Starting with the
simple observation that Man is not merely a physical body, it may further
be pointed out that neither is he a body with a mind only. For, he is a
‘Jiva’ endowed with a ‘Soul’, which although incipient at the
present stage of mankind’s development, is nevertheless a part of
man’s complete personality. Further, it is only through the development
of this transcendental Self-called the Soul*,
that Man can hope to establish union with Brahma. Similarly, the World he
inhabits is not only this gross sphere called the Earth, but also the
subtle region called ‘Antriksha’, which is not, it may be pointed out,
what is commonly identified thought enveloping the earth, similar to the
outward atmosphere surrounding it. And just as the atmosphere is divisible
into the lower troposphere and the higher stratosphere, the
‘Antariksha’ too can be further divided into the comparatively outer
region called ‘Bhuvan’ or the ‘Antariksha’ proper and the inner
region called ‘Swarg’ or the ordinary heaven.[1] The ‘Antariksha’
which touches and surrounds earth is inhabited by those disembodied souls
or ‘Jivatmas’ of people departed from this earth who are unable to go
to higher spheres on account of their gross earthly desires and
attachments to things of the world. The ‘Swarg’ or the
ordinary heaven on the other hand, is the temporary abode of those souls
who have done some altruistic acts of religious merit during their life on
earth with a desire however, no enjoy their fruits in the next World. Both
the regions have their sub-divisions or Circles, the lowest of the
‘Antariksha’ being inhabited by evil spirits that often frequent the
earth[2],
while the highest of the ordinary heaven is the abode of Devas such as,
Agni, Vayu, Varuna, etc. In order to understand
the vicissitudes of the Vedic religion in the course of history
particularly during its early phases, and the factors responsible for it,
it is essential to bear in mind that the Powers of the ‘Antariksha’,
in view of their being able to remain invisible to the common people, are
often in the habit of impersonating the ‘Devas’ or event god and are
thus capable of playing endless mischief and causing infinite harm to
people on earth[3]. * The Hindu idea of this Soul or the Atma proper is fundamentally different from the Greek concept of ‘Sukhe’, which though ordinarily translated as ‘a Soul’, is actually used for mind, as for instance, in ‘psychology’. [1]
This heaven again
should also be distinguished from the highest Heaven-the divine abode
of the spiritual God- the Pure Brahm in its universal, personal
aspect. [2]
That such entities capable, of doing immense harm through voices and
inspirations including even leading to wars among men do exist, is
proved by occasional photographs of such entities haunting the auras
of some persons or voices caught on a sensitive tape-recorder in the
stillness of night. [3]
A Ghengis Khan for instance, at the time of setting out abroad on a
career of conquest and loot and hearing from the ‘Antariksha’ to
“go and destroy the Kafirs” might, believing it to be God’s
voice, be led to put the entire population-men, women and children-of
a defeated city to fire and sword, as recorded by history with regard
to the city of Delhi. About to depart with his loot from the city
he had defeated and asked what was to be done with its population,
Ghengis Khan remembering ‘the Voice’ he had heard, ordered at once
to set fire to the entire city with express instructions, not to spare
anyone who tried to escape the fire. | |||
| <Previous | Next> | ||
