[ 8 | sun alone which is the source and cause, direct or indirect, of all such things. But hero is one excoption. Ether (or space) is independent of the sun. It has existed elernally from the beginning of days. Evon before the emergence of the sun, the aloms (or electrons) which are lhe essential malerial of this phenominal world existed in the form of nebular darkness; and they will continue to exist in the same form when this visible world of phenomena has passed away. To the outer seeming of sense this sky (eher) Inay appoar to be cmpty, but it is the seal and source ol all encrgy and force. Things like the sun could not exist without a sustaining and containing basis ; and hence, ether which sills and porvades ihe infinile spaces of the universe is at once the basis of all things and ihe reflex imago of the Supreme Being. The sun is but the visible manifestalion of that vast, indwelling force (or fire) which is immi.fient in elher. The Supreme Being is invisible to us : we only know Him as Infinite Power and Infinite Wisdom : and we worship him. through ihe great verse of the Gayatri. But, for the bliss and comfort of his worshippers, the Supreme Being manifesis himself as the sun, and hence the Gayatri is applicable equally lo the sun and the Supreme Being. From the beginning of lime, the causal elemenis of all
