Serving the Viśvātmā: Living in Relationship with the Universe
Serving the Viśvātmā: Living in Relationship with the Universe The Puruṣa Sūkta presents a striking vision of reality: the universe is not merely an impersonal collection of matter, forces and events. It is related to the Puruṣa , the Cosmic Person. “सहस्रशीर्षा पुरुषः सहस्राक्षः सहस्रपात्” —the Puruṣa has countless heads, eyes and feet. The innumerable beings, powers and functions of the universe may thus be contemplated as belonging to and participating in a vast, living Whole. This vision changes our fundamental relationship with existence. We normally treat the universe as an it —something to use, control or extract from. The Puruṣa vision invites us instead to encounter it as a Person . We are not isolated individuals confronting a silent universe; we are participants within a cosmic reality. The mode of relating to this Cosmic Person is yajña . The Puruṣa Sūkta declares, “यज्ञेन यज्ञमयजन्त देवाः” —through yajña, the devas worshipped the Cosmic Sacrifice. Yajña is therefore more ...