Creation of the Universe and the Vedas

A concise summary of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 2 Chapter 4

The Supreme Person (Bhagavan) transforms an aspect of his spiritual energy into the material energy called Maya or Prakriti. The Lord is the possessor of many energies (Shakti).

The Lord utilizes his spiritual energies either directly or indirectly through various gods to create, maintain and destroy the Universe; which is made of material energy. The personification of Maya (material energy) is Durga (Maya-Devi).

The Lord through his divine play manages nature’s (Prakriti) three fundamental forces goodness, passion, and ignorance through the qualitative forms of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva respectively.

The divine plays of Lord Hari are incomprehensible. However, he bestows special mercy on Paramahamsas so that they are able to experience and comprehend the deeper meaning of his divine plays. Kuṭīcaka, bahūdaka, parivrājakācārya, and paramahaṁsa are gradual progressive stages in the renounced order of life, sannyāsa. The paramahaṁsa stage of existence is the highest perfectional stage of spiritual values where the person is self-realized and is firmly situated in devotion.

The Lord who is all spiritual indwells in every living being as the Super Soul (Paramatma). Just as the same moon reflects in multiple water bodies, the same Super Soul reflects in every living being. The soul is a part of Super Soul similar to a spark of fire is a part of the fire. The spark possesses the same qualities as the fire but the spark is tiny (anu) but the fire is massive (vibuh).

At the beginning of creation, the Lord created Brahma and re-awakened his memory regarding the creation of the Universe in the heart of Brahma. Brahma creates the material bodies of the living beings which is composed of 16 elements (11 sense organs, earth, air, fire, water, and space).

The Lord injects the souls into these material bodies thus enabling life, while he himself also indwells in those material bodies as the Super Soul.

He instructed the Vedic wisdom (4 Vedas) to Brahma who in turn instructed to Sage Narada. He in his incarnation as Srila Vysadeva compiled the Vedic wisdom for the benefit of humanity.