The scriptures of the world describe and enumerate CREATION in many ways.
In the Upanishads, it is indicated in four different ways.
- TRIVIT KARANA or PANCHE KARANA;
Threefold or fivefold process of creation. - SRISTI DRISTI VADA; Creation first followed by perception.
- DRISTI SRISTI VADA;
When perception occurs, creation transpires simultaneously. - AJATA VADA;
The theory of NON-CREATION. NO Creation at all
All four are acknowledged.
But, we have to put them in their proper perspective.
First of all there is creation.
This is such a wonderful, remarkable universe which defies even our imagination in its wondrous rhythm.
It is a beautiful COSMOS and not a chaos.
Hence it came first, and all the beings including the gods and the demi-gods came later to be in the creation and perceive it.
This is SRISTI DRISTI VADA.
Creation first, perception later.
Then the PANCHE KARANA – the fivefold process explains the process of creation, one following the other.
The Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka, and Taittiriya Upanishad make reference to this sequence;
From the ATMAN transpired SPACE.
From SPACE came AIR.
From AIR came FIRE.
From FIRE came WATER.
From WATER came EARTH.
From EARTH came PLANTS and HERBS.
From PLANTS and HERBS came FOOD.
AND from FOOD came MAN.
This is the creation of MAN in the Universe.
Then having created Man, another Upanishad mentions, God ordered all the gods to enter into their respective spheres of influence and position.
Thus the various gods were positioned in the body, to exercise their respective spheres of influence over various limbs and organs of the body.
Then God did one more thing.
He said, without me, they cannot exist and be.
Hence HE entered every being in the Universe.
WITH THIS ACT OF HIS, THE CREATION WAS COMPLETE.
Now, it is left to man to find out “WHERE” God entered.
So that mortal man can be IN TUNE WITH GOD.
That is WHY, when Jesus was born, the three wise men went looking for the new born babe, asking “WHERE” is he who is born to be the king?
The word “WHERE” has a mystic significance.
It signifies not only the person, but also the place where, one can be in tune with God.
Thus it should be noted, that the New Testament is a text on mystic spiritual wisdom, and should be so studied to be enriched with its wisdom.
“WHERE” is that good noble righteous man? And “WHERE” should he be, in order to become the king?
The king’s domain is the whole Earth. The Universe.
In which he shall reign for everlasting life.
His kingdom is not of this world.
The above five statements figuratively and allegorically imply a state of eternal existence of heavenly being-ness within.
That is why it is stated “The Kingdom of Heaven is within”
Within one is the Kingdom.
So it is not a physical Kingdom.
Therefore the statements of Jesus in the Gospels are not to be understood literally.
Jesus came to show the way to his Father.
The Father of Creation.
The one who fathered the creation.
He did not come to propound a religion.
But to show the way to God.
God is the central theme of the scriptures.
And the problem is, that man does not know that God is within him.
Resides within him all along.
When Michelangelo the great Italian sculptor was asked, how did he sculpture such great works of art. He replied; when he saw a discarded block of marble. It, so to say spoke to him.
“I AM HERE, BRING ME OUT”
So all I did was, chipped a little here and there, and out emerged what you see.
So here too, when you chip out your roughness and your angularities and become a beautiful soul the God within, would manifest to you.
So if God is within you, then you and God are one.
FATHER in ME, and I in the FATHER.
The scripture is trying to bring out this profound Truth.
Therefore, creation was so enumerated, to bring out this Truth.
And thus, the Hindu scripture, the Upanishad says, God so entered his creation.
To be figured out.