Understanding creation

[Guest guest]

Jaya Jaya Shankara !

Namastripurasundaryai !

Namo Chandramouleeeshwaraaya !

Namo Naarasimhaaya !

 

The philosophy of Saktism is Advaita or Non_Dualism and the

highest reality is termed as Paramashiva or Mahatripurasundari. Shiva

is the static consciousness and Shakti is the dynamic consciousness

or Chit-Rupini. Shiva is pure awareness, which is the basis of all

existence. Through his Shakti, he effects the manifestation of the

universe. He is the sole cause of the world. The ultimate reality is

non-dual and is of the nature of pure consciousness. The universe of

Forms and names are all aspects of the same ultimate Reality. It is

the movement of Brahman, the `Spanda' that brings about the

distinction of Sabda (word), Artha (object) and cognition (Pratyaya).

These three are the aspects of the Brahman's Primal Energy.

It is the causal impetus of the Divine, which makes them emerge out

of itself. The world of sounds, things and thoughts is the

manifestation of the same non-dual Spirit.

Reality, Paramashiva is transcendent, beyond the levels of

matters, life and mind. It is without parts and hence called

Nishkala. Without activity (Nishkriya) and beyond the reach of word

(Asabda) and mind. The same Reality as the Cause of the world-process

is called Ishwara. From him arise the five categories of pure, siddha

creation and then are the course of finitisation consisting in the

emergence of the thirty one categories composing impure (Asuddha)

creation.

The five categories (Tatvas) of pure creation are :

1. Shiva Tatva

2. Shakti Tatva

3. Sadashiva or sadakhya Tatva

4. Ishwara Tatva

5. Suddha Vidya Tatva

 

Shiva Tatva, which is the first process in the order of world

evolution, and is Chit, with its important aspect of power as

Consciousness.

Shakti Tatva, a co-ordinate of the first Tatva, manifests as

the aspect of Bliss or Ananda.

Sadashiva Tatva is Sat, the stage where the experience

of `Being' begins. It is the power of Will or Icchha that is

predominant.

In Ishwara Tatva, the power of Knowledge or Jnana plays an

important role.

In Suddha Vidya Tatva, the power of action or Kriya dominates.

 

These five stages of Experience represent the gradual

differentiation in the pure Experience, which serves as the basis of

the evolution of the pluralistic universe.

At first, there is only the distinction less experience. Into

this is introduced the condition of distinction by Shakti. In the

Sadashiva Tatva, the experience of the form, " I am This " arises

with the emphasis on "I". In Ishwara tatwa, the emphasis is on "

This – This I am ". In order that the universe of minds and objects

may emerge, there should be a balance between " I" and " This". This

is what is obtained at the stage of Suddha Vidya Tatva. Here, in the

experience " Iam This ", the two get equalized. It is in such an

experience that there is activity and movement of thought.

These five called Suddha tatvas deal with ideal creation. The

rest of the thirty-one categories which commence with Maya begin the

actual creation.

Maya is the first of the thirty one categories of impure

creation and is the power of obscuration or " Tirodhana ". It

obscures the infinite spirit, and makes possible the rise of

plurality of souls and things. Again, the limitless experience begins

to be limited as regards the experiencer and the experienced, the "I"

and the "This".

The next five categories are called Kanchukas or

constrictors. They are the ones, which bring about limitation. Kala

is temporal limitation. Niyati is restriction in regard to space.

Raga is attachment to particular things. Vidya is limited knowledge.

Kalaa is limited agency. The soul enveloped in these agencies arises

as Purusha and that is the seventh category. The eighth is Prakriti,

which is the corresponding limitation on the objective side.

The other follow the pattern of evolution as in the Sankhya

scheme. Buddi or intellect, Ahamkara or egoity ( or individuation to

be exact ), manas or mind, come into manifestation in sequence. From

Ahamkara are evolved manas, the five organs of sense called

Jnanendriyas, the five organs of action called Karmendriyas and the

five essence of elements called tanmatras. Out of the last five

emerge the gross elements which are ether, air, fire, water and earth.

This is the evolution of the world of things i.e. Artha

prapancha. There is a similar eolution of the world of sounds called

Sabda Prapancha. Here too the line of evolution is from the subtle to

the gross.

Corresponding to the five categories of pure creation, there

are five stages of the emnation of sound. The first is Para, which is

supreme and subtle. The second is pashyanti, which is less subtle but

still undifferentiated. The third is Madhyama, which is grosser and

differentiated, but not yer articulate. Articulate sound is called

Vaikhari which is of two forms, subtle and gross. It is from Vaikhari

that all letters or varnas and syllabales or Padas and Sentences or

Vakyas are manifested.

Para which resides in the Shiva Tatva represents the first

movement of Sabda. This is also called Nada Tatva. Pasyanti stands

for Shakti Tatva and is also called Bindu Tatva. These are the

compliments of the ultimate potency of creation. From these arise

what is known as the Tribindu which is the root of all mantras. Much

has been already said about Bindus and Kamakala .

Thus the duality that manifets in every Jiva is lost when the

Supreme Mother reveals herself within luminious effulgence and

everything in the world and within each one of us, becomes the mantra

sakthi. The breathing in and out becomes even and the mind and senses

turn inward. One loses body consciousness and the feeling of duality

ceases and brings about the awareness of equality. Then one

experiences the shiva-shaktii one Parabrahman as Mahatripurasundari.

" Tat Tvam Asi " is the spontaneous utterance of liberation,

We are that – as we play on the lap of the Divine Mother, basking in

the luminosity

of her Love. This is the culmination of all spiritual practices. Her

presence lightens our life and nectarine bliss fills every pore of

our heart.

Sivoham….Saaham….Soham….!!!!!!