79. Terminology of Concepts used in the 4 Divine Layers
- Aug 13, 2025
- 11 min read
Updated: Jun 11
Please note that this blog is going to be work in progress for a long time as I need to research a lot on the terminologies used in the 4 divine layers. This is a very basic or rudimentary but time consuming effort to indicate the concept of 4 divine layers and the terminologies used in them for various concepts manifested in them. Please be aware that the list may get edited as the time goes.
The idea is to show that there were specific terminologies used to refer to concepts in the 4 divine layers. In current times, these terminologies might have been considered as synonyms, but I strongly believe that these ancient terminologies do carry specific meanings and are not merely synonyms. Kindly bear with me if any errors are spotted in the use of terms or concepts or the location of the concepts in this blog; Will be happy to correct as appropriate.
Please refer to:
Both Tamil and Sanskrit are very ancient languages. In the past, possibly there was more clarity on the 4 divine layers, and these 2 languages perhaps had these advanced concepts referred using specific terminologies.
I will try to use the terms in English and in Tamil(transliterations) for the different concepts as they manifest in the 4 divine layers. Some are straight forward, some needs lot of research into the etymology of the specific words or terms.
About Bindu:
Bindu means dot. It may refer to the infinite expansion of the divine energy as a whole or the root energy dots (in the para region, at the point of creation or recharge of the universe) of all the energies in different forms/formats as seen in the other 3 divine layers (Iccha,Gnana and Kriya). I think, it helps if we are able to think of this aspect as a method to recharge the various depleted energies in the universe. (I always maintained that this divine energy can be both the infinite sink and infinite source of this universe).
Wherever I could not find a suitable name to a concept in divine layer, I have used the term 'bindu'.
About MAHAT in this context:
MAHAT is understood to be a composition of dark matter and dark energy. The mass part of prakruthi and the souls as manifested in the ICCHA SAKTHI layer constitute the dark matter. Hence we may infer that dark matter can have various forms. Similarly the energy part of the dark energy can be of various types as inferred in the the table below and in the context of the ICCHA SAKTHI layer where the root Bindus take the basic form of various energies.
Wherever I could not find a suitable name to a concept in ICCHA SAKTHI layer, I have used the term 'MAHAT'.
S. No | Concept as we know (in Prakruthi/Souls) | Adi Para Sakthi -Layer-1 | Iccha Sakthi -Layer-2 | Gnana Sakthi -Layer-3 | Kriya Sakthi -Layer-4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Vak System | Para | Pashyanti | Madhyama | Vaikhari |
2 | Vak System (alternate) | Bindu (in Tamil)
| Beejam (in Tamil) | Nadham (in Tamil) | Sabdham (in Tamil) |
3 | Burning/Fire (fire is a panchabhootham created from this and there may be similar process present for other panchabhoothams) | Entropy ( in the process of universe getting created and being expanded ) or Bindu or Sidaram (in Tamil) | MAHAT or Enthalpy (Agaveppam/Uraiveppam in Tamil) | Heat (Veppam)
| Burning (Erithal in Tamil) |
4 | Ayurvedic system of medicine | Bindu | <TBE *> /MAHAT | Pranam | Vadham |
5 | Ayurvedic system of medicine | Bindu | <TBE > /MAHAT | Tejas | Pittham |
6 | Ayurvedic system of medicine | Bindu | <TBE > /MAHAT | Ojas | Kabham |
7 | Panchakoshanam | Bindu | Karana Shareeram | Sukshma Shareeram | Sthula Shareeram |
8 | Panchakoshanam (alternate) | Anandamayakoshanam | Vignanamayakoshanam and cross-cutting Pranamayakoshanam | Manomayakoshanam and and cross-cutting Pranamayakoshanam | Annamayakoshanam |
9 | Living Human | Bindu | Uyir (soul) | Aavi (ghost) | Udambu (body) |
10 | Athma Gnanam | Arut-perum-jothi (blissful infinite radiance) | Atma | Ulloli (Inner radiance) /Ullam /Manam | Buddhi/ Dhyanam |
11 | Space | Bindu, Omnipresent | (lack of MAHAT) or Shunyam | Aagayam or Ether | Puraveli (space) |
12 | The 3-Imperfections or Mummalams | The pure, divine and blissful Adi Para Sakthi, Omnibenevolent | Aanavam | Mayam | Ganmam |
13 | Earth | Bindu | Thinmam or Particulate/Matter / Mass | Jadam or Solids | Various forms of earth like ores/sand/organic compositions etc., or Bhoomi |
13 | Air | Bindu | Valimam or Gaseous | Vayu (a collective term for air, wind, prana) or Gases | Kattru or Atmosphere or Air (or various gaseous elements/molecules) |
