ATHERVASHEERSHA Verse No 8

(Lecture No, by Shri. Prasad Deole on 27th Aug 2018

The session began with the definition of money and that money is just paper in
which has a promissory statement printed by the government and that everyone
having these notes of money are all living on the hopes of promise getting
fulfilled. The term money is merely an illusory concept on which so many
transactions go on. There is nothing really that is really called money, notes and
metallic coins are merely a Roop or form of money. In the similar way, of God
also we have known so far is a Swaruplakshan a conceptualisation through the
Roop or the form of God. In Hinduism, there is only one God but there are
many different names and forms due to differences in desires of different
people. A Vedantic seeker will contemplate on Self or Atma which is Atma
Roop which is formless while a yogi will meditate on Shakthi roop and other
devotees who are in Bhakth/devotion would meditate on Aneka Roop like
Deviroop, Shankar, Ganapati roop etc.
In this verse no 8 Ganapati is referred in different Roop. 24.45
त्वं ब्रह्मा त्वं विष्णु स्त्वं
रुद्रस्त्वविन्द्रस्त्विविस्त्वं
िायुस्त्वं सूययस्त्वं चन्द्रिास्त्वं
ब्रह्म भूभुयिस्सुिरोि् ॥8॥

Tvam Brahmaa Tvam Vissnnus-Tvam

Rudras-Tvam-Indras-Tvam-Agnis-Tvam
Vaayus-Tvam Suuryas-Tvam Candramaas-Tvam
Brahma Bhuur-Bhuvas-Suvar-Om

You are Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Indra, Fire, Air, Sun, and Moon. You are
Brahman/Truth, You are the 3 worlds.

The four concepts of God are 1. He is absolute, Brahman, Real, Formless,

Unmanifest 2. Cosmic Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh and Indra 3. Avatar or
incarnation of Gods that happens in every Yuga in the Bhulok 4. Various gods
or Demigods in the Bhulok for managing having the various functional
responsibilities in the Lokas. There are different Lokas as referred to in the
Puranas which are a total of 14 lokas, 7 upper lokas and 7 lower lokas . The
upper Lokas are :
1. Satya Lok or Bramha lok: where one reaches after Moksha or release from
the cycle of rebirth and death. 2. Tapa-loka: Abode of Brahma manas putra
tapas or of other deities. 3. Jana-loka: Abode of the Rishis and sons of
Brahma. 4. Mahar-loka: The abode of great sages, Saptha Rishis 5. Svarg-
loka: Region between the sun and polar star, the heaven of the god Indr, apsaras
live here with eternal music, dance and joy. 6. Bhuvar-loka (Pitru Loka):
The space between earth and the sun, inhabited by divine beings who occasionally
come and go back. 7. Bhur-loka: The earth and other earth like inhabited planets.
There are 7 Lower Lokas or Patalas –
1. Atala-loka 2.. Vitala-loka 3. Sutala-loka 4. Talatala-loka:
5. Mahatala-loka 6. Rasatala-loka 7. Patala-loka or Naraka

In each of these Lokas one gets a body which is different than this our gross
body which in the waking state or Jagruth Avastha. In the dream state or Sapna
Avatha also one gets a body ,which also experiences or Bhoga the things in the
dream world or Swapna Lok without any constraints of time and space . The
bodies in the different lokas have different attributes in different lokas.
Similarly, when one gets a body in Swarga Lok its attributes will be different
and will doing Bhoga or enjoyment relevant to Swarga. There is no decay and
death there and the age will be same as there is no time constraint. The Bhulok
is being constantly watched by the saptha rishis from the Bhuvar lok who come
down to Bhulok as and when there is a requirement for correction.
In any situation, there are 3 aspects that operate and they are 1) Adhibhautik,
Adhidaivika and Adhyathmika. In the process of knowledge formation say,
“This is a book”, the 3 things that come into play are : The book is Adhibhautik.
The eyes which see it and mind which interprets it is the Adhyatmika aspects,
The light which illuminates the book is the Adhidaivika. Only when the 3 divine
energy aspect are operating there is understanding taking place in us and we are
able to experience. Even if anyone is absent one will not be able to get the
experience. In the same way God manifests as the combination of all the three
Adhibhautik, Adhidaivika, and Adhyathmika as Brahma,Vishnu and Shiva. We
have Jeev, Jagat and Jagdeeshwar. Jeev is Adyathmik, Jagat is Aadhibhautik
and Jagdeeshwar is Adhidaivik. The concept of God is total and universal and
not related to any particular thing or an individual and that alone is the final
understanding of Vedanta. The Advaith Vedanta is explained in one sentence as
“Tatvam Asi”. This concept has to be understood very clearly so that one starts
developing vairagya and our duties can be fully understood. It is said that if one
lives as per what is prescribed the Shastra’s one will certainly achieve moksha
in this life itself. Duty must be understood as a tool for liberation and not feel
bound. The duties prescribed in the Shastras are : Brahmacharya Ashram is for
learning, Grahastashram is actually meant for purification of mind not
enjoyment, Vanaprastha is for ekagratha and Sanyas ashram is for surrender and
Moksha . In simple terms, Brahmacharya Ashram is for learning,
Grahastashram is actually meant for earning, Vanaprastha is U-turn Sanyas
ashram is for no return. Duty is the most misunderstood concept and one is very
likely to get entangled in the web of duties which then becomes bondage instead
of liberation so one has to be careful. The entire theme of Bhagwat Gita is the
interpretation of the differences in Karma and Dharma.
………………………… To be continued.