Avasthas

(Avasthās) The four states of consciousness: Jagrat, the waking state, Svapna, the dream state; Susupti, the deep sleep — i.e., dreamless — state, and Turiya (a corruption of caturtha), “the fourth,” or spiritually awakened consciousness.

The term is also used in The Secret Doctrine to describe the three states or hypostases (Avasthas) of Brahma: HIRANYAGARBHA (the golden egg from which arises the cosmos), Hari, and Sankara, or BRAHMA, Visnu, and Siva.

© Copyright by the Theosophical Publishing House, Manila