Interfaith Partnerships towards a Better SOCIETY: Part - 3

Interfaith partnerships towards a better society

Part - 3

When we look in Quran, we find that while describing the conversation that took place between God and Satan who refused to prostrate before Adam despite the Divine Command, the Quran talks about presence of certain ‘Aaleen’ (in plural), translated by some as ‘higher personalities’. God says to Satan:

(Allah) said: “O Iblis! What prevents thee from prostrating thyself to one whom I have created with my hands? Art thou haughty? Or art thou one of the high (and mighty) ones?”

Quran, 38: 75; Trans. Yusuf Ali

Unable to fathom the presence of certain divine personalities besides God at the time of creation of Adam, various Muslim scholars have translated the word ‘Aaleen’ differently, including some saying that God is referring to the exempted ones, but fail to clarify that when none of the angels were exempted from prostration, who were the people who had been exempted? We are guided by a generally accepted tradition of Prophet Mohammad, which says that ‘I was the Prophet even when Adam was between sand and water (i.e. in the process of creation). The Prophet even said that ‘my Noor (light) was created prior to all creation’ and ‘Ali and I are from the same Noor (light).’ From Prophet Mohammad’s statements, it is evident he wanted to say that the Noor or Light which was working in his body was created prior to creation of Adam; thereby indicating that he was the first of the creation and his Noor was in existence even at the time of creation of Adam.

Islamic traditions give several narrations as per which the Ahlulbayt, in their Noor or Divya state, had a role to play even prior to creation of Adam. Here, we give a few of them.

Quran says that certain names were taught to Adam at the time of his creation.

And He taught Adam all the names, then presented them to the angels; then He said: Tell me the names of those if you are right.

Quran, 2:31

While some commentators claim it refers to the names of Allah, Pooya/Ali commentary of Quran states: “The hum of aradahum does not refer to the “names” but to the “named”, and as a plural term cannot be used for Allah, therefore, it cancels the possibility of interpreting these names as the names of Allah. When reference is made in Arabic to several objects of inanimate nature, a singular feminine pronoun is used, but when the objects are conscious beings, a plural masculine pronoun is used, as done here through aradahum, to point out the “named ones”. If the object referred to is inanimate, the singular feminine pronoun, tilka or hadhihi should have been used. Here the personal demonstrative pronoun refers to the conscious beings of a superior-most status, knowledge of whose names entitled Adam to the vicegerency of Allah. Thus the existence of the beings of the highest status has been established.”

Pooya/Ali further writes that these beings are the highest beings, the most perfect and the most blessed beings. See what the commentary says: “Due to the affinity between Adam and these highest beings (Aleen), he was capable to function as the medium of their manifestation. Verse 4 of Chapter al-Tin says that the status of man, in the order of creation, is the highest in excellence. The Aleen, the highest beings, referred to in this verse, are the most perfect and the most blessed human beings, for whose manifestation in the arc of ascent, Adam was chosen. Till then the names of the highest beings along with the insight and vision of their realities, their latent qualities and inherent endowments were unknown to the angels.”

Now see these verses from the Quran.

They said: Glory be to Thee! we have no knowledge but that which Thou hast taught us; surely Thou art the Knowing, the Wise.

He said: O Adam! Inform them of their names. Then when he had informed them of their names, He said: Did I not say to you that I surely know what is ghaib in the heavens and the earth and (that) I know what you manifest and what you hide?

Quran, 2:32-33

Through Adam the angels became acquainted with the glory of the glorious beings. When Adam, at the command of Allah, stated the names, qualities and symbols of those highest beings whose collective and comprehensive status can be termed as wisdom personified, the angels witnessed the glory of the infinite power and wisdom of the Lord that could create such perfect beings of the highest calibre, in substance as well as in style, like of whom they did not know till then.

In Durr Manthur, Jalaluddin Sayuti says that the Holy Prophet had said:

The objects shown to the angels were five lights. Allah informed the angels pointing to each of the lights respectively

(i)     This is Mohammad, the most praised, derived from My name, the praised one.

(ii)    This is Ali, the high, derived from My name, the highest.

(iii)   This is Fatima, the original, derived from my name, the originator of the heavens and the earth.

(iv)   This is Hasan, the bountiful, derived from My name, the benefactor.

(v)    This is Husain, the good, derived from My name, the good in origin.

O angels! It is in love of these five that I have created the universe.

These 5 are known as the Panjetan or first 5 of the 14 Ahlulbayt. Remaining 9 were born in the progeny of Husain. Quran has repeatedly talked of Noor, which is reference to them. The relationship between these 5 is exactly similar to the process of creation of first 5 Devatas described in the Upanishads and Vedas, though the 5 are understood as ‘five elements’. The Divinities like whom Adam wanted to become (as per Genesis) too must be these.

