Space (Akasa) and Brightness (Prakasa) are subtle aspects of creation which are entwined in the everyday experience of life. Krishna uses these as suitable examples to explain the idea of eternal consciousness that not only pervades all creations but is also responsible for them and is beyond all of this as well, pointed out Swami Omkarananda in a discourse.
Space is all-pervading in the created universe and provides place for all objects and beings in it. All these are born, live, grow old and die in space. Space is unaffected by all this activity that is constantly taking place.
Krishna compares Akasa and its unattached relationship with creation to that of the eternal consciousness, also known as Chit.
This consciousness is responsible for all creations and also pervades the entire creation from the smallest of atoms to the biggest of manifestations. But consciousness is a cut above space because it has no beginning or end, while space itself is a created entity and is likely to get dissolved at the time of dissolution.
Prakasa or brightness is another example to illustrate the inherent brilliance of the ‘atma chaitanya.’ The sun as a source of light illumines the objects in the entire space but is not attached to any object or being. It is all-pervading and its power to throw light remains unchanging. Sometimes the reflected light of the sun appears more brilliant and attractive to the extent of usurping the original. The Lord’s Maya is similar to the reflected light of the sun.
Spiritual realisation makes one wary of the subtle dominance exerted by the borrowed or reflected brilliance in the jivatma and helps one to overcome ignorance and perceive only the truth of the eternal consciousness.
