How the Jiva takes a Body

   The  Pancharatra clearly explains how the jiva or jivatman takes the physical body. First, it is stated that the jiva takes body according to 'karma', due to the "Will of the God" Sri Hari Ichha!. The association of the jiva with the inert body makes the inert body appear as conscious and behave just like 'a piece of iron behaves when comes in contact with a powerful magnet"!

  Purushottama Vasudeva is of the 'shuddha sarga' creation. There is no creator to this Creator, and as such, "He manifests Himself"! He Him Self manifests as achyuta, satya and purusha. Hence, these three manifest aspects are n different from Purushottama. Purusha acts as 'inner controller' (antaryamin). Seated within, He inspires all Gods to work. It is He, who binds the jivas to the prarabhda or residual impressions, vasanas. The wonder of all wonders is that He the antaryamin only inspires the jiva to work for liberation. He inspires the jiva to take up to yogabhyasa, mantrajapa and such other sadhana to get out of the clutches or bondage of these vasana, erase the impressions!

 Thus, it is clear that the jiva/Atman/or purushottama as jivatman (purusha) takes an inert body! An inert body is like flesh, inert, not moving, but not dead! This is what is called 'halal'. Chaitanya or prana is not present in it. Now, the intriguing aspect is how does prana enter the inert body? As it is well known, a sperm impregnated in a 'cell' in woman's body multiplies and develops into tissues, organs and body in a matter of 9 months! It may be much less in animals and birds. Even if the egg is fertilized, the birth of a child is not assured! It is only when jiva enters the body that the heart starts working! The heart-beat once starts will not stop till the ripe old of several decades! The Energy aspect, the life-force, the pumping of air and role of Oxygen are all very intricate functioning of the body as directed by the antaryamin.

   Vishnu Purana, the Bhagavad-Gita, Shiva Purana, Padma Purana, Garuda Purana and many other scriptures reveal the nature of the jiva taking birth. It is expressly stated in the Gita that "The Supreme Lord only manifests as the Self of all"!  ayam Atma brahma | This is the Vedic doctrine. He, the Lord, Bhagavan Sri Krishna asserts that "He only exists, and nothing besides Him". As the story goes, the Lord created the jiva but it was not functioning! So, He entered into it! tad srushtva tadevaanu pravishat | As soon He, the Lord entered into His creation through the brahma-randhra and seated in the heart, the jiva started functioning as a prani. All the 72 000 Gods and Goddesses took position in the nerves and neurons, nadis of the jiva in order to serve the Lord seated in the 'hridaya' (Abode of Sri Hari). da i eve devah | 'da' means lift! The terms 'Deva' and 'devata', means that which holds up! The moment the Lord leaves the body, it falls apart!

  So, we have the mantra: Hari Sarvottama, Vayu jeevottama! He the Creator is within as well as, without, everywhere! So, who are, the tiny mortals in front of the supreme Lord of the Universe, seated as 'Anatryamin', the self, the core of all that exist?