler existence at different levels of the cosmos. 

  The doctrine of "yatha brahmanda (cosmos) tatha pindanda (jiva)"states that "The jiva at the gross level on earth is as good as the subtler powerful cosmic entity, at large!" In fact, there is yet another subtler state- andanda, which is as good as the brahmanda! It is like a mandala which is a continuum, lika a point on the circumference! Everything is replicated. Whatever exists outside is also inside! The idea of 'inner' and the 'outer' are just an illusion due to the wall, that exists in illusory time and space!  
    Thus, all the seven realms found 'outside' are also found within the jiva! The human cell is amini universe. It has all the knowledge, information, technology to create and recreate! It is the source of pindanda. The jiva begins with a subtler state, as if nothing existed at first, and gradually manifest or evolve into solid gross form. In the silence exists the sound and, the sound merges in silence. The jiva is gross in its external and becomes subtler and subtler in its innermost! The human cell is a beautiful example. It consists of almost invisible Ribose- the DNA and the RNA!

   These equivalent of the seven levels of existence are that of levels of Consciousness. The jiva can exist at any of these seven, or just go up and come down these. There is no limit to our existence! The yogi attains it by sheer practice of yoga- Kundalini or chakra dhyana. The equivalent of the Bhu is the muladhara chakra and its bijakshara mantra is 'lam' (subtlermost form in sound). It is also the jagrata stateofthe jiva. The rest are as explained in the Kundalini yoga, reaching upto sahsrara. 

    Now, the question is there anything as the 'Universe" (brahmanda)? In fact, there is no entity as such called the 'Universe'. It is the Veda, ('vid', meaning, Knowledge, jnyan). It is like an University- a citadel of Knowledge. It is the repository of knowledge and all Departments from A-Z, Astronomy to Zoology, exis whether there are students and faculty are there or not! The entire universe is nothing but 'vid', jnyan, and it exists within us!
     The Veda emphatically states that Atman knows all! Atmai vedgm sarvam | ayam Atmaa brahmn | Atma eva brahmaa | aham brahmasmi | Brahmn is totality, vid, jnyan. All that exists is jnyan, knowledge. Consciousness! Everything is revealed in the background of Consciousness! prajnyanan brahmaa| Evam Veda | "I am the Universe", is the realization, brahmn. the Self (Atman) is all!