Part 12 (1/2)

”I am Vayu, I am Matarisva (traveller of Heaven),” he (Vayu) said.

IX

Then the Brahman said: ”What power is in thee?” Vayu replied: ”I can blow away all whatsoever exists on earth.”

X

Brahman placed a straw before him and said: ”Blow this away.” He (Vayu) rushed towards it with all speed, but was not able to blow it away. So he returned from there and said (to the Devas): ”I was not able to find out what this great mystery is.”

XI

Then they said to Indra: ”O Maghavan (Wors.h.i.+pful One)! Find out what this mystery is.” He said: ”Yes”; and ran towards it, but it disappeared before him.

XII

Then he saw in that very s.p.a.ce a woman beautifully adorned, Uma of golden hue, daughter of Haimavat (Himalaya). He asked: ”What is this great mystery?”

Here we see how the Absolute a.s.sumes concrete form to give knowledge of Himself to the earnest seeker. Brahman, the impenetrable mystery, disappeared and in His place appeared a personal form to represent Him. This is a subtle way of showing the difference between the Absolute and the personal aspects of Deity. The Absolute is declared to be unknowable and unthinkable, but He a.s.sumes deified personal aspects to make Himself known to His devotees. Thus Uma, daughter of the Himalaya, represents that personal aspect as the offspring of the Infinite Being; while the Himalaya stands as the symbol of the Eternal, Unchangeable One.

Part fourth

I

She (Uma) said: ”It is Brahman. It is through the victory of Brahman that ye are victorious.” Then from her words, he (Indra) knew that it (that mysterious form) was Brahman.

Uma replied to Indra, ”It is to Brahman that you owe your victory. It is through His power that you live and act. He is the agent and you are all only instruments in His hands. Therefore your idea that 'This victory is ours, this glory is ours,' is based on ignorance.” At once Indra saw their mistake.

The Devas, being puffed up with vanity, had thought they themselves had achieved the victory, whereas it was Brahman; for not even a blade of gra.s.s can move without His command.

II

Therefore these Devas,--Agni, Vayu and Indra--excel other Devas, because they came nearer to Brahman. It was they who first knew this spirit as Brahman.

III

Therefore Indra excels all other Devas, because he came nearest to Brahman, and because he first (before all others) knew this spirit as Brahman.

Agni, Vayu and Indra were superior to the other Devas because they gained a closer vision; and they were able to do this because they were purer; while Indra stands as the head of the Devas, because he realized the Truth directly, he reached Brahman. The significance of this is that whoever comes in direct touch with Brahman or the Supreme is glorified.

IV

Thus the teaching of Brahman is here ill.u.s.trated in regard to the Devas. He dashed like lightning, and appeared and disappeared just as the eye winks.