2. Vedic Discovery of States of Consciousness
6:06 AM Posted In Yogic Experience of States of Consciousness Edit ThisStates of consciousness is not the discovery of the Upanishadic period but goes back to the Vedic Samhitas.
Consciousness as a principle makes an appearance in the Samhita in a mantra seen by Dirghatamas who states:
"Who could have seen the event when the boneless gave birth to the bony. No doubt, the vital and the physical are born of the earth but wherefrom the Atman. Who may approach the knowledgeable to inquire?" (RV.I.164.4)
Narayana Rishi in the Atharvaveda describes that this body is the Brahmapura and the Brahman that resides in it has divided itself into three cords. These three cords represent the three lower states of consciousness from the point of view of Brahman.
References to Turiya also occur in a hymn seen by Atri wherein it is stated that by means of the fourth Brahman, Atri found out Surya which was kept concealed in darkness. Sun, as a matter of fact, represents the Self in the Vedas. This darkness is samudra arnava of the Vedas and susupti of later texts.
Another reference to the fourth state of consciousness is found in a mantra seen by Ayasya, one of the sons of primeval seer Angirasa. The wisdom is described here as magnificent, seven-horned and as having its origin in Rta (universal dynamics). The mantra says:
"This wisdom, seven horned and born of the universal dynamics was found out by our father. The fourth, inexplicable, was discovered by Ayasya out of the universality of his vision in course of his communication with Indra." (RV.X.67.1)
Universality is a pre-requisite of entry into the fourth state of consciousness. This is evident from his oneness with Indra which could not have possibly happened if he had not mastered the annamaya (jagrata), pranamaya (svapna) and the manomaya (susupti).
How Angirasas reached the fourth state of consciousness is narrated in the next mantra of the same hymn:
"Meditating and having communion with the principle of universal dynamics – Rta, the sons of the divine and heroes of the Mighty, the Angirasas, by virtue of having attained the position of the enlightened, could come to contemplate on the status of the initial sacrifice of the Supreme Being. (RV.X.67.2)
According to this mantra, the knowledge of principles of universal dynamics is necessary for the entry into the fourth state of consciousness apart from intensive meditation.
Besides Angiras and Ayasya, name of Brhaspati, the one of the sons of Angiras, occurs in the hymn. Brhaspati is represented in the hymn, at times, as a seer and as well as a god. If Ayasya becomes coincident to prana owing to his meditation on the vital, Brhaspati becomes the Lord of mantras. His expertise lies in the formulation of higher experience of mantras after going through those experiences. This type of meditation, experience and expression is recounted in the remaining mantras of the hymn in the form of arduous task of entering into a cave, removing the heavy boulder, taking out the cows that were kept concealed in the cave besides coming to know of the dawn, the sun and light as revealed to one as if with a flash of lightning followed by thunder.(RV.X.67.5)
Consciousness as a principle makes an appearance in the Samhita in a mantra seen by Dirghatamas who states:
"Who could have seen the event when the boneless gave birth to the bony. No doubt, the vital and the physical are born of the earth but wherefrom the Atman. Who may approach the knowledgeable to inquire?" (RV.I.164.4)
Narayana Rishi in the Atharvaveda describes that this body is the Brahmapura and the Brahman that resides in it has divided itself into three cords. These three cords represent the three lower states of consciousness from the point of view of Brahman.
References to Turiya also occur in a hymn seen by Atri wherein it is stated that by means of the fourth Brahman, Atri found out Surya which was kept concealed in darkness. Sun, as a matter of fact, represents the Self in the Vedas. This darkness is samudra arnava of the Vedas and susupti of later texts.
Another reference to the fourth state of consciousness is found in a mantra seen by Ayasya, one of the sons of primeval seer Angirasa. The wisdom is described here as magnificent, seven-horned and as having its origin in Rta (universal dynamics). The mantra says:
"This wisdom, seven horned and born of the universal dynamics was found out by our father. The fourth, inexplicable, was discovered by Ayasya out of the universality of his vision in course of his communication with Indra." (RV.X.67.1)
Universality is a pre-requisite of entry into the fourth state of consciousness. This is evident from his oneness with Indra which could not have possibly happened if he had not mastered the annamaya (jagrata), pranamaya (svapna) and the manomaya (susupti).
How Angirasas reached the fourth state of consciousness is narrated in the next mantra of the same hymn:
"Meditating and having communion with the principle of universal dynamics – Rta, the sons of the divine and heroes of the Mighty, the Angirasas, by virtue of having attained the position of the enlightened, could come to contemplate on the status of the initial sacrifice of the Supreme Being. (RV.X.67.2)
According to this mantra, the knowledge of principles of universal dynamics is necessary for the entry into the fourth state of consciousness apart from intensive meditation.
Besides Angiras and Ayasya, name of Brhaspati, the one of the sons of Angiras, occurs in the hymn. Brhaspati is represented in the hymn, at times, as a seer and as well as a god. If Ayasya becomes coincident to prana owing to his meditation on the vital, Brhaspati becomes the Lord of mantras. His expertise lies in the formulation of higher experience of mantras after going through those experiences. This type of meditation, experience and expression is recounted in the remaining mantras of the hymn in the form of arduous task of entering into a cave, removing the heavy boulder, taking out the cows that were kept concealed in the cave besides coming to know of the dawn, the sun and light as revealed to one as if with a flash of lightning followed by thunder.(RV.X.67.5)
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