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Creation - SV Ganapathi & Intro

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S Sriram • May 7, 2002 


A granular first cut at the creation question might
result in the following Q's

1. Who created the creator ?
2. How did the creator create the universe ?
3. Why did the creator create/manifest the universe ?
4. What is the origin of karma ?

The questions as discussed would seem to have the
following answers

On Q1. The Vedas do not offer comment
On Q2. The universe evolved from subtle to gross and
all of it and its contents (cit/acit) are a part of
the creator.  The modalities of creation as identified
by physics being the Big Bang.
On Q4. Karma is "beginingless"

On Q3. Two interpretations have been offerred
 1. Leela - The creator created the universe for play
 2. To help jivas break out of their karmic cycle.

Section 7(c) of the Introduction to the Sama Veda by
S.V. Ganapathi. enclosed below seems to suggest a
possible third answer to Q3.

I would appreciate any elaboration/explanations on the
theory proposed below.

---Begin Quote
sAma vedA By S.V.Ganapathi
Introduction
Section 7 - Evolution according to sAma VedA

(c) Ideas are only Objective States of Creator

Since there was only the creator present, he had
himself to play the role of object. Intelligence in
activity creates only ideas and these formed his
objective states. But when he is an object there is no
subject and when he next resumes his role of subject
there is no object at that instant. During this
actiity several gods or Devas appeared on the scene.
In the first place appeared the Asvins with their twin
arms, along one arm of which he passed on to be an
object which he deposited in himself, as he was
present all over, and returned by the other arm of the
Asvins to resume his subjective role.  This activity
spelt out two new ideas namely, (1) The sense of
differentiation and (2) the sense of touch by which
the objective states were constantly recharged. These
two functions form part of the seven-pronged or -armed
activity of Vaisvanara called also simply Activity or
the seven celestial rivers, the other arms being the
other four sense perceptions and speech. And now an
activity once initiated is repeated again and again to
confirm the object unshakeably. This role of repeating
activities was taken over by Rta. And now, from what
we said above the object of the creator to know
himself is not realised as this entails the
simultaneous presence of both subject and object which
however is not possible as it stands. So the creator
was committed to unending activity which persisted
even in the manifestation process.
---End Quote
(Note: Punctuation, grammar and text are a verbatim
copy of the 1992 reprint)

Thank you,
Srinivasan Sriram

An Introduction - I am a new member, a first time
poster and a periodic lurker of this list. I am
interested in the principles of Vedic philosophy and
its everyday applications.  I reside in California
(Bay Area).


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