Jiva is a Reflection of Brahma

In every puja, you will find a mirror placed in a pot of water (Kunda-hari). It is positioned so that the deity's reflection is clearly visible. When the ritual bath is performed, the water and various medicinal herbs are poured onto the reflection in the mirror. This was a method devised by the great sages of the past to protect the physical idols.

Now, if that mirror breaks, it doesn't affect the deity at all. These rituals and even many of the deities we see today were established or conceptualized by humans through deep meditation and devotion. While some deities have been worshipped since ancient times—like the worship of Goddess Durga by Rama during the war—others emerged through the spiritual visions of sages.

Look at the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. They follow a specific sequence: Matsya (the fish), Kurma (the tortoise), Varaha (the boar), Narasimha (the half-man, half-lion), Vamana (the dwarf), Parashurama, Rama, Balarama, Buddha, and finally, Kalki. This sequence reflects a progression. Kalki is considered the final, complete avatar.

Host: So, what is the significance of the mirror in relation to God?

Gurudeb: There is a symbolic connection in worship. However, when you have eyes to see, you don't necessarily need a mirror—your eyes act as the mirror. We say that the "eye is true and the ear is false." What you see with your own eyes is the truth; don't just rely on what you hear or on rumors. Truth and falsehood both reside within you.

Ultimately, we are alive because of one element: air. If our breathing stops, we perish. Regarding the "reflection," as long as the eye is open, the reflection exists and is true. In worship, we use the mirror to maintain the sanctity and purity of the deity's physical form while performing rituals on the reflection.

Host: My next question is: why did the Supreme Being create such diversity? He made some as humans, some as lions, some as deer, and others as insects. Isn't this a form of partiality on God's part?

Gurudeb: It’s not partiality; we have to look at this through the lens of both spirituality and science. We say Lord Brahma created everything. But why? He created humans specifically so they could understand and realize God.

As for animals, science explains their existence differently, but in our tradition, we see them associated with the deities. Brahma is often depicted with a swan, Durga with a lion, Ganesha with a mouse, Kartikeya with a peacock, and Shiva with a bull. The deities chose these animals as their mounts (Vahanas).

If you look at the theory of evolution (Krama-Vivartanvad), it aligns with the sequence of the avatars. Life began in the water (Matsya), then moved to both land and water (Kurma), then to land animals (Varaha), then a transition between animal and man (Narasimha), and finally to various stages of human development.

The mystery of creation is profound. Science says everything evolved over time from one form to another. In the beginning, there was nothing but water. Then came mountains, forests, and plants. One species led to another. Today, we even see this in science through "hybrids"—how one species is modified to create many others.

So, while spiritualists might say God created everything, science provides a structural explanation through evolution. I believe both perspectives have merit. We shouldn't ignore science, nor should we ignore the divine.

Host: So science and God are interconnected?

Gurudeb: Exactly. We live in a world governed by three types of experiences: Adhibhautik (bodily or mental), Adhidaivik (supernatural or divine), and Bhautik (physical or material).

When we see something miraculous, we call it Bhautik. Adhibhautik refers to the sufferings or changes within our own bodies. Adhidaivik refers to the forces of nature—storms, rain, and floods—which we attribute to the divine or the laws of nature.

Today, we are heavily dependent on science. If there is no electricity, we can't even pump water. We have moved away from the practices of the ancient sages who would perform Yajnas to invoke rain because we now rely on technology. However, when science fails, we still turn to God. And when we seek material progress, we look to science. They are two sides of the same coin, and we must navigate through both.

In the past, sages relied entirely on the Divine. Today, humanity relies on science. But both are interconnected and essential for our existence.

Host: Thank you, Gurudeb, for these enlightening words.

Gurudeb: Pronam. Be well.