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yajvan
13 May 2007, 05:44 PM
Purusha
Conventionally the word purusha is considered the human being. Yet when we consider the SELF , the Purusha was the first embodied cosmic being. He is refered to as the first born or the first person, virat, the universal form. One may even say virat purusa. This virat is considered the sum total of all bodies in this universe.
Purusha Roots
purva or ancient one or of previous times, + ush or burned up ( purvam aushat) all evil. The evil here is not the typical evil - but used as 'attachment of the senses' - this can be a subject for future discussions.
Purusha may be split as pura + usha - the dawn-light (usha) of the city of the body (pura); That is, the life-force inside one's body.
Or Purusha from pu + rusha, one whose passions are refined. Even puru + sha, filled with wisdom and happiness.


Discussion
If one looked to the Rig Veda one would read:
A thousand heads hath Purusa, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet,
On every side pervading earth he fills a space ten fingers wide.

This sukta indicates that the Supreme Pursha is everywhere, infinite in nature and ubiquitious. The Supreme Purusa is the whole and the part , also called Purushottma or Supreme Purusha.

The individual (you, me) is not constitutionally separate form the WHOLE, and the WHOLE is correlated with every other thing in creation. All connected (not casually)... Many call this Infinite Correlation. This is the basis of the Madhu Brahmanana found in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

Yet a logical question would be - Why all this diversity, individual things we experience? All these forms, these bodies, these visible individualities of things?
All the diversity is intended for the recognition of HIS presence in all things - He has not created this world merely for nothing, as if He has no other work to do. It is intended to give an indication of His presence; an indication of the variety which HE can comprise within HIMSELF; an indication of the contradictions that can be reconciled in His Being; . Unity+diversity = universe. All is Brahman

The wise even suggest that the universe and beings were created by HIM, to know more about HIMself.
...curving back onto my SELF I create again and again!


References
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10090.htm (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv10090.htm)
http://www.miraura.org/lit/skgl/skgl-25.html (http://www.miraura.org/lit/skgl/skgl-25.html)
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad- Purusha vidya Brahmana - Swami Sivanananda

HDF Posts:
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=9072&postcount=1 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=9072&postcount=1)
http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=8804&postcount=1 (http://www.hindudharmaforums.com/showpost.php?p=8804&postcount=1)