(A Scientific study of God) By 108 Sri Srimad Ananta das Babaji Maharaj A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* Who is God? Srimat Jiva Goswâmipâd has stated in the third chapter of Sri Bhagavat- Sandarbha – “There is an absolute Mass of Bliss that possesses an inherent power. He has inexpressible qualities and is the root source of divine Power. His inherent power comprises of sub-powers, the chief of these being, ‘Hlâdini Shakti’ or the Power of Bliss. Hlâdini Shakti has a special property – devotion or Bhakti. When sages situated in extremely high spiritual position, so much so, that they have realized Brahman, experience this Mass of Bliss, they get Bhakti in their hearts. Their internal and external senses are drenched with Bhakti. Then Bhakti manifests That supreme Shakti (Mass of Bliss) as the Hero of various Leelâs with a multitude of capabilities. This is Bhagavân or God. In simple terms, Sri Bhagavân is a transcendental Tattva and has all the powers to the fullest extent. Therefore, we conclude that – “Sri Bhagavân has all the powers – material or spiritual.” –(B.S.17th chapter) The Vaishnav-toshani purport of Srimad-Bhâgavatam (10.12.11) has stated as follows – “Bhagavân is a comprisal of extraordinary swarup, majesty and sweetness. Swarup means ‘supreme bliss’, majesty refers to unparalleled and infinite lordship and sweetness implies unmatched, all-captivating natural beauty, excellence and leelâs.” In other words – Sri Bhagavân is a supernatural Tattva that is eternal, conscious and blissful. He has absolute sovereignty and beauty. No one has equal or more supremacy than He does, no body can compare with Him in all-mesmerizing looks and excellences and neither can anyone match Him in beautiful leelâs. Such is Sri Bhagavân. Shruti and Upanishads mention often that the Supreme Brahman is eternal, conscious and blissful (sat-chit-ânanda). “The Supreme Being is sat-chit-ânanda.” – (Nri Purva 1.6) “I am absolute and sat-chit-ânanda.” – (Maitri.3.12) “The Supreme One is Truth, conscious and eternal.” – (Taittiriya Upanishad1.2.1.1) 1 The Taittiriya Upanishad forms the seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of the Taittiriya Âranyak of the Krishna Yajur Ved. These chapters are known as Shikshâ Valli, Ânanda Valli and Bhrigu Valli, respectively. A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* “Verily know the Supreme One to be bliss.” – (Brihad-Âranyak Upanishad1.2.9.28) “We know for sure that the Supreme One is bliss.” – (Taittiriya Upanishad.2.6.1.) Shrutis often repeat that Parabrahman is extremely majestic. He is all knowing, the ultimate decision-maker, the Great Controller, colossal – the sun, moon and all heavenly bodies move by His command. All universe is resplendent with His almighty existence. “ishâvâsyam idam sarvam” “sarvasya prabhum ishânam sarvasya sharanam brihat.” “esha sarvashwara eshah sarvagnyah esho’ntaryâmi” ‘vashi sarvasya lokasya sthasvarasya charasya cha’ Sage Yagnavalkya2 told Gârgi – “etasya vâ aksharasya prashâsane gârgi surya-chandramasou vidhritou toshthat, etasya vâ aksharasya prashâsane gârgi dyâvâ prithivyou vidhrite tishthata.” Sri Gitâ too says – “shashi-surya-netram” Sri Bhagavân is incapable of describing His majesty, so He is telling Arjun – “Everything that is majestic, rich and powerful – know it to be a part of my potency.” – (B.G.10.41) The material universe comprises of just one part of the Lord’s majesty while the remaining three-fourth is in the divine world. We see in the Chhândogya Upanishad – “Where does Sri Bhagavân reside? He resides in His infinite glory.” The Vedas and Upanishads also tell us about Sri Bhagavân’s sweetness. The Aryan rishis worshiped Sri Bhagavân intensely; therefore, they realized the entire creation as an expression of the Lord’s sweetness. The 1 It is widely known for its philosophical statements, and is ascribed to Rishi Yagnavalkya. Its name is literally translated as "great-forest-book". It includes three sections, namely, Madhu Kanda, Muni Kanda (or Yajnavalkya Kanda) and Khila Kanda. The Madhu Kanda explains the teachings of the basic identity of the individual or jiva and the Atman. Muni Kanda includes the conversations between the sage Yajnavalkya and his wife, Maitreyi. Various methods of worship and meditation are dealt in the Khila Kanda. 