Prashna Upanishad 1.4
intermediate
तस्मै स होवाच। प्रजाकामो वै प्रजापतिः स तपोऽतप्यत स तपस्तप्त्वा स मिथुनमुत्पादयते। रयिं च प्राणं चेत्येतौ मे बहुधा प्रजाः करिष्यत इति॥
tasmai sa hovāca | prajākāmo vai prajāpatiḥ sa tapo'tapyata sa tapastaptvā sa mithunamutpādayate | rayiṃ ca prāṇaṃ cetyetau me bahudhā prajāḥ kariṣyata iti ||
"The sage replied: "Prajapati, desiring offspring, performed austerity. Having performed austerity, he created a pair - Rayi (matter) and Prana (life-energy) - thinking: These two will produce creatures in many ways for me.""
What This Means:
The Creator (Prajapati) produced two cosmic principles: matter (Rayi) and life-energy (Prana). All creation comes from the union of these two.
Going Deeper:
This is a profound cosmological teaching. The material principle (Rayi/Prakriti) and the vital principle (Prana/Purusha) together give rise to all forms of life.
How To Apply This:
See the interplay of matter and energy in all of life. You are both body (Rayi) and life-force (Prana).
#creation#Prajapati#Rayi#Prana#duality