This article is a work in progress..
According to Vaishnavism, When Brahman / Narayan (ever existing) felt the desire to be more than just one, he accepted Vaishnavi Yogmaya or prakriti, along with its three qualities; Rajoguna, Tamoguna, and Sattvaguna and motivated it to create the universe.
| Before we move ahead, lets understand Yogmaya/Prakriti. Just like Narayna, Maya/Prakriti always existed. It has no creation. She is the feminine aspect of the divine, sometimes referred to as the Mother Goddess or Mahadevi. It creates the universe; which is nothing but a cosmic illusion. It is this power of illusion or enchantment that allows for the divine play (Lila) of creation, preservation, and destruction. Maya is also known as Vindhyavasini, Yogamaya, Mahamaya, Adi shakti, Adi parashakti, and Mahadevi; a benevolent form of Durga. In Shaktism, Adi Shakti is considered as creator, preserver and destroyer of universe. All Hindu gods and goddesses are considered to be the manifestations of this great goddess. It is more or less in line with what Vaishnavism says. The Divine is a no-doer and its Shaktis and Avtaras are the doers. So, Yes, it is Yogmaya that created this universe. Just like it was Rama who killed Ravana. But if you say that Narayana killed Ravana because it was his will, then it won’t be wrong either. |
Back to Vaishnavism, For creation, sustenance and destruction
- Narayana accepted Prakriti’s Rajoguna in the form of Brahma and took over the responsibility of creating life. Yogmaya joined Brahma as Sarasvati, the goddess of knowledge to help in creating life.
- Narayana accepted Prakriti’s Sattvaguna in the form of Vishnu and took over the responsibility of sustaining life. Yogmaya joined lord Vishnu as Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity to help in sustaining life.
- Narayana accepted Prakriti’s Tamoguna in the form of Rudra and took over the responsibility of destroying life. Yogmaya joined Rudra as Kaali, the goddess of death & destruction to help in destruction of life.
| The Vaishno Devi Temple at Jammu, India, is indeed a Mahamaya or Vaishnavi Yogmaya Temple where we worship Vaishno devi as three pindis of Maha Saraswati, Maha Lakshmi, and Maha Kali. She is said to be the future consort of lord Kalki. |
After accepting Prakriti and its three gunas, the efforts that rajoguna and sattvaguna qualities of prakriti were making for the creation of universe, led to Mahattva (महत्तत्त्व). This Mahattva (महत्तत्त्व) resulted in Pride or Ahankara (अहंकार) which is a Tamoguna.
This ahankara (a Tamoguna accepted by Rudra) resulted in the creation of 5 gross elements (पंचमहाभूत या पंचतत्व) of the universe. For this reason Rudra or Shiva is sometimes called the creator of the universe.
Other than these 5 gross elements(पंचमहाभूत), prakriti is also made up of 5 tanmatra (तन्मात्रा), 4 Antahkaran (अंतःकरण), and 10 senses (indriya). A total of 24 tatva. These 24 Tatvas are:
पंचमहाभूत या पंचतत्व: Panchamahabhoot, or the five gross elements, are ether (Aakash), air (Vayu), fire (Tej/Agni), water (Jala), and earth (Prithvi).
तन्मात्रा या सूक्ष्म तत्व: The five tanmatras are Sound (Shabda), Touch (Sparsha), Vision (Roopa), Taste (Rasa), and Smell (Gandha), each corresponding to a specific sense organ. Tanmatras are subtle elements that combine to create the gross elements of the universe.
Sound is a property/guna of Aakash/Ether.
Touch and Sound is a property of Vayu/Air.
Vision, Touch and Sound is a property of Agni/Fire
Taste, Vision, Touch and Sound is a property of Jal/Water
Smell, Taste, Vision, Touch and Sound is a property of Prithvi/Earth
अंतःकरण : The inner origin of thought and feeling. मन (conscious mind), बुद्धि (wisdom), चित्त (Subconscious mind, where samskaras, memories, likes, dislikes, desires, habits are stored in dormant form), और अहंकार (pride/ego) – ये चार अंतःकरण हैं.
ज्ञानेंद्रियां: Sensory faculties that allow humans to perceive the world around them. These are: seeing/दृष्टिेंद्रिय या आंख/चक्षु, hearing/श्रवणेंद्रिय या कान/श्रोत, smelling/घ्रणेंद्रिय या नाक, tasting/रसना या जीभ, touching/स्पर्शेंद्रिय या त्वचा.
कर्मेंद्रियां: These are organs of action involved in daily routine. These include वाक् / mouth to produce speech and eat, पाणि / hands to grasp objects, पाद / feet for walking, पायु / anus to excrete, and उपस्थ (जननेन्द्रिय) / genitals to procreate.
These 24 tatvas along with Kaal or Time, which is the divine power itself, makes up this world. It is present as Kaal/time in this universe and as atman/jeev/pran in every living being.