Chapter 2.1 - Genesis of the universe

There are references to the creation of the universe in Vedas, Itihasas and Puranas, which are indispensible to the Indian culture. In fact the accounts given in different Puranas are quite different from one another. These differences often cause certain doubts in the minds of people. Details on the views of the Indian Society or Indian Culture regarding the genesis of the universe.

Trigunas or Three Qualities

People generally believe that the basis of the universe is the Trigunas. They are Satvika, Rajasa and Tamasa. The Trigunas are available only in those things which are visible to the eye. All those things that can be seen will also perish one day, sooner or later. Things that don’t perish can’t be seen. Shape is also a quality, but God does not have any shape. Therefore one can say that god is ‘nirguna’. The principle of the nirguna god can be understood by wisdom. But the god principle can never be seen by the eyes of the flesh. The Trigunas have three types of power. They are Power of Wisdom, Power of Action and Power of Meaning. Among this the Power of Wisdom is that of satvaguna, the Power of Action is that rajoguna and the Power of Meaning is that of tamoguna.

The Five Elements

The five qualities of sound, touch, shape, taste and smell come from the divine power that is ‘tamas’. Each of them is described like this. Sound is the quality of the sky. Touch is the quality of air. Shape belongs to Fire. Taste comes from Water and smell is the quality of earth. These are also called the five Fine Principles. When all the five qualities described above and the five Fine Principles merge with the divine power, together they become ‘Tamas’.

Air, the Sun, Pasi, the Ashvini Deities, the Moon, Brahma, Rudra, Kshetraja and the Mind constitute Five Principles. These originate from Satvika with wisdom. It is said that the Five Elements came from the contraction of the Ten Principles. It is when ‘caitanya’ enters these Five Elements that pride is produced. Caitanya alone is often called as ‘AadiNarayana”. Whatever be the case, the Five Elements will always be with fine shine and good qualities. In the sky there is only one quality of ‘sound’. But the air has two qualities–sound and touch. Fire has three qualities sound, touch and shape. Water has four qualities -sound, touch, shape and taste. But earth has all the five elements in it -sound, touch, shape, taste and smell.

The various expressions of the Five Elements are commonly known as ‘Brahmanda”. It is said that there are 84 lakhs of creatures which are part of this Brahmanda.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Devibhagavata Tritiyaskanda