The Sruti (Bri. Up. 3-5-13) declares that manas, prana and vach of the individual soul are infinite in space and time, i.e., are one with the Hiranyagarbha, otherwise called Lingatman. The Hiranyagarbha functions chiefly in manas and has the Brahmanda for His body, and He may, therefore, be regarded as pervading the individual body which has been evolved out of the Brahmanda. Thus, as being equally pervaded by Lingatman, the individual body may be looked on as one with the Brahmanda.

Devotion to Isvara in the Microcosm leads to unity with the Macrocosm.

6. By contemplating Mahesvara (dwelling) in the microcosm (vyashti), the devotee will become co-extensive with the macrocosm. This the Sruti has declared ten times in the words "he unites with Atman."

Having first enumerated the kosas (sheaths) of the individual, the Taittiriya-Upanishad (2-8) declares five times that the devotee attains unity with Brahman, dwelling in the anandamaya kosa as the basis of all, in the words " He unites with annamaya Atman; he unites with pranamaya Atman; he unites with manomaya Atman; he unites with vijnanamaya Atman; he unites with anandamaya Atman." Again, later on, the Upanishad speaks of the five kosas in the macrocosm, and at the end (3-10) declares five times, as shown above, that the devotee attains unity with Brahman.

Correspondences between Macrocosm and Microcosm.

Now the Vartikakara teaches how to see the macrocosm in the microcosm:

(1) Correspondences as to Earth.

7. In the bosom of Brahmanda, seven worlds such as Bhurloka are said to exist. These dwell in the (seven) adharas (in the human body), form Muladhara up to Brahmarandhra:

Bhuh

dwells in

Muladhara.

Bhuvah

"

Svadhishthana.

Svah

"

Manipuraka.

Mahah

"

Anahata.

Janah

"

Visuddha.

Tapah

"

Ajna

Satyam

"

Sahasrara.

8. The back-bone is the Mahameru, and the bones near it are the Kulaparvatas. The Ganges is Pingala Nadi, while Ida is said to be Yamuna.

(2) Correspondences as to Waters.

9. Sushumna is the Sarasvati, and other nadis the other sacred rivers. The seven dhatus are the seven dvipas; sweat, tears and the like are the oceans.

(3) Correspondences as to Fire or Light.

10. In the muladhara dwells the Kalagni, amidst bones is Badaba fire. In sushumna lies the fire of lightning, and the earthly fire in the region of the navel.

11. In the heart lies the sun-fire; in the skull, the lunar orb; the eye and other sense-organs are the other luminaries.

(4) Correspondences as to Air.

12. As the worlds are supported by the pravahana and other vayus, so is the body supported by the ten vayus such as prana.

Different aspects of prana in the body.