Why is nirguna brahman manifest only in 5 forms?












2















I know that Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Surya and Ganesha are counted as manifestations of Nirguna brahman. Or in other way when nirguna brahman is seen through lens of maya, it is seen in 5 different ways. What I fail to make sense of is how come Vishnu is there in the list, but his wife is missing. Similarly, how same saguna brahman Shiva, Durga, Ganesha are related as husband , wife, son and then instead of another son Karthikeya we have Surya as fifth. I am also not able to make sense of the number 5 and one family having 3 saguna brahman. The thing is since all are manifestations of Nirguna brahman, there should be no hierarchy between each of them.



Can some explain logically how it is possible?










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  • 5 = pancha bootha...

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • @AkshayS yes please write answer. I am OK with logical answers also.

    – MohMur
    2 hours ago











  • I am finding reference with respect to your particular question!! So takes time!

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • Indra is only nirguna brahma. Though he failed to prove that.

    – TheLittleNaruto
    1 hour ago


















2















I know that Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Surya and Ganesha are counted as manifestations of Nirguna brahman. Or in other way when nirguna brahman is seen through lens of maya, it is seen in 5 different ways. What I fail to make sense of is how come Vishnu is there in the list, but his wife is missing. Similarly, how same saguna brahman Shiva, Durga, Ganesha are related as husband , wife, son and then instead of another son Karthikeya we have Surya as fifth. I am also not able to make sense of the number 5 and one family having 3 saguna brahman. The thing is since all are manifestations of Nirguna brahman, there should be no hierarchy between each of them.



Can some explain logically how it is possible?










share|improve this question























  • 5 = pancha bootha...

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • @AkshayS yes please write answer. I am OK with logical answers also.

    – MohMur
    2 hours ago











  • I am finding reference with respect to your particular question!! So takes time!

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • Indra is only nirguna brahma. Though he failed to prove that.

    – TheLittleNaruto
    1 hour ago
















2












2








2








I know that Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Surya and Ganesha are counted as manifestations of Nirguna brahman. Or in other way when nirguna brahman is seen through lens of maya, it is seen in 5 different ways. What I fail to make sense of is how come Vishnu is there in the list, but his wife is missing. Similarly, how same saguna brahman Shiva, Durga, Ganesha are related as husband , wife, son and then instead of another son Karthikeya we have Surya as fifth. I am also not able to make sense of the number 5 and one family having 3 saguna brahman. The thing is since all are manifestations of Nirguna brahman, there should be no hierarchy between each of them.



Can some explain logically how it is possible?










share|improve this question














I know that Shiva, Durga, Vishnu, Surya and Ganesha are counted as manifestations of Nirguna brahman. Or in other way when nirguna brahman is seen through lens of maya, it is seen in 5 different ways. What I fail to make sense of is how come Vishnu is there in the list, but his wife is missing. Similarly, how same saguna brahman Shiva, Durga, Ganesha are related as husband , wife, son and then instead of another son Karthikeya we have Surya as fifth. I am also not able to make sense of the number 5 and one family having 3 saguna brahman. The thing is since all are manifestations of Nirguna brahman, there should be no hierarchy between each of them.



Can some explain logically how it is possible?







advaita brahman






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share|improve this question











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share|improve this question










asked 2 hours ago









MohMurMohMur

818114




818114













  • 5 = pancha bootha...

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • @AkshayS yes please write answer. I am OK with logical answers also.

    – MohMur
    2 hours ago











  • I am finding reference with respect to your particular question!! So takes time!

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • Indra is only nirguna brahma. Though he failed to prove that.

    – TheLittleNaruto
    1 hour ago





















  • 5 = pancha bootha...

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • @AkshayS yes please write answer. I am OK with logical answers also.

    – MohMur
    2 hours ago











  • I am finding reference with respect to your particular question!! So takes time!

    – Akshay S
    2 hours ago











  • Indra is only nirguna brahma. Though he failed to prove that.

    – TheLittleNaruto
    1 hour ago



















5 = pancha bootha...

– Akshay S
2 hours ago





5 = pancha bootha...

– Akshay S
2 hours ago













@AkshayS yes please write answer. I am OK with logical answers also.

– MohMur
2 hours ago





@AkshayS yes please write answer. I am OK with logical answers also.

– MohMur
2 hours ago













I am finding reference with respect to your particular question!! So takes time!

