sthula gross svarupa form, attributes suksmasubtle anvaya all-pervasiveness, interpenetration, conjunction arthavatva purpose, fullness samyamat by restraint bhutajayah mastery over the elements By samyama on the elements - their mass, forms, subtlety, conjunction and purposes, the yogi becomes Lord over them all. By restraint, the yogi gains control over the gross and subtle elements of nature, their forms and gunas, as well as their purpose. The Universe is created from the constituents of the basic elements of nature - earth (prthvi), water (ap), fire (tejas), air (vayu) and ether (akasa). Each element possesses five attributes - mass (sthula), subtlety (suksma), form (svarupa), all-pervasiveness or interpenetration (anvaya), and purpose or fruition (arthavatva). The characteristics of the gross forms of elements comprise solidity, fluidity, heat, mobility and volume. Their subtle counterparts are smell, taste, sight, touch and sound. Their all-pervasiveness or interpenetration are the three gunas, and their purpose is either worldly enjoyment or freedom and beatitude. The earth element has five properties of sound, touch, sight, taste and smell. Water possesses four - sound, touch, sight and taste. Fire has three - sound, touch and sight. Air comprises sound and touch. Ether has only the one quality of sound ('pranavah', 1.27). |
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