why does the Yajur Veda refer to the Purusha as the size of a thumb?

[Guest guest]

Please straighten me out on this: I am reading Vedic verses and run across the

following.

 

The Purusha, of the size of a thumb, dwells in the body. He is the Lord of

the past and the future. After knowing Him, one does not conceal oneself any

more. This, verily, is That.

 

Yajur Veda, Katha Upanishad, Part Two, Chapter I, 12

 

The Purusha, of the size of a thumb, is like a flame without smoke. The Lord

of the past and the future, He is the same today and tomorrow. This, verily,

is That.

 

 

If the Purusha is the size of a thumb, that implies that it is something

physical. From reading the Yoga Sutras, I got the impression that the

Purusha is like the soul or the part of us that is part of God and wants to

be again. What do they mean and is there anything in Ayurvedic writings that

talks about it?

 

Darla

[Guest guest]

This is just a metaphorical way of expressing that Purusha (the Supreme Being)

pervades the entire creation. He is " as small as a thumb " and as big as ..... (

as in the entire Purush Sukta).

 

HE, the One, manifests Himself into all that has manifested. He is " in, with,

and beyond everything " simultaneously.

 

Well, we can perceive Him as small as a thumb residing in our hearts.

 

Once, He is realised, we realise our true identity... the consciousness of our

Real 'I' awakens within us. We ( the Individual 'I' s) discover that " I am HE " .

 

Hence, " After knowing Him, one does not conceal oneself any

more. This, verily, is That. "

 

regrds,

Yashendra

[Guest guest]

I think it is a palatable way of introducing the concept of 'Advaita' to the

common man.

 

While the small size is non-threatening to the ego of the believer, he is also

happy with the idea that the Supreme Being is always within him (comforting his

ego).

 

Regards

Gandhi

 

--------------

 

> This is just a metaphorical way of expressing that Purusha (the Supreme Being)

pervades the entire creation. He is " as small as a thumb " and as big as ..... (

as in the entire Purush Sukta).

 

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

Precisely for this reason shvetAsvatara upaniShada says -

 

maayaa.n tu prakR^iti.n vidyaanmaayina.n cha maheshvaram ||

 

GYaatvaa devaM muchyate sarvapaashaiH ||

 

Meaning - All manifestation is mAyA. but once if we know that was the reason or

reasoning behind that manifestation then all bondages / attachments dissolve.

The object is to understand the the core principle which is represented by the

term puruShaa.

 

puruShaa is defines as - " puri sheti iti puruShaa "

 

One that that lies latent in but is the enjoyer of that prakR^iti.

 

To bring the concept of puruShaa in ayrurvedic perspective can be expressed in

terms of diagnosis as well as the treatment.

 

When a physician, a vaidyaa is trying to identify the cause of specific

condition then that becomes the purusha. Once that is identified then one can

attempt to address it, as to find a solution of that condition.

 

The question what has been asked is why they used the term " a~NguShTamaatra " ?

 

IMO - Thumb is represents the pinnacle of our evolution. Without it we would

not have the dexterity for our hand. This dexterity allows us the human beings

to explore, otherwise we would be no different than monkeys.

 

The kaThopaniDhjada II.1.12 & 13 is refers this puruShaa as the thumb.

 

I can go on but that would be beyond the scope & objectives of this esteem

group.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards,

[Guest guest]

I think the reason that it caught my attention is that I read somewhere that

when people are weighed before and after death, there is a loss of a few

ounces of weight, and this seemed to confirm that.

[Guest guest]

Is that kind of like where Paramhansa Yogananda talks about being a wave in

the ocean, some waves are larger and those are the ones that get farther

from God and some are smaller and closer to being free and being back with

God, but it is all part of the same? I find sharing this body with God to be

a very consoling thought. I mean, it is His anyway; I am just borrowing it

for the play/leela?