Not the Non-Existent [Summary]
Nasdiya Sukta is the hymn of Rig Veda
talks about the creation of the universe. According to it, before the creation
of the universe, there was not any existence of anything. There was no sky, air,
death, immortality, heaven, and hell. Due to the lack of sun and moon, there
was neither night nor day. There was only a deep dark and unfathomed depth of
water.
There is no mention of Brahma as a
creator in the poem but we should connect the hymn with Brahma. Later, in the
heart of Brahma, there arose a feeling to create the universe. Such desire for
the creation of Brahma has been sensed by sages. To make the universe, Brahma
throws important and primal seeds everywhere.
Gods were also created after the
creation so they do not know before the creation of the universe how and when
it was created. At last, in the hymn, there is written that the creator is in
the highest heaven from where he controls each and everything in the universe.
Not the On-Existent [Question Answer]
In the beginning what was or was not there?
Ans: In the
beginning, there was no sky, heaven air, death, any living, and non-living
things but there was only water and dark everywhere.
Why is "chaos" modified by the adjective
"indiscriminated"?
Ans:
"Chaos" is modified by the adjective "indiscriminated"
because before creation, chaos was not only in part but was everywhere.
How can something be "breathless, breathed by its own nature"?
Ans: Something
can be "breathless", breathed by its own nature by the grace of
Brahma.
How is desire defined in the poem Not the On-Existent?
Ans: Desire is
defined in the poem as the primal seed and germ of spirit.
What does "free action" here refer to in the poem Not the On-Existent?
Ans:
"Free action here" may refer to the distribution of the creation of
seeds which equally were spread in above, below and everywhere of universe.
Who knows the mystery of creation?
Ans: Brahma or
holy sage knows the mystery of creation.
Make a list of paradoxical or contradictory statements in the poem. Also,
suggest the function of such statements.
Ans: There are
many paradoxical or contradictory statements such as the god is later than this
universe's invention so that they even do not know when it is created. Before
the creation of the universe, it is void and formless. That one thing,
breathless, breathed by its own nature. Paradoxical or contradictory statements
of such statements make us aware to find the actual ideas so that we can use
our minds and logic whether such ideas are real or false. In such a stage,
readers become instrumental judges of the presented ideas.
This primordial deity did breathe, that is to say, it was alive, but it
needed no air. How do you explain this phenomenon?
Ans: Being an educated reader, I do
not think that there was a deity and God. So, the explanation of whether the
deity breathed or not is a really awkward question to me. If there was the
existence of a deity, then how they can survive without air.
The hymn deliberately puzzles and challenges by raising unanswerable
questions and paradoxes. Discuss.
Ans: The poem is a part of a hymn.
Naturally, hymn fuses superstition and religious faith. Religion talks about
beyond the reality that we cannot see, touch, and feel. So, the poem is a part
of hymn challenges by raising unanswerable questions and paradoxes.
What do you think the poem is: a series of answers or a series of
questions? Give reasons.
Ans: Nasadiya Sukta begins with the
statement: " Then, there was neither existence nor non-existence. "
It ponders when, why, and by whom the universe came into being in a
contemplative tone, and provides no definite answers. Rather, it concludes that
the gods too may not know because they came after creation. The poem uses a
series of answers or a series of questions because the creation of the world is
still mysterious. I think that it is just a guess to say that before the
universe, there is no air, death but only darkness and water.
How can the universe have sprung into existence, that is, how can
something come out of nothing? How can there be a beginning, before which there
was nothing?
Ans: According to Rig Bed, before
creation, there was nothing, except dark and unfathomable water. Once Brahma
got a desire to create but in such creation, there is cause and effect that we
do not know. If we talk about science, it tells us that universe was created
via the Big Bang theory.
Since the Big Bang, the universe has
been expanding. The theory suggests in the early years, everything was made of
gas. This gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, later the gas expanded and cooled.
Over billions of years, gravity caused gas and dust to form galaxies, stars,
planets, and more. The matter that spread out from the Big Bang developed into
everything in the universe.