Brihadaranyaka Upanishad Ch.2.5.1-10 Lecture 75 on 10 October 2026 Q&A

Discussion on Jala Tarpana, Chidabhasa, and the Limited Nature of Presiding Deities

Question 1: Is Jala Tarpana Connected to Jala Devata Being the Cause of Prithvi?

Participant: Maharaj, since Jala Devata is the cause of Prithvi, is that the reason why, when we do tarpana, we do it with water? Does it have any connection with this concept?

The First Offering to a Guest: Water

Response (Maharaj): When a guest comes to you, what do you offer? What is the first thing you offer if he has come walking from a long distance? You will put chapati and potato curry. That is called Madhuparka. That is – nowadays you can say – tea or coffee or cold drink. So this is because it is the first requirement. What is the first requirement? Water or food. So that is why Jala Tarpana is given.

After that, when his thirst is removed, then later on he will take bath – again with water. With food or with water?

Participant: Again with water only.

Response: And then food is cooked in water or not?

Participant: Yeah.

Response: Everything is in water only.

Participant: Yes.

Response: So that cooking is also done by the heat only.

Participant: Yeah.

Response: And that heat comes only from the air.

Participant: Yes.

Response: And the air comes only because of the Akasha.

Participant: See.

Response: Yes, sir. What is the answer? But it is not the water that is important. It is the devotion – that you are alive. As I mentioned so many times.

The True Meaning of Tarpana

Response: Our giving tarpana – is it that the Swargaloka persons, drinking Swargaloka water, want to come and drink our dirty water? No.

But they do understand – like a child, the mother is feeding it, and it feels, "I must also feed." So it puts its dirty hands in that bowl and extends it to the mother. Mother eats it with great delight or not?

Participant: Yes.

Response: So what is the delight? Is it food? No.

It is the love that the baby wants to show to its mother. That is important. And also, as I said, we offer because we believe they are not dead.

Participant: Yes.

Response: That is the idea. And "dead" means what? They are not Mukta Purushas. Therefore, they require, like us, food, water, everything. That is the idea.

Participant: Sure.

Question 2: How Are Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika, and Adhidaivika All Chidabhasa?

Participant: Maharaj, one more question about one point you mentioned today. All the three – Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika, and Adhidaivika – are the resultant of Chidabhasa.

Response: They are all Chidabhasa only.

Participant: Can you please explain that, Maharaj? How are they all Chidabhasa?

The Power of Cognition

Response: Okay, so there is something that is called the power of cognition – that is called Chidabhasa. So our mind is dead matter. So this dead matter comes alive when it reflects the mind, reflects the chit, pure consciousness.

Participant: Yes.

Response: That is what it says: "I am." What is the first thing that it says? "I am." Then only "who I am" – man, woman, young, old, etcetera. First thing is "I exist." How do I understand "I exist"? Because of the consciousness – consciousness. That is a very important point.

The Presiding Deity Depends Upon Me

Response: So I am recognising the presiding deity or not?

Participant: Yes.

Response: So that presiding deity is dependent upon me or not?

Participant: Yes.

Response: If I am not there, who will call him presiding deity? That is why he is also dependent. And whatever is dependent is called Anatma. Anatma means what? Chidabhasa.

Avinabhava Sambandha: The Unbreakable Relationship

Response: So whether it is the external world or the presiding deities, they have got what we call in Sanskrit Avinabhava Sambandha – unbreakable relationship. Just like a triangle is not a triangle if it is broken. So all are nothing but Anatma only. But there is a difference.

In the presiding deity, the consciousness is more manifest. That was the point of my giving that last example of a huge mirror in the sky. So the presiding deity has got so much of power, so much of control, so much of knowledge, etcetera. But without me, is knowledge useless?

If there are no praja, who is the raja? If there are no students, who is the teacher? If there are no bhaktas, who is the Bhagavan? So we are all dependent upon each other.

Whatever Is Dependent Is Anatma, and Anatma Is Chidabhasa

Response: Whatever is dependent is called Anatma. Whatever is Anatma, that is called Chidabhasa. But don't get the wrong idea that Anatma means non-existence. Anatma means Atma with nama-rupa is called Anatma.

Even the presiding deity is dependent or not. So the Prithvi Devata's powers are much less. The powers of the Jala Devata are much more. Powers of the fire – Agni Devata – is much, much more, etcetera.

Participant: Yes.

Even Akasha Is Dependent

Response: But even the Akasha, the final fifth, highest, subtlest element, is also dependent, because it is a manifestation. Manifestation means name and form. Manifestation means name and form. And name and form means Anatma.

That's why I am mentioning again and again: do not think of Anatma as non-existent something. Whatever is limited, that is called Anatma. Whatever is limited is changing. Whatever is limited is dependent upon the unlimited.

Participant: Yeah.

Response: If your house is small, how do you call it small? Because it is dependent upon that huge space.

Participant: Yes, comparative.

The Presiding Deities Work Out of Fear of Brahman

Response: So even the presiding deities are also limited. And that is why it is in the Katha Upanishad, if you still recall, and in Chandogya also we have seen – Bhayatapati, the sun shines because of fear of the Brahman. In Taittiriya also we have seen that one. So the presiding deities work because of the fear of the Brahman.

Brahman. Mrutyur Dhavati Panchamam. In the Katha Upanishad, mrutyu or death is compared to pickle. That means pickle is the least valuable material – indispensable, though, I have to say. But that pickle is there only to help the other things go in.

Conclusion: The Whole Creation Is Limited

Response: So everything – the whole creation – is limited. Therefore, the presiding deity also falls within the creation or outside creation – or within creation.

Therefore it is also limited. Therefore it is also dependent. Chidabhasa only. Whatever is limited – another name is Chidabhasa.