14 | Water | Bindu | Neermam or Fluidic / Fluids | Paayam or Thiraviyam or Liquids | Neer (water) or Other similar liquids |
15 | Weapons | Bindu | forces of will /dark matter / dark energy / MAHAT | Panchabhootas /Cutting /crushing /piercing /wounding etc., weapons | During evolution - same as previous column-cell. /During involution,additionally, Weapons from or using stored energies (guns, canons, missiles, DEWs and weapons like rail guns) |
16 | Machine/Gadget design | Bindu | Iccha Sakthi and/or Mantra | Tantra- Governing Principles, philosophies, Laws, Processes of divine and derived energy forms (like electrical/magnetic/weak & strong nuclear/gravitational forces) etc., | Yantra- engines, gadgets, machines, system design, component architectures etc., that use the other derived potential and kinetic energy forms (mostly man-made) |
17 | Adi Para Sakthi | Para Sakthi /Maha Bindu | Will to create/sustain and destroy | Big bang/ /Law of Karma or Karmic engine /Panchabhootas and other tatvas | Prakruthi and Jeevas |
18 | Perception/ Storage | Impressions of Soul / Stored in Souls | By Tanmatras /Use of Pranas | By Feeling/Emotions/ Storage/Intelligence using Brain /Use of Gnanendriyas | By Actions using Karmendriyas |
19 | Colours | divine illumination /white | White/Black/Shades of Grey
| White/Black/Shades of Grey /VIBGYOR/Basic colours mixed from the above colours | Millions of colours |
20 | Energy | Source/Sink of all energies, Omnipotent | Dark Energies (Possibly no conversion loss and all stable energy forms (supporting different tatvas) exist in its purest form and mass-energy conversions to and from may exist ; unstable compositions of mass-energy duo may exist) -Realm of Astamasiddhis and other siddhis | Energies can be converted from one form into another with possibly less losses. These energies go on to make different masses. It is possible to find mass-energy unstable duo in this layer too - some may be short lived and some may be long lived. | Conversion loss is maximum among the 3 manifested energy layers Unstable energy forms occur in nature (such as lightenings) Unstable energy forms in man made objects usually leads to accidents |
21 | Mass | 100% energy form | Dark masses (Possibly , same as in energy- different tatvas (supported by some processes)using pure mass and pure energies- with energy conversions to and from mass at play ; unstable compositions of mass-energy duo may exist | Masses can be converted from one form into another with possibly less losses (e.g Evolution of panchabhootas) It is possible to find mass-energy unstable duo in this layer too - some may be short lived and some may be long lived. | Huge or considerable energies needed to convert mass / energy forms to other mass /energy forms. Unstable masses do not generally occur in nature (exceptions like radioactive isotopes exist) |
22 | Dimensions (just guessing) | Divine illumination, continuum, singular | Continuum of dark matter/dark energy, dark vaccuum and divine white illumination | Several basic dimensions possible (can be more if Adi Para Sakthi blesses) | Several more dimensions possible (can be more if Adi Para Sakthi blesses) |
23 | Time in a single realm or mandala | No sense of time/ eternal/Omnipresent | Slowest | Slower (sometimes ghosts exist longer than the average lifespan of a living human) | normal |
24 | Gayathri Manthra | Savitur | Svah | Bhuvah | Bhur |
25 | Knowledge acquisition and application | Omniscient | -Philosophical - Knowledge about Adi Para Sakthi helps with Progression and development | -Empirical, Obsevational, Experiencial, Mathematical - Additionally knowledge about philosophies (evolving into bodies of scientific knowledge) helps with progression and development | -Theoritical,Conceptual, Hypothetical, Scientific - Additionally knowledge about previous 2 layers helps with the progression and development |
26 | Human Consciousness | Adi Para Sakthi / Turiya/Transcendental State | Deep/Dreamless state/ Sushupti/Prajnatmika | Dream state (related to mind realm) /Svapanti/Taijasatmika | Waking state/ Jagrani/Vaisnavahara |
27 | Maslow's Hierarchy | Supreme Being | Self-actualization/Self-esteem | Love and Belonging/ Safety and Security | Physiological Needs |
2833539 | Natural Order of Species | Supreme Being | Self-realized soul | Under Involution | Under Evolution | |
29 | Act of Sex | Bindu | Stage and Form | Interest, Attraction, Love and Lust | Act of Sex, Physical Union | |
