Let
us take up the second line
(Then, due to the illusory play of Maya, Her creations in
Time and Space, project themselves in endless names and forms)
Desha Kaala Kalana
Two factors have to be
in place before any creation can take place. They are Time and Space.
Everything in creation occurs in the framework of these two factors. The
definition of Time and Space is “that because of which we can transact in this
world.”
We cannot refer to an
object or an event independent of time and space.
Time and Space are Maya’s creation, and used as a reference
frame. They themselves are related. One cannot think of time unless it is with
reference to a space frame. When an object moves in space, the idea of time is
born. Movement can be recorded in time. In deep sleep there is no movement, and
so there is no sense of time passing.
In any measurement of
time, a movement is used as a reference. The most common movement is that of
the sun. Sunrise and sunset are the oldest time references we can think of.
Modern astronomy has taken these calculations to new heights; the relative
movement between any two bodies in space is now able to be mapped out on a time
axis. One can predict their distance apart over a great period of time.
Scientists can now even go back in time and plot what the planetary positions
were for any point of time in the past.
All these facts are
implied in the second line of the 2nd stotram
/ ashtakam. The entire cosmos is
interconnected in time and space. But we are reminded that time and space are
creations of Maya, and do not exist
at the level of Brahman or the
Absolute.
The universe is planned
and conceived in the drawing office of the Creator. Everything has been
designed and goes out to ‘Tender’ to Mother Nature who is the contractor that
is going to build it. Time and Space are needed for the process to happen.
Nature waits for the right circumstances before the manifestation of Name and
Form takes place.
Maya as Nature is this material cause, providing all the
ingredients for the created object. Brahman
is the efficient cause, providing the flash of Consciousness to spark off the
idea of creation. As Maya and Brahman are inseparable, many texts
declare Brahman to be both the efficient as well as the material cause.
There is an objection to
this example – no example is exempted from objections. The objection is that
the seed gets destroyed (or transformed) when the tree manifests. The seed is
no longer manifested. Can this be a true representation for the un-manifest
Creator?
No, the Creator cannot
get destroyed. There is certainly a shortcoming in the analogy. To avoid this
shortcoming, we go to the second simile.
Similarly this universe,
prior to this creation was un-manifest. Prior to that, manifest, thus there is
cycle after cycle. How does the universe become manifest? The answer is:
– painted
– many colors
– causing, giving
rise
– space
– time
– projected
– creative
capacity
This universe was
painted using many colors, by giving rise to time and space. How did all
this happen? The universe was projected by creative capacity of Easvara.
Maya has different meanings in different context. In the first
verse, it meant the ignorance. Here it has different meaning. It is the POWER
of CREATION also called creative capacity.
Swami Sivananda opens the veil/avarna with these beautiful lines
“In reality the Jiva or the individual soul creates this world of names and forms
on account of his own ignorance and delusion. When he attains knowledge of the
Self by the Grace of his spiritual preceptor, he dissolves the external world
into himself and sees his own Self everywhere. He sees oneness
everywhere.
He becomes struck with wonder when he
thinks of the world of duality. The world of diversity appears to him like a
mere dream and he exclaims in surprise, Where has this world full of the charms
of Maya disappeared now, which was
glaring before my very eyes till this very moment!”
Love.
