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Latest revision as of 05:31, 25 January 2026
The material world is often perceived as a place of variety and color, but the Vedas define its fundamental quality as tamas, or darkness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this universe is constitutionally dark, necessitating the presence of the sun, moon, and fire to make life possible. This physical darkness is a reflection of the spiritual ignorance that pervades material existence. The goal of human life, therefore, is to heed the Vedic call to leave this dark region and return to the self-illuminated spiritual sky.
Nature of Material World
The material creation is distinct from the spiritual creation primarily due to the absence of natural light. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that without the sun or electricity, the entire world would be plunged into darkness. This dependency on artificial light is proof of the world's inherent gloomy nature.
- All Vedic literature instructs us not to remain in this darkness. The nature of this material world is darkness, but the spiritual world is full of light and yet is not illumined by fire or electricity.
- In the material world, sunshine, moonshine or different kinds of artificial light are required to dispel darkness, especially at night, for by nature the material world is dark.
- This material world is dark, is always dark. Therefore here we require the sun and the moon and the electric light. Otherwise, it is dark. As soon as the electricity will fail, then whole city will be in darkness.
Tamasi Mā Jyotir Gama
The Vedas provide the ultimate solution to the problem of material existence: do not stay here. The mantra tamasī mā jyotir gama instructs the living entity to leave the darkness and go to the light. This "light" refers to the spiritual world, which is beyond the dark covering of the material universe.
- Actual life, this human form of life, is meant for to get out of this darkness of material world. Tamasi ma jyotir gama. This is the information, Vedic information - Don't remain in this darkness.
- The Vedas enjoin: "Don't remain in the darkness of this material world. Go to the light of the spiritual world." To counteract the distress of this material body, one has to take on another distressed condition. Both situations are only illusion.
- In Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that one should inquire from a spiritual master about subjects that are "beyond this darkness." This material world is by nature dark, and it is artificially lighted by fire.
Dissipators of Darkness
Just as the sun rises to chase away the night, the Supreme Lord and His pure devotees appear in this world to dissipate the darkness of ignorance. Śrīla Prabhupāda specifically glorifies Lord Caitanya, Lord Nityānanda, and great associates like Svarūpa Dāmodara and Murāri Gupta as brilliant moons who eradicate the darkness of the material world.
- All glories to Sri Caitanya, who acted as the eastern horizon where the sun of the atmarama verse rose. He manifested its rays in the form of different meanings and thus eradicated the darkness of the material world. May He protect the universe.
- All glories to Svarupa Damodara and Murari Gupta! All these brilliant moons have together dissipated the darkness of this material world.
- The Yamadutas said to the Visnudutas, By your bodily features you appear to be very exalted gentlemen, and you have such celestial power that you have dissipated the darkness of this material world.
Conclusion
The darkness of the material world is not our eternal home. By taking shelter of the holy name and the mercy of the ācāryas, one can pierce the covering of this dark universe and enter the effulgent spiritual sky, never to return.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Darkness of This Material World. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.