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Knowledge of the Science of Consciousness as Perceiving Cosmos
by Achintyachintaka on 28 Oct 2012 10 Comments
Much confusion was created when the words devas, devatas, and devis, originating initially from the time of the Vedas (knowledge), (that were compiled and trans-generationally transmitted accurately through oral tradition,) were translated into English as gods and goddesses.  The words have to be understood in the context of the Vedas. Agnim ile purohitam: Rigveda begins with this bold statement as an axiom of the knowledge of the science of consciousness.
 
 
Human Consciousness, attempting to comprehend the cosmos, had by then (when the Vedas were composed) comprehended that transformation from one state of existence to another is the fundamental nature of Cosmos. The agency or catalyst or enzyme that facilitated such transformation is ‘agni’. This principle of nature when appreciated cognitively illuminates the consciousness to accept the nature of Brahman as constantly changing, and Agni is recognized as a cosmic force within and without the perceiver and in the ‘Brahman’. Agni very much exists eternally in the Universe or cosmos, but becomes a deva for human consciousness only when its nature is recognized and comprehended, and then it becomes worthy of devotion as it regulates every transformation in the Universe and within the microcosm.


Agni, thus, is not just “fire”, but fire is only one form of Agni or is a symbol of this cosmic principle. (Let us not demean the sages as believing there is fire in the stomach when they recognized the enzymes transforming food into energy as “jatharaagni”)


When consciousness is thus illuminated there is a deep insight into the nature of Brahman and its workings. When such enlightenment takes place, the principles perceived and comprehended are termed ”devas”, meaning the enlightening ones, or the ones perceived as illuminated (Bright Ones). The magnificence of Agni, when comprehended, naturally arouses awe and humility as one's existence itself is so very dependent on this cosmic principle.


Varuna Devata


All life on earth began in the ocean. Ninety five percent of the human being is this “ocean” maintained at 0.9% (normal) saline. The oceans for time immemorial mostly maintained salt concentration at 0.9 % (so also the normal saline in living beings). It is mind boggling for the seeker of knowledge of this Universe or Brahman to understand the cosmic principle that makes this “constant” possible. The cosmic force, Varuna, comprising this principle deserves the same status as Agni for the existence and survival of all living beings which are all closely linked to Varuna as they are to Agni. Human Unconscious mind knows that, but has to gain this insight when it reveres the devatas like Agni and Varuna.


Indra Devata


There is no life without electrical energy. All activities of living cells and movements, thinking, mind and consciousness itself are manifestations of Indra. This energy principle is seen in the microcosm of the living being and also in the macrocosm. The “weapon” of Indra is lightening (thunderbolt). He rules over all the “devas” because it is his workings that make consciousness itself possible and certainly the very existence of the conscious perception and intuitive comprehension of all devas and devatas will not be possible if Indra was not operating.


Simply speaking, these are illustrations to submit to the reader that “Devas and Devatas (Devis) are the phenomena of the science of consciousness.” Consciousness perceives these cosmic principles and becomes enlightened and therefore these are called Devas and Devatas. These are all real phenomena of nature and consciousness and not imaginary concepts like “god”.


There is no question they exist. They exist wherever Hindus exist and perceive and comprehend them as Devas and Devatas, and therefore, these Devas and Devatas were to be recognized as originally conceived in Bharat, the Punya Bhumi of Hindus where Vedas were compiled and preserved.


The science of attuning the minds of the people to harmonize them with the forces of cosmos known as devas and devatas was the “Agama Shastra” derived from the Vedas. Only by attuning to these devas and devatas was the consciousness to reach closer to comprehending the nature of Brahman.


In the science of consciousness (Vedas), knowledge is imparted step by step as we can clearly see and understand now in the light of what is illustrated above. Not even Vedas start with the word Brahman.


Every child starts its education with the three R's and none of the three R's stand for the “Relativity” theory of Einstein!


If this is true for the science of Physics that a child needs to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic (3 Rs) before coming to grasp quantum physics many years later, if he/she ever reaches that cognitive capacity, why should anyone insist that everyone including a beginner should first immediately comprehend the nature of Brahman in the science of consciousness? It is the Devas and Devatas that will lead him/her to Brahman.


