Studies in the Epics and Puranas c8.67

c8.67

Thus, according to the *Aitareya*, the function always follows the structure in the microcosm of the intermediary Person but always precedes it in the macrocosm of the universe. After creating worlds in this fashion, the Cosmic Person, the World-governors, and Hunger and Thirst, the Ātman next proceeded to create the Soul in the human body, which he entered by the "door of division", also called the "place of rejoicing". After the Ātman was born as the individual soul, he began to be subject, according to the *Aitareya*, to the three states of consciousness, viz. the waking, the dreaming and the deep-sleep state of consciousness. We thus see how the individual soul was the last object to be created by the Ātman and how ultimately there is a metaphysical identity between the individual soul and the supreme soul.