Evolution from Inconceivable Brahman to the manifested universe

Most religions say God is omnipotent, omniscient and is
everywhere, yet is unseen. But our logical mind seeks to find answers as to how
this manifested world came about from that unseen God. At this point, I would
request readers to look at this issue spiritually and not from the point of
trying to match the theory of evolution based on the big bang theory. Maybe at
some point in time, science will be able to prove/disprove the spiritual concept
of evolution. Till such time, I would like to go by the logical flow as
enunciated in the Indian spiritual thought.

Let us start off with our familiar paradigm that the only
reality is Brahman. We will now have to trace the evolution from Brahman to the
manifested universe. Let us start off with a painter analogy. Assume I am the
painter and I am looking to create a painting. For this, I need two things, a
desire to create a painting and secondly the knowledge/ability to create the
painting. Now are these two things different from me. No, in fact, they are
nothing but my attributes. So the only reality is “I” plus the above two
attributes which are needed to create a painting. Similarly Brahman has two
attributes, the desire to create or Ichchaashakti which is called as Iswara and
secondly the ability to create which is called Maya or Mahaprakriti.

As an artist, I will first create a blue print, which will
have the broad outlines of my painting. This in effect, is the seed for my
painting. It will have all the elements needed for my painting to emerge. In
exactly the same way, Brahman has the broad outline of the universe, the seed
of the universe from which the actual universe will emerge. This seed of the
universe is called as Hiranyagarbha.

Now, the artist using the blue print will start filling in
the details, adding a touch of red here, a touch of green there, adding a curve
somewhere and making a straight line somewhere. Once I the artist finish all
the details, the painting is ready. In exactly the same way, from
Hiranyagarbha, the total universe emerges. This total universe at the
macrocosmic level is called as Virata.

Just as the painting arose from the painter through
different stages using a combination of creative urge and the knowledge/intelligence
of painting, the macro universe emerges from the creative urge of Brahman
utilizing the intelligence attribute.

Now that we saw the evolution at the macro level, let us try
and understand how the micro level evolution occurs and we emerge. There is
again a creative urge/desire, which ensures manifestation as individuals in
this universe. I have indicated earlier that the only reason we take birth in a
particular form is to ensure that our desires are fulfilled. This desire at the
individual level which is responsible for the creation of a particular
individual in a particular life form (man, animal, insect etc) is called the
causal body. This is equivalent to Iswara at the macrocosmic level. At the
individual level, it is called karana shareera or pradnya.  The seed stage for an individual is what is
called the subtle body or the sookshma shareera. This consists of the vital air
layer, the mind and the intellect. This is the body that has the ability to see,
hear, touch etc and the ability to move, talk, walk etc. So all the
capabilities seen at the physical level are actually in a seed form at this
body level. This is equivalent to an embryo or single fertilized cell having
every thing needed for manifesting as an individual. This body is also called
as Taijas. Just as the macro-universe emerges from Hiranyagarbha, we the
individual in physical form emerge from the subtle body and we now have the
gross body or the sthoola shareera. This is also called a Vishwa.

So from the single universal Brahman, we have the manifested
universe, which is Virata and the manifested, individual which is Viswa.

As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.

I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.


1. My Humble Understanding  Of Spirituality


My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality

2. Attain Infinite Bliss

Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide

3. The Spirit Of Spirituality

The Spirit Of Spirituality