Shiv Mandir of Atlanta Journal

`Before the sarjan (creation) and after pralaya (disappearance) of the universe, Parmatmais formless, nirgun and indescribable. But after the creation, He has the form, becomes presentand can be described. As He resides in our body, He is present in the Brahmand (universe).At the time of pralaya (great floods), He was not Sat (present) nor Asat (absent). There wasno sky or space. In this situation there was nothing around. No oceans or rivers or earth. In otherwords it was total emptiness. (Rugved: 10-129-1).In our Puran (scriptures), He is mentioned as Narayan (naar+ayan), one who resides in thewater. He is believed to be in yog-nidra during the Maha-Pralalya (torrential floods). From thesethree verses, we come to know that, there was darkness everywhere in the beginning of thecreation. There was no day or night, nothing was visible.First of all, Parmatma, by His own thought, created water and remained there in Yog-nidra(deep meditation). This is explained in detail in our scriptures.In the beginning, Ishvar Brahm thought of creation of the universe. His first creation wasprakash (light). This became the initial cause of creation. Rishis came to conclusion thatParaBrahm is the creator of this Asat Srushti. (Rugved: 10-129-4). First verse of Etareya (another)Upanishad says that, non-other but only Parmatma was present before the creation. He thoughtof creating the non-existing universe himself. Jal and Prakash (Water and light) were created as Hethought. Hiranya-Garbha (Brahmand) was created (same as Big Bang theory). Verse 10, chapter121 of Rigved is called Hiranya-Garbha Sukta. Hiranya-Garbha is called big ball of Gold like fire(Agni). It is like vast gold like huge egg or Brahmand in infinite ocean.It spread all over, and divided into space and material earth.Thus Parmatma created this cosmos and we worship Him and perform Yagna and Hom.(Hiranya-Garbh Sukta). After this Param Brahm Parmatma created earth, Surya-Mandal (solarsystem), stars, and galaxies like Aakash Ganga (milky way).As Newton has postulated that any object in steady state, cannot move unless an externalforce is applied. Maharshi Ved Vyas has proclaimed in Brahm sutra that without any externalforce, motion of the universe (nature) cannot be altered.Hence we can conclude that the relation between atma and the body is the same therelation between creation and Brahm. This Brahmand (universe) is the body of the Parmatma.Parmatma exists in every particle of the universe and Atma also resides in every part of the body.Parmatma is known by many names according to His purpose and function of descending toearth. He incarnates (Avatar) at different times (Yuge Yuge) for different purposes. According toour Shruti, Smruti and Purana (our scriptures), Ishvar can be contemplated or worshiped indifferent forms and names but ultimately He is ONE and ONLY.