30 | Cosmic dance of creation. sustenance and dissolution - for Individual Souls | Spectrum of all states (potential and achieved) | Will | Thoughts | Actions | |
31 | Storage and Retrieval - for Individuals | Spectrum of all experiences (potential and achieved) | Soul Impressions | Transient Storage in the Mind and Possibly in Pranamayakoshana | Storage in Brain systems and Physical storages like photos/videos in physical or electronic systems | |
32 | Cosmic dance of creation. sustenance and dissolution - for Groups | Spectrum of all states (potential and achieved) | Group Motivations | Hive-intelligence, Group Conscience with states like frenzy, euphoria etc., | Group actions like violence, dance etc., | |
33. | Storage and Retrieval - for Groups | Spectrum of all experiences (potential and achieved) | <TBE>/ MAHAT | <TBE>/ PRAKRUTHI | News papers, libraries, physical and electronic media | |
34 | Thirumandiram - 256 | Meioli (Enlightenment) | Porul (Soul) | Aavi (Ghost) | Udal (Body) | |
35 | Why something happens instead of nothing? | Para Sakthi (Source of all energy) | Iccha Sakthi - Whatever willed if supported by reserve of Iccha Sakthi will happen (maybe this can be called as a realm of magic and miracles); remember manthra ; Perhaps the proverb - 'Where there is a will, there is a way' is a universal truth too! | Gnana Sakthi - Whatever is known (as a result of a felt need and not the natural manifestations seen as prakruthi) through will to know happens if enough reserve of Iccha and Gnana Sakthi is present (maybe this is a realm of knowledge mixed with magic/miracles) (maybe this is a realm of creativity/intelligence/innovations/discoveries and hence can be considered as the realm of modern science) ;remember thantra or principle/ hypothesis | Kriya Sakthi - Whatever is known is implemented with appropriate storages/ movements/amplifications/designs (maybe this can be called as realm of implementations from the modern science); remember yanthra or device | |
36 | Why something exists instead off nothing? | Parasakthi wills creation | MAHAT ,Souls and forces of creation, sustenance and destruction | Panchabhootas , Inner Koshanasand forces of creation, sustenance and destruction | Panchabhootas , Outer Koshanas and forces of creation, sustenance and destruction | |
37 | Drishti or Vision or Insights | omniscience | Chitta Drishti or Chittam (Intuition originates here) | Gnana Kan (in tamil), Gnana Drishti (Knowledge /brain provided Insights) - , Manakkan (in tamil), Manasa Drishti (mind provided -Mental Images - real and internally constructed), | Drishti or Normal Eye-sight | |
38 | Comparability | Para Sakthi is incomparable to any form of other sakthis | Iccha sakthis are comparable between individuals and between groups and between individuals and groups | Gnana Sakthi is comparable between individuals (e.g exam evaluations) and between groups. But not comparable between an individual and a group | Kriya sakthi manifesting as force/power multipliers and/or as any form of potential (like dams)/ kinetic(like machines) energies are called jadathma sakthis. Jadathma sakthis and soul based kriya sakthis are not comparable as they are not considered as similar kind Hence Kriya sakthis of individuals (e.g sports performance) and kriya sakthis of groups (e.g rowing) are comparable. | |
39 | Impermanence | Eternal | Deathless till the great merge when Karana Shariram is lost | Strong realm of Athmadeh-avathis (atma means soul/deham means body) or the energy loyalists. Death to soul happens swiftly most of the times as the prana is withdrawn swiftly | Strong realm of Dehathma -vathis or the mass loyalists. Death to soul happens slowly sometimes even as the prana is withdrawn slowly. (mass form tries to stick on as much as possible) | |
40 | Purusharthas | Witness to grand cosmic acts of creation/sustenance and destruction | For the enlightened souls - Veedu or Moksham or Enlightenment/Liberation is the ultimate goal. For other souls in progress, the journey continues as per the residual karma. | Aram (Values/virtues) and Veedu or Liberation are primary in this realm. If this is in-fault, then the soul is a negative regressive soul and is bound to be taught lessons by "Law of Karma" | Porul (Wealth) and Inbam (Pleasure or Kama) are the primary in this realm. It is because of these 2 purusharthas, a physical body is mandated for the soul in journey. | |
TBE = To be Explored
As time goes and I collect more concepts and related terms , I will keep on filling this table to the best of my knowledge.
