Creation of the Universal Form
Maitreya Muni continued his explanation of the cosmic creation by describing one of the most fascinating and profound concepts in Vedic philosophy: the virata-rupa or universal form of the Lord. Before the individual demigods, living entities, and various species were created, the Lord manifested Himself as the collective form of the entire universe - a transcendental body in which all material elements, all living entities, and all universal functions exist as organs and limbs. This universal form is not simply a metaphor or abstract concept, but an actual manifestation of the Lord that can be perceived by those with transcendental vision. The Bhagavad Gita describes how Krishna showed this universal form to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, revealing all planets, all living beings, past, present and future, existing simultaneously within His transcendental body.
The sage described in detail how different parts of the cosmic manifestation correspond to different aspects of the universal form. The Brahmaloka (highest planetary system) forms the head, the intermediate planets form the body, and the lower planets form the legs and feet. The sun serves as the eye, the celestial regions as the ears, the fire as the mouth. All the demigods controlling various cosmic functions exist as organs and limbs of this universal form - Indra presides over the arms, Vayu over the breath, Agni over the mouth, Varuna over the palate. The living entities themselves, in their collective totality, form the consciousness that pervades this body. Every element and every being in material existence has its place and function within this cosmic organism, and all work together under the Lord's supreme direction to maintain the universe.
Maitreya explained that contemplating this universal form serves multiple spiritual purposes. First, it helps one understand the interconnectedness of all existence - that nothing in the universe exists independently but rather everything is part of a unified whole under the Lord's control. Just as the different organs of a human body work together for the benefit of the whole organism, all the different parts of the universe work together according to the Lord's plan. Second, it helps one appreciate the Lord's all-pervasiveness - that the Supreme is not localized in some distant heaven but is present everywhere, within everything, as the very fabric of existence. Third, it gives one a sense of the Lord's inconceivable power and majesty - that He can manifest a form containing unlimited universes, planets, and living beings, yet remain completely transcendental and unaffected by this manifestation.
The sage then explained how individual living entities came to inhabit this universal form. Within the heart of the virata-purusha (universal form), the Supreme Lord as Supersoul activated the consciousness of the individual jivas (living entities) who had been lying dormant during the cosmic dissolution. Like seeds sprouting when the right season arrives, these jivas awoke with their desires and karmic reactions from previous lifetimes intact. According to their individual karma and level of consciousness, they were assigned to different species, different planets, and different material bodies. Some took birth as demigods in the heavenly planets, others as human beings on earth, still others as animals, plants, or other species. None of these positions are eternal - they are all temporary conditions determined by one's karma and destined to change as one's karma changes through one's actions and reactions.
Most importantly, Maitreya emphasized that the universal form, despite its cosmic grandeur and incomprehensible scale, is still a material manifestation and therefore temporary. At the end of the universe's lifetime, this entire cosmic form will be dissolved back into the unmanifest state within Maha-Vishnu's body, and the whole cycle will begin again. The only eternal reality is Krishna's transcendental form and His spiritual abode, which exist completely independent of material creation and dissolution. The universal form, magnificent as it is, serves as a stepping stone for understanding the Supreme - it helps materially conditioned souls begin to perceive the Lord's presence and power. However, the ultimate goal is not to worship or meditate on the universal form, but to develop personal love and devotion for Krishna in His original, personal form, which is described as more beautiful and attractive than any material or cosmic manifestation.
The chapter concludes with the teaching that understanding the universal form helps one develop a proper perspective on one's own position in existence. Rather than thinking ourselves to be independent enjoyers who can exploit the material world for personal satisfaction, we understand that we are tiny parts of a vast cosmic organism, meant to function in harmony with the whole according to the Supreme Controller's plan. Our individual desires and plans are insignificant compared to the cosmic purpose being orchestrated by the Lord. This realization naturally leads to humility and the understanding that surrender to Krishna's will, rather than pursuit of independent material desires, is the path to real happiness and fulfillment. When one sees oneself as a small part of Krishna's cosmic body, meant to serve His purposes rather than one's own, the false ego that causes material bondage begins to dissolve, and genuine spiritual consciousness begins to awaken.