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“Yachchaapi Sarvabhuutaanaam Biijam Tadahamarjuna/ Na Tadasti Vinaa Yatsyaanmayaa Bhuutam Charaacharam//”, i.e., “I am the generating seed of all living beings, O Arjuna! No creature moving or non-moving can exist without Me.” –The Shrimadbhagavad-Gita (10: 39)

God is Omnipresent; the whole Jagat is emanated or originated from the same Ishwara, Paramatma or Brahman. In the Rigveda (10: 48: 1 and 10: 48: 5), the first of basic scriptures of the Sanatana Dharma, it is clearly mentioned:

“Aham Bhuvam Vasunah Purvyaspatirah Dhanaani Sam Jayaami Shashvatah/ Maa Havante Pitram Na Jantavo Aham Daashushe Vi Bhajaami Bhojanam//”, i.e., “I am the One in whom everything resides; I am the eternal cause of creation of this universe; I am the First Maintainer and the Lord. I am the source and giver of all wealth.  All living beings call Me Mother and Father and I am the Protector, I bestow all opulence to the surrendering devotee and donor.”

Along with the living beings, God pervades everywhere –in rivers, mountains, forest-groves, nature-environment. The entire universe (visible-invisible Jagat) is managed and operated by the same Ishwara; He, as an Indivisible Whole, is the Maker of Universal Unity. This reality itself is quite clear from the above-mentioned verse of the Shrimadbhagavad-Gita, which is recognized as the essence of the Vedas and is also established as an Upanishad itself.

Those who study the Shrimadbhagavad-Gita or are familiar with this, they know very well that Yogeshwara Shrikrishna has described His formless and corporeal state through this unique and highly spiritual scripture. Further, as is evident especially from the verses of the Tenth Chapter of the Gita, the Lord has clarified His position as the Creator of the universe, Being its Controller, the Maintainer and the Savior. Through the Eighth verse of the Chapter Tenth Yogeshwara Shrikrishna says:

“Aham Sarvasya Prabhavo Mattah Sarvam Pravartate/ Iti Matvaa Bhajante Maam Budhaa Bhaavasamanvitaah//”, i.e., “I am the cause of all spiritual and material worlds; everything (visible-invisible or movable-immovable in the universe) emanates from Me. The wise ones who know this truth, they worship only Me with their hearts having all faith and devotion (in me).”

Along with clarifying His supreme position as the Creator, the Controller and the Maintainer of the universe, the manner in which Yogeshwara Shrikrishna calls upon human beings for worship, devotion, and prayer as the best creature of the universe, that clarifies the worship concept of the Sanatana Dharma –the Vedic-Hindu worship-perception and, at the same time, brings its excellence to the fore.

Ishwara, God –the Supreme Authority, the Creator, the Controller, the Savior of the universe and possessor of countless virtuesis, as the Indivisible Whole or the Totality, the Maker of the Universal Unity. This reality is quite evident from the Mantra (1: 164: 39) of the Rigveda:

“Richo Akshare Parame Vyomanyasmindevaa Adhi Vishve Nisheduh/ Yastanna Veda Kimrichaa Karishyati Ya Ittadvidusta Ime Samaasate//”, i.e., “The ultimate substance form of all the Vedas (also established by the Vedas), Brahman is the immortal and the cause and effect of soul and the universe. He is the base and the abode of all; the Omnipresent God is the skylike; the universe is pervaded in Him and all things-objects-elements etc. are also in Him. Those who know the virtues, deeds and natures of the Veda-designated Brahman, they achieve the goal of life –salvation bliss.”

Everything in the universe is within the ambit of that very Indivisible Whole. This is beyond our limited ability to see that infinity, which we cannot even imagine.But, all that is invisible or beyond one’s imagination is, as said, within the domain of the Supreme Authority –Paramatma. The simple and clear meaning of this state is that everything in the infinite universe (substances, elements, creatures etc.), movable-immovable and visible-invisible is Ishwariya –Godly, a part and parcel of the Indivisible Whole, and nothing exists separately from Paramatma.Goodwill towards any part, element or creation of God and respect or worship thereof is, in fact, the respect of the same Indivisible Whole or God Himself; it is His worship or prayer. Further, it is a means of realizing and accepting the truth of the Indivisible Whole; at the same time, it is also the truest and the best available pathway to one to associate her/himself with the reality of Universal Oneness.

The excellence of this pathway remains in achieving the goal through elements, natural objects or by offering fruits, flowers, leaves etc., or only by pure will with dedication and love for Paramatma. Yogeshwar Shrikrishna himself has said:

“Patram Pushpam Phalam Toyam Yo Me Bhaktyaa Prayachchhati/ Tadaham Bhaktyupahritamashnaami Prayataatmanah//”, i.e., “If one offers to Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or even water, I delightfully partake of the same offered to Me with love by My devotee in pure consciousness.” –The Shrimadbhagavad-Gita (9: 26)

*A Padma Shri and Sardar Patel National Awardee Indologist Dr. Ravindra Kumar is a Former Vice Chancellor of CCS University, Meerut; he is, currently the Ombudsman of Swami Vivekananda Subharati University, Meerut (India).