CREATION HYMN from the RIG VEDA

Translation by V. V. Raman, University of Rochester

Not even nothing existed then
No air yet, nor a heaven.
Who encased and kept it where?
Was water in the darkness there?
Neither deathlessness nor decay
No, nor the rhythm of night and day:
The self-existent, with breath sans air:
That, and that alone was there.
Darkness was in darkness found
Like light-less water all around.
One emerged, with nothing on
It was from heat that this was born.
Into it, Desire, its way did find:
The primordial seed born of mind.
Sages know deep in the heart:
What exists is kin to what does not.
Across the void the cord was thrown,
The place of every thing was known.
Seed-sowers and powers now came by,
Impulse below and force on high.
Who really knows, and who can swear,
How creation came, when or where!
Even gods came after creation's day,
Who really knows, who can truly say
When and how did creation start?
Did He do it? Or did He not?
Only He, up there, knows, maybe;
Or perhaps, not even He.



reference

So what does this mean to you, Dan?

you first

it's not one of my favorite upanishads. The meaning: that the universe was created by God. Nothing too surprising there.

To me, it represents a real effort to discuss the limit of ontological thought. I am impressed with it because it shows a deep attempt to understand origin, and in fact reduces 'gods' to effects instead of propping them up as causers (note that it says that 'gods' came after, therby implying that what existed prior to 'gods' was not a 'god'). It shows deep insight into the problem, especially given that it cuts through much of the magical and mythical thinking that permeates much of the vedas.