The words 'Purusha' and 'Prakriti' are from Sanskrit. It is commonly believed that the first word represents man (male) and the second word represents woman (female). However, upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that both words are gender-neutral.
In the Rigveda, Purusha is described as the cosmic person, the origin of the individual. The creation of the universe is said to have originated from the body of this primordial Purusha. Purusha is described in various forms such as the soul, individual, and pure consciousness.
When Prakriti, often referred to as woman or feminine energy, confronts Purusha, a transformative journey begins.
There is a mythological story that clarifies the meanings of both. Once, Goddess Sita was asked, 'What is Purusha, and what is Prakriti?' Sita replied, 'I am Purusha, and when I unite with Rama, all of this becomes my Prakriti.' If we understand Purusha solely in the context of masculinity, associated with male energy, and Prakriti as only feminine energy, it leads to a narrow perspective.
In the Rigveda, Purusha is described as the cosmic person, the origin of the individual. The creation of the universe is said to have originated from the body of this primordial Purusha. This Purusha is one who renounces, and renunciation is inherent in it. The Mundaka Upanishad states that it has no physical body, it is unborn and pervades both inside and outside. It is beyond breath and mind, yet it is higher than the highest. It is the soul of all living beings.
The Kena Upanishad tells a story that illustrates the unity of Purusha and Prakriti. Once, the gods and goddesses were confronted with an unknown force. Unable to recognize it, they sent Agni (fire god) to inquire about its identity. Agni approached the force and asked, 'Who are you?' The force replied, 'Try to burn me.' Agni tried but failed. The gods then sent Vayu (wind god) to ask the same question, and the force responded, 'Try to blow me away.' Vayu failed as well. Finally, the gods sent Indra (king of gods) to ask, and the force vanished. The gods realized that the force was Brahman, the ultimate reality.
The story highlights that the divine force, which is beyond sensory perception, can neither be burnt nor blown away. It signifies the unity of Purusha (the divine force) and Prakriti (the elemental force).
The concept is beautifully illustrated in a modern anecdote involving Barack Obama and his wife Michelle during a campaign in Michigan. While at a restaurant, an attendant approached Michelle and whispered something in her ear. Michelle laughed and followed the attendant. Later, Obama asked about the incident, and Michelle explained that the restaurant owner had invited her. Half an hour later, she returned smiling.
When Obama inquired about the meeting, Michelle replied, 'The restaurant owner was my boyfriend in college.' Obama remarked, 'That's great! If you had married him, you could have been the owner of this fantastic restaurant in distant Michigan.' To this, Michelle responded with a smile, 'No, if I had married him, he would have been the President of the United States now!'
This anecdote humorously emphasizes that when Purusha (masculine) and Prakriti (feminine) work together without constraints, they propel a progressive process. This process leads towards the creation of a new world that transcends the limited perspective of gender division and becomes expansive.
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