2 A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* mantra “madhuvâtâ ritâyate madhuksharanti sindhava” of the Rig Ved says – “The breeze is laden with sweet fragrance; the seas ooze sweetness, the plants, the days and nights and the earth are all sweet.” They must have relished someone Who is extraordinarily sweet and full of ras – otherwise they would not have made a statement that expresses such a sweet bhâv. Madhuvidyâ of Brihad-Âranyak says – “Paramâtmâ Sri Bhagavân is the sweetness in everything.” Sri Bhagavân is absolute; He is naturally majestic and sweet. He is the ocean of sachchidânanda. He is the embodiment of love, ras and joy. His body is not material; therefore, it is eternal. His body is made up of bliss. “His body and soul are non-different.” – (Kurma Purân) “All forms of Sri Bhagavân are eternal and changeless. These forms do not have a beginning or an end. They are not material, but transcendental.” – (Varâha Purân) “All the forms of Sri Bhagavân are true, conscious, infinite and made up of blissful ras. Even the sages who are extremely pure-hearted and are learned in the Vedânta cannot realize Their glory.” – (S.B.10.13.54) This is why the gyânis consider His body as an illusion. Sriman-Mahâprabhu has told Sârvabhouma Bhattâchârya – ishwarer sri bigraha sach-chidanandâkâr, se bigrohe koho sattva guner bikâr. sri bigroho je nâ mane sei to pâshandi, adrishya asprishya hoy se jom-dandi. Meaning – “The Supreme Being’s form is sachchidânanda. How can you say it is made of sattva-gun? Who does not accept that Sri Bhagavân’s form is eternal and blissful is verily an atheist.” Sri Bhagavân’s form is sachchidânanda; this is why it is simultaneously omnipresent and place-bound. Sri Bhagavân’s power in inconceivable, therefore He is capable of such contradictions. Just because He is in the form of a deity, it odes not mean that He is only there and nowhere else. Sri Bhagavân is almighty, hence He is present everywhere, in everything eternally. A material object can be present in a certain place at one time, however this is not the case with Sri Bhagavân. He is beyond the rules of the material world. Sri Bhagavân is beyond time, beyond the rules of action and reaction, beyond material attributes. His Deity is non-different from Himself. His Deity is without a beginning and end. It was so in the A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* distant past; it is so today and will remain like this in the everlasting future. Sri Bhagavân’s body is not made up of the Five Elements (earth, water, fire, air and space). These comprise only material objects. “Who considers Sri Bhagavân’s body to comprise of the Five Elements is banned from performing all auspicious activities mentioned in the Shrutis and the Smritis.” – In fact, Sri Bhagavân’s birth and activities are divine, they are untouched by the illusory energy (they are not an illusion) and they are loving expressions of His divine leelâ-shakti. The divine abode is the inexhaustible source of leelâ-ras. Innumerable forms of that One Supreme Being sport therein. From there He takes mercy on the living beings and descends in the material earth. Here He expresses various sweet divine pastimes and again draws these leelâs within Himself. This is the mystery of Sri Bhagavân’s appearance and disappearance. “Who knows this secret of my divine birth and activities (pastimes) in truth and principle are freed from the bonds of birth and karma; they become free of illusion and attain Sri Bhagavân.” – (B.G.4.9) Sripâd Râmânujâchârya has explained this verse as follows – “The Blessed Lord is saying – A devotee may have inauspicious qualities that stop him from approaching my lotus feet; however if he knows the truth and principle behind my divine birth and activities, then that knowledge destroys countless inauspicious qualities and the devotee surrenders unto me in this very life, endears himself to me and attains me.” A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* Sri Bhagavân has three Shaktis “Whoever knows Sri Krishna’s swarup and three Shaktis has no doubt about Him.” – (C.C.) We have already mentioned that Bhagavân is an absolute and almighty Tattva. Now we are analyzing His strength. We can understand Him better if we know His potency. Sri Bhagavan has three principal Shaktis. “These three Shaktis are as follows – 1. Chit-shakti – We also call it ‘swarup-shakti’. It is ‘antarangâ’ or internal. It has infinite opulence and the divine realms such as the countless Vaikunthas are made of this Shakti. 2. Mâyâ-shakti – It is the ‘bahirangâ’ or external Shakti. The material world comprising of innumerable universes is made up of this Shakti. 