VEDIC PRAYER

Transliteration by Dr. Sudhir Anand

The Three Eternals: God, Soul and Prakriti (Traitwad)

Bālād ekam aṇīyaskam ut ekam neva drshyate.

Tatah pari shvajīyasī devatā sā mam priyā.

(Atharva Veda 10: 8: 25)

*Ekam* One thing/entity, (Prakriti), subatomic physical matter	*annīyaskam* is much smaller than		*bālād* tip of hair,	*ut ekam* and the next one thing/entity (soul)

*na eva drshyate.* is invisible, in not detectable by physical means.	*Tatah* A third entity different from the other two,			*pari shvajīyasī* is intimately in contact with them (other two),

*sā devatā* That divine entity (God, Eeshwara)		*mam priyā.* is most dear to me.

In the whole universe, whatever we can see; directly apprehend or have direct cognizance of; infer something to be likely; read or hear about something or consider it probable; all of them at ther most basic root level consists of only three eternal things, God, the Soul and Prakriti (physical matter in the extremely minute subatomic state). There is nothing else, no fourth thing. God is the agentive cause for the creation of the universe, prakriti is the material cause of universe, and souls are the consumers for whose benefit the universe is created.

The first eternal thing, prakriti is innately inert, it has no innate activity or consciousness. The prakriti at its most primal level is composed of three types of extremely minute subatomic particles (called mool tatwa) with the following innate properties[1]: satwa (full of energy but calm), rajas (full of energy but agitated) and tamas (inert, dull, no energy). The other characteristics of these subatomic particles are that they are innately indestructible, and even though they are extremely minute[2], they still have shape, form and dimensions whereby when they combine with each other, one particle cannot enter inside another, only displace it in one or the other direction. Lastly, these particles potentially can be measured by scientists like other physical objects (in contrast to God or soul: see later). From these primal root particles the whole universe is made. The earth, sun, moon, planets as well as other stars and galaxies are all eventually made of these three types of particles. These subatomic extremely minute particles in this Veda mantra have been metaphorically called as much smaller than the tip of a hair.

From time to time, physical matter is either activated and transformed by God’s creative power into the manifest universe as we know it (srishti), or inactivated and goes through dissolution (pralaya) back into its dormant primal state. During pralaya the three types of the mool tatwa exist in a balanced primal state but upon activation they may change their apparent characteristics such as shape or form when they combine with each other (or among themselves) in various combinations and proportions to make the manifest universe. The manifest universe in turn consists of the five gross elements (sthool tatwas) of nature/universe namely Akasha (space), Vayu (air or gasses things), Agni (fire, light, or energy), Jala (water or liquids) and Prithvi (earth or solid things). All nonliving objects, as well as physical bodies of all living things, are composed of prakriti (matter). Our human body, various animals, birds, insects, plants, trees, fruits, vegetables, herbs are all made of prakriti. Similarly, the foods we eat, the clothes we wear and things we make our houses with for shelter are also all made of prakriti. Although, as stated before prakriti at the level of basic root particles is innately indestructible, yet it keeps changing its shape and form, for example the food we eat gets digested and then helps make our blood, muscles, bones and other body tissues. When we die our physical body (mitti or rakh ka putala) made from matter begins to disintegrate and will end as ashes (either by cremation or burial). Because prakriti is prone to change, metaphorically, all living and non-living things arose from the ashes (extremely minute subatomic particles i.e. physical matter) and will end as ashes.

The second eternal thing is soul and it is a conscious entity. The soul is extremely small and at any given time is ekdeshi—exists in one place only. The soul, however, is not made of prakriti. Therefore, unlike prakriti, soul is invisible because it has no shape or form, does not occupy any space. Therefore, the soul cannot be measured by scientists like other physical objects made of prakriti. Moreover, the soul being a conscious entity enters the physical body made of prakriti and activates and controls it, this is how the soul performs its functions through the physical body. The soul because of its conscious energy is the ultimate center of all learning (thought and knowledge); desires and feelings (love, jealousy, happiness, suffering); and karma (actions or deeds). It is the soul that enables us to see, hear, eat, walk, run, play and do other activities. The soul, however, can only do these activities when it joins prakriti to have a living physical body with various senses such as eyes and ears (all made of prakriti). Without the physical body, the soul cannot do anything external in the world. The entity which sees an object is the soul, where as the entity which enables us to see outside objects is the eye. Similarly, the entity which experiences happiness or sorrow is the soul, where as the entities that enables us to experience happiness or sorrow are our mind, chit, intellect and ego (together they are called antahkaran and are all made of prakriti).

