Namasthe- Macrocosm and Microcosm, food for thought

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

We all know that the Viraat Purusha or Viswaroopam of Bahgavaan fills all the 14 worlds. 

 

The 6 worlds above earth or Bhoomi in the ascending order are 1. Anthareeksham or atmosphere, 2. Swargam or heaven 3. Maharllokam 4. Janalokam 5. Thapolokam and 6. Sathyalokam.

 

The seven worlds below earth in descending order are as follows: Atalam, Vitalam, Sutalam, Talatalam, Mahatalam, Rasatalam and Patalam

 

Hindus believe that the whole universe that exists (all that we see and do not see with our naked eyes)  outside our body also exists inside our body. That is why we hear about macrocosm and microcosm and say that our body is microscopic universe and " brahmaandam " is macroscopic universe encompassing the microscopic universe.

 

The worlds above Bhoomi are called lokaas and the world below bhoomi are called talaas. Purusha sooktham describes Mahapurusha filling the 14 worlds:

 

" He is with thousands of heads, arms and legs. Paathaalam is under His feet and feet is earth or Bhu lokam. Upper part of the feet is Rasathala. Ankles are Mahathala, part between ankles and knees are Thalathala. Thighs are Suthala, upper part of thigh is vithala, lower part of thigh is Athala. Hip is Mahithala, Navel is Anthariksha or sky, Breast is suvar loka, Neck is Maharloka, Face is Janaloka, forehead is Thapoloka and head is Sathya loka. "

 

Yajur Veda gives the connection between Brahmaandam and pindaandam or macrocosm and microcosm : " Yatha pinde tatha brahmande, yatha brahmande tatha pinde " --- " As is the individual, so is the universe, as is the universe, so is the individual " .

 

Corresponding to a loka above, there is a tala below. Do they represent spiritual aspect and material aspect of Mahath thatwam or cosmic intelligence? According to many scholars talaas and lokaas are like the poles of a magnet or are contrasting forces of nature. All the satva gunaas or positive qualities increase as we go up from one loka to the next upper loka and thamogunas or negative qualities increase as we go down from one tala to the next lower tala.

 

It is  fascinating to read about the relationship about the microcosm and macrocosm which ultimately reveals the relationship between Jeevaathma and Paramaathma.

 

Regards and prayers

 

Savitri