Sadhaka: Prasna? What does it mean?

Sai: The Almighty (Parameswara) is Prasnagarbha (He who contains all clarity and wisdom). Prasna connotes purity, clarity, sanctity. So the word indicates that the Almighty has the intelligence, devoid of taint of any kind. The Veda is the concretisation in words of that Wisdom. Rshis (sages) who possess purified consciousness and clarified intellect win the grace of the all-pervasive Brahman (Cosmic Self). Brahman prompts them and blesses them to visualise the hymns and sacred formulae (manthras). While adoring the Almighty, who became aware of the Truth, they too recognised and described Brahman as Prasnagarbha.

Rishis who visualised the manthras were not bound by the consequence coils of Karma (works); they merge in Brahman and emerge from Brahman when the cycle of manifestation starts again. So, they are hailed as Ajah (unborn). The Veda acclaims them thus. Their very nature is immaculate purity. Therefore, they too are called Prasna. They yearned so agonisingly for grace that in the state of superconsciousness (Samaadhi), Brahman manifested out of self-will, and awarded them the vision of Brahma Yajna.

Sadhaka: What is Brahma Yajna?

Sai: Brahma Yajna is Swaadhyaaya, that is to say, intense study and observance of the Veda. The Rshis who are 'unborn' and therefore authorised by Brahman to transmit the Truth, formulated, according to the vision they earned, the Yajnas or sacrificial rites designed to promote peace and prosperity in the world. The Vedas acknowledge as Rshis only those who treasure in their hearts the awareness of manthras, of the supreme truth, and of the meaning and significance of Brahman (the Cosmic Self) and Dharma (the Laws of Social Harmony and Individual Rights and Duties). The ritual sacrifices authorised and accepted by such Rshis are called Yajnas.

The yearning for Truth is Thapas or Asceticism. Since Brahman is won through Thapas, it is referred to as Thapoja (attained by Thapas) and the response from Brahman to the Thapas is described as the Word of God (Deva-waak), the Voice of God (Deva-Vaani).

Thapoja literally means 'born of Thapas'; but this does not imply that the Cosmic Self (Brahman) was non-existent until Thapas brought It forth! Brahman is ever-existent; It has no Beginning; Time does not affect it. 'Born of Thapas' means that 'It revealed Itself to the person who underwent the Thapas'. It ever IS; It has willed to be so. It projected Itself as the Vaak, the Word. The Word is the manthra of the Veda. So, the Almighty is described in the Veda as the Designer of Manthra (Manthra-krit), the Creator of Rshis (Rshi-Krit), besides the names that occur at some place or other, like Self-emergent (Swayambhu), Thapoja (born of Thapas) etc.

I mentioned the name Prasnagarbha. That is a very meaningful name for the Almighty. It signifies food (anna), water (Jala), immortalising nectar (amrtha) and the wisdom of the Veda. Since the Almighty Brahman has all these in Him, in the womb (garbha), so to say, He is named Prasnagarbha. Brahman is thus declaring His own Reality as the Form of Veda (Veda-rupa).