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| | + | Purusha (Samskrit पुरुषः) is a complex concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the cosmic man or Self, Consciousness, and Universal principle. |
| | + | |
| | == परिचय || Introduction == | | == परिचय || Introduction == |
| − | Purusha
| + | During the Vedic period, Purusha concept was one of several theories offered for the |
| − | (Sanskrit पुरुषः) is a complex
| + | creation of universe. Purusha, in Rigveda, was described as a |
| − | concept whose meaning evolved in Vedic and
| |
| − | Upanishadic times. Depending on source and historical timeline, it means the
| |
| − | cosmic man or Self, Consciousness, and Universal principle.
| |
| − | | |
| − | During the | |
| − | Vedic period, Purusha concept was one of several theories offered for the | |
| − | creation of universe. Purusha, in '''Rigveda''', was described as a | |
| | being, who becomes a sacrificial victim of gods, and whose sacrifice creates | | being, who becomes a sacrificial victim of gods, and whose sacrifice creates |
| − | all life forms including human beings. | + | all life forms including human beings. |
| | | | |
| | In the | | In the |
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| | According to | | According to |
| | the expository Brahmana books or lexicons, ‘Purusha’ has several meanings such | | the expository Brahmana books or lexicons, ‘Purusha’ has several meanings such |
| − | as: | + | as:<blockquote>1. पुरति अग्रे गच्छति || ''purati agre gachchati (''He who goes |
| − | | + | ahead)</blockquote><blockquote>2. पिपर्ति पूरयति बलम् यः || ''piparti'' puurayati balam yah (That which |
| − | 1. पुरति अग्रे गच्छति || ''purati agre gachchati (''He who goes | + | fills all with his strength'')''</blockquote><blockquote>3. पूर्षु शेते यः || ''purshu shete yah'' (He who lies |
| − | ahead) | + | inside a township).</blockquote><blockquote>4. Pur-usha, |
| − | | + | the dawn in the city; He who is filled with light;</blockquote><blockquote>5. Puru-sha – |
| − | 2. पिपर्ति पूरयति बलम् यः || ''piparti'' puurayati balam yah (That which | + | filled with wisdom and eternal happiness; citizen of Heaven</blockquote>Purusha with |
| − | fills all with his strength'')'' | |
| − | | |
| − | 3. पूर्षु शेते यः || ''purshu shete yah'' (He who lies | |
| − | inside a township). | |
| − | | |
| − | 4. Pur-usha, | |
| − | the dawn in the city; He who is filled with light; | |
| − | | |
| − | 5. Puru-sha – | |
| − | filled with wisdom and eternal happiness; citizen of Heaven | |
| − | | |
| − | Purusha with | |
| | its three kaleidoscopic syllables, pu-ru-sha, keeps unfolding in a never-ending | | its three kaleidoscopic syllables, pu-ru-sha, keeps unfolding in a never-ending |
| | play, the image of the creation like a musical theme developed by a skillful | | play, the image of the creation like a musical theme developed by a skillful |
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| | includes the realization of Purusha. | | includes the realization of Purusha. |
| | | | |
| − | == Concept of तद् एकम् || Tad Ekam in नासदीय सूक्तं || Nasadiya Suktam (Rig Veda) ('''should this be in block quote''') == | + | == तद् एकम् || Tad Ekam As in नासदीय सूक्तं || Nasadiya Suktam (Rig Veda) == |
| | Rig veda | | Rig veda |
| − | clearly talks about the Origin of Creation in the 10th mandala, which is | + | clearly talks about the Origin of Creation in the 10th mandala, which is<blockquote>popularly known as the Nasadiya suktam. |
| − | popularly known as the Nasadiya suktam. <blockquote>" | |
| | न मृ॒त्यु: आसीत् | | न मृ॒त्यु: आसीत् |
| − | अमृतं॒ न तर्हि॒"</blockquote><blockquote>" | + | अमृतं॒ न तर्हि॒" |
| | "Then not | | "Then not |
| − | death existed, nor the immortal" (10.129.2)"</blockquote>आनी॑त् अवा॒तं | + | death existed, nor the immortal" (10.129.2)"</blockquote>आनी॑त् अवा॒तं स्व॒धया॒ तत् एकम्तस्माद्धान्यन्न परः किञ्चनास |
| − | स्व॒धया॒ '''तत् एकम्'''तस्माद्धान्यन्न परः किञ्चनास | |
| | | | |
| | “'''That One''' | | “'''That One''' |
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| | तपस॒: | | तपस॒: |
| − | तत्महि॒नअजाय॒तएकम् | + | तत्महि॒नअजाय॒तएकम् "That One, |
| − | | |
| − | "That One, | |
| | enclosed in nothing (void), was born from heat (tapas)" (10.129.3) | | enclosed in nothing (void), was born from heat (tapas)" (10.129.3) |
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| | Mundaka | | Mundaka |
| | Upanishad is the vedanga of the Atharvana Veda. Verses 2-5 describe the | | Upanishad is the vedanga of the Atharvana Veda. Verses 2-5 describe the |
| − | attributes of the Purusha. | + | attributes of the Purusha. <blockquote>दिव्यो ह्यमूर्तः पुरुषः सबाह्याभ्यन्तरो ह्यजः |</blockquote><blockquote>अप्रणो ह्यमनाः शुभ्रो ह्यक्षरात्परतः परः || (Mund. Upan. 2.1.2)</blockquote>Meaning : Replete without a form, this Purusha, all pervading and internal, unborn, without life (breath) or intellect, from Him arise life, breath and mind. |
| − | | |
| − | दिव्यो ह्यमूर्तः '''पुरुषः''' सबाह्याभ्यन्तरो ह्यजः | | |
| − | | |
| − | अप्रणो ह्यमनाः | |
| − | शुभ्रो ह्यक्षरात्परतः परः ||२.१.२ || | |
| − | | |
| − | ''Splendid and without a bodily form is this Purusa, without and within,
| |
| − | unborn, without life breath and without mind, higher than the supreme element. | |
| − | From him are born life breath and mind. He is the soul of all beings.''
