Gunas and Kosas

[Srikrishna Ghadiyaram]

Hari Om !!

I want to add some more points to my previous posting regarding Gunas.

In the same book 'Vedanta for Beginners', while explaining the 'A Priori
Method', Swami Sivananda writes:

" Prakriti, the cause of ignorance, is made up of three Gunas, and carries
with her the reflection of that transcendent Reality, Satchidananda. This
Prakriti is divided into two aspects, called Maya and Avidya. Maya is
Suddha-Sattva-Pradhana or that state of Prakriti in which the principle of
purity and Sattva, predominates over the other two, - Rajas and Tamas.
Avidya is Malina-Sattva or that state of Prakriti in which Sattva is
predominated and sullied by the other two."

My question is what is this distinction between Maya and Avidya (beyond
Vyasti and Samasti) aspects ? Why should there be difference in the
comoposition of Gunas ?

I will appreciate all your learned comments on these doubts.

Om Namo Narayanaya !!

Srikrishna


On Thu, 14 Feb 2002 17:23:04 -0500, Srikrishna Ghadiyaram
<srikrishna_ghadiyaram at YAHOO.COM> wrote:

>Hari Om !!
>
>I read in "Vedanta for Beginners" by Swami Sivananda that 'Sattva mixed
>with Tamas' is the Guna found in Manomaya Kosa; and 'Sattva mixed with
>Rajas' is the Guna found in Vijnanamaya Kosa.
>
>How can the above statement be explained. We read that from the Sattva
>aspect of each of  the five elements individual Jannendriyas formed, and
>from the combined Sattva aspect of these five elements Antahkarana formed.
>So, where are the Tamas and Rajas of Manomaya and Vijnanamaya coming from ?
>
>Also in the same book I read 'Malina Sattva' (mixed with Rajas and Tamas )
>is found in Anandamaya Kosa incontrast contrast wtih Suddha-Sattva of which
>Maya is embodiment. If individual Avidya is coming from 'Maya' itself how
>can it have mixed aspect differing from 'Maya' itself ?
>
>Please direct me if there is any book I can read to understand this aspect
>of Gunas better.
>
>Om Namo Narayanaya !!
>
>Srikrishna