All religions have tried to explain the cosmic narrative of how the universe we live in came into existence and how we came to inhabit it. Most religions attribute the creation of the universe and everything else that is incomprehensible to a creator god who lives in a different plane of existence in the skies, in heaven. However, one creation story from the Nasadiya Sukta in Rigved the oldest book of the Vedas contemplates a time before god.
Nasadiya Sukta, popularly known as the Hymn of Creation, talks about the creation of the universe and cosmology. It is the 129th hymn in the tenth mandala of the Rigved. The first verse of the Nasadiya Sukta states, “There was neither non-existence nor existence then.” It contemplates how the universe came into existence and does not come to any definite answers. However, it concludes that even gods came later into being and the supreme Brahman may or may not know the answer. If not, no one knows.
Followers of two of the most prominent Abrahamic religions of the world believe that the universe was created within six days. On the first day, the light was created, on the third day, the sky and the Sun, Moon and stars on the fourth day. Another Abrahamic religion teaches that the earth was created in two days, while god spent two days placing mountains and two more to create the stars and heavens.
Followers of these organized religions are expected to believe and follow the set of rules and conditions given in the sacred text. Those who go against the texts are deemed to be heretics and apostates. Thereby, believers are deliberately taught not to use their power of reasoning. In contrast, the Nasadiya Sukta begins and ends with contemplation regarding the existence of the universe.
It gives a different perspective as compared to other Abrahamic and Hindu creation myths by asking, “How can anyone know how the universe came into being” as even god came into existence after the universe. It does not talk about god creating the earth, light, animals, and so on but instead makes one wonder about the mysteries of cosmic reality. Therefore, calling Nasadiya Sukta the Hymn of Creation might be misleading.
Nasadiya Sukta gives us a view of the complex thought of the ancient Vedantic philosophy. It is an excellent example of sceptical enquiry espoused by the Advaita Vedanta and Nastik schools of thought. The contemplative nature of the Nasadiya Sukta is a fresh breath of air when compared to the dogmatic nature of religious philosophies and atheism when considering that the blind rejection of god is similar to blind acceptance of god.
How does Nasadiya Sukta reflect the themes of the Upanishads?
The Upanishads were later additions to the Vedas and are known to mark the transition from archaic ritualism of the Vedas to what is referred to as the highest purpose of the Vedas. The primary concepts of the Upanishads deal with philosophy and consciousness to understand the relation between cosmic realities, the human body, atman and Brahman.
Some commentaries on the Nasadiya Sukta believe it does not describe the state of nothingness but the state of being one. Brahman, the supreme being/energy, always existed but was hidden by Maya. However, the karmic imbalance between Brahman and Maya lead to the creation of the universe. The central goal of human existence is to restore balance in order to achieve a sense of oneness with the timeless, spaceless and absolute i.e Brahman.
Who wrote Nasadiya Sukta?
Vedas are a collection of hymns and poems that were revealed to Ancient Vedic Rishis after intense meditation. The exact Rishi who wrote the Nasadiya Sukta is not known.
Nasadiya Sukta: The Vedic hymn of creation
nāsa̍dāsī̱nno sadā̍sītta̱dānī̱m nāsī̱drajo̱ no vyo̍mā pa̱ro yat |
kimāva̍rīva̱ḥ kuha̱ kasya̱ śarma̱nnaṁbha̱ḥ kimā̍sī̱dgaha̍naṁ gabhī̱ram ||1||
There was neither non-existence nor existence then; Neither the realm of space nor the sky which is beyond; What covered all? What sheltered? What concealed? Was it the cosmic water’s fathomless abyss?
na mṛ̱tyurā̍sīda̱mṛta̱ṁ na tarhi̱ na rātryā̱ ahna̍ āasītprake̱taḥ |
ānī̍davā̱taṁ sva̱dhayā̱ tadekaṁ̱ tasmā̍ddhā̱nyanna pa̱raḥ kiñca̱nāsa̍ ||2||
Then there was neither death nor immortality nor was there a definite confine between day and night. The One breathed breathlessly by itself. There was that One then, and there was no other.
tama̍ āasī̱ttama̍sā gū̱ḻhamagre̍’prake̱taṁ sa̍li̱laṁ sarva̍mā i̱daṁ | tu̱cchyenā̱bhvapi̍hitaṁ̱ yadāsī̱ttapa̍sa̱stanma̍hi̱nā jā̍ya̱taika̍ṁ || 3 ||
At first, there was only darkness wrapped in darkness. In gloom profound, cosmic water without light. That One which came to be, enclosed in nothing, arose at last, born from the fervent heat.
kāma̱stadagre̱ sama̍varta̱tādhi̱ mana̍so̱ reta̍ḥ pratha̱maṁ yadāsī̍t |
sa̱to bandhu̱masa̍ti̱ nira̍vindan hṛ̱di pra̱tīṣyā̍ ka̱vayo̍ manī̱ṣā ||4||
In the beginning, the desire arose from it- that was the primal seed and germ of spirit. The sages who have searched their hearts with wisdom. Discovered the bond between being and non-being.
ti̱ra̱ścīno̱ vita̍to ra̱śmire̍ṣāma̱dhaḥ svi̍dā̱sī 3 du̱pari̍ svidāsī 3 t |
re̱to̱dhā āa̍sanmahi̱māna̍ āasantsva̱dhā ā̱vastā̱tpraya̍tiḥ pa̱rastā̍t ||5||
Their ray of light transverses the severed darkness. What was above, and what was below? Creative beings and vital power were there. Below was strength, and over it was the impulse.
ko a̱ddhā ve̍da̱ ka i̱ha pra vo̍ca̱tkuta̱ āajā̍tā̱ kuta̍ i̱yaṁ visṛ̍ṣṭiḥ |
a̱rvāgde̱vā a̱sya vi̱sarja̍ne̱nāthā̱ ko ve̍da̱ yata̍ āaba̱bhūva̍ ||6 |
But, after all, who knows the secret, and who can say Whence it all came, and how creation sprang? The Gods themselves came later into being, so who knows truly whence this great creation sprang?
i̱yaṁ visṛ̍ṣṭi̱ryata̍ āaba̱bhūva̱ yadi̍ vā da̱dhe yadi̍ vā̱ na |
yo a̱syādhya̍kṣaḥ para̱me vyo̍ma̱ntso a̱ṅga ve̍da̱ yadi̍ vā̱ na veda̍ || 7 ||
That, whence all this great creation came, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not. The Highest Seer, he knows — or perhaps even he does not know.
Conclusion
A look into the Nasadiya Sukta offers a unique perspective on human existence. The contemplative nature of the hymn stands as testimony to the thought-provoking perspective of the Vedic Rishis regarding the creation and dissolution of the universe. Understanding Nasadiya Sukta offers an insight into the depth and complexity of ancient Indian philosophy and encourages us to question our beliefs about the purpose of existence.