This piece is inspired by a conversation between Rishi Yaagnyavalkya and Sakalya in the Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. In reply to Sakalya's questions regarding the actual number of gods, the Rishi tells him that there are thousands, but they are all manifestations of 33. Then tells him that there is only one all pervading supreme consciousness - Brhman. The one Brhman manifest in thousands of ways as the material universe but these 33 are principal ways we experience him (त्रयस्त्रिंशदिति अष्टौ वसवः, एकादश रुद्राः, द्वादशादित्याः, ते एकत्रिंशत्, इन्द्रश्चैव प्रजापतिश्च त्रयस्त्रिंशाविति)
The Experienced - 8 Vasus: Fire-earth-air-sky-sun-heaven-moon-stars (अग्निश्च पृथिवी च वायुश्चान्तरिक्शं चादित्यश्च द्यौश्च चन्द्रमाश्च नक्शत्राणि चैते वसवः)
The Means of Experience - 11 Rudras: 10 Organs + Mind (दशेमे पुरुषे प्राणा आत्मैकादशः)
Time as a condition of Experience - 12 Adityas: Months of the Year (द्वादश वै मासाः संवत्सरस्य, एत आदित्याः)
The Enabler & Primordial Law of Experience: Indra & Prajapati: Thunder-cloud & Yagna (स्तनयित्नुरेवेन्द्रः, यज्ञः प्रजापतिरिति)
Each of these 33 devas further manifest into thousands of forces that facilitate the unfurling of the universe. These forces are powered by the inherent code of the universe rtam (ऋतम्).The cosmos has a ‘way’ to its existence; there is an inherent order of how it exists, sustains, propels, perpetuates itself. Voluntary acts that disrupt this rtam is Adharma and those that are in unison and uphold it is Dharma.
