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400 THE SECRET DOCTRINE.
Demiurgos]; [and the hosts of Dhyan Chohans] and all the [existing] Elements*
are, at once, merged into their original. This Primary Element is Consciousness,
combined with the Property of Darkness [Tamasa—Spiritual Darkness rather], and
is, itself, swallowed up [disintegrated] by Mahat [the Universal Intellect], whose
characteristic property is Intelligence [Buddhi], and Earth and Mahat are the
inner and outer boundaries of the Universe. In this manner, as [in the Beginning]
were the seven forms of Nature [Prakriti] reckoned from Mahat to Earth, so . . ,
these seven successively reenter into each other.
The Egg of Brahma (Sarva-mandala) is dissolved in the Waters that surround it,
with its seven zones (dvipas), seven oceans, seven regions, and their mountains.
The investure of Water is drunk by Fire; the (stratum of) Fire is absorbed by (that
of) Air; Air blends itself with Ether [Akasha]; the Primary Element [Bhutadi, the
origin, or rather the cause, of the Primary Element] devours the Ether, and is
(itself) destroyed by Intellect [Mahat, the Great, the Universal Mind], which, along
with all these, is seized upon by Nature [Prakriti] and disappears.
This Prakriti is,
essentially, the same, whether discrete or indiscrete ; only that which is discrete is,
finally, lost or absorbed in the indiscrete. Spirit [Pums] also, which is one, pure,
imperishable, eternal, all-pervading, is a portion of that Supreme Spirit which is
all things. That Spirit [Sarvesha] which is other than (embodied) Spirit, and in
which there are no attributes of name, species [naman and jati, or riapa, hence
body rather than species], or the like .... [remains] as the (sole) Existence
[Satta]. Nature [Prakriti] and Spirit [Purusha] both resolve [finally] into Supreme
Spirit, t
This is the final Pralaya§—the Death of Kosmos; after which its
Spirit rests in Nirvana, or in That for which there is neither Day nor
Night. All the other Pralayas are periodical, and follow the Manvantaras
in regular succession, as the night follows the day of every
human creature, animal, and plant. The Cycle of Creation of the
Lives of Kosmos is
run down; the energy of the Manifested "Word"
having its growth, culmination, and decrease, as have all things temporary,
however long their duration. The Creative Force is Eternal
as noumenal; as a phenomenal manifestation, in its aspects, it has a
* The term "Elements" must be here understood to mean not only the visible and physical
elements, but also that which St. Paul calls Elements—the Spiritual, Intelligent Potencies—Angels
and Demons in their manvantaric forms.
t When this description is correctly understood by Orientalists, in its
esoteric significance, then it
will be found that this cosmic correlation of World -Elements may explain the correlation of physical
forces better than those now known. At any rate, Theosophists will perceive that Prakriti has seven
forms, or principles, "reckoned from Mahat to Earth." The "Waters" mean here the m.ystic
"Mother"; the Womb of Abstract Nature, in which the Manifested Universe is conceived. The
seven "zones" have reference to the Seven Divisions of that Universe, or the Noumena of the Forces
that bring it into being.
It is all allegorical.
X Vishnu Purdtia, Bk. VI. Ch. iv., Wilson's mistakes being corrected and the origrinal terms put in
brackets.
\ As it is the Maha, the Great, or so-called Final, Pralaya which is here described, every thing is
reabsorbed into its origfinal One Element; the "Gods themselves, Brahma and the rest" being said to
die and disappear during that long "Night."