Why is nirguna brahman manifest only in 5 forms?
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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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
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
add a comment |
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
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
advaita brahman
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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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.
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
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
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.
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
add a comment |
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.
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
add a comment |
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.
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.
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
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