Emanating from God - Janmādy asya yataḥ
The search for the origin of the universe is the ultimate quest of both science and religion. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Vedic literatures provide the most concise and perfect definition of the Absolute Truth: it is the supreme, cognizant Person from whom all physical and spiritual energies infinitely emanate.
The Definition of the Absolute Truth
The Vedānta-sūtra begins its philosophical inquiry by immediately defining God. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that the Absolute Truth is not a void or a blind mechanical force, but the original Supreme Person from whom every element of creation emanates.
- The Vedanta-sutra says Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is that from whom everything has emanated. Very simple description. What is God, what is the Absolute Truth, very simple definition - the original person.
- What is the Absolute Truth? That is the question in the Vedanta-sutra. The answer is, "The Absolute Truth is that from which everything emanates." Janmady asya yatah. Now, what is that Absolute Truth? Anandamayo 'bhyasat - By nature He is blissful.
- The Srimad-Bhagavatam, which is smrti, explains, janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah sva-rat: (SB 1.1.1) The Supreme Being, from whom everything has emanated, is directly and indirectly cognizant of everything and is fully independent.
- Source is abhijna, cognizant. Matter is not cognizant; therefore the theory of modern science that life comes from matter is incorrect. The identity from whom everything emanates is abhijna, cognizant, which means He can understand.
The Emanation of the Universes
The mechanics of creation are described vividly in the Vedas. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that the entire cosmic manifestation is generated simply by the breathing of Mahā-Viṣṇu, with millions of universes emanating from the pores of His transcendental body.
- The first form of Lord Visnu is called Maha-Visnu. He is the original creator of the total material energy. The innumerable universes emanate from the pores of His body.
- These innumerable universes are produced from the pores of the Maha-Visnu's body. As innumerable particles of dust pass through the tiny holes in a screen, similarly from the pores of the Maha-Visnu's body innumerable universes emanate.
- When Maha-Visnu exhales, the spiritual seeds of the universes emanate from Him in the form of molecular particles like those that are visible, three times the size of an atom, when sunlight is diffused through a small hole.
- All the universes in seed are emanating from the breathing of the Maha-Visnu, who is but part of a partial expansion of the Lord, and all the universes presided over by the Brahmas vanish when the Maha-Visnu withdraws His great breath.
The Inexhaustible Balance
Mundane logic dictates that if something is subtracted from a source, the source must diminish. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the Supreme Lord defies material math; although unlimited energies and universes continually emanate from Him, He remains absolutely whole and complete.
- Purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate: (Sri Isopanisad, Invocation) "Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance." Thus the Lord is called avyaya, inexhaustible.
- Whatever is produced of the complete whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the complete whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance. Therefore, to take shelter of the Supreme Lord is required.
- The Absolute Truth is so perfect that although innumerable energies emanate from Him and manifest creations which appear to be different from Him, He nevertheless maintains His personality. He never deteriorates under any circumstances.
- He is wonderful in the sense that although there may be unlimited emanations from the Supreme Personality of Godhead (janmady asya yatah (SB 1.1.1)), He always remains complete (purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavasisyate) - Sri Isopanisad, Invocation.
The Material World is Not False
A prominent philosophical misunderstanding is the assertion that the material world is an illusion or completely false (mithyā). Śrīla Prabhupāda forcefully argues that because the material energy emanates directly from the Absolute Truth, it is a factual reality, though it is temporary in nature.
- Yato imani bhutani jayante: the Supreme Absolute Truth is He from whom everything is emanating. If everything is emanating from the Absolute Truth, nothing can actually be false.
- The Supreme Brahman is the Absolute Truth, and the energies that have emanated from Him and are existing separately, such as the living entities and the cosmic manifestation, are also truths. This is an example of transformation.
- The world (jagat) has emanated from the Supreme; therefore it is not mithya, but it is temporary. That is also explained in Bhagavad-gita (8.19): bhutva bhutva praliyate.
- Because such varieties of energies have emanated from the Supreme Lord, they cannot be false. The Lord is ever-existing, and the energies are ever-existing.
Unaffected by the Emanation
Although the Supreme Lord is the source of the material cosmos, He is never entangled by it. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord remains completely aloof and unaffected by the modes of material nature, even while maintaining the entire creation.
- We are conditioned souls, but He (Supreme Lord) is not affected, although the material nature has emanated from Him.
- In this verse (SB 4.31.18) the words sva-tejasa dhvasta-guna-pravaham are very significant. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is never affected by the material qualities, although they all emanate from His spiritual energy.
- Although the material energy is an emanation of the Supreme Lord, He is not affected, as we are, by the modes of material nature.
- The energy emanating from the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot act on Him; it acts on the conditioned souls, who are covered by the material energy.
The Source of the Brahmajyoti
Impersonalist philosophers mistakenly conclude that the ultimate reality is formless light. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that this blinding brahmajyoti is simply the spiritual effulgence emanating directly from the transcendental, personal body of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- We can understand from Brahma-samhita that the brahma-jyotir, or the Brahman effulgence, emanates from the body of the Supreme Lord. And from the Brahman effulgence, all creation takes place.
- The Brahman effulgence is impersonal, but the cause of that energy is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. From Him, in His abode, the Vaikunthas, this brahma-jyotir emanates. He is never impersonal.
- The impersonalists do not have the power to go beyond the effulgence of God and arrive at the Personality of Godhead, from whom this effulgence is emanating.
- Within the sun itself resides the sun-god, and similarly within the supreme spiritual planet, Goloka Vrndavana, from which the brahmajyoti effulgence is emanating, the Lord enjoys His eternal pastimes, as verified in the Brahma-samhita.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Śrīla Prabhupāda thoroughly dismantles both atheistic science and impersonal philosophy by firmly establishing the true meaning of janmādy asya yataḥ. The Absolute Truth is not a dead, material force from which consciousness accidentally arose, nor is it a formless void. It is the supremely cognizant, perfect Personality of Godhead. Through His expansion as Mahā-Viṣṇu, innumerable universes effortlessly emanate from the pores of His body, yet by His inconceivable potency, He remains the complete, inexhaustible whole, entirely unaffected by the material modes. Because this cosmic manifestation emanates directly from the Absolute Truth, it is a factual reality, effectively nullifying the Māyāvādī assertion that the world is false (mithyā). Furthermore, the dazzling brahmajyoti, often mistaken as the ultimate destination, is revealed to be nothing more than the glowing rays emanating from the eternal, blissful form of Lord Kṛṣṇa in Goloka Vṛndāvana. By understanding that everything—matter, spirit, and the impersonal effulgence—emanates from the Supreme Lord, the sincere soul naturally concludes that all energies must be dovetailed in His transcendental loving service.
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