| |
| − | | |
| − | — Munduka
| |
| − | Upanishad, (Verse 2.1.2 Translated by Klaus Klostermair)['''9]'''
| |
| | | | |
| | It was said | | It was said |
| | that from that Imperishable Being, everything proceeds; the world is created by | | that from that Imperishable Being, everything proceeds; the world is created by |
| − | That. That Supreme Imperishable is the divine, formless '''Purusha'''. Here | + | That. That Supreme Imperishable is the divine, formless Purusha. Here |
| | Purusha is to be understood in the sense of essential Consciousness. The origin | | Purusha is to be understood in the sense of essential Consciousness. The origin |
| − | of all things is Consciousness. | + | of all things is Consciousness. |
| | | | |
| | Verse 2.1.3 | | Verse 2.1.3 |
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| | * the अन्तरात्मन् || Antaratman (the Inner-Atman) which comprehends the whole range of material phenomena, gross and subtle, with which the Jiva concerns himself | | * the अन्तरात्मन् || Antaratman (the Inner-Atman) which comprehends the whole range of material phenomena, gross and subtle, with which the Jiva concerns himself |
| | * the परमात्मन् || Paramatman which is all-pervading, unthinkable, indescribable, is without action and has no संस्कार || Samskaras | | * the परमात्मन् || Paramatman which is all-pervading, unthinkable, indescribable, is without action and has no संस्कार || Samskaras |
| − | == Purusha - As in साङ्ख्य || Samkhya == | + | == Purusha - As in साङ्ख्य || Saamkhya == |
| | Samkhya school | | Samkhya school |
| | of Hinduism states that there are two ultimate realities whose interaction | | of Hinduism states that there are two ultimate realities whose interaction |
| − | accounts for all experiences and universe - प्रकृति || '''Prakriti (matter) and पुरुष || Purusha''' | + | accounts for all experiences and universe - प्रकृति || Prakriti (matter) and पुरुष || Purusha |
| − | (spirit)'''. Sankhya analyzes the cosmos into '''a dualistic, and atheistic | + | (spirit). Sankhya analyzes the cosmos into a dualistic, and atheistic |
| − | scheme'''. | + | scheme. |
| | | | |
| | In other words, | | In other words, |
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| | # It is also found in Sama Veda & Atharva Veda with some variations. | | # It is also found in Sama Veda & Atharva Veda with some variations. |
| | It gives a | | It gives a |
| − | description of the spiritual unity of the universe. It presents '''the nature | + | description of the spiritual unity of the universe. It presents the nature |
| − | of Purusha''' or the cosmic being as both immanent in the manifested world and | + | of Purusha or the cosmic being as both immanent in the manifested world and |
| | yet transcendent to it. | | yet transcendent to it. |
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| | तस्माद्विराळजायत विराजो अधि पूरुषःस जातो अत्यरिच्यत पश्चाद्भूमिमथो पुरः || tasmadviraljaayat virajo adhi purushas jato atyarichyat paschadvbhamimatho purah | | तस्माद्विराळजायत विराजो अधि पूरुषःस जातो अत्यरिच्यत पश्चाद्भूमिमथो पुरः || tasmadviraljaayat virajo adhi purushas jato atyarichyat paschadvbhamimatho purah |
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| − | == सम्वाद || Discussion ==
| |
| | == References == | | == References == |
| | # Rig veda | | # Rig veda |