Slokam 6

The primary characteristic of Ahamkara or individuality is further broken down into its component parts, so that we can identify and strengthen the good aspects and minimize or eliminate the undesirable aspects.

The slokam relates the creation of the organs of the body to the Gunas of the mind.

Ahamkara or the identity of the self, is described as an outcome of the interplay of the three Gunas. 

Vaikarikam is a Sattva based component of Ahamkara.  Because it is Sattva based, it views the self as composed of organs and elements that are protected by deities.  There are two classes of objects that are addressed in this slokam.

One aspect are the elements of nature

• Air (Vayu – as in Guru-Vayu-oor)
• Light (Aditya)
• Heat (Lord Vishnu)
• Water (Varuna)

The second aspect is perception based;

• Sense of Direction (Dik)

The third aspect is physical;

• Sensory organs (Ashwinikumars)
• Throat (Mitra and Prajapathi)
• Hand (Mitra and Prajapathi)
• Feet (Mitra and Prajapathi)
• Excretory Organs (Mitra and Prajapthi)
• Generative Organs (Mitra and Prajapathi)

The fourth aspect is the inner self

• Mind (Chandra, Brahma, Rudra)
• Intellect (Chandra, Brahma, Rudra)
• Ego (Chandra, Brahma, Rudra)
• Inner Spirit (Kshetrajnya)

A presiding deity is attributed for the protection of each of these aspects.  These are indicated in brackets for each line.

So on the one hand we have our physical body organs, on the other we have the elements that sustain the organs and thirdly, protective deities assigned to guard these against deterioration. Lastly we have a mind and intellect to coordinate and channel the working of these attributes through the senses.

The above are classified as the attributes that result from Vaikarikam (Sattva based) attribute of our consciousness.

Two other aspects of our consciousness are Taijasm (Rajas based) and Tamasam (Tamas based).

So our physical and mental and environmental endowments are identified back to the three Gunas, in this Slokam.