Chapter 50 describes a specific cosmological process for the world's emergence. It begins when the formless Brahman becomes qualified by Avidya (ignorance), making it expressible and giving it the name 'Sat' (Existence). From this expressible Brahman, the 'Unmanifest' (Avyakta) emerges. Subsequently, from the Unmanifest, the 'Great Principle' (Mahat-tattva) arises, and within it, egoism is born. The five subtle elements (Tanmatras) form within the ego, and from them, the five great elements are created. Finally, as the text states, the entire world was born from the womb of these five great elements, with the illusion of Avidya-Maya being its characteristic form.
How does the text explain the emergence of the physical world from the unmanifest Brahman?
📖 Chapter 50