Manav Dharma Shastra Chaturtha Skandh: The Divine Origin of Deities and the Power of Prakriti Puja
Explore the Chaturtha Skandh of Manav Dharma Shastra. Learn the secrets of nature worship, spiritual health remedies for fever and disease, and divine guidance for family harmony.
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The Chaturtha Skandh (Fourth Section) of the Manav Dharma Shastra serves as a practical guide to connecting with the Divine through the visible forces of nature. Composed by Gurudev Awadhoot Laxminarayan Ji, this section unveils the mystery behind the creation of deities and offers simple, actionable remedies for health, wealth, and marital bliss.
It shifts the focus from abstract philosophy to the tangible presence of the Divine in the five elements—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Sky.
Here is a deep dive into the spiritual and practical wisdom of the Chaturtha Skandh.
1. The Mystery of Creation: Sankalp (Divine Resolution)
The section begins by explaining the mechanics of creation. The devotee asks, "How did the world come into being?" The Divine Father answers that the universe was born from His Sankalp (resolution/Will).
"Sankalp Se Shrishti Bhaye | Shristi Sakal Prakriti Apar ||" (The world is born out of determination, and the vast nature manifested from that determination.)
The text reveals a profound paradox: God is both the Karta (Doer) and the Akarta (Non-Doer). Just as a speaker speaks words and then detaches from them, God created the world through resolution and then let it run on the auto-pilot of natural laws, while remaining the observer within it.
2. The True Origin of Deities
One of the most revolutionary teachings in this section is the explanation of Devtas (Deities). The scripture states that there is no separate God competing with the Supreme Divine. Instead, deities are personifications of natural powers, imagined by humans based on their needs.
• Varun (Water God): Conceived when humans needed water.
• Agni (Fire God): Conceived because food cannot be cooked without fire.
• Vayu (Air God): Conceived as air is the basis of life.
"Jehi Bhanti Bhaye Manush Darkara | Sehi Mat Dev Kalpana Apara ||" (As the human’s expectations from nature multiplied, likewise the Deities were imagined by human beings.)
The Divine declares, "Ma Hi Bhayeu Sakal Devadhideva" (I am the origin of all Deities). Worshiping them is essentially worshiping the different powers of the One Supreme Consciousness.
3. Prakriti Puja: Worshiping Mother Nature
The text emphasizes Prakriti (Nature) as the Jagdamba (Mother of the Universe). It describes nature as the feminine power of the Divine that holds the universe. Whether we call her Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, or Saraswati, she is the singular force operating the cosmos.
The Method of Appeasing Nature: To gain health, wealth, and peace, the scripture suggests a simple but powerful Prakriti Puja:
1. Close your eyes and focus on your breath.
2. Surrender all desires at the feet of Mother Nature.
3. Visualize that nature is fulfilling your wishes.
4. Feel that the planetary constellations are becoming favorable.
5. Express gratitude for the harmony in the world.
"Prakrati Ang Sab Dev Sujana | Karu Aradhana Man Anumana ||" (O Son! Worship the deities while remaining close to nature.)
4. Spiritual Health Remedies: Water Therapy and Sun Gazing
The Chaturtha Skandh provides specific, do-it-yourself remedies for physical ailments, combining faith with natural elements.
A. The Water Remedy (For General Health and Detox): Water is described as the essence of all medicines (Aushadh Ras).
• The Method: Take water in your right hand. Lift your left leg and left hand.
• The Mantra: Mentally chant "Hey Jal Dev Barun! Sab Aushadh Ras Nire Suhae" (O Water God Varun! Water has the essence of all medicines).
• The Benefit: Pray to Varun to cleanse the body of sins and toxins through the urinary tract. Drinking this water with faith is said to cure known and unknown diseases.
B. The Sun Remedy (For Fever and Anxiety): If suffering from fever or restlessness:
• The Method: Wake up early, bathe, and meditate on nature. Face the sun, rub your hands together vigorously, and cup your eyes with them.
• The Visualization: Imagine the sun’s rays entering your body and burning away impurities, fever, and anxiety.
• The Result: This practice is believed to purify the Vayu (air elements) in the body and infuse it with positive energy.
5. The Secret to Marital Bliss
The scripture addresses the importance of a happy household (Grihastha Ashram). It states that heaven and hell are not distant lands, but exist within the family based on how members behave with one another.
A Joint Ritual for Couples: To ensure a happy married life, the husband and wife are advised to:
1. Wake up early together.
2. Sit in a posture of peace.
3. Pray jointly to Mother Nature: "O Mother! Unite our minds. Provide us with wisdom to serve our parents and live harmoniously."
4. Surrender the "chariot of the body" to the Divine Mother and ask for the strength to remain detached and loving.
"Pati - Patni Samyata Jo Man Mahil | Nahi Sanshaye Taha Bakunt Suhahi ||" (When there is equality in the mind of husband and wife, the family becomes heavenly without a doubt.)
6. Honoring the Farmer (Krishak)
The text concludes with a salute to agriculture. It asserts that there is no one greater than a farmer (Krishak) because they sustain the world without pride. It advises that respecting nature and following natural laws in agriculture leads to true prosperity.
Conclusion
The Chaturtha Skandh bridges the gap between the spiritual and the material. It teaches us that God is not hidden far away, but is present in the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the sun that gives us life. By aligning our lives with the rhythms of Nature (Prakriti) and understanding the oneness of all Deities, we can unlock a life of health, wealth, and divine harmony.
Manav Dharma Shastra is a Sanatan Dharma scripture composed by Gurudev Awadhoot Laxminarayan Ji (Laxminarayan Meena, IPS) under the divine grace of Satguru Awadhoot Devidas Maharaj. This scripture was first published in Hindi in 2013, followed by its English edition in 2022 and Bengali edition in 2023 (Publisher: Kirti Publication; ISBN: 978-81-965006-1-0)
Manav Dharma Shastra, Chaturtha Skandh, Satguru Awadhoot Devidas, Gurudev Awadhoot Laxminarayan, Prakriti Puja, Spiritual Health Remedies, Water Therapy, Origin of Deities, Family Harmony, Nature Worship.