3. Jiv-shakti – It is also called ‘tatasthâ-shakti’. It is present in all the living beings. These three Shaktis further consist of infinite Shaktis.” - (C.C.) Chit-shakti (Internal potency) “We hear about the Shakti of the Divine Being” - (Shwetâshwatar Upanishad) This Shakti is nothing but the ‘chit-shakti’ or the ‘Antarangâ shakti’. This Shakti is the closest to Sri Bhagavan. This is why we call it ‘internal’. It is self-manifesting and is the opposite of non-conscious. Hence, it is ‘consciousness’ or ‘chit-shakti’ (‘chit’ means conscious). It is present in Supreme Being’s swarup. Therefore, we also call it ‘swarup-shakti’. It is greater than the other two Shaktis in nature and glory. Therefore, it is ‘Parâ-shakti’ or ‘supreme shakti’. Thus, it has the following names – • Antarangâ-shakti • Chit-shakti • Swarup-shakti • Parâ-shakti “Sri Krishna is sat-chit-ânanda. His chit-shakti takes three forms - 1. Sandhini – when the swarup-shakti manifests the property ‘sat’, we call it ‘sandhini’. A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* 2. Samvit – When the swarup-shakti conveys knowledge or consciousness, it is expressing itself as ‘samvit’. 3. Hlâdini – when the swarup-shakti expresses bliss, we call it ‘hlâdini’.” – (C.C.) Although Sri Bhagavân is ‘sat’ personified, He exists and makes others existent using the sandhini-shakti. Sri Bhagavân is the embodiment of knowledge. Yet He uses the samvit-shakti to know Himself and make others know about Him. Sri Bhagavan is Bliss, yet He relishes joy using Hlâdini-shakti and makes others relish too. Just as we cannot separate Sri Bhagavân’s sat, chit and ânanda, sandhini, samvit and hlâdini too are intermingled with each other. We have stated that chit-shakti is self-manifested. When the sun rises, it shows itself and illuminates other substances. Similarly, chit-shakti manifests itself as well as other objects. It is a conglomeration of sandhini, samvit and hlâdini. Chit-shakti has a property called ‘vishuddha-satva’ (= especially pure goodness). Sri Bhagavan uses this property of His swarup-shakti while appearing. All three – hlâdini, sandhini and samvit – are present together in vishuddha-satva. However sometimes they manifest themselves in equal amounts and sometimes in different proportions. ‘Vishuddha-satva’ gains special names depending on the extent of hlâdini, samvit and sandhini expressed in it. Some of them are as follows – • Âdhâr-shakti – When sandhini-shakti expresses itself to a large degree, then ‘vishuddha-satva’ is called ‘âdhâr-shakti’. Sri Bhagavan manifests His abode using this power. “When sandhini-shakti is dominant we call it as ‘shuddha-satva’ (not to be confused with vishuddha-satva). Sri Bhagavan’s power rests on this. His parents, abode, home, bed etc are made up of shuddha-satva.” – (C.C.) • Âtma-vidya – When samvit-shakti makes up the major portion of vishuddha-satva, we call it ‘âtma-vidyâ.’ It has two forms – (a) knowledge (b) harbinger of knowledge. It gives knowledge to the worshiper. “The function of samvit is to give knowledge about Sri Krishna’s divinity and all sorts of spiritual awareness.” – (C.C.) • Guhya-vidyâ – When hlâdini is dominant in vishuddha- satva, it is called ‘guhya-vidya’ (secret knowledge). It has two forms – (a) devotion (b) harbinger of devotion. It gives loving devotion or ‘prem-bhakti’ to a devotee. “When we condense Hlâdini we get ‘prem’. It is made up of blissful and conscious (or divine) ras”. – (C.C.) A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* • Murti – When sandhini, samvit and hlâdini manifest in equal amounts in vishuddha-satva we call it as ‘murti’. Sri Bhagavan’s Holy Form manifests due to this Shakti. Mâyâ-shakti (External potency) Sri Bhagavân has described His external Mâyâ-shakti to Brahmâji with His own Holy mouth – “I am the only object worth accomplishing. When one cannot understand this and realizes something else, it is ‘mâyâ’. Maya cannot exist on its own - just like a reflection or darkness.” - (S.B.2.9.3) Mâyâ’s first characteristic is that, when we do not realize Sri Bhagavân, we appreciate Mâyâ. We do not turn towards Him and in stead consider Mâyâ true. So let us understand that those who have not realized Sri Bhagavân, or have turned away from Him are the ones who consider their body and everything related to the body as real. They do not comprehend that these substances are all Mâyâ. It naturally follows that if we realize Sri Bhagavân we will not feel the effect of Mâyâ. We will know that Mâyâ’s activities are temporary and material pleasure will never tempt us. Sri Bhagavân has stated another characteristic of Mâyâ – “it cannot exist on its own”. This means that Mâyâ cannot exist without Sri Bhagavân. It is true that when we do not experience Sri Bhagavân, we fall into the clutches of Mâyâ. However, it is also true that Sri Bhagavân is the source of