"athah to brahmajijnyasah"

The Brahma Sutras of Badarayana starts with the words "athahto brahma jijnyasah" The very first word 'athahto' has invited much discussion amongst the learned scholars. If this is so, one may wonder what follows when it comes to 'brahmn' in the later jijnyasa! One of the contentions of the learned scholars regarding the word athato is to start discussion on the sutras concerning brahmn only after finishing the study of the scriptures, the Veda and perform the prescribed rites, rituals like the agnihotra sacrifice (yajnya)s. This makes it clear that one should prepare oneself for the discussion by completing the stipulated rituals like havan, homa, agnipuja, etc. In a way, this obviously prohibits others from entertaining the subject. But it need not be so. Ordinarily the tormented jiva seeking liberation seeks to these spiritual pursuits and a proper guide, guru, will direct the seekers to this subject.

  The term 'brahmn' is a concept, a fundamental principle, that holds clue to the origin of the universe. It is a state of 'Is, Is Not', or 'Existence' and 'Non-existence', (sada / asada). There cannot be any discussion under such a condition. The learned sages have laid down that this principle of Existence and Non-existence that appears simultaneously at the beginning cannot be a subject matter of discussion. This dilemma takes us to the learned teacher, guru, who clarifies, instructs about brahmn. 

 Accordingly, brahmn is everything. In Lakshmi Tantra, Devi Lashmi tells Shakra (Indra) that She is brahmn, the Absolute, the One Unmanifest, Parabrahman. There is also Vedic doctrine of 'purusha sukta' where, Purusha and Prakruti are the manifest aspects of the Unmanifest Supreme Parabrahmn, also known as 'Narayana'. Narayana Upanishad makes this amply clear. Narayana is Pure Consciousness. Narayana is poorna-prajnya. Narayana is the All-knowing and the Subject to be realized, param padam. When it pervades the entire universe as Consciousness, it is called Vishnu. What all that manifests out of this supreme Unmanifest is Vasudeva .'Vasudeva' is everything! sarvam vasudevam iti..The prakruti manifests as Sankarshana, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and produce the three-tier evolution of Jnyan, Shakti, and Jiva. Thus, we get the Manu, Sapta Rishis, the Devata, the Gandharva, Kinnaras, Siddhipurusha, and the jeevarashi down the lane. All that we see is just Jnyan, Shakti, Aishvarya, Ichha (Desire), Bala (Power), Vurya and Tejas. These are the qualities or attributes of Narayana exercised by Lakshmi through Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. Thus, the universe unfolds itself!