They are two aspects of One Reality, called differently in different traditions as Existence and Consciousness, Ishwara and Shakti, Brahman and Maya. Prakash is the luminous self existent Truth that is the stable basis and origin of everything. But how does this Reality or Truth knows its own existence? How does God know Himself? . It knows itself by its own power of knowing. And how does It or God or Ishwara know this world? Again by Its power of differentiation. And how does God act in the world, creates the worlds and fills them each with innumerable forms and names? Again by the same power of differentiation through which numberless forms are built with numberless qualities out of the Infinite Truth. This power of the Self, the power of Knowledge through which the Divine knows Himself and the World, and the power to create, execute, order, organise, arrange, preserve and destroy is Vimarsh.
Prakash without Vimarsh is like a mighty king who is in deep sleep and hence lying like a helpless child. Or it is like a log of wood that has not been ignited. Or like baby that is yet to be born. Or like the white light with all the potential colours hidden within it. Or like a musical instrument without a musician to play upon it. Or like a wise man who has forgotten everything he knew. Or like a strong man whose strength is taken away from him. Prakash and Vimarsha, Existence and Consciousness, Ishwara and Shakti fulfil each other. Without the former the latter would not even exist. Without the latter, the former will be unmanifest, lifeless, inert, like a stone yet to be carved into an idol of God or a blank canvas yet to be filled with figures and colours.
