Four basic stages of consciousness that we experience are: Jagrat or waking, Swapna or dreaming, Sushupti or dreamless sleep and Turiya or sleepless sleep. According to Hindu scriptures these four stages of Consciousness are governed by the Chaturvyuha Murthy or the four forms of Para-Vasudeva.
Jagrat (Wakefulness) is the stage in which we are awake, when the five sense organs and mind are active, doing decisive activities. The most significant aspect of this state is the capacity of an individual to recognise a thing which had been cognised some time back, whether through vision, taste, smell, sound or feel.
According to Pancharatra Agamas, a Hindu Scripture Aniruddha, the emanated form of Para-Vasudeva is among those deities responsible for this aspect and is regarded as "the uncontrollable unifier of experiences". One more faculty He governs is the ability to reconcile the five senses and mind which fall prey to likes or dislikes of events happening in the materialistic world; hence it is possible to slowly overcome bereavement of dear ones. Aniruddha, the provider of individual consciousness, is the grandson of Sri Krishna and son of Pradyumna and Kakudmati.
Swapna (Dream) is the stage in which the individual enjoys the five objects of senses while all the five sense organs are at rest and only the mind is working. Dream is the imitation of the experiences of the wakeful stage with some modifications and is created out of materials supplied from the waking stage. Mind itself is the seer and seen. Pradyumna is responsible for this aspect and is regarded as "the provider of unfulfilled desire experiences". With these experiences unfolding the individual is denied peaceful sleep, like in a house where though elders are asleep (the five senses) the naughty child, the mind, is awake and causing illusions. Some believe that the mind weaves dreams due to experiences that happen in the day and has control over it, if so is it possible to choose only sweet dreams and avoid nightmares? Pradyumna is the giver of astral consciousness. He is the son of Krishna and Rukmini and incarnation of Kama, god of love.
Sushupti (Deep Sleep) is stage where the individual is self-oblivion unaware as the mind is also at rest along with the five senses. In this state individual is not aware of his worries or reassurances. Sankarshana is responsible for this aspect and is regarded as "the annihilator of experiences". The individual experiences deluge every night and is in union with the Self and due to ignorance there is no authenticity for the same. Sankarshana is the provider of subconsciousness and He is the elder brother of Krishna, also called Balarama.
Turiya (Awareness) also called chaturtha is the stage of transcendental consciousness where the individual experiences ultimate reality and truth. This state is inexperienced by the five senses and indescribable, incomprehensible by the mind which is tied to continuous cycle of births. The transcendental mind is within itself a possibility of creating anything and everything that mind conceives and the possibilities are infinite. Vasudeva is responsible for this aspect and is regarded as "the merger of individual and universal experiences". In this state the individual experiences the sleepless sleep or bliss, witnessing similarities of macrocosm and microcosm and is well aware of the union of Self and Absolute. Vasudeva is the provider of superconsciousness; He is Lord Krishna Himself.
Truly meaningful!!!
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