Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 tiruvenkatam, "RUMESH BABU V. E." <selvi_rumesh> wrote: > Dear all, >> Could any kindly explain the meaning of the five forms >> Para - vyuha – vibhava antaryamin and archarupa >> babu >> thanks. **************** Dear member, In response to your above query, another learned member Sri Pydakula Narayanan has already posted a very informative message, giving quotations from the AzhwAr's prabhandhams and relevant excerpts from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy's book "Hinduism Re-Discovered" (Publishers:Tiruvenkatam Group, Kuwait). Supplementing the above learned sources, I give below a simple analogy which laymen (like myself) find useful in order to grasp the deep "tattva" or principle underlying the reality of the "pancha- vyUha". ************* In theoretical physics, Energy is conceived as pure Force. It is defined as "Mass multiplied by Velocity square" in the famous Einstienian equation E=mc2. In theoretical physics Energy is conceived as elementary but real Force. But few people other than physicists themselves can really understand the reality of Energy at such an elemental, abstract level. Energy conceived at such a elemental and abstract level may be said to be somewhat akin to the metaphyical conception of God as "para vyUha". Only yogis and mystics can comprehend the "para tattva" just as only physicists really comprehend E=mc2. ************* Ordinary people understand the concept of Energy only in its manifested forms, and not in its elemental form. There is solar energy, for example, which everybody easily understands because they see it manifested in several thermo-dynamic forms. Similarly, people understand hydel energy because they can see it manifested in giant hydel-power dams. People also understand energy as it manifests itself in thermal energy, wind-energy and nuclear energy. Just as ordinary people understand the various manifestations of Energy better than they do Abstract Energy (i.e. E=mc2), so do they better understand the various manifestations of God -- i.e. His "vyUha" forms -- than they do His "para" form. ***************** Some people -- little children, for example -- cannot comprehend what Energy is even in its manifested form. Try explaining how hydel energy is generated in a dam to a child of seven. The child will not be able to grasp what you explain. Similarly, to some ordinary people even the "vyUha" forms of God Almighty (viz. Vasudeva, Sankarshana, PradhyUmna and Aniruddha) are incomprehensible. For such people Energy can be conceived and understood only in its grossest form -- at the least elemental and most elementary level. If you point the child to the roof your house and to the electric fan or to the electric bulbs in the chandeliers, and tell him that Energy is what makes the fan rotate or the bulb light up, the child will easily comprehend what Energy is. If you let the child also operate the on-off switch, it will gleefully play with the switch, turning it on and off, again and again playfully, and pointing out to the fan or the light and gushing with delight, "Energy! Energy! That's Energy!". Similarly, those ordinary people who cannot understand the ALmighty in his "para" or "vyUha" forms, will however immediately recognize him in forms that are (happily) less metaphysical. And such easily recognizable or comprehensible forms are what are called "archA" and "vibhava" forms of the Almighty -- the iconic forms or "AgamA" forms in which we find God in temples and shrines and the "avatAra" forms, as well, in which we find the Glory of God described in our ancient "purAnAs" and "itihAsa". **************** Sooner or late in life, people realize (through experience and wisdom) that whatever may be the various forms and manifestations in which Energy appears in this world, the truth of the matter is that ultimately all Energy is really One -- and it is a great, indestructible and elemental Force of Life! Such knowledge dawns and when it dawns one will know that the same energy that lights up the ordinary electric bulb also turns the wheel of the motor car and propels the rocket into outer space.... That knowledge ultimately dawns on us in life that ultimately, all Energy is One ... and One only! Such intuitive understanding of Energy -- as being the common substratum of every other form of energy existent in the world --- is more or less akin, we may say, to the knowledge and understanding of God as being the "antaryAmin" of all Creation and all Life. ****************** Trust the above analogy will help you, my dear friend, in some way to grasp the "tattva" of the "pancha-vyUha" principle of Godhead which is a very unique and profound subject in Vedanta. Thank you for asking a very common but profound question of Vedanta theology. Regards, dAsan, Sudarshan --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 