Let us see whether similar description is available in the Upanishads and Vedas. We wish to emphasize here that ‘Noor’ means ‘Light’. In Sanskrit, the word with same meaning is ‘deepan’ or ‘divya’ i.e. light. ‘Deepan’ or‘Divya’ is the root word for ‘Devata’, which are the subject of discussion in entire Vedas.  It is these Devatas who got created right in the beginning of the creation and Vedas have extensively described their powers, position and role in this cosmos.

Hymn IV of Rig Veda, while referring to Indra-deva and the Maruts, in plural, refers to their relationship with light and says they were born prior to the creation of dawn (the universe).

Thou who createst light where there was no light and form. O men! Where there was no form, hast been born together with the dawns.

Do we know who the Devatas are? No! just as Christians don’t have an idea what ‘divinities’ are being talked about in Genesis; just as most Muslims are not aware of the role of ‘Noor’ despite the word being used several times in Quran as well as in Prophet Mohammad’s traditions, Hindus have no idea who the Devatas are. The most unfortunate part is that we have ceased to reflect and in most cases we merely accept the present translations and commentaries, howsoever absurd they become when we try to give our own meanings to them.

There was a time when some Brahmins did have a genuine understanding of the role of Devatas. But we lost the crucial information with time. So much so that when European scholars attempted to study the Vedas and other Sanatan scriptures, and accused the Hindus of holding a book sacred that talked of fight between Devatas and Asuras in some pre-historic times, we had no answer to give. Instead of finding the correct answer, what we eventually did was to write commentaries refuting that there were Devatas, and concluded that Vedas were actually talking of fire, steam engine, Madam Curie’s invention of radium, cars running on road, etc. Thus we tried to prove that Vedas too were talking about One God only and there are no ‘gods’ (in plural), as Devatas are translated in English. It was the fault of English language that it had no suitable word for Devatas. We committed the mistake of translating it as ‘gods’ and thus lost all the meanings that Vedas wanted to give. Eventually, we came to a position where despite the fact that there are countless mandirs all across India dedicated to one Devata or the other, there are countless myths of Devatas meeting Krishna, Rama, Buddha and other sages, and even countless stories concocted by people that Devatas provided their army with arms and even Devatas coming to impregnate lonely maidens in forests, an increasingly large number of Hindus now are accepting the commentaries which say there are no Devatas at all as the most correct one. They are doing so because they are not aware about the true identities and role of Devatas and hence are getting digressed further from the true meaning which the Vedas contain.

I wish you to see once again how we have erred! Old Testament is revered by Jews and Christians and talks of ‘divinities’ but Jews and Christians have no idea who the divinities are. Quran talks of ‘Aaleen’, ‘Noor’ and ‘Pure Ones’ but Muslims have no idea what is the true role in this cosmos of those referred to as ‘Aaleen’ and ‘possessors of Noor’. Even if a segment among them indeed believe that the Noor of Prophet Mohammad was created prior to Adam, they do not know what was the purpose of creation of this Noor, what is its role in this cosmos and what this Noor was doing from the time of Adam and until the time a boy was born in the house of Amina and Abdullah in Makkah, who was named Mohammad.

An oft-quoted tradition of Mohammad too sheds light on this. “Al-Muhibb al-Tabari narrates on the authority of Salman, from the Prophet, in al-Riyad al-Nadirah, ii, 163:

Fourteen thousand years before Adam upon whom be peace was created, I and Ali were a light in the presence of God. When God created Adam upon whom be peace, He divided it (Light) into two parts, I am one of the parts and Ali is the other part.

 Among others who have narrated this tradition are: Ahmad ibn Hanbal in Al-Fada’il; Sibt ibn al-Jawzi in Tadhkirat alkhawass, 46; Abu Hatim Muhammad ibn Idris alRazi in Zayn alfata fi tafsir Surat Hal ata, MS.; Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal in Zawa’id manaqib Amir alMu’minin, MS.; also Ibn Mardawayh ibn Abd alBarr, alKhatib al Baghdadi, Ibn alMaghazili, Al’Asimi, Shiruyah alDaylami and others from Ali, Salman, Abu Dharr, Anas ibn Malik, Jabir ibn Abd Allah and other companions.

As per another tradition, Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Musa ibn al-Qasim ibn Muawiya and Muhammad ibn Yahya from al-Amrakiy ibn Ali together from Ali ibn Jafar from abu al-Hassan Musa, who has said the following:

Imam Abu Abdallah [one of the 14 Ahlulbayt in whom the Noor is said to be working] has said: “Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, created us and He made our creation the best. He formed us and made our the best. He made us the treasurers of in His heavens and His earth. For us the tree spoke and with our worship Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, is worshipped. Had we not been in existence Allah would not have been worshipped.

