🌀 Hindu Creation Myth

Nasadiya Sukta (Rigveda 10.129) - The Hymn of Creation:

"There was neither non-existence nor existence then; there was neither the realm of space nor the sky beyond. What stirred? Where? In whose protection? Was there water, bottomlessly deep?

There was neither death nor immortality then. There was no distinguishing sign of night nor of day. That One breathed, windless, by its own impulse. Other than that there was nothing beyond."

Version 1: The Golden Egg (Hiranyagarbha)

Source: Rigveda, Manusmriti, various Puranas

In the beginning, the cosmic waters stirred. From the primordial depths arose the Hiranyagarbha (Golden Egg or Golden Womb) - a luminous sphere containing all potential existence. This egg floated on the cosmic waters for a thousand divine years.

From within the egg, Brahma (the Creator) was born. He split the golden egg in two halves: the upper half became the heavens (dyaus), the lower half became the earth (prithvi). From the egg's components came the mountains, clouds, mist, oceans, rivers, seasons, and all the elements.

Brahma then created the mental-born sons (Prajapatis), the gods (devas), the anti-gods (asuras), humans, animals, plants, and all living beings. From his mind came thought, from his speech came the Vedas, from his breath came the life force. His four faces recited the four Vedas, establishing cosmic order (dharma).

Version 2: Vishnu's Cosmic Dream

Source: Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana

Before creation, Vishnu (Narayana) sleeps on the thousand-headed cosmic serpent Shesha (Ananta), floating on the primordial ocean of milk (Kshira Sagara). This sleep is yoga-nidra - not unconsciousness but cosmic meditation, where the entire universe exists in potential form within Vishnu's consciousness.

When the time comes for creation, a lotus grows from Vishnu's navel. Upon this lotus sits Brahma. Vishnu awakens and empowers Brahma to create. Brahma meditates, and from his meditation emerges the material world, the devas, and all beings. Vishnu then maintains and preserves this creation throughout the cosmic cycle.

At the end of the cycle, Shiva performs the Tandava (dance of destruction), dissolving the universe. All returns to Vishnu, who reabsorbs creation and sleeps once more on the cosmic ocean. After the night of Brahma (equal in length to his day), the cycle begins anew.

Version 3: The Cosmic Sacrifice of Purusha

Source: Rigveda 10.90 (Purusha Sukta)

The cosmic man Purusha, with thousand heads, thousand eyes, and thousand feet, encompasses the entire universe. Though infinite, only one-quarter of Purusha manifests as the visible universe; three-quarters remain transcendent and unmanifest.

The gods performed a cosmic sacrifice (yajna) of Purusha. From this primordial sacrifice came all of creation:

• From his mind came the Moon
• From his eyes came the Sun
• From his mouth came Indra and Agni (gods of thunder and fire)
• From his breath came Vayu (wind god)
• From his navel came the atmosphere
• From his head came the heavens
• From his feet came the earth
• From his ears came the directions

The four varnas (social classes) also emerged: brahmins (priests) from his mouth, kshatriyas (warriors) from his arms, vaishyas (merchants) from his thighs, and shudras (laborers) from his feet. This myth establishes the universe itself as a divine organism.

Version 4: From Brahman Through Maya

Source: Upanishads (Vedanta philosophy)

The absolute reality Brahman - pure consciousness, infinite and eternal - desires to become many: "Eko'ham bahusyam" ("I am one, let me become many"). Through its own power of Maya (cosmic illusion), Brahman manifests as the apparent multiplicity of the universe.

From Brahman emerges space (akasha), from space emerges air (vayu), from air emerges fire (agni), from fire emerges water (apas), from water emerges earth (prithvi). These five elements (pancha mahabhuta) combine to form all material reality.

Crucially, this creation is not "real" in the ultimate sense - the universe is a projection or manifestation of Brahman, like a dream in the cosmic mind. The goal of spiritual practice is to realize that individual souls (Atman) are identical to Brahman, and the apparent separation is illusory.

The Day of Brahma (Kalpa)

During Brahma's day, the universe exists and evolves through 14 Manvantaras (epochs), each ruled by a different Manu. Within each Manvantara are 71 Maha Yugas, and each Maha Yuga contains four yugas (Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali) that progressively decline in righteousness.

The Night of Brahma (Pralaya)

When Brahma's day ends, Shiva dances the Tandava, and the universe dissolves. Fire consumes the earth and lower worlds. Waters flood what remains. All returns to the unmanifest state. Vishnu sleeps on the cosmic ocean, holding all potential existence within his consciousness. This night lasts as long as the day.

The Great Dissolution (Maha Pralaya)

After 100 years of Brahma's life (311.04 trillion human years), even Brahma dissolves back into Brahman. Then comes the Maha Pralaya (great dissolution), where even the highest heavens merge back into the absolute. After an equal period of cosmic rest, a new Brahma is born, and the entire cycle begins anew.