Talk:Brahman as the Origin and Support of the Universe
By Sri Vishal Agarwal
Brahman as Īśvara creates and sustains the universe.
- “Just as a spider exudes and then withdraws the web filament, just as herbs emerge from the earth, and just as hair grows from the head and body of a living person, in the same way, this entire universe emerges from the Indestructible.” Atharvaveda, Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.1.7
- “This Supreme Brahman is the support of all forefathers (Pitṛs) and Yama. He is the support of Varuṇa, the twin Aśvins, Agni, Marut and all beings in between (the Pitṛs and the Devas).” Yajurveda, Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 1.27.19
- “This Ātman is indeed the Bhagavān of all beings, the king of all beings. Just as all the spokes are held together in the hub of a wheel, so in this self are all beings, all Bhagavāns, all worlds, all breathing creatures, and all selves held together.” Yajurveda, Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 2.5.15
- “Earth, water, air, fire, space, mind, intellect and ego – these are the eight divisions of My Prakṛti.” Gītā 7.4
- “But this Prakṛti is lower. Know that different from it is My higher Prakṛti – the individual soul (jīva), by which the universe created from the lower Prakṛti is supported.” Gītā 7.5 [1]
- “Realize this two-fold Prakṛti as the womb of all creatures. I am the origin and the dissolution of the entire creation.” Gītā 7.6
- “I am that which is the seed of all creatures. There is nothing, moving or unmoving, that could exist without Me.” Gītā 10.39
But the infinite and omnipotent uses only a fraction of His power to manage the cosmos:
- “This entire universe is pervaded by My unmanifest form. All beings reside in Me, but I do not abide in them.” Gītā 9.4
- “O conqueror of enemies, there is no end to My divine manifestations. Whatever has been declared by Me is only illustrative of My infinite glory.” Gītā 10.40
- “Whatever being is endowed with glory and vigor, know that it originates from a fraction of My splendor.” Gītā 10.41
- “I support this entire universe, pervading it with a single portion of Myself.” Gītā 10.42
Perspectives on Creation 1. The universe is a līlā (divine play) of Bhagavān, similar to human acts done without selfish motive. 2. The universe is like the breath of Bhagavān. Just as we exhale and inhale naturally, so does Bhagavān project creation and reabsorb it. 3. Some accounts in the śāstra-s state that before creation, Bhagavān realized that He was alone and desired to be many. Creation arose from this will. 4. Creation serves the purpose of the jīva-s. At the end of each cycle, souls carry residual karm that requires fruition. The universe is recreated to allow this process to continue.
Discussion: Why an Imperfect Universe? Humans often perceive flaws in creation, but this reflects limited understanding. When seen as a whole, the universe is complete. The following story illustrates this insight:
Story: Bhagavān Knows Best A traveler rested under a banyan tree and wondered why such a massive tree bore such small fruit. As he pondered, one small fruit fell on his head. Unhurt, he realized that had the tree borne larger fruit, the impact could have been fatal. He concluded that Bhagavān’s arrangement was purposeful and wise.
Discussion: Bhagavān and Evil If Bhagavān is merciful, why is there evil? According to Hindu thought, beings experience the fruit of their own karm. Good deeds lead to favorable results, and bad deeds to suffering. Since every individual has accumulated both good and bad karm, the universe contains both pleasure and pain to allow their fruition.[2]
Interfaith Perspectives In Abrahamic religions, a devil or Satan is often posited as the cause of evil. Hindu dharm does not accept this view, since it would make Bhagavān the creator of the devil and therefore responsible for evil deeds. Instead, Hindu thought maintains that divine and demonic qualities coexist within human beings themselves. Suffering arises from one’s own past karm, not from the will of an external devil.