Mahat
Mahat (devanāgarī: महत्) is a Sanskrit term frequently translated as "the great principle" (from maha, "great"). It refers to the universal mind and in Hinduism is the first principle evolved out of the union of purusha and prakriti.
In Hinduism
Mahat is an important concept of the sāṃkhya philosophy. It is the first product of evolution of Pradhāna or Prakṛti (basic inert matter) comprising the three Guṇas—sattva, rajas and tamas.
In its cosmic aspect, Mahat is the source of the cosmos. In its psychological aspect it is the cosmic intellect (Maha-Buddhi), from which the individual Buddhi-s are produced in the course of time.
According to H. P. Blavatsky,
Mahat [is] the Universal Cosmic Mind. In the Hindu Purânas (see Vishnu Purâna) Mahat is identical with Brahmâ, the creative God, the first in the trinitarian group (Trimurti) of Brahmâ, Vishnu and Siva.[1]
In Hinduism, Mahat is described as both "the great principle" and the source of selfishness. Blavatsky explained that in the first case, Mahat is regarded as a universal evolution (primary creation), while in the second it refers to the manifestation of Mahat a the human mind (secondary creation):
The Mahat (Understanding, Universal Mind, Thought, etc.), before it manifests itself as Brahmâ or Siva, appears as Vishnu, says Sânkhya Sâra (p. 16); hence Mahat has several aspects, just as the logos has. Mahat is called the Lord, in the Primary Creation, and is, in this sense, Universal Cognition or Thought Divine; but, “That Mahat which was first produced is (afterwards) called Ego-ism, when it is born as “I,” that is said to be the second Creation” (Anugîtâ, ch. xxvi.). And the translator (an able and learned Brahmin, not a European Orientalist) explains in a foot-note (6), “i.e., when Mahat develops into the feeling of Self-Consciousness—I—then it assumes the name of Egoism,” which, translated into our esoteric phraseology, means when Mahat is transformed into the human Manas (or even that of the finite gods), and becomes Aham-ship.[2]
In Theosophy
In Theosophy, Mahat is called "Universal Mind"[3] or the "Cosmic Ideation".[4] It is the universal intelligence, which is not eternal, but limited by the duration of the manvantara.[5] Mahat is also equated to the Third Logos (the manifested one):
Mahat, in the Esoteric interpretations, is in reality the Third Logos or the Synthesis of the Seven creative rays, the Seven Logoi.[6]
Blavatsky contended that while in Hinduism, Mahat is the first manifestation of cosmic matter (pradhana or prakriti), from the Theosophical point of view it is the first manifestation of intelligence, or the Logos:
In this respect, I believe, esoteric teaching differs from the Vedantin doctrines of both the Adwaita and the Visishtadwaita schools. . . . Mahat, with the Occultists [is] the first-born of Gnâna (or gnosis) knowledge, wisdom or the Logos . . . while with some Vedantins Mahat is a manifestation of Prakriti, or Matter.[7]
Some synonyms used in The Secret Doctrine are Universal Mind, Cosmic Mind, Cosmic Ideation, Divine Ideation, Divine Thought, Mahâbuddhi, and Ādi-Buddhi.
Mahat is also the source of the reincarnating Egos of humanity:
The reincarnating Ego [is that] which old Aryan philosophers call Manasaputra, the “Sons of Mind” or of Mahat, the Universal Cosmic Mind.[8]
See also
Additional resources
- Mahat in Theosophy World
- Cosmic Mind in Theosophy World
Notes
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. XII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 411.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 75.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. XII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 412.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 16.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 62.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. X (Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publishing House, 1964), 608.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 62.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. XII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1980), 411.