A new approach to the Vedas : an essay in translation and exegesis

BRHADARANYAKA UPANISAD

flanks the south and north. His back the heavens (dyu), his belly firmament (antariksa), his underneath this ground. He is established (pratistha) in the Waters. He who knoweth this is established wherever he may be. 3.

‘A Trinity,” that is as the principle of Fire in any Earth, of Light in any Heaven, of Motion in any Firmament. This basic angelic Trinity of three Principles or Persons is constantly lauded, continually referred to in the Vedas and Upanisads.* ‘* One of them (i.e., Agni) scythes when the year-of-time is done; one of them (i.e., Aditya) with his powers surveys the worlds ; of one of them (ie., Vayu) his sweep is seen, but not his likeness,” Rg Veda, 1, 164, 44. Maitri Up., IV, 5-6, may be cited: ‘Fire (agni), Wind (vayu) and Supernal-Sun (aditya)—Food (anna), Spirit (prana), Time (kala)Rudra, Brahma, Visnu . . . these are the primary embodiments (fanu) of the transcendental (para) incorporeal (aSavira) .. . Brahman.” Cf. ‘“‘ Now then fire is the first cause of life; and light is the second cause; and the spirit is the third cause, and yet there is but one essence

_. which manifesteth itself,’ Bohme, XL Questions concerning the Soule, e276:

Now with respect to the three Persons of this Trinity : Aditya is the Supernal-Sun,** the ‘‘ Golden Person ”’ in the Sun, immediate source of image-bearing light (sarwpa jyott), consubstantial with the real and imageless (amurta, nivabhasa) Brahman, who is very Light (jyoti), for “that Light is the same as the Supernal-Sun,” Maitrr Up., VI, 3; the personal name is Visnu, saétva-natured, for he keeps things in being. Vayu, Wind, is the Self hypostasised as the Breath of Life, consubstantial with Brahman, Spiritus, prana, whose breath is in himself, unsuspired (avdta, Rg Veda, X, 129, 2), despirated (Buddhist nirvata)**: here the personal name is Brahma