Al-Kafi, Vol. 1 Pag. 193

Quran says:

And all hold onto the rope of Allah and do not disperse.

Quran, 3:183

Imam Shafi’ confirmed this to mean that rope of Allah is the Ahlulbayt and by loving, respecting and following them, we will be lead on the straight path to Allah.

This shows that we all have digressed and thus lost the true meaning. Divinities are the subject of conversation everywhere but we have given our meaning and understanding. And then we are committing the mistake of comparing distorted understanding of one religion with the distorted understanding of other and even writing hundreds and thousands of words to prove our point. If we do not wake now, we will continue to get digressed and continue to create wall after wall between various religions and their followers. On the contrary, attempt should be to remove the walls that have been built over time and, in the light of the view propagated by me, make a fresh attempt towards understanding of the scriptures.

If we attempt to find the similarities, there are many! All go on to prove some common thread running everywhere. According to verse 75 of Sad in Quran, He created Adam with His two hands, matter and spirit, which gives man the distinctive power of expression, termed as ‘biyan’ by the Quran. When a similar description is given in Upanishads, it says that it uttered the word ‘bhan’.

Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad says:

He desired, let a second self (body or form) be born of me. When he was born he opened his mouth he cried, bhan. That indeed, became speech.

With that speech, with that self he brought forth all this whatsoever exists here, (the hymns of) the Rig-Veda, (the formulas of) the Yajur Veda and (the chants of) the Sama Veda, the metres, the sacrifices, men and cattle. This second self is also called Aditi.

Brhad-aranyaka, I.II.4-5

Interestingly, Kalim is one of the 99 names of God and means ‘the most eloquent one’. I have seen people who wish to gain mastery over oratory recite ‘YaKalim’ on regular basis. I have read somewhere in the Upanishads that the mantra to gain mastery over language is to recite the word ‘Klim’ as much as possible. Kalim and Klim!

Let us see another example! Rooh, Spirit and Atma have the same meaning and the only difference is the language. The Christians have the concept of the God, Holy Spirit and Jesus. There is no doubt that Christians have built this concept because of presence of several hints towards it in the scriptures that they hold divine. If I say this concept is true, the Muslims will stand up against me that I am upholding the concept of Trinity whereas Quran has ridiculed this concept in clear words. Through my study of scriptures I have come to conclusion there indeed was a relationship between the Noor (or light) which descended in Jesus and the Holy Spirit but this relationship was not that of Father and Son as the Christians believe. So if Quran criticized trinity, it actually criticized the concept of trinity which got built with time and became acceptable as true. The Noor which emanated from the Holy Spirit was working not only inside Jesus but was also responsible for enlightenment of innumerable avatars or Prophets, who worked as Divine Guides across the world. Sidhartha, who later became Buddha or the enlightened one, too was seeking to build this relationship with Noor, which is directly associated with the Holy Spirit or Paramatma or Rooh, when he threw his food in the river with a prayer that if he was to attain enlightenment, then the food should flow upstream. The fact that the food indeed floated upstream proves that there were higher powers responsible for Siddhartha’s enlightenment as Buddha; something that the Buddhists do not believe.

Sanatan Dharma too builds an exactly similar relationship between Rama and Paramatma and between Krishna and Paramatma as Christians build between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Hindus won’t accept that Paramatma is the same as the Holy Spirit and neither will the Christians. Muslims too won’t ever accept that the Rooh described in Quran is the same as Paramatma of Sanatan Dharma and Holy Spirit of Christians despite the fact that all three words are just literal translation of one another. Having no idea regarding the relationship between Krishna as a mortal human body and Paramatma; and Rama as a mortal human body and Paramatma; the Sanatan Dharmis see Rama and Krishna as Paramatma itself. Moreover, Paramatma himself says through the mouth of Krishna:

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.

Despite this, the Hindus won’t digest easily if we say that the Noor from the same source [Paramatma] descended in Jesus, to wipe out evil from the land of the Romans and later descended in Prophet Mohammad. This is despite the fact that there is a tradition ascribed to Imam Ali which quotes him as saying that he was known in different parts of the world by different names and gives 40 names; one of these names is Krishna. Moreover, you have seen a tradition related to one of the Ahlulbayt earlier wherein he said: “Had we not been in existence Allah would not have been worshipped.” Also another one wherein it is said that the universe was created in love of the Ahlulbayt. If Krishna too talks in similar tone and is seen referring to similar things, there indeed must be some relationship.

It would have enhanced our ability to comprehend much more had we concluded that the Noor and Light and Divinities and Devata were one and the same and the Paramatma, as he said in the Gita, was also working in Jesus and others; and Paramatma, Holy Spirit, Rooh and Manifest Self are one and the same. But we didn’t do this because we have built our own boundaries and howsoever much we say that Paramatma is the lord of the universe, the Hindus want that the Paramatma should be working only within Bharatvarsha; the Christians would want him to be working only in lands that are considered holy and Muslims would like to see all messages being delivered in Arabic.

