Re: Help required - Fourteen worlds

04-26-2005, 03:10 AM

OM represents, in its silent significance, both the manifest and the
unmanifest, which together constitute the entire subtle and gross
world. The word loka in Sanskrit is generally translated as 'world',
but, in its etymological meaning, it signifies 'a field of
experience'.

The entire possibility of experience in life has been terraced by
the rsis into fourteen worlds; seven higher lokas and seven lower
worlds. There are three worlds in which a limited ego-centre comes
to play its game of reincarnation and repeated deaths: these are (1)
Bhur-loka, the physical earth; (2) Bhuvar-loka, the world next to
the physical and closely connected with it, but constituted of finer
matter; and (3) Suvar-loka, the heavenly world. Beyond these are the
four other 'worlds' wherein the ego comes to move about and enjoy in
its higher evolutionary life, and they are called the Mahar-loka,
Jana- loka, Tapa-loka, and Satya-loka.

In the Hindu literature we also find conceptions of other 'worlds'
such as Indra-loka, Candra-loka, Surya-loka, Pitra-loka, etc., which
are special 'realms of experiences' located within the above
regions.

Below these seven 'worlds' there is yet another set of
seven 'worlds' called the talas. They are named as Pa-talam, Maha-
talam, Rasa-talam, Tala- talam, Su-talam, Vi-talam, and A-talam.

Of these fourteen 'worlds', Bhur-Bhuvar-Suvar, denoting the 'three
worlds', are called the vyahrtis. In the Gayatri Mantra, when these
vyahrtis are chanted, the meditator can visualise the 'three worlds'
as arising from, existing in, and disappearing into AUM. He can
subjectively identify them with the waking, dream, and deep-sleep
conditions of consciousness, transcending which extends the realms
of the Infinite. All of them are represented in the symbol OM. In
this sense, the vyahrtis in the Gayatri represent in one sweep the
entire 'world' of the subjective and the objective experiences of
man.

**The idea belongs to Hinduism, and in the fourth Gospel of the New
Testament we read it repeated: 'In the beginning was the Word and
the Word was with God and the Word was God.'

***In Sanskrit the vowel 'O' is constitutionally a diphthong,
compounded of A and U: OM can also be written as AUM.

****Which must be regarded as forming part of its sound in a latent,
meaningful state of repose

http://www.jayarams.com/omchinmaya.htm