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'''Mūlaprakṛti''' (devanāgarī: मूलप्रकृति) is a [[Sanskrit]] term that can be translated as "the root of nature" or "root of [[Prakriti]]"; meaning "fundamental matter". In the [[Samkhya]] school of [[Hinduism]] it is frequently used as a synonym of [[pradhāna]].
'''Mūlaprakṛti''' (devanāgarī: मूलप्रकृति) is a [[Sanskrit]] term that can be translated as "the root of nature" or "root of [[Prakriti]]"; meaning "fundamental matter". In the [[Samkhya]] school of [[Hinduism]] it is frequently used as a synonym of [[pradhāna]].


In [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] literature it is often defined as the essence of matter, the Pre-Cosmic Substance, which underlines all the objective aspects of Nature. It is the "Eternal Parent wrapped in her ever invisible robes" of the [[Stanzas of Dzyan#Stanza I|Stanza I.1]] of Cosmogenesis:
== General description ==
 
In [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] literature it is often defined as the essence of matter, the Pre-Cosmic Substance:
 
<blockquote>Precosmic root-substance (Mulaprakriti) is that aspect of the Absolute which underlies all the objective planes of Nature. Just as pre-Cosmic Ideation is the root of all individual consciousness, so pre-Cosmic Substance is the substratum of matter in the various grades of its differentiation.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 15.</ref></blockquote>
 
It is the "Eternal Parent wrapped in her ever invisible robes" of the [[Stanzas of Dzyan#Stanza I|Stanza I.1]] of Cosmogenesis:


<blockquote>''[Question]'': What aspect of space . . . is here called the Eternal Parent?<br>
<blockquote>''[Question]'': What aspect of space . . . is here called the Eternal Parent?<br>
Line 10: Line 16:
Other synonyms Mme. Blavatsky uses is the Vedic [[Aditi]]<ref>Michael Gomes (transcriber), ''The Secret Doctrine Commentaries'' (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 4.</ref> or [[Pradhana]]. She often refers to [[Svābhāvat]] as a synonym, though this is probably in a general sense only, because in other occasions she talks of it as a differentiation of Mulaprakriti.
Other synonyms Mme. Blavatsky uses is the Vedic [[Aditi]]<ref>Michael Gomes (transcriber), ''The Secret Doctrine Commentaries'' (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 4.</ref> or [[Pradhana]]. She often refers to [[Svābhāvat]] as a synonym, though this is probably in a general sense only, because in other occasions she talks of it as a differentiation of Mulaprakriti.


== Notes ==
== See also ==
 
*[[Matter]]
<references/>
 
 
==Further reading==


==Online resources==
===Articles===
*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=M%C5%ABlaprak%E1%B9%9Bti# Mūlaprakṛti] at Theosopedia
*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=M%C5%ABlaprak%E1%B9%9Bti# Mūlaprakṛti] at Theosopedia


== Notes ==
<references/>


[[Category:Sanskrit terms]]
[[Category:Sanskrit terms]]

Revision as of 15:54, 24 October 2014

Mūlaprakṛti (devanāgarī: मूलप्रकृति) is a Sanskrit term that can be translated as "the root of nature" or "root of Prakriti"; meaning "fundamental matter". In the Samkhya school of Hinduism it is frequently used as a synonym of pradhāna.

General description

In Theosophical literature it is often defined as the essence of matter, the Pre-Cosmic Substance:

Precosmic root-substance (Mulaprakriti) is that aspect of the Absolute which underlies all the objective planes of Nature. Just as pre-Cosmic Ideation is the root of all individual consciousness, so pre-Cosmic Substance is the substratum of matter in the various grades of its differentiation.[1]

It is the "Eternal Parent wrapped in her ever invisible robes" of the Stanza I.1 of Cosmogenesis:

[Question]: What aspect of space . . . is here called the Eternal Parent?
Mme. Blavatsky: Well, it is just this androgynous something; the Svabhavat of the Buddhists. It is non-differentiated, hence--an abstraction. It is the Mulaprakriti of the Vedantins. If you preoceed to make it correspond with the human priniciples it will be Buddhi, Atman corresponding to Parabrahman.[2]

The "invisible robes" of the Eternal Parent are the non-differentiated substance or spiritual matter,[3] and they are on the highest, or seventh, plane of matter.[4]

Other synonyms Mme. Blavatsky uses is the Vedic Aditi[5] or Pradhana. She often refers to Svābhāvat as a synonym, though this is probably in a general sense only, because in other occasions she talks of it as a differentiation of Mulaprakriti.

See also

Online resources

Articles

Notes

  1. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 15.
  2. Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 3.
  3. Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 3.
  4. Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 6.
  5. Michael Gomes (transcriber), The Secret Doctrine Commentaries (The Hague: I.S.I.S. foundation, 2010), 4.