God Is The Virāṭ-puruṣa - The Gigantic Universal Form
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that for those who are overly attached to the material manifestation, the Vedic literatures provide a way to see God everywhere. The universe is not a random cluster of dead matter; it is the manifestation of the Lord's gigantic body, known as the virāṭ-puruṣa. By studying this cosmic form, one can begin to comprehend the vastness and supreme control of the Absolute Truth.
The Gigantic Universal Form
The scale of the virāṭ-puruṣa is beyond ordinary human comprehension. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that the entire cosmic manifestation, including all the different planetary systems, rests within this magnificent universal form of the Lord.
- Within this egglike universe is the universal form of the Lord as the virat-purusa. All the different planetary situations are parts of His body.
- I (Pariksit) have also heard that the different planetary systems are supposed to be in the gigantic body of the virat-purusa. But what is their actual position ? Will you (Sukadeva) please explain that.
- The third purusa is Ksirodakasayi Visnu, in whom is contemplated the virat-purusa, the gigantic form in which all the planets with their different developments and inhabitants are floating.
- The air on which the universes and the planets within the universes exist is nothing but a bit of the breath of the unchallengeable virat-purusa.
The Source of the Senses and Demigods
Modern science struggles to explain the origin of consciousness and sensory perception. According to sāṅkhya philosophy, the virāṭ-puruṣa is the original source of all sense organs and the powerful demigods who preside over them.
- Sankhya philosophy is described here in detail in the sense that the virat-purusa, or the universal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the original source of all the various sense organs and their presiding deities.
- When the demigods and presiding deities of the various senses were thus manifested, they wanted to wake their origin of appearance. But upon failing to do so, they reentered the body of the virat-purusa one after another in order to wake Him.
- The god of fire entered His mouth with the organ of speech, but the virat-purusa could not be aroused. Then the god of wind entered His nostrils with the sense of smell, but still the virat-purusa refused to be awakened.
- The relationship between the virat-purusa and the presiding deities or the living entities is so intricate that simply by exercising the sense organs, which are related to their presiding deities, the virat-purusa cannot be aroused.
The Origin of the Social Orders
The natural divisions of human society are not artificial constructs but are divine arrangements born directly from the body of the virāṭ-puruṣa. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains how the different occupational classes emanate from specific limbs of the universal form.
- The virat-purusa's face is the brahmanas, His arms are the ksatriyas, His thighs are the vaisyas, and the sudras are under the protection of His feet.
- The ksatriyas are said to be created from His arms (of Virat-Purusa), the vaisyas are created from His waist, and the sudras are created from His legs.
- It is specifically mentioned here that the brahmanas are created from the face of the cosmic personality, or virat-purusa.
- Every person, whatever he may be, emanates from some part of the universal form of the Supreme Lord, the virat-purusa.
A Stepping Stone for Meditation
While the ultimate realization of the Absolute Truth is the original personal form of Kṛṣṇa, many transcendentalists cannot immediately grasp this concept. Therefore, Śukadeva Gosvāmī advises meditating on the virāṭ-puruṣa as an essential stepping stone.
- In this regard, Sukadeva Gosvami has recommended that the beginners worship the virat-purusa, the gigantic universal form of the Lord.
- Transcendentalists such as yogis whose minds cannot accommodate the form of the Lord prefer to visualize something very great, such as the virat-purusa.
- The active manifestation of the virat-purusa is described. Persons who are in the lower grade of understanding regarding the Supreme Personality of Godhead may think of the universal form of the Lord, for that is advised in the Bhagavatam.
- This virat-purusa is considered an incarnation of the Lord. The original form of the Lord is Krsna, as confirmed in Brahma-samhita: adi-purusa. The virat-purusa is also purusa, but He is not adi-purusa. The adi-purusa is Krsna.
Conclusion
Śrīla Prabhupāda systematically explains that the material universe is not an independent entity, but rather the magnificent cosmic body of the virāṭ-puruṣa. Every planet, every demigod, and every social order emanates directly from this gigantic universal form. While materialistic people and neophyte yogīs may struggle to understand the spiritual, localized form of Lord Kṛṣṇa, they can easily appreciate the majesty of the cosmos. Therefore, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam recommends meditating on the virāṭ-puruṣa as a practical stepping stone in spiritual life. By visualizing the universe as the body of the Lord, a conditioned soul gradually becomes purified of the material conception of life. Ultimately, this cosmic meditation prepares the mind to transcend the material manifestation entirely and surrender to the ādi-puruṣa, the original Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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