The intermediate world between Heaven and Earth in the Rig Veda

The Rig Veda does not describe a world divided into Heaven and Earth only.
It describes three levels of reality.

1. Heaven, Earth, and the middle world

The hymns speak of:

• Earth (Prithivī)
• Heaven (Dyaus)
• and the intermediate space

This middle world is the realm of:

• winds
• storms
• atmospheric fire
• moving gods

It is the world of change.

2. The world of action

Dynamic deities belong to this realm:

• Indra
• the Maruts
• Agni in his aerial form

This is where transformation happens.

3. A structure of consciousness

The Rig Veda also reflects three states of consciousness:

• Earth: ordinary awareness
• Heaven: illumination
• Middle world: the passage between the two

This corresponds to visions, altered states, trials, and transitions.

4. An unstable but essential world

The middle world is unstable.
Sometimes chaotic.
But without it, nothing evolves.

Conclusion

Illumination is not immediate.
It passes through an in-between state.
And that is where transformation occurs.