How The One Became the many — Remains A Mystery – Even Gods Do Not Have The Answer Says Hindu Scriptures

From Unity to Multiplicity: The Eternal Enigma of Creation - The Mystery of Creation: Unanswered Even by Gods

The question of how the singular essence of existence unfolded into the manifold universe has fascinated sages, scholars, and seekers across millennia. Hindu scripture, particularly the Vedas and Upanishads, confronts this riddle head-on. In the Nasadiya Sukta of the Rigveda (10.129.1–7), the poet reflects on creation and admits that even the devas—celestial beings who themselves emerged after the world—remain uncertain. This candid acknowledgment of mystery elevates the hymn beyond simple cosmogony into profound metaphysical inquiry.

The Enigma of Creation
The Nasadiya Sukta opens by describing a time “when neither existence nor non-existence was,” when “darkness hid in darkness.” From this primeval void, a spark of consciousness—neither entity nor absence—stirred. The hymn then poses the pivotal question: did consciousness bring forth the cosmos, or did matter give rise to awareness? Even the devas, who occupy high realms of being, lack an answer, since they appeared when creation was already in motion. Thus, the Vedic seer embraces uncertainty rather than assert dogmatic certainty.

Symbolism and Meaning
At its heart, the Nasadiya Sukta symbolizes the interplay of the known and the unknown, of light and shadow. Darkness represents unmanifest potential, while the emergence of “that One” hints at the mysterious ground of being—Brahman in later Upanishadic terminology. The hymn’s refusal to definitively name a creator figure underscores a key principle: ultimate reality transcends conceptualization. In this way, the verse encourages humility, curiosity, and reverence for that which lies beyond thought.

Importance in Hindu Thought
This hymn’s candid embrace of mystery has rippled through centuries of spiritual reflection. In the Upanishads, thinkers expanded on the notion of Brahman as the ineffable source of all phenomena, inseparable from Atman, the individual self. Later Vedanta philosophers—Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva—each interpreted this unity-in-diversity differently, yet all acknowledged that human language and mind can only point toward the truth, never encapsulate it fully. For practitioners, the Nasadiya Sukta offers reassurance: seeking is more vital than possessing final answers.

Modern Scientific Perspectives
Intriguingly, contemporary cosmology grapples with similar puzzles. The Big Bang theory describes a hot, dense state from which space, time, and matter expanded. Yet what “banged,” and what preceded it—if “before” even applies—remains beyond empirical reach. Quantum gravity research suggests that spacetime itself may be emergent, akin to waves arising on an ocean’s surface. Like the Vedic poet, modern scientists often admit ignorance when pressed about ultimate origins. This echo across ages highlights a shared boundary where human inquiry meets the mysterious.

Key parallels include:

• Singularity and Void: The cosmic singularity mirrors the Vedic “nothingness,” a realm where conventional notions of being and non-being collapse.

• Emergence: In both frameworks, reality unfolds through stages—particles coalescing into atoms, atoms into molecules, life and consciousness emerging in turn.

• Limits of Language: Just as physics relies on mathematical formalisms that defy intuitive description, the Vedic hymn uses poetic paradox to gesture toward what lies beyond words.

The Role of Devas in the Narrative
By stating that devas themselves were born after the cosmos, the hymn dissolves any hierarchy that might claim privileged knowledge of origins. Devas, often translated simply as “gods,” represent subtle forces and principles governing nature—light, storm, speech, sacrifice—not omniscient creators. Their later appearance reinforces the idea that even towering powers remain students in the school of existence.

Symbolic Resonances in Ritual and Art
This cosmic mystery finds expression in Hindu ritual and iconography. The yajna, or fire sacrifice, symbolizes the transformation of offerings into new forms—fire as the mediator between earth and sky, form and formlessness. Temple architecture, too, reflects the ascent from the profane to the sacred: devotees move from dark ambulatory corridors into the sanctum sanctorum, enacting the journey from unknowing into glimpsed illumination.

Relevance to Modern Life
In an age of data overload and rapid technological change, the humility of the Nasadiya Sukta offers a timely lesson. It reminds us that certain questions—Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the ultimate ground of consciousness?—may resist concrete answers. Accepting this can cultivate patience, wonder, and openness to fresh insights. Whether in scientific labs or meditation halls, the spirit of inquiry remains vital.

Practical Reflections

• Cultivate Wonder: Like the Vedic seer, nurture a sense of awe in everyday life. Observe sunrise, study particle physics, or ponder a work of art without forcing explanations.

• Embrace Uncertainty: Recognize that not knowing can be fertile. Uncertainty often propels creativity, collaboration, and deeper listening.

• Integrate Knowledge: Bridge ancient wisdom and modern science. Let physics and philosophy inform one another, enriching both spheres.

Final Thoughts
The riddle of how the One became the many persists—and perhaps must persist. Both Hindu scripture and modern science trace the outlines of this mystery without sealing it in final words. In acknowledging the limits of understanding, they invite us into a grand conversation that spans ages, traditions, and disciplines. Ultimately, the journey matters more than the destination: the quest itself reveals our shared humanity and our place within the vast tapestry of being.