Mâyâ. Power (Shakti) has to come from a powerful person (Shaktimân). There is and cannot be any power other than Sri Bhagavân (since He is almighty). So this means that Mâyâ also comes from Him. Nevertheless, we should also know that Mâyâ is His external potency and does not exist within Him. It is a power working in the material world (outside the divine empire). Sri Bhagavân has explained Mâyâ further with two examples – “just like (a) reflection and (b) darkness”. We can see the reflection of the sun in a water body. The sun’s reflection is very far from the sun and it is in the world. Similarly, Mâyâ occurs outside the divine realm. Sri Bhagavân’s internal potency works in His transcendental world while Mâyâ manifests itself in the material world. We may ask – “Power exists within the powerful person. When Mâyâ is present so far from the Supreme Being then how can you call it His Shakti?” The answer is – A powerful person the source of power. It cannot survive without him. We cannot see the sun’s reflection in the A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* absence of the sun. Therefore, although Mâyâ exists far from the Supreme Being He is its source.” Another example – “like darkness”. If we stare long enough at the sun’s reflection, its glare blinds us and we begin to see darkness. This darkness is present within us and not in the sun. However, this darkness arises out of the sun. We experience it because of the sun. Likewise, although the Supreme Being is the source of Mâyâ it exists outside Him. Sri Jiva Goswâmipâd says, “External Mâyâ is of two types – (a) Jiva-mâyâ (b) Guna-mâyâ. (a) Jiva-mâyâ – When we stare at the sun’s reflection in a water body, its glare blinds us. Similarly, the Mâyâ that covers our intelligence is called ‘Jiva-mâyâ’. It has two functions – • To cover – Mâyâ covers our intelligence and does not allow us to know our swarup. It prevents us from learning that we are originally transcendental beings. • To distract – Mâyâ distracts us from the lotus feet of Sri Bhagavân and instead throws our mind into non-conscious matter. It makes us feel that we are this body and makes our mind wander in objects of sense gratification. (b) Guna-mâyâ - As we continue to look intently at the reflection of the sun, the darkness assumes many shapes. Similarly, Mâyâ presents three gunas – satvah, rajah, tamah - in various shapes to us. “The material world is not a source at all. Nature is without any consciousness. Sri Krishna takes mercy and implants His Shakti in it. When a piece of iron encounters fire, the fire transmits its quality to the iron (that is the iron becomes red hot like the fire). Similarly due to His Shakti, Nature assumes some attributes or gunas.” – (C.C.) Tatasthâ Jiva-shakti (The Shakti inside living beings) The Shâstras prove that the living being is essentially Sri Bhagavân’s Shakti. Sri Vishnu Purân says – “We call Vishnu-shakti or Swarup-shakti as divine power. There is another Shakti called Jiva-shakti. There is a third power that results in ignorance (external Mâyâ-shakti).” We also find in Sri Gitâ – A scientific Study of God ********************************************************************* “Sri Krishna told Arjun – O mighty-armed hero, I have an excellent power called Jiva-shakti which is different from Mâyâ-shakti. This excellent power is holding the world.” “The living entity is Shakti (Power) while Sri Krishna is the Shaktimân (powerful person). The scriptures such as Sri Gitâ and Vishnu Purân prove this.” – (C.C.) This Jiva-shakti belongs neither to Swarup-shakti nor to Mâyâ-shakti. We call it ‘tatasthâ’ – something that lies midway between the two. Sri Bhagavân is almighty conscious being while the Jiva-shakti is atom-like in comparison. Shrutis mention that – the Jiva is as small as the ten thousandth part of the tip of a hair. There are countless jivas. We can classify them into two groups – “(a) Nitya-mukta (eternally free) – A class of living beings are turned towards Sri Bhagavân and have divine knowledge since time infinite. They are ‘Nitya-mukta’. (b) Nitya-baddha (eternally bound) – This group has forgotten Sri Bhagavân since eternity and is turned away from Him.” – (Paramâtma-Sandarbha) Sriman-Mahâprabhu has told in Sanâtan-shikshâ – “Jivas are of two types – (a) eternally free and (b) eternally bound to the material world. Those who are eternally free turn toward Sri Krishna’s feet forever. They are His associates and enjoy the pleasure of serving Him. The eternally bound are the ones who have turned away from Him since infinity. They suffer hellish pains in the material world.” – (C.C.)