The Creation

By means of the knowledge revealed in the timeless Vedantic scriptures, A S Dandekar explains how the world came into being

- A S Dandekar

When we look at the world, we are wonderstruck. Who has created this world? Who is God? How are we related to the world, and how does it function? These are the thoughts that arise in our mind. Our Bharatiya (Indian) sages, or rishi munis, have given deep thought to it. Vedanta philosophy has explained it in these Mahavakyas (great sayings of the Upanishads): Sarvam khaluidam Brahma (Indeed, all is God); Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman); Ayamatma Brahma (This Self is Brahman); Tat twamasi (Thou art That); and Brahmasatya, jagatmithya (Only Brahman is real; the world is illusory).

Everything that we see or experience is an expression of Brahma. I am Brahma, my soul is Brahma, your soul is also Brahma. Brahma is the only truth. The world as we see it is illusory; it is a manifestation of Brahma.

Let us see how this manifestation has taken place. There are four basic factors in the formation of the world:

• Brahma, or God

• Atman

• Chitta, or mind substance

• Prana, or universal energy

The first principle is Brahma, Paramatma, God, The Absolute, Pure Consciousness, or Chaitanya. It is referred to and known by different names. It is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. From this, appeared the Soul, Atman. It is in all forms of living beings. This is what Vedanta terms Ayam Atma Brahma, so also everybody’s Atma is an expression of Brahma. This Atma, which is localized in the mind-body complex is called jiva, or jivatma.

Somebody asked a question to Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa: “If all