Vedanta is a philosophical system within Hinduism that explores the nature of reality and the self. It is based on the Vedas, which are ancient Hindu scriptures. The concept of the world having no beginning or end (anadi and ananta), and the cycle of creation (srishti), preservation (sthiti), and dissolution (pralaya) being eternal—is indeed a fundamental idea in Vedanta.
According to Vedanta, the ultimate reality (Brahman) is
considered to be without beginning or end, and the manifest world is seen as a
cyclic manifestation of this ultimate reality. The cycle of creation,
preservation, and dissolution is known as the "cosmic cycle" or
"cosmic order" (samsara). This cycle is not just a physical process
but is also seen as a cosmic drama expressing the divine play (lila) of
Brahman.
The process of creation involves the projection of the world
from Brahman, and preservation involves the sustenance and maintenance of the
created world. Finally, dissolution or pralaya involves the withdrawal of the
manifest world back into the unmanifest state, only to be projected again in a
continuous cycle.
This cyclic view of creation is often symbolized by the
image of the cosmic serpent, Ananta Shesha, with its tail in its mouth,
representing the endless cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution.
It's important to note that while Vedanta provides a
metaphysical framework for understanding the nature of reality, different
schools within Vedanta may interpret these concepts in slightly different ways.
Additionally, these ideas are deeply philosophical and can be interpreted in
various spiritual and mystical ways by individuals within the Hindu tradition.