Ved Darshan- 11

This epiphany continues with a description of the ascetics’ ascent to the skies and the manifestation of the Kesins’ vision as a universal form or Viśvarūpa

antarikṣeṇa patati viśvā rūpāvacākaśat |

munir devasya-devasya saukṛtyāya sakhā hita|| Rig Veda (10.136.4)

Antarikṣeṇa (sky/space/ firmament) patati (as if falls, descends/flies/ decays) viśvā rūpāvacākaśat – the vision of the vishwa-roopa made visible or seen as a darshana . The Vishwaroop is an apotheosis, a theophany a manifestation visually of the revelation of the kesins in ecstasy

Munir the ascetic or/ Kesins devasya-devasya verily partake the devas/ vishwadeva saukṛtyāya for good works/ for pious deeds that sakhā (friend/ companion) hitaḥ give/ cause/get;/ provide;/end

Viśvarūpa is seen as the supreme, infinite form where the entire universe is manifested within a single body. It is a theophany or a visual representation of the experience of the Kesins whether it be a ritual initiation, a mystical experience where the Kesin acquires the status of divinity or even manifestation of participative oneness with nature. There is in all these visions some aspect of reconciling all dualities, opposites, celestial realms, aspects of time and creations into single cosmic manifestation. Much later, texts like the Bhagwat Geeta are seen to present the Viśvarūpa as an apocalyptic vision. Here the deity is not only a companion of the jana, but he is also ‘time the destroyer. In Saiva traditions he is Mahakaal Destruction is as much a part of the manifestation as construction or creation ; when a thing or a system or an institution or acivilisation or an order becomes inadequate to deal with the world-out-there where entropy or patati abounds; the renovation or destruction is predicated on approaching, (like the kesins or Muni) creation ‘naked’, denuded or stripped of existing inherited concepts to be vouched-safe the vision of the renovative Viśvarūpa which recreates. / DAILY WORLD /

(The writer is a senior IRS officer posted in Delhi.)