Essentials of Hinduism - The Creation Of Universe

Essentials of Hinduism

THE CREATION OF UNIVERSE

Just for one convincing reason that all of us enjoy the Paramatma’s priceless gifts to us of this “precious life”, we owe everything to Him. Therefore, my conscience tells me to start the first chapter of this book totally dedicated to the Paramatma. The Vaishnavites refer to the Paramatma by the name of Vasudeva. The Vishnu Purana refers to the Supreme God as Vasudeva. The Shaivites refer to the Paramatma by the name of Mahadeva. The Shiva Purana refers to the Supreme God as Mahadeva. The Smartas are the followers of Smriti or Advaita Sampradaya. One final important fact about the Paramatma is: HE IS ONLY ONE GOD. HE IS THE SATYA (ABSOLUTE TRUTH) – Let us not forget this!

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Paramatma Vasudeva’s lone existence and His initiation of the Universe:

In the Beginning, Paramatma alone existed and nothing apart from Him existed. Paramatma is Beginningless and Endless, was One without a second. He is Omnipresent (present everywhere) and Omniscient (knows everything). By the Infinite Lord’s mere wish, The Prajapati was desirous of Creations. He performed Penance (thought), and after having performed Penance – Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva appeared. Brahma became the Creation God, Vishnu the Protection God, and Shiva the Destruction God. They are known together as the Tri-Murtis.

Brahma’s Creations:

Now, let us focus on the Brahma’s Creation in accordance with the Vasudeva’s guidance. The creations were started using the natural elements of Aakasha, Vayu, Agni, Apah and Prithivi in that order. Akasha is Space, Vayu is Air, Agni is Fire, Apah is Water and Prithivi is the Earth. These five Elements were together known as the Panchabhutas. The Universe was formed using the Panchabhutas.

Yugas, Mahayuga and Kalpa:

The big Question arises in our Mind when this great event happened? It happened 27 Kalpas ago. At present we are into the 28 th Kalpa and in the year 2016, we have passed 5118 years in this current Kali Yuga. There are four (4) Yugas – Satya Yuga (1,728,000 Human-Years), Treta Yuga (1,296,000 years), Dvapara Yuga (864,000 years) and Kali Yuga (432,000 years). These four (4) Yugas are together known as Chatur Yuga or Maha Yuga. Therefore, one (1) Maha Yuga means a total of 4,320,000 Human-years. This 28 th Kalpa is known as the Svetavaraha Kalpa. One Kalpa consists of 1000 Maha Yugas. Prior to the first Kalpa of the very first Creation, our great Paramatma was present in this wide dark Space all by Himself (stated as wide dark space because the Universe did not exist then).

Brahma and Naimittika Pralaya:

One thousand (1000) Maha Yugas or 4,320,000,000 Human-years is equivalent to one day time for Brahma. At the end of this period, Naimittika Pralaya takes place. At this time, only Satya, Tapa, Jana and Mahar Loka remains and all the remaining 10 Lokas that includes our Bhu-Loka (Earth) and Heaven (Suvar-Loka) all gets submerged under water. Now starts Brahma’s night and he sleeps for another 4,320,000,000 Human-years. There is no Creation by Brahma during his night time. Brahma’s one (1) complete day is equal to 8,640,000,000 Human-years. Three hundred sixty days (360 days) is one year for Brahma. Brahma’s age is one hundred (100) years and this works out to 8,640,000,000x360x100 = 311,040,000,000,000 or 311.040 Trillion Human-years. Currently, Brahma is 51 years old.

Manvantaras:

Brahma also Created the Manus. 1000 Maha Yugas is ruled by fourteen (14) Manus. Each Manu’s Period is known as Manvantara and is equal to 71 Maha Yugas. Therefore, one (1) Kalpa calculates to 71x4,320,000x14 = 4,294,080,000 Human years. This is equal to 994 Mahayugas only (4,320,000x994 = 4,294,080,000). Therefore, there is a shortage of 6 Mahayugas. These 6 Mahayugas are said to have been given to other Manus.

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Brahma’s Creations (Continued):

Let us go back to the Universe that Brahma Created. Brahma said, I need inhabitants for the land I just Created. Thus appeared the Jivatma that has all the characteristics of the source, the Paramatma (except the creative skill). However, Jivatma is just the soul. Brahma made seven different kind of bodies to these Souls. The seven different living creations He made were: (1) Demi-Gods alias Devatas (a personage whose Qualities approach the Divine); (2) Humans; (3) Animals; (4) Birds; (5) Crawlers; (6) Amphibiants (the Vertebrates (having back-bones) that adapts to live in Water and on Land); (7) Plants. Thus Brahma Created the Universe and its inhabitants.