If you read the Vedas and Gita with me, I can prove that there is a higher concept of Absolute Invisible Formless God even in Sanatan scriptures; this God, referred to as Allah by Muslims, is the Creator of Paramatma as well who was created by Absolute God [Allah] as the first of His Manifest Creation.

Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad says:

There was nothing whatsoever, here in the beginning. By death indeed was this covered, or by hunger for hunger is death. He created the mind, thinking ‘let me have a self’. Then he (self) moved about, worshipping. From him thus worshipping, water was produced. ‘Verily’, he thought, ‘while I was worshipping water appeared, therefore water is called arka (fire). Water surely becomes one who thus knows the reason why water is called arka (fire).

Brahad-aranyaka, Brahman 2; I.II.1

This verse explicitly talks of the creation of the Manifest Self by the Non-Manifest or Absolute God. Sanatan scholars usually call this Self (Paramatma) as God. But it is clear from this description that Self (Paramatma) itself is a creation of God. And it says that the Self ‘moved about, worshipping’. It has been said elsewhere that this intense worship pleased God and when the Manifest Self desired there be more worshippers, it was given the power to create further. It is said clearly in the verse above that the worship of God by the Divine Self led to the appearance of water. This is why water is called arka. And this stage of the evolution of Self is called Vishnu. This knowledge is so important that one who gets to know this becomes water himself i.e. become united with Vishnu.

If you notice, translation of Vishnu too will be Manifest Self. Thus, through my understanding of Vedas and Upanishads, I conclude (and this is something that I can prove through countless examples) that the Absolute God termed as Mahesh created a Manifest Self called Vishnu which is also the translation of Wajhallah (Face of God). It is written in the verse given earlier that the first Self moved about worshipping. Elsewhere, it is written that when it desired to have more worshippers, it was given the power of creation. The first Noor or Light termed as Brahma was created henceforth which divided manifold to create 14 Lights or Devatas or Manus. It is these 14 who are referred to as Aaleen in Quran; it is these like whom Adam wanted to become.

Again Hindus, with their present understanding of the concept of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh as three gods won’t digest easily that they are not the names of three gods standing at same level but of three stages of the process of creation. It seems people till the time of Kabir Das knew this fact as Kabir Das too has talked about three stages, contrary to the present belief. Moreover, the aforementioned description of Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad as well as countless other Upanishads describe the process of creation of Manifest Self and link it with water whereas Vishnu too is portrayed in scriptures as reclining on a lonely lotus with water all around. This too shows that Vishnu and Manifest Self are one and the same.

Interestingly, while I am proving here that Manifest Self or Paramatma and Vishnu are one and the same as Rooh and Wajhallah of Quran as well as the Holy Spirit and Face of God of Christians and Jews, the description of Vishnu with nothing but water all around is synonymous with the Holy Spirit and nothing but water all around, as described in Genesis.

And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters

Genesis, 1: 2

Quran too says when the entire world will be wound up in future, nothing will remain but the Face of God; thereby indicating that when nothing had been created, all that was there was the Face of God.

Quran also confirms that the One God Allah is the lord of Rooh (Paramatma) as well when it talked of the Rooh and the Angels standing subservient before God. But you tell a Muslim that the Rooh described in Quran is the same as the Paramatma of Gita and you see the reaction. Likewise, Christian missionaries kept working day and night for Hindus to accept Christianity which talked of a Holy Spirit, considering it as different from the Paramatma of the Hindus.

Hindus presently have only vague idea about the role of Absolute God, Paramatma and Brahma as first Light or the lord of Devatas. Likewise, Hindus also do not have any idea that the 14 Manu (described as progenitors of mankind) and the Devatas of Vedas are one and the same. In fact, they are not even aware who the Devatas are and what is their role in the cosmos, just as Christians and Jews are not aware about the identity of the Divinities (translated as gods) and Muslims of the identity of Aaleen, who were in existence even when Adam was created.

If the Vedas are revealed scriptures, as they are rightly believed to be so, there must be some very strong reason why the entire Vedas (all 4 of them) talk of the Devatas and nothing else? But if Vedas are full of description of Devatas, why is it that the present Hindu society does not give the same status to the Devatas? Why is it that scholars like Dayanand Saraswati translated the term Devata as steam engines, airplanes, etc. and other commentators showed that the Devatas existed at one point in time but their role is not that important anymore? Surely there is something amiss! Does this mean that the Vedas have lost their relevance now? Never! If this is not so then we will have to accept that that we have not understood the Vedas and the Devatas truly till date. The Devatas are, as have been described in various Upanishads, truly the source of all knowledge revealed to show us the true path.

