Brahma Vishnu Mahesh
The ancient sages, or rishis recognized the three states
of creation, and introduced the presiding deities of these three states:
Brahma - the creator of the world,
Vishnu - the perserver and Shiva , the destroyer.
If we look at this symbolism from a scientific point of view, we discover a
totally different meaning to it.
Matter is the basic building block of the world; wherever we look, we find
matter in myriad of forms. On both microscopic and macroscopic scales,
matter pervades the whole cosmos. Brahma
word literally means Infinitely Vast. It symbolizes the
vastness of matter, the foundation of this whole creation. Or we can say that
the sages gave the name Brahma to the inherent
consciousness of conscious matter.
We've read in the scriptures that Lord Vishnu is bearing the whole creation,
and also sustaining it. When we think about it, the entity which bears or
contains matter is empty space, or void. Even when we study atom - the
smallest unit of matter, we find that there is emptiness between the nucleus
and the electrons revolving around it. This void, or emptiness is the basis
for matter's motion. The sages identified this ability of Void to hold matter
and gave the consiousness of this conscious emptiness the name,
Vishnu.
When we break down matter into smallest units, we reach subatomic particles, and
when even those are further broken down, we discover pure energy.
Investigating this pure energy in order to find its true source, we find that
energy originates from pure thought. This pure thought, which we can also call
the consciousness of matter, originates from conscious emptiness. This pure thought
is the link which brings matter and void together.
The element, which is beyond both matter and void, which pervades both matter
and emptiness and yet is the cause for their destruction, which is beyond
everything and still ever-present with us, which is motionless still appears
to be moving, which our consciouness experiences in different forms due to
difference in our levels, that element which is Time or Kaal was identified
as Shiva by the sages. Time is that element which we
experience all the time, yet it always seems beyond all experiences.
Matter's time is said to be finite. The time of emptiness, which holds
matter was also realized by the sages.
But who can understand the time of Time, save Time Itself!
Sometimes we contemplate about the time when there was no creation, no universe,
no good or bad, nothing; what existed then? Those who have practiced even a
little bit of yoga and have been successful in awaking their dormant consciousness
realize that what existed then was in the womb of Time and how did it
get there, no one except Time Itself can tell. May be that's why sages
envisioned Lord Shiva with both male and female principles,
as the Ardhanarishwara. This leads us to conclude that
Time Itself impregnated Time, and in due course took birth in the form of this
creation. When Time's time comes to an end, only Time shall remain...
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