Cosmogony
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
Whereas cosmology focuses on the properties/laws of the universe, cosmogony explores the mythic origins. Within the same Sanatan scripture—Rig Veda—exist multiple stories of how the universe came into being. The scripture itself declares[1] that there the truth is 1 but people describe it in various ways.
There are many stories of the universe's creation across Sanatan texts and oral folk traditions but the fundamental 7 chronicles are found in the RV:
- Hiranyagarbha Sukta
- Vak Sukta
- Nasadiya Sukta
- Aghamarshaṇa Sukta
- Devagana Sukta
- Vishwakarman Suktas
- Purush Suktha
- Table elaborating creation hymns
- See also: Universe as Aparabrahm
| Hymn | Alias(es) | Origin | Principle | Corresponding Upanishadic reference |
Upanishadic principle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiranyagarbha Sukta[1][2] | Ka Sukta, Parmātma Sukta, Prajapati Sukta |
Golden egg-womb | Brahmānda, the universal 'egg' we are all within | ||
| Vāk Sukta[3][4] | Devi Sukta | Creation through sound (mantra) | |||
| Nāsadiya Sukta[5][6] | Parmātma Sukta | That One | Nārāyan Sukta | Cosmic consciousness | |
| Aghamarshana Sukta[7][8] | Bhavavṛtta Sukta | Creation through cosmic sound (mantra) and order | Cosmic order & desire | Śri Devi | Radiant spark of abundance |
| Devāgāna Sukta[9][10] | Aditi-Daksha Sukta, Devā Sukta, Devānām Jānā Sukta |
Mantra (forged by Brahmaṇaspati) | Material emergence | Bhu Devi | Concrete physical Earth matrix, Aditi-Daksha paradox |
| Vishwakarman Suktas[11][12][13][14] | Dhātar Suktas | Blacksmith's forge | Architectural support | Nila Devi | Spatial scaffold of cosmic stability |
| Purush Sukta[15][16] | Yajna Sukta | Purusha self-sacrifice |
Related articles[edit]
External resources[edit]
- "The Three Forms of God – Viraat, Hiranyagarbha and Avyakrita" (May 31, 1991), Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality in Brindavan, Karnataka
- "Cosmogonies in the Vedic Samhitas" (June 23, 2008)
- "Universally Accepted Concept of Creation in Hinduism: Rig Veda and Upanishads" By Abhilash Rajendran
- "Purusha Suktam: Complete Guide to the Cosmic Hymn from Rig Veda 10.90" (May 28, 2026)
- "The Hymn of Creation: Nasadiya Sukta"
- "Rigveda Nasadiya Sukta (The Hymn Of Creation)"
References[edit]
- ↑ Rig Veda 1.164.46