At other places, wherever the first 5 of the Devatas are talked about with appellations like Earth, Water, Air, Sky and Wind, it is described as the 5 basic elements and countless arguments are given to prove that this speaks of the loftiness of Vedas that they identified the 5 basic elements several thousand years before. We call them as basic elements even when there are countless myths associated with Agni-deva, Vayu-deva, Varuna-deva etc. And we know for sure now that the basic elements in Chemistry are not just five.

Let us see here a description in book ‘Bihar-al-Anwar, which talks of the first 5 (Panjetan or 5-bodies) of the 14 Noor or Light (known as Ahlulbayt) which was created prior to all creation and which descended in human bodies one after another.

Book Bihar al-Anwar states that the world was created from the Noor (light-heat) of the Panjetan (the 5 bodies). It says:

The highest seat and the throne (arsh and kursi) from the noor of Prophet Mohammad

Angels and the book and pen (malaika and loh-o-qalam) from the noor of Ali.

Earth and sky (zameen-o-aasman) from the noor of Fatima

Moon and Sun (chand-o-sooraj) from the noor of Hasan

Heaven and the apsaras of heaven (jannat and hoorane-jannat) from the noor of Husain.

Notice the terms like Earth, Sky, Moon Sun, Heaven in the description! These actually became appellations for the Devatas in Vedas. I ask you a question; if the Fire, Air, Sky, Water and Earth referred to as Devatas in Vedas are indeed material elements, why does the Veda prays:

O All-creating devata please sweep away from us all sins, vices and miseries and grant us all that is beneficial and auspicious.

Rig Veda

Do you now realize why such importance has been placed to the 5, who have been treated as elements? At other places, they are even called the guardians of faith and rulers of our organs of sense and action, and despite such clear wordings, our worthy scholars continued to describe them as the 5 elements viz. the material earth, fire, air, space and wind. What an irony it is that according to them, the material fire, sky, water, etc. are the door-keepers of the heavenly world; it is knowledge of these material elements that is most sacred; and it is through knowing the nature or composition of these material elements, we attain to the heavens or salvation!

This meaning has been derived despite the fact that Mahabharata and Ramayana are full of narrations about Agni-deva (fire), Vayu-deva (air) and others like Varuna-deva, Indra-deva and rest. Krishna is said to have met Agni-deva in forest, Rama is said to have given Sita in Agni-deva’s protection, Hanuman is said to have been the son of Vayu-deva while one of the Pandavas was said to be the son of Agni-deva. There are countless episodes in the Puranas where the Devatas are described, talking and meeting people. Devi Saraswati [Earth] too is mentioned as Goddess Earth at several places. In spite of all these, when agni, vayu, earth etc. are used, the learned commentators wish to see these names only as material things.

Nearly all the information that we possess about Krishna is based on the knowledge gained through Puranas and Mahabharata, yet we discount the identity of Devatas as fabrications and baseless myths, whose accounts are present in abundance in those very Puranas and Mahabharata which introduce Krishna to us.

And commentators go on to prove that Devatas refer to 5 basic elements despite Krishna in Gita too endorsing their role in the Divine Creation Plan.

In ancient times, having created the peoples, with sacrifice as pertaining to them (necessarily), Prajapati (the Lord of the peoples) said:

By this shall you grow and multiply: let this be to you the milch-cow of all desires.

With this do you gratify the devas and they the devas gratify you; thus gratifying reciprocally you shall reach to supreme merit.

Those devas shall bestow on you all gratifications you desire: one who eats what is given to them without giving in turn to them, he is a thief indeed.

Gita.III.10-12

Gita has even called that person a thief who eats without giving a portion to the Devatas. This means that all of us today who do not even recognize the identity of the Devatas are much bigger thieves.

Desiring the benefits coming from actions and thus sacrificing to the devas, quick indeed are the results born of works in this world of men.

Gita. IV.12

This shows that Gita holds Devatas and Prajapati in high esteem even though it was building the concept of Manifest Self or Paramatma as higher to the position of Devatas. At no place does it devalue their importance, but it is strongly against their deification as gods as there is just one Absolute God and the Devatas too are part of the Divine Creation Plan.

Neither the hosts of the devas nor the great sages know My origin; for I am indeed in every way the source of the devas and the great sages.

Gita.X.2

Now see what Shatapath 1.1.1.2-5 says:

Agni is the Protector of the vows of the enlightened.

Commentators who claim that by Agni the material fire is meant are silent as to how material fire can be the protector of vows of the enlightened. At times, the Devatas are described as ‘rulers of our organs of action and senses’. How can material air, fire, water, earth, sky rule our organs of action and senses?

