Before passing on to the inferior deities, an account of the creation will be given. It is not at all easy to make out a consistent one from the scriptures, because the imaginations of the writers seems to have run wild on this subject; not having authority, each writer has written what seemed good to himself. The following hymn from the rgveda describes the primal conditions of things before the creative power of the Deity was exercised – There was neither aught nor naught, nor air, nor sky beyond. What cover all? Where rested all? In watery gulf profound? Nor death was then, nor deathlessness, nor change change of night and day. The one breathed calmly, self- sub stained; nougat else beyond it lay. Gloom, hid in gloom, existed first- one sea, eluding view. That one, a void in chaos wrap, by inward fervor grew. Within it first arose desire, the primal germ of mind, which nothing with existence links, as sages searching find. The kindling ray that shot across the dark and dear abyss- was it beneath? Or high aloft? What bard can answer this? There fecundating powers were found, and mighty forces strove- A self- supporting mass beneath, and energy above. Who knows, who ever told, from whence this vast creation rose? No gods had then been born- who then can the truth disclose? Whence sprang this world, and weather framed by hand divine or no- Its lord in heaven alone can tell, if heaven alone can tell. This hymn contains perhaps the earliest speculations of the Hindus respecting the creation that have come down to us; and the wise conclusion was arrived at the God alone knew how the world came into being. But as time went on this confession of ignorance did not satisfy the cravings of the human mind hence succeeding ages sought by its conjectures, which are given with the assurance of exact knowledge, to throw light upon the unknowable.
No comments:
Post a Comment