Book Title: Development of Hinduism
Author(s): M M Ninan
Publisher: M M Ninan

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Page 546
________________ PURUSHA SUKTHAM elements, the sefirot, which comprise the "body" of Adam Kadmon. The symbol of Adam Kadmon expresses the idea that the cosmos itself has both a soul and body. The whole cosmos with all the infinite beings of consciousness form part of the the Body of the Purusha. This image is called the Adam Kadmon, and represents the primordial, pre-created Man, an image of the Godhead that existed before any other divine emanation. It is a vertical arrangement of the four letters of the Tetragrammaton, the four letter name of God YHVH as given to Moses in the Hebrew Bible. In this shape, they represent Keterim, the first reflection or image of the Ain Sof. Adam Kadmon is the first being to spontaneously emerge in the metaphysical void. The Sefirot and worlds which they comprise are, according to Luria and his disciple, Vital, emanated from the various orifices in Adam Kadmon's head: from the ear, the nose, eyes, and mouth. The highest, most sublime of these emanations, forms the world of Atziluth, from the Hebrew "etzel", meaning "near" (to the infinite God). However, even higher than Atziluth, according to the Lurianists, is the World of Adam Kadmon itself, often abbreviated as the World of A1K, a world so high and sublime as to be virtually indistinguishable from Ein-sof. From within this realm, so close to the infinite God, Adam Kadmon directs the subsequent course of events in the lower worlds. The Primordial Man is instrumental not only for the world's creation, but for its redemption as well. It is very probable that Jesus identified himself with the primordial or Cosmic Person in saying "... before Abraham was I am" (John 8:58). The primordial man was before Abraham and before all men, who is prior to all creation. "He is the image (Adam Kadmon) of the invisible Elohim (Ayn Sof), the firstborn over all creation (Son of Yhvh). For through Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the Assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence (Messiah)." Colossians 1:15-18 "For the God who made the world and all that is in it, and who is Lord of heaven and of earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Nor is he ministered to by human hands, neither hath he 542

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