Mahavishnu and the Mahapralaya:

This time, let us focus on Mahavishnu. One hundred (100) years of Brahma is equal to one (1) day time for Vishnu. At the completion of 100 years for Brahma, Prakritika Pralaya or the Mahapralaya occurs. At this time, all the fourteen (14) Lokas will be destroyed. Vishnu now sleeps for a time period equal to 100 Brahma years (311.040 trillion Human-years). There is no Creation after this time and Mahavishnu stays all alone for another 100 Brahma years. Vishnu’s one (1) complete day is equal to 622.080 trillion Human-years. When the next morning arrives for Vishnu, He starts a brand new Creation of the Universe with a new Brahma. It is said the next Brahma is Anjaneya. Even though Brahma is given a specific Age, yet, the new Brahma will be really a continuation of the existing Brahma.

Let us go back in time to the very beginning of the Creations. Now comes the very big question in our Mind – when did Mahavishnu start the initial Creation – even prior to our current Brahma’s Life? The answer – the current Brahma is the 7 th Brahma. Six (6) other Brahmas have existed prior to the 7th Brahma and each of them had a Life of 100 years or 311.040 trillion Human years.

Shiva:

Final question to be answered is pertaining the Trimurtis. We have already addressed Brahma, Vishnu and the Creations in detail. Shiva is the last of the Trimurtis. He takes care of the Destruction of the Universe as stated in the very Beginning of this Chapter. He is the Mahadeva or Shiva. Mahadeva has no Beginning and no end.

Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are only different forms of the One and Only Brahman or Paramatma or God. One is not superior to the other. All of them represent the same God only. Only names are different based on their functionality.

The three Great Saints of our Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) are:

1) Adishankara, 2) Ramanuja, 3) Madhvacharya.

Their common beliefs are : Paramatma is the Universal Soul. However, they differed in the following beliefs regarding the Jivatma.

1) Adishankara - Propagated Advaita - Paramatma is the Universal Soul. Paramatma and Jivatma (the Individual Soul) are One and Only One. Supreme Being is Nirguna Brahman, that is, Paramatma has no attributes but just an illumination or light. His followers wear Vibhuti (Sacred Ashes) on their body as their symbol. Consider all deities as manifestation of the Same Divinity. Many worship Lord Shiva as a Linga, though worship of Vishnu as Rama and Krishna, the Divine Mother, Ganesha are also equally popular. Revere all temples and Kshetras, Kashi Temple in Varanasi being one of the most revered Kshetras.

2) Ramanuja - Believed in Vishishtadvaita that is a bridge between the Advaita and Dvaita- Paramatma is the Universal Soul. Paramatma is the Soul and Jivatmas (Individual Souls) are considered as his body. Believed in Saguna Brahman, that is, Paramatma has a form. Followers of Ramanuja have Vishnu as their Deity. His followers consist of : North Sects - wore ‘U’ shaped Thirumann on their body as their symbol; and, South Sects - wore ‘Y’ shaped Thirumann on their body as their symbol. Venkatesha (Balaji) Temple at Thirumala in Andhra Pradesh is one of their principal Temples that represents both the sects.

3) Madhvacharya - Believed in Dvaita, means two - Paramatma and Jivatma are totally different. Paramatma is the Universal Soul. Believed in Saguna Brahman, that is, Paramatma has a form. His followers wore ‘U’ shaped Gobi Chandan on their body as their symbol. Krishna is their Deity and Udipi Krishna Temple in Udipi, Karnataka is one of their principal Temples.

Mount Meru:

Hindus believe that Mount Meru is the center of the Universe. The Puranas consistantly give the height of Mount Meru to be 672,000 miles. It is sacred object because it supports the heavens and the gods. Geographically, it is said to be surrounded by seven concentric Seas. Jambudvipa, the island of Jambu, rests in one of these oceans and Bharatavarsha (the Indian Subcontinent) lies in the South of Mount Meru. The gods reside in the heaven, on the top of Mount Meru surrounded by the sages, celestial beings and the like.

Numbers Clarification:

The western World has numbers in terms of Million, Billion and Trillion. In India, the numbers are stated as Lakhs and Crores. What is the link between them?

1 Million = 1,000,000;

1 Billion = One thousand Million = 1,000,000,000;

One Trillion = One thousand Billion = 1,000,000,000,000.

1 Lakh = 100,000; Therefore, 1 Million = 10 Lakhs.

1 Crore = 1 hundred Lakhs = 100,00,000 = 10 Million = 10,000,000.

Chapter Re-cap:

1) We are enjoying everyday the Paramatma’s priceless Gift of our Body to us. In return, we have to pay Him back for His gift by living a life as prescribed by our Vedas.

2) A very interesting fact should be noted in the Paramatma’s Creations – The Universe was created using the Panchabutas – Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Apah and Prithivi. If we analyze carefully, our Human Body is made up of these Panchabutas too – Akasha is huge Space – we have small Space inside our Body; Vayu – we “breathe in” and “breathe out” the Air; Agni – our stomach has Agni that digests the Food; Apah– there is plenty of Water inside our Body; Prithivi – our Skin will eventually get burned after Death and will turn to ashes.

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This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.

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