One gentleman had sent us many queries on miscellaneous subjects. Here is our response to those queries.
अष्ट सिद्धि
Life is characterized by free-will, which is exhibited by independence for motion or action. Hence life is defined as the presence or absence of sense organs (सेन्द्रियं चेतन द्रव्यं निरिन्द्रियं अचेतनम्). The cause for this is the presence of the three types of अग्नि – वैश्वानर, तैजस and प्राज्ञ). All objects are confined. Confinement degenerates into increase of temperature (अश्रामयत, अतप्यत, समतप्यत). These are latent heat in its solid, fluid and plasma forms that interact through conduction, convection and radiation. Hence, the objects that have these “अग्नि” in abundance are variously described as “ध्रुव-धर्तृ-धरुण, निविडावयव-तरलावयव-विरलावयव, निर्भुज-प्रतृण्ण-उभयमन्तरेण”, etc. Only heat can move objects away from its center or position. All objects in the universe can be divided into three categories based on whether they are not-conscious, internally-conscious or conscious (असंज्ञ, अन्तःसंज्ञ, and ससंज्ञ). These are also called non-living objects like metals (and stones), plantations, and living organisms (धातु, मूल and जीव). In dhaatu, only वैश्वानर that acts through conduction; is present. In moola, both वैश्वानर and तैजस that act through convection; are present. In जीव, all three are present.
The radiative प्रज्ञा is the cause for sense organs. For example, our eyes are the repository of प्रज्ञा, which is a type of Vidyut – called मघवान इन्द्र (रूपं रूपं मघवा वोभवीति – ऋग्वेद – 3-53-8). इन्द्र विद्युत are of 14 types. It sets up its own electromagnetic field, which interacts with other similar fields that reaches our eyes. Both being similar, get compared, which is the same as measurement by our internal mechanism. The result of measurement is knowledge. The plants can have internal movement and only one type of sensory perception: touch (स्पर्श). They are one of the 14 groups of life forms – भूत सर्ग or जीव योनि. They cannot move from their root position because of the rigid cell walls. Others can move from their position at will because of fluid cell walls.
The virus and bacteria (कृमि), insects (कीट), animals (पशु), birds (पक्षी), human beings (मनुष्य) are the next five categories that can move on their own, but requires a support or ground (प्रतिष्ठा). The virus and bacteria (कृमि) come at the bottom of the evolutionary sequence with 1000 (numerous), 100, 32 or 16 extended organs for stability (legs). The insects (कीट) come next with 8 and 6 legs. The animals with 4 legs are the next category. The birds have two legs. The monkeys also can stand on two legs. Hence they come just before human beings in the sequence of evolution. However, other than human beings, all are called “तीर्यक योनिि” for two reasons. The body structure of animals from head to tail is perpendicular to the legs. In the case of birds, it is at an angle. Only in the case of human beings, it is in the same straight line moving from “भूः” towards “स्वः”. Only humans could copulate facing each other in their normal posture. All others have to bend. Those born out of cell division (स्वेदज) have only one sense organ. Those born out of eggs are deficient in one sense organ (एकोन इन्द्रिय) and others have unbalanced sense organs – some functioning much better while others not so developed. Only human beings have 11 sense organs that are perfectly balanced.
Then there are 8 types of “देव योनि”. They are dominated by radiative प्रज्ञा, hence not attached to ground. Thus, they are called “अपाद” – leg less. Naturally, they are highly mobile. In addition to the 11 sense organs, they have the “अष्ट सिद्धि” and 9 types of “तुष्टि”, through which they can interact with others in the universe. Since we interact through our sense organs, these are also called as sense organs. Hence they have a total of 11 + 8 + 9 = 28 sense organs. Thus, it is not available to normal human beings.
DEITIES AND THEIR ASPECTS:
There is a difference between “देवाः” and “देवता”. They are like heat and temperature. The Aitareya Braahmana and the Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad describe it all. The number of “देवाः” is 33. These are the perceptible quantum particles (दिवति भाषति इति देवम्). The “देवता” are the intensity of radiation (रश्मि भुतास्तु देवता). The number of “देवता” is described variously. There are different “गण” and “गणदेवता”. The fundamental principle is described in the Rhk Vedic dictum: “यद्देवाः इन्द्रते शतम्”. Regarding their aspects, some of these descriptions you will find at the last page of our book. In general, the principle is as follows: We know what electricity can do. But we have never seen it. We know it only through its effect. We can get light, defused air, cool air, heat, etc. from electricity. But to get these we require a medium like a bulb, fan, AC, heater, respectively. Without these medium, electricity is useless for us. Each of these functions in different energy levels. The deities are like the mediums through which we feel the presence of power – electricity in this example, even though we could not see IT.
The shapes of the deities are based on a functional necessity like the shapes of bulbs etc. The decorations (अलङ्कार) of the deities depict their “सात्विक भाव”. Their weapons depict their “राजसिक भाव”. Their vehicles (vaahana) depict their “तामसिक भाव”. Now, we give you one practical example: As you enter through the northern gate of the Lord Jagannatha Temple at Puri, immediately to your right is the “शितला” temple. People who suffer from pox go there and all have been benefited. There are plenty of bats hanging from the ceiling of that gate, who never leave that place and all efforts to relocate them at identical other gates have failed. The area is dirty due to their excreta. It is well known that bat excreta are a powerful antidote for pox. Hence whoever goes to that temple automatically gets treated. The Temple has some unknown mechanism that attracts bats. If we set up another “शितला” temple without that mechanism, all our worship will be in vein. Our ancients knew those mechanisms; hence could achieve many things that we cannot dream of. It is all about a higher science.
FUNCTIONING OF AN AVADHUTA
Just like Tantra has two branches, they are also of two types. One type shows off their power through the practice of “hatha yoga”. The others follow the practice of “samaadhi” and lead a reclusive life. You can refer to the commentary of Vyaasa on the Yoga Sootra of Patanjali to find more on this subject.