Brahmaivaapnothi Param. The knower of Brahman attains the Supreme. What is this Brahman? Sathyam Gnanam Anantham Brahma. He is Existence that unlike other existence does not rise and fall into space. As infinite He is beyond space and space cannot reach Him. And again unlike other existence that rise and fall in time, He is beyond time and time cannot reach Him. Unlike the Ahankara, the ego that alternates between consciousness and unconciousness, He is absolute Awareness and so the ahankara the causality cannot reach Him. He is truly beyond this manifest and unmanifest Prakrthi.
So we say: “Narayana parovyakthaath, andam avyaktha sambavam.” This absolute that we call as Narayana is beyond the unmanifest and this universe came out of the unmanifest.
You may ask, “It is alright to say that Brahman is great and knowing Him is Supreme. But what is the use of attaining the Supreme?” Our scriptures say, "Sosnuthe sarvaan kaamaan saha". To this Brahmana i.e. the knower of Brahman all the desires are fulfilled.
We talked of the Trimurthis and they in turn caused more of them. Together they are called Ashta Murthis also called Bruk Devas or Great Gods.
Now what are the eight manifestations? "Thasmaath Aathmana Aakaasas samboothaha." From this Self, the space arose. "Aakaasa sareeram Brahma" says another upanishad. Having created the space, he entered it and the space became his body. "Akaasaath Vaayuhu" From the space came the air. A Vedic passage says: “Praanaath vaayurajaayatha.” When a person lives he is called a ‘praani’ for he is breathing. When he is dead we say, “praanan poyiduthu”. This means that the body without the Praana disintegrates and Prana has the capacity to live with or without body. We find in nature that a person creates his own dwelling place. And Prana created its own abode by generating Vayu is the idea given in the Veda. This is the second manifestaton.
"Vayoragnihi" From the air came fire. We find that when hydrogen is burnt using oxygen we see fire and it results in water. Therefore Fire is the third manifestation. And "Agnoraapaha". Water is the fourth manifestation.
"Adhbhyaf Prithvi.” From this water arose the earth. This is the fifth manifestation. "Prithivyaa Oshadhayaha" From the earth came vegetation. This is the sixth manifestation. "Oshadeebyonnam” From the vegetation came food. This is the seventh manifestation. "Annaath Purushaha". From this food came the person the individual jeeva. This is the eighth manifestation.
The universe is beginningless and was never created. It either remained manifest or remained unmanifest. This takes place in a cycle. But the Lord being beyond is the cause of this manifestation or unmanifestation. This universe as a product of karma is inert. Karma Thajjadam says Bhagavan Ramana. The universe being inert cannot therefore manifest by itself. It is the Lord who manifests it. For what purpose? It is not for any benefit for Himself but to help the jeeva transcend this universe by attaining Gnana or wisdom of Self-Realisation.
By pleasing the eightfold manifestation that includes the pancha boothas, the vegetation, food as Anna Lakshmi or Annapoorneswari and the Jeeva as Adhithi or guest, one is sure to attain greatness in this world, so says our scriptures.
So we say: “Narayana parovyakthaath, andam avyaktha sambavam.” This absolute that we call as Narayana is beyond the unmanifest and this universe came out of the unmanifest.
You may ask, “It is alright to say that Brahman is great and knowing Him is Supreme. But what is the use of attaining the Supreme?” Our scriptures say, "Sosnuthe sarvaan kaamaan saha". To this Brahmana i.e. the knower of Brahman all the desires are fulfilled.
We talked of the Trimurthis and they in turn caused more of them. Together they are called Ashta Murthis also called Bruk Devas or Great Gods.
Now what are the eight manifestations? "Thasmaath Aathmana Aakaasas samboothaha." From this Self, the space arose. "Aakaasa sareeram Brahma" says another upanishad. Having created the space, he entered it and the space became his body. "Akaasaath Vaayuhu" From the space came the air. A Vedic passage says: “Praanaath vaayurajaayatha.” When a person lives he is called a ‘praani’ for he is breathing. When he is dead we say, “praanan poyiduthu”. This means that the body without the Praana disintegrates and Prana has the capacity to live with or without body. We find in nature that a person creates his own dwelling place. And Prana created its own abode by generating Vayu is the idea given in the Veda. This is the second manifestaton.
"Vayoragnihi" From the air came fire. We find that when hydrogen is burnt using oxygen we see fire and it results in water. Therefore Fire is the third manifestation. And "Agnoraapaha". Water is the fourth manifestation.
"Adhbhyaf Prithvi.” From this water arose the earth. This is the fifth manifestation. "Prithivyaa Oshadhayaha" From the earth came vegetation. This is the sixth manifestation. "Oshadeebyonnam” From the vegetation came food. This is the seventh manifestation. "Annaath Purushaha". From this food came the person the individual jeeva. This is the eighth manifestation.
The universe is beginningless and was never created. It either remained manifest or remained unmanifest. This takes place in a cycle. But the Lord being beyond is the cause of this manifestation or unmanifestation. This universe as a product of karma is inert. Karma Thajjadam says Bhagavan Ramana. The universe being inert cannot therefore manifest by itself. It is the Lord who manifests it. For what purpose? It is not for any benefit for Himself but to help the jeeva transcend this universe by attaining Gnana or wisdom of Self-Realisation.
By pleasing the eightfold manifestation that includes the pancha boothas, the vegetation, food as Anna Lakshmi or Annapoorneswari and the Jeeva as Adhithi or guest, one is sure to attain greatness in this world, so says our scriptures.
The popular concept of Ashtamurthys are the Pancha Bhoothas, Sun, Moon and the Jeeva. I have substituted Oushadham and Annam in place of Sun and the Moon. Both versions have Vedic support.
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