Creation of the Universe - Part 17

PURUSHA AND PRAKRITI IN VEDANTHA

Dear All,

We read this part in the post dated 19/04/2017.

“Sankhya says that Purusha and Prakriti are self-created and eternal entities and there is nothing beyond these two. 

Later, in Vedanta and in Gita, the above view was modified by declaring that there is a third principle, eternal and beyond these two. In this enhanced view, Purusha and Prakriti are no longer self-created entities but the two aspects of the Supreme One”.

Let us learn about the third principle as given in vedantha and later in Gita (Bhagwad Gita is the extension of vedantha, made more simpler for common man to grasp in centuries to come).

In the Gita, an entity / existence beyond Purusha and prakriti is explained as PURUSHOTTAMA.

In the Gita, Purusha and Purushottama words are used frequently and one is used for the other term. Thus, if the existence of Purushottama is not properly grasped by the readers, then Purusha word used in the Gita may be interpreted as Purusha explained in the sankhya.

Thus, as per Gita (and as in vedantha), the exposition is as under:

In the sankhya, Purusha and Prakriti, where Prakriti is not different from Purusha but only the primordial matter of the Purusha existing as spirit, are understood to be responsible for the creation,

If that be so, where were this Purusha and Prakriti (or the identity of Purusha as Spirit and Matter) before the creation took place?

Sankhya maintans that purusha and prakriti were / are eternal.

Vedanta gives the answer, which aligns with the flow given above:

“Purusha (as described in the traditional sankhya philosophy) and Prakriti are both latent in the Supreme. At the time of creation, they became operative”.

This has been explained in the initial posts in creation theme which can be referred now to align with the description of Purushottama in the Gita.

The one who / which existed before the cosmic vibration, all alone is Purushottama.

Upon cosmic vibration, when He willed to create, He emerged as Purusha and Prakriti and then from here onwards, Vedanta and Sankhya are aligned perfectly.

Thus, to summarize,

“There was only one God (Purushottama / God / Brahman/ Parameswara). He then willed that there be diversity (The Aitareya Upanishad verse last line- “LET ME CREATE” (Purusha).

This (thoughtless) thought separated Him, the Purusha from Prakriti or we may say, with this thought, He himself (purusha) became prakriti (Maya Shakti)

Thereafter, Lord infused individual objects with individual consciousness as needed (this can be understood in the manner how air enters lungs).

Love.