– Akshay S
2 hours ago





I am finding reference with respect to your particular question!! So takes time!

– Akshay S
2 hours ago













Indra is only nirguna brahma. Though he failed to prove that.

– TheLittleNaruto
1 hour ago







Indra is only nirguna brahma. Though he failed to prove that.

– TheLittleNaruto
1 hour ago












1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















3














Since this question is about nirguNa brahman, I will answer this from the perspective of advaita. There is nothing special about the number five. Sri Shankara says in his Brahmasutra bhashya, that the supreme Lord can assume any form to bless his devotees. (BSB 1.1.20, see the quote below). There is no evidence from Sri Shankara's authentic works that he thinks there are only five forms of brahman.



http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe34/sbe34026.htm




With a beard bright as gold,' &c., cannot refer to the highest Lord, we reply that the highest Lord also may, when he pleases, assume a bodily shape formed of Mâyâ, in order to gratify thereby his devout worshippers. Thus Smriti also says, 'That thou seest me, O Nârada, is the Mâyâ emitted by me; do not then look on me as endowed with the qualities of all beings.'




Incidentally, the smriti in the above quote is Mahabharata, where Lord Narayana shows his cosmic form (vishwa roopa) to Narada.






share|improve this answer
























  • I think this 5 forms belief comes from the link people gave to him on Panchayatana puja.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Dear Ambi, I have not come across any place in Sri Shankara bhashyas where he recommends panchayatana puja.

    – Lazy Lubber
    1 hour ago











  • I agree. That's why I said that it was people who linked it to him. In fact, I have actually asked a question on that same topic and answered it as well. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/31724/16773. You can take a look if interested. I am still studying more stuff on that topic.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Thank you for the link. It is informative.

    – Lazy Lubber
    59 mins ago



















1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









3














Since this question is about nirguNa brahman, I will answer this from the perspective of advaita. There is nothing special about the number five. Sri Shankara says in his Brahmasutra bhashya, that the supreme Lord can assume any form to bless his devotees. (BSB 1.1.20, see the quote below). There is no evidence from Sri Shankara's authentic works that he thinks there are only five forms of brahman.



http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe34/sbe34026.htm




With a beard bright as gold,' &c., cannot refer to the highest Lord, we reply that the highest Lord also may, when he pleases, assume a bodily shape formed of Mâyâ, in order to gratify thereby his devout worshippers. Thus Smriti also says, 'That thou seest me, O Nârada, is the Mâyâ emitted by me; do not then look on me as endowed with the qualities of all beings.'




Incidentally, the smriti in the above quote is Mahabharata, where Lord Narayana shows his cosmic form (vishwa roopa) to Narada.






share|improve this answer
























  • I think this 5 forms belief comes from the link people gave to him on Panchayatana puja.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Dear Ambi, I have not come across any place in Sri Shankara bhashyas where he recommends panchayatana puja.

    – Lazy Lubber
    1 hour ago











  • I agree. That's why I said that it was people who linked it to him. In fact, I have actually asked a question on that same topic and answered it as well. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/31724/16773. You can take a look if interested. I am still studying more stuff on that topic.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Thank you for the link. It is informative.

    – Lazy Lubber
    59 mins ago
















3














Since this question is about nirguNa brahman, I will answer this from the perspective of advaita. There is nothing special about the number five. Sri Shankara says in his Brahmasutra bhashya, that the supreme Lord can assume any form to bless his devotees. (BSB 1.1.20, see the quote below). There is no evidence from Sri Shankara's authentic works that he thinks there are only five forms of brahman.



http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe34/sbe34026.htm




With a beard bright as gold,' &c., cannot refer to the highest Lord, we reply that the highest Lord also may, when he pleases, assume a bodily shape formed of Mâyâ, in order to gratify thereby his devout worshippers. Thus Smriti also says, 'That thou seest me, O Nârada, is the Mâyâ emitted by me; do not then look on me as endowed with the qualities of all beings.'




Incidentally, the smriti in the above quote is Mahabharata, where Lord Narayana shows his cosmic form (vishwa roopa) to Narada.






share|improve this answer
























  • I think this 5 forms belief comes from the link people gave to him on Panchayatana puja.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Dear Ambi, I have not come across any place in Sri Shankara bhashyas where he recommends panchayatana puja.

