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Some Hindu Theories of Creation

Hindu theories of creation from various scriptures describe: 1) An original eternal, unchanging entity (Mānasa) that gives rise to the elements and principles of creation. 2) The first entity to arise is Mahat, followed by space, then the liquid, heat, and solid elements. From these emerges Brahma. 3) In the beginning there was only darkness and water, on which Vishnu slept. From this emerged an egg containing Brahma, who later divided the egg to create the heavens and earth. 4) Brahma appeared from an egg surrounded by layers of water, light, air, sky, and basic principles, and from this egg all worlds originated.

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90 views2 pages

Some Hindu Theories of Creation

Hindu theories of creation from various scriptures describe: 1) An original eternal, unchanging entity (Mānasa) that gives rise to the elements and principles of creation. 2) The first entity to arise is Mahat, followed by space, then the liquid, heat, and solid elements. From these emerges Brahma. 3) In the beginning there was only darkness and water, on which Vishnu slept. From this emerged an egg containing Brahma, who later divided the egg to create the heavens and earth. 4) Brahma appeared from an egg surrounded by layers of water, light, air, sky, and basic principles, and from this egg all worlds originated.

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Bhatta1946
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Some hindu theories of creation: From Bhrigu Smriti: There is a primeval entity known to the great is as Mnasa.

It is without beginning or end, great, indivisible, not degrading and indestructible. It is said to be unmanifest, eternal, undecaying and unchanging. From it the elements arise and into it they perish. It first gave rise to the great entity Mahat; from mahat arose ksha (space), the entity which holds of all elements From ksha emerged the liquid element; from the liquid element arose heat and the gaseous element. From the combination of the heat and the gaseous element arose the solid element. That self-born [solid element] opened as lotus filled with energy. From the lotus emerged Brahm, the object of the Veda. It is known to have individuality [Ahakra], all elements emerge from its and it is made of the elements. These five elements that arose are verily that Brahm of great energy. From Matsya Purana : In the beginning, there was nothing in the universe. The was only darkness. When the time came for creation to beigin, Vishnu removed the darkness and expaned into three. These three parts came to be known as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The first object that appeared was water and Vishnu slept on this water. Since nara means water and ayana means resting-place, Vishnu is accordingly also known as Narayana. In this water next appeared a golden (hiranya) egg (anda). The egg shone with the radiance of a thousand suns. Inside the egg, Brahma grew from the navel of Vishnu. The egg was golden. Garbha means womb, and since Vishnu appeared inside a golden egg, he is also known as Hiranyagarbha. For a thousand years Brahma stayed inside the egg. He then split the shell into two and emerged out. Heaven (svarga) was made from one half of the shell and the earth from the remaining half. All the land masses, the oceans, the rivers and the mountains, had been inside the egg in embryonic form. Brahma made them manifest. From Padma Purana: Although Brahmaa is omnipresent, still he is known as Brahmaa due to creating the Universe with his Brahm form. First of all, Brahmaa appeared

from an egg. This egg was surrounded by water, the water was surrounded by light, and the light was surrounded by Vaayu (air). Vaayu was surrounded by Aakaash (sky), and the Aakaash was surrounded by Bhoot etc (Taamas Ahankaar). Ahankaar was surrounded by Mahat-Tattwa; and Mahat-Tattwa was surrounded by A-Vyakt (basic nature). It has been told that this egg is the origin of all Lok. From Prashna Upanishad: The Father of Creation (prajapati) desired offspring and performed austerity (tapas) out of which life (prana), or universal energy, and matter (rayi) have come. It thought, The combination of these two will produce creatures in many ways. Thus everything we see is the combination of matter (rayi) and energy (prana). The sun is life, matter is the moon. Matter is all this, whatever is formed and formless. Therefore, whatever is formed is matter. The rising sun pervades the east and fills with energy all the beings that are there. Likewise, when the suns rays fall on the south, the west, the north, the zenith, the nadir, and the intermediate regions, all beings there are energised. Prana is the soul of the universe; it is the light that animates and illumines everything

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