Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| + | 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 |
Line 32: |
Line 27: |
| 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 |
Line 74: |
Line 57: |
| 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''' |
Line 94: |
Line 75: |
| | | |
| 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) |
| | | |
Line 113: |
Line 92: |
| 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 |
Line 152: |
Line 119: |
| * 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, |
Line 192: |
Line 159: |
| # 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. |
| | | |
Line 233: |
Line 200: |
| 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 |
| | | |
− | == सम्वाद || Discussion ==
| |
| == References == | | == References == |
| # Rig veda | | # Rig veda |