    – Lazy Lubber
    1 hour ago











  • I agree. That's why I said that it was people who linked it to him. In fact, I have actually asked a question on that same topic and answered it as well. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/31724/16773. You can take a look if interested. I am still studying more stuff on that topic.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Thank you for the link. It is informative.

    – Lazy Lubber
    59 mins ago














3












3








3







Since this question is about nirguNa brahman, I will answer this from the perspective of advaita. There is nothing special about the number five. Sri Shankara says in his Brahmasutra bhashya, that the supreme Lord can assume any form to bless his devotees. (BSB 1.1.20, see the quote below). There is no evidence from Sri Shankara's authentic works that he thinks there are only five forms of brahman.



http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe34/sbe34026.htm




With a beard bright as gold,' &c., cannot refer to the highest Lord, we reply that the highest Lord also may, when he pleases, assume a bodily shape formed of Mâyâ, in order to gratify thereby his devout worshippers. Thus Smriti also says, 'That thou seest me, O Nârada, is the Mâyâ emitted by me; do not then look on me as endowed with the qualities of all beings.'




Incidentally, the smriti in the above quote is Mahabharata, where Lord Narayana shows his cosmic form (vishwa roopa) to Narada.






share|improve this answer













Since this question is about nirguNa brahman, I will answer this from the perspective of advaita. There is nothing special about the number five. Sri Shankara says in his Brahmasutra bhashya, that the supreme Lord can assume any form to bless his devotees. (BSB 1.1.20, see the quote below). There is no evidence from Sri Shankara's authentic works that he thinks there are only five forms of brahman.



http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe34/sbe34026.htm




With a beard bright as gold,' &c., cannot refer to the highest Lord, we reply that the highest Lord also may, when he pleases, assume a bodily shape formed of Mâyâ, in order to gratify thereby his devout worshippers. Thus Smriti also says, 'That thou seest me, O Nârada, is the Mâyâ emitted by me; do not then look on me as endowed with the qualities of all beings.'




Incidentally, the smriti in the above quote is Mahabharata, where Lord Narayana shows his cosmic form (vishwa roopa) to Narada.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 1 hour ago









Lazy LubberLazy Lubber

673




673













  • I think this 5 forms belief comes from the link people gave to him on Panchayatana puja.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Dear Ambi, I have not come across any place in Sri Shankara bhashyas where he recommends panchayatana puja.

    – Lazy Lubber
    1 hour ago











  • I agree. That's why I said that it was people who linked it to him. In fact, I have actually asked a question on that same topic and answered it as well. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/31724/16773. You can take a look if interested. I am still studying more stuff on that topic.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Thank you for the link. It is informative.

    – Lazy Lubber
    59 mins ago



















  • I think this 5 forms belief comes from the link people gave to him on Panchayatana puja.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Dear Ambi, I have not come across any place in Sri Shankara bhashyas where he recommends panchayatana puja.

    – Lazy Lubber
    1 hour ago











  • I agree. That's why I said that it was people who linked it to him. In fact, I have actually asked a question on that same topic and answered it as well. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/31724/16773. You can take a look if interested. I am still studying more stuff on that topic.

    – Ambi
    1 hour ago











  • Thank you for the link. It is informative.

    – Lazy Lubber
    59 mins ago

















I think this 5 forms belief comes from the link people gave to him on Panchayatana puja.

– Ambi
1 hour ago





I think this 5 forms belief comes from the link people gave to him on Panchayatana puja.

– Ambi
1 hour ago













Dear Ambi, I have not come across any place in Sri Shankara bhashyas where he recommends panchayatana puja.

– Lazy Lubber
1 hour ago





Dear Ambi, I have not come across any place in Sri Shankara bhashyas where he recommends panchayatana puja.

– Lazy Lubber
1 hour ago













I agree. That's why I said that it was people who linked it to him. In fact, I have actually asked a question on that same topic and answered it as well. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/31724/16773. You can take a look if interested. I am still studying more stuff on that topic.

– Ambi
1 hour ago





I agree. That's why I said that it was people who linked it to him. In fact, I have actually asked a question on that same topic and answered it as well. hinduism.stackexchange.com/a/31724/16773. You can take a look if interested. I am still studying more stuff on that topic.

– Ambi
1 hour ago













Thank you for the link. It is informative.

– Lazy Lubber
59 mins ago





Thank you for the link. It is informative.

– Lazy Lubber
59 mins ago



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