Bhagavatam, day 67
Srimad Bhagavatam - day 67
Maharishi śuka replied,
Jitāsano jita-śvāso jita-saṅgo jitendriyaḥ
Sthūle bhagavato rūpe manaḥ sandhārayed dhiyā
Perfection in sitting posture should be achieved through persistent practice. In other words, the aspirant should be able to sit in the same posture for any length of time. This is the first step.
This visible universe which is the support for all living and non-living objects, and in which the past, present as well as the future periods of time are experienced, is the gross body of the Supreme Lord. Now let us understand about this gross body (virāt roopa) of that Lord, which is unimaginably huge.
This entire universe which is His gross body is composed of seven enclosures (āvarana, elements) viz., the five basic elements of earth, water etc., ahamkara (sense of ego) and the mahat tattva. The supreme consciousness or the owner of this universal form (virāt deha) is Hiranyagarbha.
The mind of the aspirant should be steadily fixed upon Paramatma, who has manifested in the form of Hiranyagarbha. Now with the stabilized mind, he should meditate upon this Hiranyagarbha.
To Hiranyagarbha who has created the entire universe, the sole of His feet is the world called Pātāla (the lowest among the seven lower worlds, a type of ***). The top of his feet, the heels and toes constitute the world called Rasātala loka. His ankles are the Mahātala loka. The shank (the portion of leg from the knee to the ankle) of the cosmic form is the Talātala loka.
The two knees of this Lord are the Sutala loka. Both His thighs are the Atala and Vitala lokas. The abdomen is the Bhutala (earth). The outer space is the pond called the navel.
This is how the Maharishis describe the Lord’s universal form.
The chest of this Hiranyagarbha, who is the primordial being in this creation, is the heavenly planets (swarga, higher worlds). His neck is the Mahar loka. His mouth is the Jana loka. His forehead is the Tapo loka. To that infinite Lord who possesses countless heads, His heads are the Satya loka. This is how the Maharishis contemplate upon the Supreme Lord.
(These were the 14 planetary systems of the Universal form, explained in the bottom-up approach).
Indra and other Devatas form His innumerable hands. Directions are His ears. Actual sound (śabda tanmātra) is His power of hearing (śrotrendriya, sense perception of sound).
Ashwini Devatas are His nostrils. Fragrance (gandha tanmātra) is His sense of smell (ghrānendriya, power of smelling). His power of speech (vāgendriya) is the burning fire.
To Mahavishnu, the two realms (dviloka) are the two eyes i.e. the Sun and the power of seeing (chakṣur-indriya). Day and night form His eyelids. The playful movement of His eyebrows is the residence of the four-faced Brahma.
Water, one of the five basic elements, is His jaw. The subtle sense of taste (rasa tanmātra) is His tongue. To that infinite Lord, Vedas are the Brahmarāndhra (aperture in the crown of the head). Lord Yama, the Lord of death, is His molar tooth.
It is but natural for every being to have feelings of love towards their progeny. This love is His teeth. Maya shakti (power of illusion) which traps every being is His enchanting smile. This vast material universe that is visible to us is the playful gaze of His Maya Shakti.
Upper lip is the modesty of this Supreme Lord. Greed is His lower lip. Dharma (righteousness) is His ***. Adharma (unrighteousness) is His back. Prajapati is His genitals. Mitra and Varuna are His testicles. The oceans are His ***. The huge mountains are His bones.
To this Mahavishnu, whose body is this vast universe, the rivers are the nādis (subtle astral nerves). The trees are His hair on His body. Wind is His breath. Time is His movement.
Creating every being through to the influence of the three traits of nature viz., traits of purity (sattva), traits of passion/ action (rajo) and traits of inertia (tamo guna) is His task.
The clouds are the hair on His head. Goddess Sandhya (the three time junctions during a 24 hour cycle viz., early morning, afternoon and evening twilight) is His clothing. Prakriti (nature, which is the root for all creation) is His heart. Moon, who is the refuge for plant life, is His mind.
To that Lord who is everything, Mahat tattva (total cosmic intelligence) is His knowledge”.
This universal form is nothing but the Puruśa suktam from the Vedas. If we listen to this suktam daily, we can understand the cosmic form of that Lord.
“Rudra is His ahamkara (ego). The horse, camel, mule and elephant are his nails. Cow, deer and all other creatures form His waist. Maharishis who are exponents in knowledge of the Vedas state that He should be contemplated upon in this manner.
His exquisite artistic ability has taken the form of the birds. When He renders the sapta swaras (7 musical notes), they take the form of the divine celestial beings such as Gandharva, Vidyadhara, Cānara, Apsarasa”.
Narayana! Sriman Narayana!