Before the Multiverse was a movie plot, ancient India had some wild theories. Tap to explore.
Ever feel like there's more to reality than what we see? Ancient sages did too. They didn't settle on one creation story. They imagined many, each a unique window into the cosmic puzzle.
The oldest text, the Rigveda, starts not with an answer, but a question. In the 'Nasadiya Sukta' or Hymn of Creation, it asks what existed before anything. The vibe? Cosmic suspense.
It describes a state beyond existence and non-existence. A self-sustaining 'One' in an ocean of nothingness. Even the gods came later, so they might not know the ultimate secret. (Source: Rigveda)
Another Rigvedic hymn speaks of 'Hiranyagarbha' - a radiant, golden embryo. It floated in primordial waters, holding the potential for everything. The ultimate cosmic seed.
From this golden source, existence unfolded. It became the soul of all beings. Think of it as the universe's own Big Bang, but born from a single, divine spark. (Source: Rigveda)
Perhaps the most iconic story: Lord Vishnu sleeps on a coiled serpent in a timeless, cosmic ocean. The entire universe, with all its galaxies and timelines, is a product of his dream. (Source: Puranas)
From Vishnu's navel, a lotus blossoms. Seated upon it is Brahma, the creator god. When he opens his eyes, a new universe and cycle of time begin, crafted from the fabric of Vishnu's dream.
What if it all hatched? The 'Brahmanda' theory posits the universe began as a colossal, cosmic egg. It contained all matter, energy, and potential. (Source: Brahmanda Purana / Chandogya Upanishad)
When the Brahmanda split, the golden upper half formed the heavens. The silver lower half became the Earth. The mountains, rivers, and stars were all born from its membranes and yolk.
For some, the universe wasn't built; it was performed. In Shaivism, Lord Shiva's 'Tandava'—a powerful, cosmic dance—creates, sustains, and dissolves worlds with its rhythm. (Source: Shaiva Puranas)
Every atom, every pulse of energy, is a beat in this divine dance. Creation is an ongoing performance, and we are all part of its cosmic choreography.
What if the ultimate power was a Goddess? In Shaktism, the Devi, or the Great Goddess, is the source of all. She is the primordial energy from which everything, including the male gods, emerges. (Source: Devi-Bhagavata Purana)
She is the cosmic womb, birthing countless universes from her own being. Creation isn't a separate act; it's an extension of her own limitless, divine essence.
That's the radical idea. Maybe they all are. Each story isn't a rigid fact, but a philosophical perspective. A different way to gaze at the same, awe-inspiring mystery of existence.
These myths teach us that it's okay not to have one single answer. They invite us to embrace complexity and wonder. To find beauty in multiple possibilities, and to keep asking the big questions.