July 2015 \ Arts & Entertainment \ Special Column
Defining God — A Vedic Interpretation

By Gauri Shankar Gupta

Mandukyopanishad

He can be felt neither inside nor outside. He is beyond intellect. He cannot be transacted, nor can He be seen, nor touched. He has no attribute, nor can He be subject of thought or imagination. He cannot be explained nor can He be described. He is eternal, always calm, benevolent, all-pervasive and without any parallel. One can only experience His power through the Self. He is Brahman whom one should know.

(Verse 7)

Kathopanishad

Although air exists everywhere in the Universe, it takes the shape of different spaces and also exists outside those spaces; likewise Brahman takes the shape of different creations and also exists outside those creations.

(2/2/10)

Brahman is like a tree whose root is upwards and branches downwards. He is pure and imperishable. The entire creation is dependent on Him and no one could go against His order.

(2/3/1)

Kenopanishad

There goes neither the eye nor speech nor mind; we know It not, nor do we know how to teach one about It. Different It is from all that are known and is beyond the unknown as well.

That which makes the tongue speak, but which cannot be spoken by the tongue. That which makes the mind think, but which cannot be thought by the mind. That which makes the eyes see, but which cannot be seen by the eyes.

That which makes the ears hear but cannot be heard by the ears.

That makes the breath breathe but cannot be breathed by breath.

He is Ear of the ear, Mind of the mind, Eye of the eye, Speech of the speech and Breath of the breath.

(Summary Version of Part I of Kenopanishad)

Srimad Bhagavatam

He has no beginning, no end and no middle. He has no inside or outside. He is absent from the dualities. The manifested Universe emanates from Him. Therefore He is the ultimate truth and He is complete in greatness.

(8/1/12)

He is the Absolute Truth, who has millions of names and unlimited potencies. He is the entire cosmic manifestation. He is self-effulgent, unborn and changeless. He is the beginning of everything, but He has no beginning. Because He has created this cosmic manifestation by His external energy, the Universe appears to be created, maintained and annihilated by Him. Nonetheless, He remains inactive in His spiritual energy and is untouched by the activities of the material energy.

(8/1/13)

Bhagvad Gita

With hands and feet everywhere; with eyes, heads, and mouth everywhere; with ears everywhere in the Universe – He exists pervading all.

(13/13)

—To be continued...




Tags: God, Spirituality

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