‘Sodasha Kala Purusha’ is a concept we find in the sixth chapter of the Prashna Upanishad. Rishi Pippalada tells his disciple, Sukesa, how the Purusha manifests in sixteen stages. And says, “When we understand these sixteen aspects of the Purusha, we, JivAtmas realize we are no different from Brahman (ParamAtma).
Brahman and Maya
Brahman is the infinitely existing supreme consciousness which pervades through the cosmos. Within Brahman exists Maya. Maya is Brahman’s creative expressive power. Maya creates mental and emotional illusionary barriers in our minds and hearts. Like Brahman, Maya too has no beginning. But while Brahman is eternal Maya does have an end.
We can dispel our Maya in various ways. The Prashna Upanishad says, “Awareness of how the Sodasha Kala Purusha evolves dispels our Maya. When we worship the abhimani devata of each of the Sodasha Kalas with utmost faith, we are (at least fleetingly) able to shed that particular illusionary mental/emotional barrier that lies within us and evolve spiritually.”
First aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Hiranyagarbha and Prana
When Brahman associates with Maya, an energy field (Hiranyagarbha) appears in the cosmos. A part of this cosmic energy exists in all sentient and insentient beings. We survive on this energy and call it Prana. From Prana emerges Shraddham.
Second aspect of Sodasha Kala Purusha
Shraddham
The abhimani devata for Shraddham, Bharathi (Satvik aspect of Saraswati, goddess of speech, eloquence, and all forms of knowledge), helps us shed our beliefs/perceptions, discriminate between Dharma and Adharma and engage in righteous actions (Karma).
When we perform Karma , we experience Karmaphalam. So, our Sthula sharira (gross/physical body), Sukshma sharira (astral body/ mind and prana) and Karana sharira (causal body/Maya) come into existence.
We need the Pancha Mahabhutas to create these bodies. So, the Purusha creates Akasha (ether), Vayu (Air), Tejas (Fire), Apas (water) and Prithvi.
Third aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Kham
The abhimani devata for Kham, lord Ganesha (the remover of obstacles) presides over the first element, Kham (Akasha/space), has a single guna called Shabda(sound) and creates the subsequent element, Vayu.
Fourth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Vayu
The abhimani devata for Vayu (air) lord Marichi (Brahma’s son, a Saptarishi and Kashyapa’s father) presides over Vayu, has the guna of Shabda plus its own guna of Sparsha (touch) and creates the subsequent element, Agni.
Fifth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Agni
The abhimani devata of Agni, lord Paavaka (aspect of Agni whose strength is unlimited and energies insatiable) has the gunas of Shabda and Sparsha and its own guna of Roopam (form) and creates the subsequent element, Apas.
Sixth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Apas
The abimani devata of Apas, lord Budha (son of Soma/Chandra and Tara, father of Pururavas, associated with an agile mind and memory), has the gunas of Shabda, Sparsha and Roopam along with Rasa (taste) and creates the subsequent element Prithvi.
Seventh aspect of Sodasha Kala Purusha
Prithvi
The abhimani devata of Prithvi, lord Shani (deity of Karma, bestows retribution depending on the quality of our thoughts, speech, and deeds) has the gunas of Shabda, Sparsha, Roopam along with Gandha (smell) and creates the ten Indriyas.
With our bodies, we now need to make sense of things around us and perform actions based on our perceptions. So, the Indriyas come into existence.
Eighth aspect of Sodasha Kala Purusha
The Indriyas
First the five Karmendriyas (organs of action) come into existence. Abhimani devata, Saraswati, creates Vak, speech from Shabda. Indra creates Pani, hands from Sparsha. From Roopam, the Upendras create Pada, feet. Mithra and Yama create Rasa, Payu, the excretory organs from Sparsha. And from Gandha, Daksha Prajapati creates Upastha, the organs of reproduction.
Now, the abhimani devatas of the Gyanendriyas (sense organs) take over so that we can make sense of what we are doing and the world around us. Chandra Deva creates our ears (enables Shrotra/listening). Kubera creates our skin (enables Tvak /feeling). Surya creates our eyes (Chakshu/sight). Varuna creates our tongue (enables Rasana/taste). And Ashwini twins create our nose (Ghrahana, smell).
Ninth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Manas
Yes, we can experience sensory pleasures and chase our desires endlessly with our Indriyas. But we need to know what we are doing. So, the abhimani devatas of Manas(mind): Garuda, Sesha, Rudra, Indra, Kama, Brihaspati, Chandra, Parvati, Brahma and Lakshmi bless us with a good mind. And enable us to keep a firm check on our Indriyas so that we perform the right actions with awareness.
Tenth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Annam
We need to sustain our gross bodies, Indriyas and Manas. So Soma, the abhimani devata of Annam (deity associated with the night, rivers, forests, plants and vegetation) creates food for us.
Eleventh aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Veeryam
Varuna, (associated with the sky, oceans and water), the abhimani devata of Veeryam blesses us with strength, vigour and stamina and enables us expend the energy that we get from Annam.
Twelfth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Tapah
Vaahni (deity of fire with 8 aspects: Trishna (thirst), Ragavati (dispassion), Moha (delusion), Kama (desire), Kopa (anger), Tamotkata (extreme ignorance), Irsha (envy) and Sokavati (sorrow)) helps us discipline our emotional and mental predispositions so that we can channelize our energy in the right direction with Tapah.
Thirteenth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Manthram
Manthram is the means to perform Tapah. The abhimani devata for Manthram, Svaha (wife of Agni endowed with the power of burning, delivers offerings to the respective deities) enables us to chant mantras during yagnas which have a subtle profound purifying impact on our mind (thoughts), heart (emotions) and sharira (bodies).
Fourteenth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Karma
Pushkara, (son of Varuna who nurtures our conscience/inner reality), the abhimani devata of Karma enables us to perform rightful actions.
Fifteenth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Lokaha
Our bodies now need a plane to exist on. Since different beings exist in different realms, Parjanya (fertilizes the earth with rain, thunder and lightning) the abhimani devata of Lokaha, creates different Lokahas for different beings.
Sixteenth aspect of the Sodasha Kala Purusha
Naama
Usha (deity of dawn, helps us breathe, blesses us with a sound mind and body) the abhimani devata for Naama, helps us differentiate between different classes of beings and gives a unique name to each being.
Sodasha Kala Purusha Insights
Scholars say, “These 16 Kalas are extremely subtle. We, mere manavas steeped in Maya always perceive that we live in a real world. Our ignorance keeps distorting our perspectives in our lives.
Mere knowledge about such concepts alone is not enough. We need to shed each of these 16 barriers from our minds, consciously, with awareness. Only then do we realize that we were never different from the Paramatma. In this supremely exalted blissful state, we shed our identities and see only Brahman everywhere and in everything. Once we experience this state, we will inherently develop tendencies to reach and remain in this state all the time. And the fear of mortality does not trouble us anymore.
*Only Purna Purushotham Krishna is Akala i.e. has none of these Sodasha Kalas.
* In Shaivism, Sodasha Kalas refers to the sixteen aspects of the waxing moon.
On Sharad Poornima, Chandra symbolises the Sodasha Kala Purusha. Bhakti enables the naïve gopis to overcome the Sodasha Kalas and engage in the Maha Raas with Krishna.
The Maha Raas of Sharad Poornima is a metaphor that celebrates the realization of the gopis who intuitively knew that we JivAtmas have and always will be a part of the ParamAtma. Like the gopis, let us nurture Bhakti, try to shed the Sodasha Kalas and realize that Purna Purushotham Krishna is within us. Always.
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