Indian Hindus have preserved the building blocks of the science of consciousness. Many of the Devas and Devatas are nothing but the stepwise climb to the realization of Brahman if consciousness is permitted to become enlightened by each of them in due course. Hindus do not have to blindly accept any imaginary god/s no matter who says what about having and possessing the “word of god.”


Vedas are the original guide for all Hindus in the exploration of the Science of Consciousness. The Vedas assert that Devas and Devatas exist, and it is for Hindus to comprehend what Vedas are trying it illustrate. Vedas are not “god's words” but discoveries in the field of Science of Consciousness. Discovering devas, devatas, and devis naturally leads to a relationship that can be intimate; do devas, devatas and devis relate with individual human consciousness when it is tuned into them? Bhaktas can feel and know this relationship. But, that is not the topic of this article.

 

Let us not demean the Vedas (Knowledge of Universe and Cosmos intuitively perceived) by mistranslating the word “Shruti” and making the sages who heard them as hallucinating sages who heard voices. The word shruti is in contrast with “smruti” which means remembered. Shruti though referring to auditory modality indicates direct perception.


Vedas are “not remembered”, meaning they are not composed from any memories. They are “apourusheya”, meaning not originating from human mind (where all compilations are from manipulations of memory or contents of consciousness).  

 

Vedas are knowledge received in the consciousness by direct perception or intuition. Vedas have become possible from such deep intuitive attunement with the Cosmos or Universal Consciousness. The sages who received such knowledge have attempted to express it in the most spontaneous poetic form, deriving electrifying inspiration from the very revelations and nature of reality that was revealed. Such inspiration has led to the composition of Vedas.
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Endless Soviet propaganda pieces on 'Dialectrical Meterialism' that once polluted our printed pages and religious writings such as that pass under biblical hermeneutics are other examples of this type of hollow verbosity.

Nothing but someone's a priori assertions and psuedo-theories.

I doubt such verbal assaults on our intellect have any purpose or even intelligence behind it. Even the semi-literate evangelist or the dull mulla shines by comparison! That's is saying much!

Just that People have time .
varghese
October 28, 2012
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This interesting analysis of the process of human consciousness is a sequel to Achintyachintaka's other articles on the Devatas.

A is obviously a jananayogin. Unlike the western philosophers he gives a unique status to human consciousness which is described as 'capable' of coming to the knowledge of Brahman, through the agency of the Devatas, who themselves are manifestations of Brahman.

I find that A's analysis is therefore a step forward from Aurobindo's Secret of the Veda (about which I have written in A Critical Examination of Aurobindo's Secret of the Veda). For Aurobindo the Devatas have only a symbolic value.

Aurobindo does however, draw our attention to the importance of the Vedic homa, which the Rishis thought were important gateways to the Devatas.

A also reinstates the importance of Shruti (and therefore of Verbal Testimony) as one of the ways of knowledge. Every Hindu acknowledges the testimony of the Veda because it is apaurusheya (not of human origin, and therefore of divine origin). We believe that the Vedic seers had direct insight into the nature of reality.

In worshipping or meditating on these insights Hindus believe that they are closer to reality. It is also useful that the writer makes a brief but important reference to Agama as the the continuation of the worship of Devatas. Hence, the Vedic homa is the beginning of that ongoing process.
Dr. Vijaya Rajiva
October 28, 2012
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Very lucid explanation of the so far cofusing concept of Devas.
However there is no need for comparing with Aurobindo. He clearly states that Symbols earlier were living forces.
Vishwa Mohan Tiwari
October 28, 2012
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An eye-opener for those illiterate in spirituality and who club the Vedas together with poor tribal attempts at sophistry. Those who cannot comprehend the above article are either utter morons or those whose business it is to deny truth and reality.
George Augustine
October 29, 2012
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George Augustine is correct yet somewhat harsh. The problem is that truth of Brahman is in reality concealed and covered by maya which is avidya. Everyone cannot be as evolved intellectually or intuitively and as fortunate as George himself is. If George finds it easy to grasp the concept clearly, there is a tapashcharya of contemplation of many years for him to come to that level. Every one has to learn at his/her own pace. However, the motivation of those who outright deny the truth and reality is the emotional need to confuse the science (of consciousness) with the scientist. They want to ask how the scientist had the "adhikara" to even write anything about this science. It would do much good to just try to concentrate on what is said than on who is saying it. That is the beauty of Vedic thought which has to stand on its own or else it has no enduring meaning. Therefore, it is necessary to say it is apourusheya. Yet, the Indian tradition allows for vaada and samvaada, discussion, debate and symposium. It is intriguing when such topic as this arouses strong emotions when the old paradigms begin to dissolve or seen as threatened with dissolution.

