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Creation of the Universe (Samskrit: सृष्ट्युत्पत्तिः) has been discussed in the [[Bharatiya Samskrtika Parampara (भारतीयसांस्कृतिकपरम्परा)|bharatiya knowledge tradition]]. [[Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)|Vedic literature]] provides information on many things related to the origin of creation. This article explores the vedic explanations on the creation of the universe, hymns related to the same as well as the features of the ultimate reality resposible for the creation of the universe as discussed in the [[Vedas (वेदाः)|Vedas]].<ref name=":4">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-1.pdf Chapter 1]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref>

Creation of the Universe (Samskrit: सृष्ट्युत्पत्तिः) has been discussed in the [[Bharatiya Samskrtika Parampara (भारतीयसांस्कृतिकपरम्परा)|bharatiya knowledge tradition]]. [[Vaidika Vangmaya (वैदिकवाङ्मयम्)|Vedic literature]] provides information on many things related to the origin of creation. This article explores the vedic explanations on the creation of the universe, hymns related to the same as well as the features of the ultimate reality resposible for the creation of the universe as discussed in the Vedic literature.<ref name=":4">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-1.pdf Chapter 1]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref>

== विराट्पुरुषः ॥ Primordial Being ==

== विराट्पुरुषः ॥ Primordial Being ==

== त्रैतम् ॥ Triad ==

== त्रैतम् ॥ Triad ==

According to the [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]], three major elements are mentioned in the creation process<ref name=":4" /> as follows: <blockquote>बालादेकमणीयस्कमुतैकं नेव दृश्यते । ततः परिष्वजीयसी देवता सा मम प्रिया ॥२५॥<ref name=":0">Atharvaveda, Kanda 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AE Sukta 8]</ref>

According to the [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]], three major elements are mentioned in the creation process<ref name=":4" /> as follows: <blockquote>बालादेकमणीयस्कमुतैकं नेव दृश्यते । ततः परिष्वजीयसी देवता सा मम प्रिया ॥२५॥<ref name=":0">Atharvaveda, Kanda 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AE Sukta 8]</ref> bālādekamaṇīyaskamutaikaṁ neva dr̥śyate । tataḥ pariṣvajīyasī devatā sā mama priyā ॥25॥</blockquote>It means that there is an element which is more subtle than the subtle hair and is unique. This a metaphor for an organism. The second element is so subtle that it is irresistible. This is the metaphor for subtle invisible nature. While the third element is the one in which nature is embraced. And that is the omnipotent Supreme Power, the beloved deity.<ref name=":4" />

 

bālādekamaṇīyaskamutaikaṁ neva dr̥śyate । tataḥ pariṣvajīyasī devatā sā mama priyā ॥25॥</blockquote>It means that there is an element which is more subtle than the subtle hair and is unique. This a metaphor for an organism. The second element is so subtle that it is irresistible. This is the metaphor for subtle invisible nature. While the third element is the one in which nature is embraced. And that is the omnipotent Supreme Power, the beloved deity.<ref name=":4" />

== सृष्टिप्रक्रिया ॥ Process of Creation ==

== सृष्टिप्रक्रिया ॥ Process of Creation ==

According to Prajapati Parmeshthi in the Nasadiya Sukta of the Rigveda, in the early period of creation, there was a substance in liquid state from which the creation has taken place. It is said that the primordial being breathed due to its own inherent powers. That is, no one had power other than that one.<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>आनीदवातं स्वधया तदेकं तस्माद्धान्यन्न परः किं चनास॥२॥<ref name=":1">Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF Sukta 129]</ref> ānīdavātaṁ svadhayā tadekaṁ tasmāddhānyanna paraḥ kiṁ canāsa॥2॥</blockquote>It further states that before the creation of the universe, there was initially just darkness covered with darkness. And there was only that liquid.<ref name=":4" />  <blockquote>तम आसीत्तमसा गूळ्हमग्रेऽप्रकेतं सलिलं सर्वमा इदम् ।<ref name=":1" /> tama āsīttamasā gūlhamagre'praketaṁ salilaṁ sarvamā idam।</blockquote>In conclusion, there is a moving fluid which made creation possible. That primordial substance is akin to an atom. For, atoms behave like a liquid due to being too subtle. And then it transforms in the form of water - salilaṁ sarvamedam.

