Srishti (Universe) and Brahm
When I look to the Sun and the Moon in the sky, I wonder with many questions in my mind about how this universe was created. What is the original source in creation of this universe? How this world was created? What is the relation between Brahm, individual soul and Super soul (God)? Until we know these secrets and reasons, we may not be able to understand about Moksh or liberation.
As mentioned in our scriptures (Ved, Puran, Upanishad) about Ishvar (god) difficult to be seen or visualize by us. But based on the same scriptures, I am trying to understand the Brahm and creation of the universe.
Ved are spoken by Ishvar and are the oldest scriptures. Hence, as mentioned in chapter 129, verse 1 to 7 of Rugved, it is an humble effort to understand the creation. After the maha-pralay (great floods) there was no creation in the whole universe. Only Ishvar (source) and Shakti, was all over, we call it Param Brahm. It is believed to be above the modes of nature, satva, rajas and tamas (goodness, action and ignorance), smaller than the smallest and greater than the greatest, had no beginning or end. This Shakti is indescribable and cannot be visualized.
By TulsidasIshvar ansh Jiva (soul) avinashi (indestructible). Atma is a fraction of Ishvar and both have same qualities. But as soon as one is born, jiv gets the body form, gets bound by the three gunas (satva, rajas and tamas). As Ishvar is everywhere in the whole universe, same way atma is residing in our body. After the death jiv-atma is free from the triguna, formless and can not be seen or described.
Before the sarjan (creation) and after pralaya (disappearance) of the universe, Parmatma is formless, nirgun and indescribable. But after the creation, He has the form, becomes present and can be described. As He resides in our body, He is present in the Brahmand (universe).
At the time of pralaya (great floods), He was not sat (present) nor asat (absent). There was no sky or space. In this situation there was nothing around. No oceans or rivers or earth. In other words it was total emptiness. (Rugved: 10-129-1).
There was neither mortal creation nor immortal objects. There was no day or night because there were no Sun or Moon. In absence of air, with His own shakti (power), Parbrahm kept breathing and remained awake. There was nothing other than Him or superior to Him. (Rugved: 10-129-2).
There was total darkness all over, before creation of the universe. There was no knowledge of differentiation. There was water allover. Whatever was going to happen was covered by the mode of sat and asat. All pervading Param Brahm appeared out of His penance and assumed form, from being formless. (Rugved: 10-129-3).
In our Puran (scriptures), He is mentioned as Narayan (naar+ayan), one who resides in the water. He is believed to be in yog-nidra during the Maha-Pralalya (torrential floods). From these three verses, we come to know that, there was darkness everywhere in the beginning of the creation. There was no day or night, nothing was visible.
First of all, Parmatma, by His own thought, created water and remained there in Yog-nidra. This is explained in detail in our scriptures.
In the beginning, Ishvar Brahm thought of creation of the universe. His first creation was prakash (light). This became the initial cause of creation. Rishis came to conclusion that ParaBrahm is the creator of this asat srushti. (Rugved: 10-129-4). First verse of Etareya (another) Upanishad says that, non-other but only Parmatma was present before the creation. He thought of creating the non-existing universe himself. Jal and Prakash (Water and light) were created as He thought. Hiranya-Garbha (Brahmand) was created (same as Big Bang theory). Verse 10, chapter 121 of Rigved is called Hiranya-Garbha sukta. Hiranya-Garbha is called big ball of Gold like fire (Agni). It is like vast Gold like egg or Brahmand in infinite ocean. It spread all over, and divided into space and material earth.
Thus Parmatma created this cosmos and we worship Him and perform Yagna and Hom. (Hiranya-Garbh sukta). After this Param Brahm Parmatma created earth, surya-mandal (solar system), stars, galaxies aakash ganga (milky way).
As Newton has postulated that any object in steady state, cannot move unless by an external force. Maharshi Ved Vyas has proclaimed in Brahm sutra that moving universe cannot be altered without any external force.
Hence we can conclude that the relation between atma and the body is the same as relation between creation and Brahm.
