Ramana Maharshi Confirms "Bhramarakita Nyaya" Belief

Meanings of few technical terms in the article

grub - A soft thick wormlike larva of certain beetles and other insects

hives - A structure that provides a natural habitation for bees; as in a hollow tree

wasp - Insects having two pairs of membranous(similar) wings and an ovipositor(organ) specialized for stinging(biting) or piercing

offal - Viscera and trimmings of a butchered animal often considered inedible by humans


Talk 592.

The Punjabi gentleman referred to the popular belief of a worm being metamorphosed to a wasp (bhramarakita nyaya) which Sri Bhagavan had mentioned to the ladies in the course of conversation yesterday.

Sri Bhagavan recalled some interesting reminiscences:

“I had previously heard of this bhramarakita nyaya. After I came to Tiruvannamalai, when I was staying in Gurumoortham, I noticed a red wasp construct a hive in which it placed five or six grubs and then flew away. My curiosity was roused and I wanted to test the truth of the oftquoted nyaya. I waited some days, maybe ten days. I then tapped the hive. It broke and there I found that all the five or six grubs had united
together and taken the shape of a wasp, but it was white.

Later when I was in Virupaksha Cave, I saw a red wasp construct five or six hives in each of which it placed five or six grubs and flew away. After about ten days, a black beetle, smaller than the wasp,buzzed round the hives and closed each of then, with a little black mud and flew away. I was wondering at the intrusion of the beetle
on the hive of the wasp. I waited a few days and then gently opened one of the hives. Five or six black bodies came out and each of them was a black beetle. I thought it strange.

Again when I was in Pachyamman Temple, I saw a red wasp constructing five or six hives on a pillar in the temple. It placed five or six grubs in each of them and buzzed away. I watched it for several days. The wasp did not return. There was no black beetle also.After about fifteen days, I opened one of the hives. All the grubs had united into a white mass of wasp-like form. It dropped down and was stunned by the fall. After a few minutes, it began to crawl. Its colour was gradually changing. In a short time, there were two little specks on its sides which grew into wings as I watched and the full-grown wasp flew away from the ground.

I had also seen the flies carrying tiny grubs on their legs which they deposited on offal. The grubs later flew away as flies.”

D.: They may be eggs laid by the flies.

M.: But they move and struggle and then shape themselves as flies.

Source: Talks With Ramana Maharshi Book

Atma Bodha verse 49 discusses more on this "bhramarakita nyaya"

Verse 49

In order to be liberated while yet alive, the sage should completely avoid the adjuncts (upadhis), and thus gain the real nature of Being-Consciousness-Bliss, like the maggot that turns into a wasp.

Note:

Upadhis are like thinking "i am body", "i am thin", "i am rich", "i am mind".

maggot means(insect) and wasp means (butterfly).Butterfly normally picks one insect and then keeps it in hole and starts bites it.Finally maybe insect also gets butterfly qualities and starts flying.

AtmaBodha Pravacham By Sri Sundara Chaitanya Swami Volume15 gives more details regarding this verse.