According to Prajapati Parmeshthi in the Nasadiya Sukta of the Rigveda, in the early period of creation, there was a substance in liquid state from which the creation has taken place. It is said that the primordial being breathed due to its own inherent powers. That is, no one had power other than that one.<ref name=":4" /><blockquote>आनीदवातं स्वधया तदेकं तस्माद्धान्यन्न परः किं चनास॥२॥<ref name=":1">Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%AF Sukta 129]</ref> ānīdavātaṁ svadhayā tadekaṁ tasmāddhānyanna paraḥ kiṁ canāsa॥2॥</blockquote>It further states that before the creation of the universe, there was initially just darkness covered with darkness. And there was only that liquid.<ref name=":4" />  <blockquote>तम आसीत्तमसा गूळ्हमग्रेऽप्रकेतं सलिलं सर्वमा इदम् ।<ref name=":1" /> tama āsīttamasā gūlhamagre'praketaṁ salilaṁ sarvamā idam।</blockquote>In conclusion, there is a moving fluid which made creation possible. That primordial substance is akin to an atom. For, atoms behave like a liquid due to being too subtle. And then it transforms in the form of water - salilaṁ sarvamedam. According to Rishi Madhucchanda in the Rigveda, Almighty created the complete space from water. Then appeared time, era and calculation from the space and then the Supreme power created day and night.<ref name=":4" /> After that, the mighty Supreme being created [[Surya (सूर्यः)|the sun]], the moon, [[Dyurloka (द्यु्र्लोकः)|the dyuloka]], [[Prthvi (पृथ्वी)|the earth]], the space and the Sukhaloka respectively.<ref>Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_IV/#book/593 Volume 4]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref><blockquote>ततो रात्र्यजायत ततः समुद्रो अर्णवः ॥१॥ समुद्रादर्णवादधि संवत्सरो अजायत । अहोरात्राणि विदधद्विश्वस्य मिषतो वशी ॥२॥  

 

According to Rishi Madhucchanda in the Rigveda, Almighty created the complete space from water. Then appeared time, era and calculation from the space and then the Supreme power created day and night.<ref name=":4" /> After that, the mighty Supreme being created [[Surya (सूर्यः)|the sun]], the moon, [[Dyurloka (द्यु्र्लोकः)|the dyuloka]], [[Prthvi (पृथ्वी)|the earth]], the space and the Sukhaloka respectively.<ref>Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_IV/#book/593 Volume 4]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref><blockquote>ततो रात्र्यजायत ततः समुद्रो अर्णवः ॥१॥ समुद्रादर्णवादधि संवत्सरो अजायत । अहोरात्राणि विदधद्विश्वस्य मिषतो वशी ॥२॥  

सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ धाता यथापूर्वमकल्पयत् । दिवं च पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षमथो स्वः ॥३॥<ref name=":3">Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 190]</ref>

सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ धाता यथापूर्वमकल्पयत् । दिवं च पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षमथो स्वः ॥३॥<ref name=":3">Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 190]</ref>

* Sky: The sky has been considered to be eternal. One of the properties of the sky is 'shabda'. Just as the sky is eternal, so is its property 'shabda' also everlasting.

* Sky: The sky has been considered to be eternal. One of the properties of the sky is 'shabda'. Just as the sky is eternal, so is its property 'shabda' also everlasting.

* Wind: The origin of air is assumed to be from the sky - आकाशाद्वायुः । ākāśādvāyuḥ and is also considered to be eternal like the sky. The air has its own property of touch and the quality of the sky ie. shabda. In this way the two properties of air - touch and word are everlasting.

* Wind: The origin of air is assumed to be from the sky - आकाशाद्वायुः ।<ref name=":5">Taittiriya Upanishad, Brahmananda Valli, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80#%E0%A5%A5_%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%BD%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A5 Anuvaka 1].</ref> ākāśādvāyuḥ and is also considered to be eternal like the sky. The air has its own property of touch and the quality of the sky ie. shabda. In this way the two properties of air - touch and word are everlasting.

* Fire: Fire, also known as teja, is believed to have originated air - वायोराग्निः । vāyorāgniḥ. It has three properties viz. shabda, touch and form. And all three qualities are eternal.

* Fire: Fire, also known as teja, is believed to have originated air - वायोरग्निः ।<ref name=":5" /> vāyoragniḥ. It has three properties viz. shabda, touch and form. And all three qualities are eternal.

* Water: Also known as Ap, the origin of water is assumed to be from agni or fire - अग्नेरापः । agnerāpaḥ. It is everlasting and has four properties viz. shabda, touch, form and taste that are all eternal like itself.

* Water: Also known as Ap, the origin of water is assumed to be from agni or fire - अग्नेरापः ।<ref name=":5" /> agnerāpaḥ. It is everlasting and has four properties viz. shabda, touch, form and taste that are all eternal like itself.

* Earth: It is believed to originate from water. And shabda, touch, form, taste and smell are the five properties of earth.

* Earth: It is believed to originate from water. And shabda, touch, form, taste and smell are the five properties of earth.