Wilson, in his translation of the Rig Veda (Page 1) translates the aforementioned verse as:

May that Agni who is to be celebrated by both ancient and modern sages conduct the gods (read Devas) here.

A clear prayer for Devatas to arrive on earth is being made. And Agni, who is celebrated by both ancient and modern sages, is being asked to conduct the Devatas here. Yet, we claim they are material elements. And we do not know when and why they were supposed to come!

If we summarize our debate until now, there is one Nirakar (formless) Absolute God [Mahesh, Ishwar or Allah] who created a Sakar (Manifest) Self [Rooh or Paramatma or Vishnu or Holy Spirit]. The distinction between Absolute God and Manifest Self is given clearly in Subala Upanishad.

In the beginning this was non-existent, unestablished (in anything else), devoid of sound, devoid of touch, devoid of form, devoid of taste, devoid of smell, imperishable, not dense, not prodigious, originless, as one’s own self (he), sorrows not. That which is lifeless, mouthless, earless, speechless, mindless, splendourless, devoid of name and clan, headless, devoid of glowing redness (like fire), immeasurable, not short, not long, not gross, not minute, not small, not great, not definable, not obscure, not demonstrable, not manifest, not shrouded, not obscure, not demonstrable, not manifest, not shrouded, without an interior, without an exterior. It does not feed on anything, nor does anything feed on it. One should attain this (Brahman) by recourse to the six means of truthfulness, charity, austerity, fasting, chastity (of mind and body) and complete indifference to worldly objects. One should also attend to the following three, self-control, charity and compassion. The pranas (vital breaths) of this (knower of Brahman) do not go out, even where He is they get merged. He who knows thus, becoming Brahman remains Brahman alone.

Subala Upanishad, IV.I.

This is the description of Allah of Muslims or God of Christians. Now see the description of Vishnu or Paramatma or Manifest Self or Rooh or Wajhallah or Holy Spirit or Face of God.

This (self) is all-knowing. This is the Lord of all This is the ruler of all. This is the indwelling spirit. This is the source of all. This, that is resorted to by all forms of happiness, does not stand in need of happiness of any kind. This, that is adored by all the Vedic texts and scriptures does not stand in need of Vedic texts and scriptures. Whose food is all this but who (himself) does not become the food of any. For that very reason (it is) the most excellent, the supreme director of all. Consisting of food (it is) the self of (all) gross objects; consisting of life (it is) the self of (all) sense organs; consisting of bliss, (it is) the self of dissolution, when there is not Oneness whence (can arise) duality? When there is not mortality, whence (can arise) immortality? (It is) not (endowed) with internal knowledge; nor with external knowledge; nor with both these kinds of knowledge, not a mass of knowledge, not knowledge, nor not-knowledge, not (previously) known or capable of being known. This is the doctrine relating to liberation. This is the doctrine of Veda. This is the doctrine of the Veda.

Subala Upanishad, V.15

This clearly establishes the relationship between Brahman [God] and the Self, and the creation of this Manifest Self by the Non-Manifest Absolute God prior to the creation of the universe. Eventually, the purpose of our worship is to recognize the Absolute God and to bow down in supplication only to Him. One who does this and performs righteous actions, he goes back to get united with God, i.e. attains salvation.

From the Manifest Self so created, one Light called Brahma was created. This Light (Noor) is a manifest power, perhaps in the form of illuminating light (as the word ‘Devata’ is derived from root ‘divya’ or ‘deepan’; Noor too means light). This One Noor divided manifold to create the Divinities or Divine Beings (the Devatas), who owing to their direct creation from the Manifest Self obtained most of the characteristics of the Creator. Also, it has been said that the Manifest Self [Paramatma] remained unchanged though Brahma or one light remained no more after creation of the Devatas after manifold divisions. It is also mentioned in Upanishads that all the Devatas were alike, exactly similar to each other and also exactly similar to Brahma - the one power from which they all came into existence; something that even Prophet Mohammad endorsed when he, while referring to Ahlulbayt said: “The first is Mohammad, the last is Mohammad, the middle is Mohammad, all are Mohammad.”. We know that the Ahlulbayt were not alike in physical appearance. If we conclude that Mohammad was referring to his own Noor (Light) it would mean that all the 14 possessed Noor (Light) which was exactly similar to the Noor that was working inside Mohammad; this is something that even the Upanishads have said time and again. These 14 have been given exceptional powers and performed innumerable miracles while they were present in ‘embodied form’ as Ahlulbayt on the earth.

