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MACROCOSM AND MICROCOSM
The universe consists of a Mahabrahmanda, or grand Cosmos, and of numerous Brhatbrahmanda, or macrocosms evolved from it. As is said by the Nirvana-Tantra, all which is in the first is in the second. In the latter are heavenly bodies and beings, which are microcosms reflecting on a minor scale the greater worlds which evolve them. "As above, so below". The mystical maxim of the West is stated in the Visvasara-Tantra as follows : " What is here is elsewhere ; what is not here is nowhere " (yadhihasti tadanyatra yannehasti na tatkvacit). The macrocosm has its meru, or vertebral column, extending from top to bottom. There are fourteen regions descending from Satyaloka, the highest.' These are the seven upper and the seven nether worlds (vide ante). The meru of human body is the spinal column, and within it are the cakras, in which the worlds are said to dwell.- In the words of the S'aktananda-Tarangini, they are pindamadhyesthita. Satya has been said to be in the sahasrara, and Tapah, Janah, Mahah, Svah, Bhuvah, Bhuh in the ajna, visuddhi, anahata, mani-pura, svadhisthana, and muladhara lotuses respectively. Below muladhara and in the joints, sides, anus, and organs of generation are the nether worlds. The bones near the spinal column are the kula-parvata.1 Such are the correspondences as to earth.
1. The seven main chains of mountains in Bharata (see Vişņu-Pur3na, Bfc, II, chap. iii). Then as to water. The nādïs are the rivers. The seven substances of the body (dhatu)1 are the seven islands. Sweat, tears, and the like are the oceans. Fire exists in the muladhara, susumna, navel and elsewhere.2 As the worlds are supported by the prāna and other vāyus ("airs"), so is the body supported by the ten vāyus, prāna, etc. There is the same akasa (ether) in both3. The witness within is the purusa without, for the personal soul of the microcosm corresponds to the cosmic soul (hiranya-garbha) in the macrocosm.
1. Skin, blood, muscle, tendon, bone, fat, semen. 2. The kamagni in muladhara, badala in the bones ; in susumna the fire of lightning, and in the navel earthly fire. 3. As to distribution of elements in thecakras, see chap, iv, Bhutasuddhi-Tantra. |
