Mulaprakriti; It is the “stuff” from which matter (physical matter, astral matter, etc.) is made. Mulaprakriti is often described as “root-matter” in the literature, which can be confusing. Saying that Mulaprakriti is root-matter can leave a person asking, “What is root-matter?”

Mulaprakriti is that which matter (physical matter, astral matter, etc.) comes from. Mulaprakriti, then, is the foundation upon which physical atoms is constructed. It is this idea of Mulaprakriti as a foundation that gives us the idea of it being a root. It is this root which gives forth matter, so this is where the term root-matter comes from.

Geoffrey Barborka describes Mulaprakriti as pre-cosmic root-substance. (Perhaps the phrase “pre-cosmic pre-matter” could also be used, indicating a “substance” that existed even before our Universe was created, a “pre-matter” that physical matter comes from.) Here is Geoffrey Barboka's quotation.

“... Mulaprakriti signifies pre-cosmic root substance, hence substance prior to differentiation — that from which Spirit and Matter originate.” (Geoffrey Barborka, Secret Doctrine: Questions and Answers, pages 113-114)

This quotation gives us another aspect of Mulaprakriti — it is that from which Spirit and Matter originate, and it pre-dates the appearance of Spirit and Matter in our Universe.

This quotation also brings up the concept of Differentiation. Before our Universe began, before there was any Spirit or Matter, everything was “undifferentiated”. Mulaprakriti, by its very nature, was undifferentiated at that time, and continues to be undifferentiated. At the beginning of our Universal Manvantara, an event called Differentiation occured, which is when Spirit and Matter appeared. This appearance of Spirit and Matter are part of the beginning of our Universe.

Here is another quotation from Geoffrey Barborka on the definition of Mulaprakriti.

“Pre-Cosmic Root-Substance ... conveys the meaning of the Sanskrit word Mulaprakriti, which is a Vedantic term. Mulaprakriti is a compound, formed of mula, meaning ‘root’ and prakriti, itself a compound, pra meaning ‘before’ and kriti from the verbal root kri, to do, the same root from which karma is derived, literally, ‘that which makes before’, hence originating source, originating substance, but generally rendered nature, or ‘matter,’ or ‘substance.’ Mulaprakriti, then, or Pre-Cosmic Root-Substance, may well be regarded as the fount and origin of the substance-side of the manifested universe.... Mulaprakriti is ... non-manifestable. When there is a separation of Spirit and Matter ... Matter is in manifestation [and] differentiation has occured.” (Geoffrey Barborka, The Divine Plan, page 488)

Mulaprakriti as the source of every phenomenon, whether physical, mental or psychic.

“Root-nature is ... the source of the subtile invisible properties in visible matter. It is the Soul, so to say, of the ONE infinite Spirit. The Hindus call it Mulaprakriti, and say that it is the primordial substance, which is the basis of the Upadhi or vehicle of every phenomenon, whether physical, mental or psychic.” (H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, vol. I page 35)