These several Noors or Divinities [described in Old Testament, Devatas described in the Vedas and Aaleen or Ahlulbayt or people of the house (of God), as described in Quran] are of two type: mutable and immutable; extremely powerful and controlling the universe as Noor or Light but less powerful when the Noor descends in pure human bodies as Prophet or Avatar to guide mankind, frame rules for them and show them the true path for salvation. It is these Devatas who are referred to as rope in almost all scriptures (be it of Jews and Christians, Buddhist, Hindus and Muslims); a rope through which man can ascend to heaven. Take this as a theory and initiate once again the study of all the supposedly divine scriptures and you will find that each one of them is endorsing one and the same Creation Plan.

These Devatas represent Life (Prana) in the creation of God. Without these Devatas, life cannot be conceived (something that both Upanishads and traditions of Ahlulbayt repeatedly say). This is the reason why certain Puranas categorically tell that the world will converge into dissolution when the Kalki avatar, one of the Devatas who is supposed to take birth in the Kaliyug, departs. And it has been categorically stated in the Upanishads that - be it the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda or the Sama Veda – all are established in Life which has been described as these Devatas themselves - who are the sustainers and supporters of all life in this cosmos.

I have proved in my writings that Devatas and Manus are one and the same, though Hindus see them as differently [One God, One Religion; by SAHNi Bharati]. In fact, Hindus have no genuine idea about the role that Devatas [Manus] play in this cosmos.  They see them as different but have only vague knowledge about their role in Divine Creation Plan. Manus are described as ‘progenitors of mankind’ in various dictionaries, thus proving that they must be in existence prior to creation of mankind. Isn’t it reasonable, particularly after presence of so many similarities, that we conclude that Manus and Devatas are the same as ‘Divinities’ of Genesis and ‘the Aaleen’ of Quran?

And all Sanatan scholars agree that the Manus are 14 in number. The Ahlulbayt, as per the belief of a sect, too are 14 in number with 13 being male and one being female. If you look closely, the 14 Manus [Devatas] too include 13 Devas and 1 Devi. I have also proved in my writings that there was just one Devi who was known by different names in various parts of India. With time, people built a form for all the names and consequently the belief of several different Devis got established. Matsya Purana too confirms that there is just one Devi, who was known by different names in various parts of India. Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad, Paingala Upanishad and few others describe the process of creation of Devatas, as well as their role in this cosmos but scholars have been unable to understand it clearly.

The One Light called Brahma created by Paramatma [the Manifest Self of the Absolute God] divided to create 5 and then 9 more lights, thus making the count 14. The Upanishad even goes on to say that upon completion of the process of creation, they were made the guardians of the 14 spheres, thus confirming that 14 divinities were formed. It were these 14 divinities who, as emissaries of Paramatma or Rooh or Holy Spirit, kept working in various pious bodies, as offices of Paramatma on earth, with an aim to uphold righteousness, truthfulness and justice and destroy or annihilate those who are on wrong. At the onset of the Kaliyug, all of them descended at a place described by Vedas as ‘Middle Country’ or ‘secret place’ and were called Ahlulbayt.

Those who say that they all (earth, water, air, etc) are sustainers of life, give no reasonable argument as to why, whenever these ‘great beings’ are being described, it is in the context of attaining or leading the way to salvation or guidance towards the right path. What role does water or sky play in our salvation or showing us the true path?

Neither can it be explained that Paingala Upanishad talks of 5 and then talks of 14. The 14 are described as ‘guardians of the 14 quarters’. Can material ‘earth, fire, water, etc.’ be worthy enough to be appointed as guardians in God’s scheme of the creation of cosmos?

The presence of the number 7 too has confused the writers. For instance Manusmriti talks of the 7 great sages and calls them Manus, though traditionally, the Manus are known to be 14 in number. This problem too will be removed when we find that they are actually 14 Devatas but have 7 names, one of whom is a Devi. Divine Plan was known right from day one as per which there were to be only 7 names of the 14 Devatas. That is why sometimes we find mention of  number 7, sometimes number 14 and sometimes even ‘7 and 7’. Interestingly, when those who comprised ‘Spirit of Truth’ as per Jesus descended in human Avatar on earth, they were 14 but had only 7 names viz. Mohammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husain, Ali, Mohammad, Jafar, Musa, Ali, Mohammad, Ali, Hasan and Mohammad. We will find later that even Jew and Christian sources talk of 7 and 7, which has been understood wrongly as 7 multiplied by 7 or two sevens (77) instead of 7 plus 7, as in Vedas and Upanishads.

Mundaka Upanishad talks of the 7 and does not fail to state that one of them is a Devi. The very fact that one of the moving tongues of fire is a Devi, which has been wrongly translated as goddess by commentators, shows the remaining six must be Devas. You will also see that Puranas state that of the 14 Manus, one is a Devi. Even in case of Manus, number 7 has been used at times; moreover, the names given of Manus are mostly those which are described for the Devatas, thereby indicating that Manus and Devatas are one and the same.

