This chapter deals with vibhuti yoga; introduces the Lord as jagat karanum (the cause of the universe).
In any object, there are 2 causes: Take a pot; it needs an intelligent cause (Nimitta karanum, hereafter NK) who is the pot maker and it also needs a material cause (Upadana karanum, hereafter UK) which is clay, the raw material in this case. Every product needs both NK and UK.
If the Lord is the cause of creation, what cause is HE? NK or UK
If he is intelligent cause; where did the material come from?
If he is material cause; who was the intelligent principle behind creation
Before the creation of 5 elements and elementals; there was only Lord.
So Lord cannot be either NK or UK; He is both.
From our experience in every product NK and UK are distinct (goldsmith is distinct from gold, carpenter is distinct from wood etc), but take the case of a spider. It produces its own web taking material from itself. It has the intelligence as to where the spin the web and how to spin it. It is both the intelligence cause NK and material cause UK.
How do you describe or what language do you use with respect to NK and UK?
We use the verb “create” in the case of NK; the potter creates the pot.
And we use the verb “appear” to UK, the clay itself appears as the pot.
Similarly the Lord is both NK and UK.
The Lord as Nimitta Karanum created the world. (Beginning of creation)
The Lord as Upadana Karanum Himself appears as the world. (the entire world is an expression and manifestation of God). So to see God, one need not go anywhere else if I learn to look upon any object in creation as God’s manifestation. To appreciate gold, where should you go? Then you will discover gold in all the ornaments. Actually there is no ornament without gold.
So, where do you see gold? Your answer will be: How can you miss gold?
Similarly God is everywhere and not confined to just a place; we need not close our eyes or stand on one leg to see god. Through his wisdom born out of understanding you can see God everywhere. A person who understand God as a material cause will see the Lord everywhere in creation. Therefore learn to appreciate the world as god’s manifestation. All the glories of the world are only the special manifestation of the Lord.
(Ordinary manifestation –bhuti- and special manifestations- vibhuti- categorized as per the maturity of the seeker).
So whenever you see any glory in creation; one should remember it as Lord’s glory.
Like when you see a great building; you remember the architect. Therefore every special object in creation becomes a means for worshiping the Lord.
Arjuna asks for all the special manifestation and the Lord enumerates some of them. However we shall restrict to all the Vedic portions only.
The meaning of the word “Vibhuti” is cowdung and it is the abode of Lakshmi. Another meaning is ash; that which is left after everything has been burnt. What remains after everything is resolved in creation; the Lord.
a) All the Vedas are manifestations of the Lord; Krishna says that among them I am Sama. Why Rig is inform of poetrical verse; yajur prose, sama is musical. Since music is attractive, Krishna identifies himself with Sama veda.
b) Veda Vidya: Veda Purvah is the section of Vedas that stems from the premise: how to manipulate jagat to be happy? Here one is trying to change one’s wife, get a job, house etc. You take your horoscope to various astrologers and each one will say differently and different appeasement rituals, Adjusting the world or planets is an unintelligent approach. Even should change something, it will not remain that way for the world keeps on changing.
In Vedanta one does not seek to change the world but oneself. I must have the inner strength not to be affected by circumstances. It is like walking on shoes on a pebble pathway.
So among, Veda Purvah and Vedanta, I am Vedanta; being Para Prakruti and Apara Prakruti, I am PP
c) Among Vaidika yagna, I am japah. Why?
- Easily accessible to all without discrimination of gender, varna, or ashrama
- It does not involve any expenditure
- Does not involve any himsa (no cutting plants or animals)
It is a mental activity; if your mouth is tired better still do japa mentally.
d) Among all the mantras, I am Gayatri.
One Gayatri is equal to the entire Vedas; each line of gayatri represent one veda.
Tat Savitur varanyum is taken from rig
Bhargo devasya dhimayi is from yajur
Dyoyona prachodayat is from sama
The chanting of Gayatri converts an animal-man to a man-man.
One who lives by instinct is an animal man; if he is hungry on waking up he will immediately eat. Whereas a man-man will do all the ablutions, bathe, pray and offer naivedyam before eating. He has a certain regard to values and customs.
Gayatri is initiated at the time of upanayanam. The parents are the cause for the physical body while for a cultured person, Gayatri is the mother and Acharya the father.
If you are initiated into gayatri but chant other slokas, then it is futile!!!
Gayatri mantra is so beneficial that it confers all the benefits; health, prosperity, protection etc. It is a mahavakya and deals in Ishwara-Jivatma Ikyam.(The essence of the sun is the same as the essence of the jiva; the macrocosm is identical to the microcosm)
e) Among all the vedic words, I am Omkara. I am “Om” contained in the words of the Vedas. Why Om? It is the last condensation of the Vedas.
In the earlier yugas, one has supposed to know all the four Vedas; with Brahmins started to complain that it was so laborious. Brahmaji assigned one Vedas out of the 4 for each section. In the Kali yuga, the Lord condensed even that because people complained that they were busy and so HE gave the Gayatri. The condensed form of Gayatri is “Om”. If you still claim that you are busy, Brahmaji will throw you by the scruff of the neck to hell!!.
Om is from bhu; bhuvah, and Suvah; If a person chants “om” he/she will derive the benefit of chanting the entire Vedas. “Om” chanting protects a person for all ills
Ah – represents the jagrat avastha or prapanja
Oh – represents the svapna prapanja
Hm – represent sushupti
So this word represents the entire viswarupa of the Lord; all the names of the gods.
Om is the best word from Vedas; and Krishna is that.
f) Veda Akshara: Vedas has many letters and the most glorious is “Aa” . That is the basic sound produced by any being on opening the mouth in any culture or civilization. All other sounds are modifications of that only. Aa Kattu, a mother urges while asking the child to open their mouth.
But unfortunately there is no “aa” sound in English
Krishna enumerates some of HIS glories. He is:
Indra – Devas Prahlada – Asuras Brighu – Rishis Lion- Animals
Ganga – River Himalayas – Mountains Ocean – Reservoir Aswatta – Trees
Arjuna – Pandavas etc
Which means, whatever is the best in any field, those glories are the Lord’s glory only. Every glory in this world must remind you of the Lord; they represent the Lord only.
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