- Akasha
Vedic Meaning
Akasha (or Akash, Ākāśa, _sa. आकाश) is the
Sanskrit word meaning "aether" in both its elemental and mythological senses. InHinduism Akasha means the basis and essence of all things in the material world; the smallest material element created from the astral world. It is one of the "Panchamahabhuta," or "five great elements"; its main characteristic is "Shabda " (sound). InHindi the meaning of Akasha issky . ["Dictionary of World Philosophy" by A. Pablo Iannone, Taylor & Francis, 2001, p. 30. ISBN 0415179955]Meaning in different systems
*Akasha is space in the Jain conception of the cosmos. It falls into the "
Ajiva " category, divided into two parts: "Loakasa" (the part occupied by the material world) and "Aloakasa" (the space beyond it which is absolutely void and empty). In "Loakasa" the universe forms only a part. Akasha is that which gives space and makes room for the existence of all extended substances. ["Encyclopaedia of Jainism" by Narendra Singh, Anmol Publications PVT. LTD., 2001, p. 1623. ISBN 8126106913]*In Buddhist phenomenology Akasha is divided into
Skandha ,Desa , and Pradesa. ["Buddhist Dictionary" by Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Publication Society, 1998, pp. 9-10. ISBN 9552400198]*The
Nyaya Vaisheshika states that Akasha or ether is the fifth physical substance, which is the substratum of the quality of sound. It is the "One", "Eternal", and "All Pervading" physical substance, which is imperceptible. ["Indian Metaphysics and Epistemology" by Karl H. Potter, Usharbudh Arya, Motilal Banarsidass Publications, 1977, p. 71. ISBN 8120803094]*According to the
Samkhya Akasha is one of the fiveMahābhūta s (grand physical elements) having the specific property of sound. ["Six Systems of Indian Philosophy; Samkhya and Yoga; Naya and Vaiseshika" by F. Max Muller, Kessinger Publishing, 2003, p. 40. ISBN 0766142965]*The
Cārvāka philosophy states that this world is made of four elements and exclude the fifth element, Akasha, because its existence cannot be perceived. ["The Tale of Carvaka" By Manga Randreas, Mangalakshmi Ravindram, iUniverse, 2005, ISBN 0595349552, pg, 270]*The
Vaibhashika (an early Buddhist school) hold its existence to be real. ["Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy" By Oliver Leaman, Contributor Oliver Leaman, Taylor & Francis, 2001, ISBN 0415172810, pg. 476]Popular Culture
*
Anne Rice used the word "Akasha" as the name of the very firstvampire in the novel "The Queen of the Damned ".
*The name has been taken by a music duo from the United KingdomAkasha (band) .
*In the anime series "Code Geass ", the Emperor of the Britannia Empire had built a shrine-like building called the Sword of Akasha, which was described as a weapon to defeat the gods.
*Akasha is also used in the main title of "Akasha Seal", a RPG Maker XP Episodic Series (RMXP Episode for short) by ScriptKitty. The series was left unfinished at episode 4, where the connection of the title and the story is still a mystery.
*In theSuper Robot Wars series of strategy video games, Akashic Buster is one of the many attacks in the repertoire of the mechaCybuster .
*In the role-playing game, a group of mages calls itself the "Akashic Brotherhood", after a character called Akasha.
*In popularWarcraft III custom map DotA, Akasha is the name of a female hero with the ability to create waves of sound that damage multiple units.
*Akasha is the name of the female Necris High Inquisitor in theUnreal Tournament 3 single player campaign.
*In the PS2 game,Persona 3 , the 12th Shadow (boss enemy) performs an attack called "Akasha Arts".ee also
*
Akashic records
*Classical element
*Ervin László References
External links
* http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/bs_1/1-1-08.html
*Chandogya Upanishad I.9.1 [http://www.sub.uni-goettingen.de/ebene_1/fiindolo/gretil/1_sanskr/1_veda/4_upa/chup___u.htm] [http://www.celextel.org/108upanishads/chandogya.html translation]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