The composing Rishis are now unidentifiable. So we start with personal knowledge that is imparted to us by our teachers and authors and look for authority and authenticity and gradually move to impersonal knowledge which simply exists with no references necessary. That is also the difference between East and West.
NOKIDDING101
October 30, 2012
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@George Augustine & No kidding

Mr. Augustine, your cryptic observation may mislead people from the Abrahamic faiths to think that you are rejecting the indissoluble bond between Veda, Agama and homa. Please elaborate a little bit more. For a Hindu this bond is indissoluble. Nirguna and Saguna. That seems to be Achintyachintaka's message also.

No kidding, agree with you, except for the last statement. The Vedic Rishis are in a historical sense identifiable, we have a list of their names. More importantly, they have in the Hindu mind reached the status almost of divinities simply because they have conveyed the truths of the Veda.

They are our first teachers, our pitrs, if you will. Also matrs, since there were at least 30 rishikas. In fact, the Vak Sukta (Rig Veda 125) was authored by Rishika Vagambrini, the daughter of Rishi Ambrini.
Dr. Vijaya Rajiva
October 30, 2012
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To Dr. Vijaya Rajiva

You are absolutely correct in that there are many Rishis (Including Vyasa) and Rishikas (like Gaargi and Maitreyi, etc.) and to the extent they are named they are identifiable. However, none of them is quoted now as giving a specific insight and most discussions about the contents of Vedas start with a presumption that they were Apourusheya. We can agree that in the modern days they have not been extensively quoted. They have not left a footprint, no copyright mentality, etc. on the Vedas and that is the difference, like the temple sculpture where the sculptors do not sign their names. That is the difference in the Eastern and Western approaches to knowledge.

Nokidding 101
NOKIDDING101
October 31, 2012
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@ No Kidding

True, the Vedas are apaurusheya but this does not exclude the fact that the Rishis and Rishikas were the historical agents of this divine knowledge. There is, in my opinion, no contradiction is maintaing that the Vedas are apaurusheya and the the Rishis and Rishikas transmitted them to us.

The Vak sukta actually does transmit a specific insight, the nature of rashtram : aham rashtri sangamanii vasunam. And it is said to be authored by Vagambhrini. And so on . . . .
Dr. Vijaya Rajiva
October 31, 2012
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. May be we do know it already but tend to fogert sayings that don't impress us or we aren't working to learn it by following it blindly. But knowing a religion might have have an impact either way, positive or negative. There is a possibility that someone might also tend to dislike his religion or stop following after he comes across certain teachings that is not of his flavour! I believe the essence is knowing to the extent you need it!As you know I don't prefer reading books (I am working on it though) But I did learn from someone what religion says and I am now a person who believe in good morals of each & every religion. For instance I learnt Christianity only after watching the movie The Passion of Christ . Lord Jesus Christ's passion to stand against wrong doings for the sake of His people! That's my understanding of Christianity! Wouldn't like to learn anything more!I like the saying Yella Pugazhum Iraivanukey of Muslim. Submitting your success and failures to the feet of God. May be there are many more beautiful sayings in Quran' but this saying sums my belief of that religion.I got an opportunity of learning Zen from you during my testing times. So very gentle and simple thought process. Perfection isn't found in everything going right rather in accepting what's imperfect! I like it a lot! I follow Zen as well!What Hinduism tells me is, Hope is still alive , It is within yourselves . Is this from Bhagavat Geeta'! I don't know. But I feel better after I go to a temple during my testing times every now and then. Before examinations especially. Someone says I am there and you go ahead! Nothing will happen. I will take care. Well! who is that someone talking to me? That's my belief on God from that religion.As you say it is always important to know what a religion says in papers! Someone might like to turn papers and explore only when they feel there is a need to turn! I think may be that's what is being renamed as blind belief ;-) 8
Mehmet
November 06, 2012
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kepagy
November 08, 2012
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