|
The description of
a human being in terms of nine lotus petals and the three guņās
or qualities occurs repeatedly in Vedantic literature. Its first
appearance is Atharva Veda
(10.8.43)
and
(10.8.44)
given below.
"There is the
nine-portalled lotus
covered under three
bands (guņebiĥ), in which
Lives the Spirit with
the ātman within,
that the Veda-knowers
know." ------------------- (43)
"Desireless, serene,
immortal, Self-existent,
contented with the
essence, lacking nothing, is He.
One has no fear of
death who has known Him,
the ātman—serene, ageless, youthful."
------------------- (44)
The three bands in
the above verse are the three guņās or psychological
qualities well known later as tamas, rajas and
sattwa, inertia, uncontrolled activity, balanced dynamism.
In the hymn
(10.2)
there is a description of the structure of human being which can
be understood either physiologically or psychologically or in a
spiritual setting.
In
(10.2.31)
we have the first mention of the nine doors and the eight lotuses
which have been discussed at great length in the tāntrik
and yogic literature;
Nine doored with
eight lotuses is the impregnable strong hole of gods;
In that is a
golden vessel which is covered with light and leads to the Heaven
(10.2.31).
|