The 7 moving tongues of fire are the black, the terrific, the swift as mind, the very red, the very smoky-coloured, the spark blazing, the all-shaped (or all-tasting) goddess (original word in Sanskrit is Devi)

Mundaka Upanishad, I.2.4

Next verse tells clearly that the Devatas alone are subject of discussion and we were not wrong in concluding, in the previous verse, that there are Devas with six names and one Devi, who comprise the ‘Sprit of Truth’ (as per Jesus) – who were formed as Light or Noor and were bestowed with power over all things in the universe.

The next verse confirms these Devatas and Devi would shine in this world at a proper time in future. It is they who show us the path to One God. It also proves that by the time the Upanishad was written they had not come to shine in this world.

Whosoever performs works, makes offerings when these are shining and at the proper time, these in the form of the rays of the sun lead him to that where the one lord of the devatas abide

It is thus clear from this verse that there is only One Absolute God even according to the Hindu scriptures, and the Devatas who have been wrongly seen as gods, are actually agents of that One God. Now see:

As spokes in the centre of a wheel, everything is established in life; the Rg (verses), the Yajus (formulas) and the Samans (chants) as also sacrifice, valour and wisdom.

Mundaka Upanishad, I.2.6

Indra is the lord of all creatures. It is Indra who is responsible for birth of creatures from the wombs, and without Indra births would not occur. All creatures bring offerings to these Devatas who dwell with our vital breaths, thereby meaning it is they who sustain and support our lives. This is similar to the famous ‘Hadees-e-Kisa’ as per which God tells angels that the sun, the moon, the earth, the sky – all have been made because of Ahlulbayt.

Thou art the chief bearer (of offerings) to the gods (devatas); thou art the first offering to the fathers; thou art the true practice of the seers, descendents of Atharvan and Angiras.

Mundaka Upanishad, I.2.8

It is clearly said the Life (meaning the first 5 Devatas or Panjetan) is given the offering first, who carry it to other Devatas. Offering is given to Life even before it is given to fathers. The good acts; teachings and righteous practices of the seers are dependent on Life itself. Does it mean that it is they who guided the seers in various parts of the world, to teach us the way to worship God? We leave it to you to decide. However, we are of the opinion that a fresh attempt to translate this verse should be made in the light of the information which we possess now. In fact, all our literature needs to be freshly translated, as a lot many mysteries are still waiting to be resolved.

Mandukya Upanishad of the Atharva Veda talks of 7 and 7 dwelling at a secret place! There can be no more secret place on earth than a secluded region beyond the desert of Arabia, outside of major travel routes, inhabited largely by Bedouins and cut off from the other side by the Red Sea.

From him come forth the seven life-breaths (seven pranas), the seven flames, their fuel, the seven oblations, these seven worlds in which move the life-breaths, seven and seven which dwell in the secret place.

Mandukya Upanishad, II.I.8

When the Noor [Devata] descended in human bodies in succession (exactly in accordance with the manner, in which they were created at the beginning of the creation, (as given in Brhad-aranyaka and Paingala), they were called Ahlulbayt (Men of the House) because a verse from Quran addressed them in this manner. Prophet Mohammad too referred to the term Ahlulbayt on several occasions. How unfortunate indeed that when Quran was talking of Kaaba as Baytullah or the House of God and describing certain people as Ahlulbayt (People of the House), we translated the word ‘Ahlulbayt’ as the People of the House (of Mohammad) and not as People of the House (of God). This was despite the fact that the Quran, when it talks of Ahlulbayt is referring to Mohammad too as Ahlulbayt and there are countless traditions where Mohammad is talking of his Noor being part of the light of Allah or rather the light created by Allah. The concept of Manifest Self too is elaborately described in the Holy Quran but the Muslims are yet to understand it. (See the book ‘Muslims and the Straight Path’, Real Gain Publications to understand it in detail).

Mundaka Upanishad categorically states that there would be a time when the seven tongues, of whom one is a Devi (described in 1.2.4, would come to shine on this earth, like the various rays of the sun. It is stated that this would happen at an appropriate time. The verse talks of ‘performing work’ and ‘making offerings’ when these Devatas would come on earth, thus making it explicitly clear that it will be our duty to perform certain works for them and make offerings to these Devatas, when they would come on earth. Read what it says:

Whosoever performs works, makes offerings, when these are shining and at the proper time, these in the form of the rays of the sun lead him to that where the one lord of the gods (read devas) abide.

Mundaka Upanishad, I.2.5

Brhad-aranyaka Upanishad tells that people were awaiting the time when the Devatas would come to live among them; there were people who, when on their death-bed, used to lament to their sons that they (the Devatas) didn’t come in their lifetime so they could have helped them in their works. These people willed their sons to be on the side of the Devatas, if they came during the lifetime of their sons.