Prakriti, the primal force, is the womb of all existence, the eternal mother from whom the cosmos is born. She is nature, the ever-changing dance of forms, the rhythm of life that pulses through the universe. Her essence flows in the rivers, blooms in the flowers, and whispers in the wind.
The Bhagavad Gita proclaims: “Prakritim swam avashtabhya visrijami punah punah”—“Taking refuge in my own nature, I create again and again.” Prakriti is the creative energy of the divine, the canvas upon which the play of life unfolds. Yet, she is not separate from the divine but its very expression.
Composed of the three gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—Prakriti weaves the tapestry of existence. Sattva is purity and light, Rajas is activity and desire, while Tamas is rest and inertia. These forces shape the world, moving in harmony and conflict, creating the infinite diversity of life.
The Isha Upanishad reminds us: “Isha vasyam idam sarvam”—“The divine pervades all this.” Though Prakriti appears transient, her essence is eternal, a reflection of the infinite spirit. Through her beauty and dynamism, she reveals the divine to those who see with wisdom.
Yet, Prakriti is also the veil, the enchantress who binds the soul to the cycles of birth and death. She is the test and the teacher, urging the seeker to look beyond her forms to the unchanging truth. Meditation and discernment are the tools to transcend her illusions and recognize the divine within.
Prakriti’s gifts are abundant: the nourishment of the earth, the light of the sun, the air we breathe. To honor her is to live in harmony with nature, to tread lightly on her soil and cherish her bounty.
“Prakritim paramam vidhyan”—“Know Prakriti as divine.” She is both the path and the goal, the mother who nurtures and the force that liberates. Through her, the soul learns to transcend, merging with the infinite consciousness beyond. May we walk her path with reverence, awakening to the truth that she so gracefully reveals.
Article Crafted by Yoga Home Bali Team
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