But this is not the view which the Upanishads take of the question.  According to them, Brahamam* is the Kshetram or basis, Akasa or Prakriti, the germ or seed, and Sakti, the power evolved by their union or contact.  And this is the real scientific, philosophical mode of stating the case.

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* See Appendix, Note iv.
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Now, according to the adepts of ancient Aryavarta, seven principles are evolved out of these three primary entities.  Algebra teaches us that the number of combinations of n things, taken one at a time, two at a time, three at a time, and so forth = 2(n)-1.

Applying this formula to the present case, the number of entities evolved from different combinations of these three primary causes amounts to 2(3)-1 = 8-1 = 7.

As a general rule, whenever seven entities are mentioned in the ancient occult science of India, in any connection whatsoever, you must suppose that those seven entities came into existence from three primary entities; and that these three entities, again, are evolved out of a single entity or monad.  To take a familiar example, the seven coloured rays in the solar ray are evolved out of three primary coloured rays; and the three primary colours coexist with the four secondary colours in the solar rays.  Similarly, the three primary entities which brought man into existence co-exist in him with the four secondary entities which arose from different combinations of the three primary entities.

Now these seven entities, which in their totality constitute man, are as follows.  I shall enumerate them in the order adopted in the “Fragments,” as far as the two orders (the Brahmanical and the Tibetan) coincide:—­

Corresponding names in
Esoteric Buddhism.

I. Prakriti.  Sthulasariram
(Physical Body).

II.  The entity evolved
out of the combination            Sukshmasariram or Lingasariram
of Prakriti and Sakti.             (Astral Body).

III.  Sakti.  Kamarupa (the Perispirit).

IV.  The entity evolved out
of the combination of Jiva (Life-Soul). 
Brahmam, Sakti and
Prakriti.

V. The entity evolved out
of the combination of Physical Intelligence (or
Brahmam and Prakriti. animal soul).

VI.  The entity evolved
out of the combination of Spiritual Intelligence (or Soul). 
Brahmam and Sakti.

VII.  Brahmam.  The emanation from the absolute,
                                   &c. (or pure spirit.)

Before proceeding to examine these nature of these seven entities, a few general explanations are indispensably necessary.

I. The secondary principles arising out of the combination of primary principles are quite different in their nature from the entities out of whose combination they came into existence.  The combinations in question are not of the nature of mere mechanical juxtapositions, as it were.  They do not even correspond to chemical combinations.  Consequently no valid inferences as regards the nature of the combinations in question can be drawn by analogy from the nature [variety?] of these combinations.