I think this table may have infinite entries as we try to fill in. A western educated scientist (using modern science as a basis and as a group of knowledge bodies) may progress from 4th layer to the 1st layer as per his schooling/knowledge and understanding to fill this table. Similarly a eastern monk (using vedas/upanishads and puranas as a basis and as a group of knowledge bodies) may progress from the 1st layer till the 4th as per his training/meditation etc., What either of them fill depends on their awareness/experience and knowledge levels besides their dedication and commitment. A tamil language teacher with Sanga Illakiyams (Classic Literature from "Sangam" periods) as basis may do the same. Remember, that for some of the subtle things, we are only limited by our capacity to feel and express through our vocabulary list which is finite. It is also time that we carefully look at our synonyms list and allocate across the 4 layers. (this paragraph is not present in the book)
Along the three layers (ICCHA/GNANA and KRIYA), there are some cross cutting concepts working. One of these is the concept tri-gunas (sattva, rajo, tamas) ., I think it will be naive to assume that the universe is uniformly well matured in the development of the 3 derived energy layers in all the places.
I think, the below may be true:
Adi Para Sakthi's will power created the Iccha Sakthi and distributed among the prakruthi and the nityasuris. The various souls were expected to harness their own iccha sakthi through suitable methods (like a penance blessed by one or more nityasuris). In an universe filled with pure iccha sakthi, the mass and energy probably were indestructible. Adi Para Sakthi saw the futility of an indestructible universe that does not allow Karma to be dispensed easily and thus she willed the creation of time. Time as a fundamental tenet of the universe brought in the concept of attrition and change and thus Karma could be easily balanced. The concept of Time induced Karma to introduce atrophy, pain, death, negative feelings/emotions etc., Perhaps, with the introduction of time, the manifestation of Gnana Sakthi happened as Gnana Sakthi is detected only due to some change in the context (say a local climate system). Gnana Sakthi enabled the mass to energy and vice-versa conversions (eg. entropy leading to charges build up and subsequent release of energy as a lightening in the atmosphere). Advanced souls that were in pursuit of excellence, understood the difference between knowing and not knowing the basics of the universe- or the importance of knowledge or 'Gnana'. Thus from this knowledge or inference, the Kriya Sakthi was willed to be born by the divine and Great Adi Para Sakthi.
Thus Adi Para Sakthi, is/was instrumental in creating the different layers of the divine energy. She defined the Iccha Sakthi and Gnana Sakthi layers to adequate details and probably left the Kriya Sakthi (as a starting point) to be explored by the souls in pursuit-of-excellence, perhaps hoping that one day these advanced souls will work backwards and reach her eventually and find her to be the ONLY ABSOLUTE TRUTH in the universe. Perhaps it is interesting to think that, some of the nityasuris who have the governance responsibilities using the powers of iccha/gnana sakthis, may not be a full-fledged scientist or a person with deep knowledge about science as they may not have explored the kriya sakthi realm adequately as yet. So our respect for such super souls in the higher realms should not- decrease - ever!
Other deductions/assumptions are possible as below:
Perhaps, dimension-2 (ghost realm) is transient for prakruthi too, not just for souls.
Dimension-1 (physical realm) has many variations, not just the ones felt by humans and other lives on earth.
The idea of scalar inertia may be scalar in dimension-1, but it may have a vector representation in the MAHAT layer and similar such ideas.
Adi Para Sakthi is most effective and efficient always; The manifestation of Iccha Sakthi as willed by Adi Para Sakthi may be 100% effective and efficient. We know in the dimension-1, physical world, the energy conversion efficiencies as not perfect (e.g. carnot heat engine efficiency - assuming it to be approximately 0.8 or like). There are huge losses in all types of energy conversion mechanisms. In the transient, dim-2 realm, the conversion efficiency may fall between 1 in the MAHAT and the best in the dim-1.
Clearly the initial tool we have to explore the deeper realms, is our mind! We have to acknowledge that the Prakruthi is here to help us too! (Nature in a given context, as an invisible, incorporeal Maha Guru, as much as possible, tries to model all processes occuring in the universe so that it is available to the seekers for inferencing and to know the deeper secrets! Deep secrets may be revealed by exploring simpler processes occuring in Nature!
With the Karmic engine in the mind too, we have to consider the possibilities in MAHAT and in the Dim-2 realm (with as much rigorous approach as we do in dim-1) such as -
Changes in Energy fields
Changes in Matter
Energy to Matter conversions and vice-versa
Conversion of Energies
Influence of Time
Influence of Space
Physical and chemical properties of Masses
The study of various Energy systems
References:
Valimam, Neermam, Thinmam in Wiki.
Steven Strogatz, 2019, Edition (ISBN 978-1-78649-297-5), Atlantic Books, “Infinite Powers - The Story of Calculus, The Language of the Universe”
Hari Om!
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