The soul is eternal, it has always existed, it was never born and never dies. The joining of the soul with a physical body is birth, and the separation from the body is death. The physical body grows and perishes; following this the soul migrates to a new physical body. Thus, the soul comes and goes i.e. it changes physical bodies. This cycle of birth, death and rebirth will continue until the soul has attained moksha the infinite bliss (see below). As stated before, the body made of prakriti by itself is inert, where as the soul is the conscious entity. However, soul most of the time lacks one characteristic that is anand i.e. pure bliss or joy. While the soul under usual circumstances in most persons has an element of joy or happiness but it is admixed with unhappiness and sorrow. The joy or happiness brought about by things made of prakriti such as wealth, comfort items, physical beauty etc. is always transient, incomplete, admixed with unhappiness and sorrow, as well as never brings satiety, fulfillment and there is always unquenchable thirst for more.

The third eternal thing is God. God is Supreme Consciousness and Supreme Bliss. He is the Creator and Maintainer of the universe and causes its dissolution. God has no shape, form, or dimensions nor does God occupy any space. Like the soul God is invisible and cannot be measured by scientists like other physical objects made of prakriti. Omnipresent God is present everywhere in each and every particle of the universe and beyond. God is endless as well as God is larger than the largest and smaller than the smallest. God being larger than the largest entity envelops everything in the universe including the earth, planets, stars and galaxies. God transcends all physical objects. God being a conscious entity can enter/penetrate things made of prakriti to activate them and being smaller than the smallest God is present even inside our soul. Therefore, God is called sarvavyāpyaka i.e. omnipresent, an entity that pervades inside each and every particle and place in the universe including our soul. He is aware of everything that is going on even in the most secret recesses of our minds because He resides even inside our souls. God as the Karmaphaldātā—Final Judge in the Universe gives appropriate awards to all of us depending upon our past and present karmas—deeds. As such, God the Supreme Bliss showers and fills up his true devotees with bliss. Once a devotee has attained God realization and true bliss, things made of prakriti seem insipid and give him/her no joy. Also, the desire to acquire more and more material goods for physical enjoyments is quenched and extinguished. The bliss obtained in the conscious company of God is pure, complete and fulfilling unlike those obtained from prakriti (see above paragraph). From then on God becomes the dearest entity in the devotee's life. While all other types of love a human being has such as for parents, spouse, children and friends have their perspective role in one's life journey, they become secondary to one's love for God.

Therefore, O human beings! Remember that God created the universe to provide souls a place to move closer to Him and eventually attain bliss. It is only in the context of the universe (prakriti) that a person can live and grow, and learn right from wrong. Karma and the exercise of free will are only possible within the setting of the universe. Therefore, utilize the things made of prakriti as the means but do not get attached to them or make gathering them the goal of your life, they will not provide bliss or lasting happiness. Your utmost attachment and love should be for God who is the Ultimate Source and Storehouse of Bliss, Knowledge, Wisdom and Strength as well as the provider of an element of the same to His true devotees. O human beings! Once you have tasted such gifts given directly by God, all of your personal desires will be permanently fulfilled and no voids left in your life.

(This mantra has been reprinted with minor modifications from Acharya Gyaneshwar Arya Ji's book Ved Prarthana in Hindi and its English Translation by Sudhir Anand. The English Translation was published in August 2012 by Vaanprashtha Saadhak Aashram.)

[1] Comment: Whether these three properties in modern scientific terminology may be translated to mean positive, negative or neutral respectively must remain conjectural for the present.

[2] Whether their size and form is at Bosons (gluons, photons etc.) or Fermions (quarks, leptons etc. and their antimatter partners) level or some other level (e.g. dark matter) is hard to be sure and at present must remain conjectural.