tiruvenkatam, "RUMESH BABU V. E." <selvi_rumesh> wrote: > Dear all, >> Could any kindly explain the meaning of the five forms >> Para - vyuha – vibhava antaryamin and archarupa >> babu >> thanks. **************** Dear member, In response to your above query, another learned member Sri Pydakula Narayanan has already posted a very informative message, giving quotations from the AzhwAr's prabhandhams and relevant excerpts from Sri Anbil Ramaswamy's book "Hinduism Re-Discovered" (Publishers:Tiruvenkatam Group, Kuwait). Supplementing the above learned sources, I give below a simple analogy which laymen (like myself) find useful in order to grasp the deep "tattva" or principle underlying the reality of the "pancha- vyUha". ************* In theoretical physics, Energy is conceived as pure Force. It is defined as "Mass multiplied by Velocity square" in the famous Einstienian equation E=mc2. In theoretical physics Energy is conceived as elementary but real Force. But few people other than physicists themselves can really understand the reality of Energy at such an elemental, abstract level. Energy conceived at such a elemental and abstract level may be said to be somewhat akin to the metaphyical conception of God as "para vyUha". Only yogis and mystics can comprehend the "para tattva" just as only physicists really comprehend E=mc2. ************* Ordinary people understand the concept of Energy only in its manifested forms, and not in its elemental form. There is solar energy, for example, which everybody easily understands because they see it manifested in several thermo-dynamic forms. Similarly, people understand hydel energy because they can see it manifested in giant hydel-power dams. People also understand energy as it manifests itself in thermal energy, wind-energy and nuclear energy. Just as ordinary people understand the various manifestations of Energy better than they do Abstract Energy (i.e. E=mc2), so do they better understand the various manifestations of God -- i.e. His "vyUha" forms -- than they do His "para" form. ***************** Some people -- little children, for example -- cannot comprehend what Energy is even in its manifested form. Try explaining how hydel energy is generated in a dam to a child of seven. The child will not be able to grasp what you explain. Similarly, to some ordinary people even the "vyUha" forms of God Almighty (viz. Vasudeva, Sankarshana, PradhyUmna and Aniruddha) are incomprehensible. For such people Energy can be conceived and understood only in its grossest form -- at the least elemental and most elementary level. If you point the child to the roof your house and to the electric fan or to the electric bulbs in the chandeliers, and tell him that Energy is what makes the fan rotate or the bulb light up, the child will easily comprehend what Energy is. If you let the child also operate the on-off switch, it will gleefully play with the switch, turning it on and off, again and again playfully, and pointing out to the fan or the light and gushing with delight, "Energy! Energy! That's Energy!". Similarly, those ordinary people who cannot understand the ALmighty in his "para" or "vyUha" forms, will however immediately recognize him in forms that are (happily) less metaphysical. And such easily recognizable or comprehensible forms are what are called "archA" and "vibhava" forms of the Almighty -- the iconic forms or "AgamA" forms in which we find God in temples and shrines and the "avatAra" forms, as well, in which we find the Glory of God described in our ancient "purAnAs" and "itihAsa". **************** Sooner or late in life, people realize (through experience and wisdom) that whatever may be the various forms and manifestations in which Energy appears in this world, the truth of the matter is that ultimately all Energy is really One -- and it is a great, indestructible and elemental Force of Life! Such knowledge dawns and when it dawns one will know that the same energy that lights up the ordinary electric bulb also turns the wheel of the motor car and propels the rocket into outer space.... That knowledge ultimately dawns on us in life that ultimately, all Energy is One ... and One only! Such intuitive understanding of Energy -- as being the common substratum of every other form of energy existent in the world --- is more or less akin, we may say, to the knowledge and understanding of God as being the "antaryAmin" of all Creation and all Life. ****************** Trust the above analogy will help you, my dear friend, in some way to grasp the "tattva" of the "pancha-vyUha" principle of Godhead which is a very unique and profound subject in Vedanta. Thank you for asking a very common but profound question of Vedanta theology. Regards, dAsan, Sudarshan --- End forwarded message --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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