The knowledge of ancient cultures

Creations stories of the Bible, Hinduism, the Vedas, Islam and Buddhism

 

Bible creation story, Old Testament (for Judaism, Christianity and Islam)

In Genesis 1:1-24, the work of creation in six days is described (Genesis 1:31 and Exodus 20:11). At the end of the second day, the evening and the morning become the next day, on which the creation of the universe takes place. Man was created on the sixth day because he has a special significance. Because he is the last being to be created in the image and from the matrix of the deity, he should really be the protector and maintainer of creation.

 

Excerpt from Genesis (KJV)

“1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

1:3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

1:4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness. 1:5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was evening and there was morning, one day.

1:6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”

1:7 God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.

1:8 God called the expanse “sky.” There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

1:9 God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.

1:10 God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.

1:11 God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth”; and it was so.

1:12 The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

1:13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

1:14 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;

1:15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth”; and it was so.

1:16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.

1:17 God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,

1:18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.

1:19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

1:20 God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky.”

1:21 God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.

1:22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

1:23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

1:24 God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind”; and it was so.

1:25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.

1:26 God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

1:27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

1:28 God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

1:29 God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.

1:30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.

1:31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

2:1 The heavens and the earth were finished, and all their vast array.

2:2 On the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

2:3 God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made.

2:4 This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens.”

^{(Bible- III.1)} 

 

Islam

The Q’ran contains the Old Testament creation story in several segments which complement and reinforce each other. Brief excerpts on the subject:

[25:59] He who created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days and then established Himself above the Throne – the Most Merciful, so ask about Him one well informed. […]

[32:4] It is Allah who created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them in six days; then He established Himself above the Throne. You have not besides Him any protector or any intercessor; so will you not be reminded?

[32:5] He arranges each matter from the heaven to the earth; then it will ascend to Him in a Day, the extent of which is a thousand years of those which you count.

[32:6] That is the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might, the Merciful,

[32:7] Who perfected everything which He created.

^{(Koran – III.2)} 

Note: The hidden world is the spiritual world and the visible world is the material world.

 

Hinduism

Hinduism sees the world in cycles of emergence and decay, eternally alternating periods of cosmic manifestation and non-manifestation. Each period is thought to have a day and a night of the creator god Brahma and corresponds to a Yuga cycle of 26,000 years. Thus the eighth chant of the “Bhagavad Gita” says:

“8:17 By human calculation, a thousand ages taken together is the duration of Brahma‘s one day. And such also is the duration of his night. […]

8:18 When Brahma‘s day is manifest, this multitude of living entities comes into being, and at the arrival of Brahma‘s night they are all annihilated. […]

8.19 Again and again the day comes, and this host of beings is active; and again the night falls, O Partha, and they are helplessly dissolved.”

(Bhagavad-Gita – III.3)

 

Note: The hidden world is the spiritual world and the visible world is the material world.

 

The “Srimad Bhagavatam” contains the following:

“Krishna Is the Source of All Incarnations

1.3.1: Suta said: In the beginning of the creation, the Lord first expanded Himself in the universal form of the purusa incarnation and manifested all the ingredients for the material creation. And thus at first there was the creation of the sixteen principles of material action. This was for the purpose of creating the material universe.”

^{(Srimad Bhagavatam – III.4)} 

 

“Creation of the Universal Form. (…)

3.6.4: When the twenty-three principal elements were set in action by the will of the Supreme, the gigantic universal form, or the visvarupa body of the Lord, came into existence.

3.6.5: As the Lord, in His plenary portion, entered into the elements of the universal creation, they transformed into the gigantic form in which all the planetary systems and all movable and immovable creations rest.”

(Srimad Bhagavatam – III.5)

 

The Vedas

Nor is the creation of the world a unique event in the Vedas; creation and dissolution are eternally repeating cycles. They distinguish correctly between the creation of Brahma (spiritual world) and the manifestation of the material elements (material world).

“The Vedas describe the process of creation and the population of the univers in various manners. We shall satisfy ourselves with a simple explanation. The creation of the universe is not a one-time process; creation and destruction are eternal and recur in cycles. Creation can be sub-divided into the manifestation of the material elements and the creation of Brahman.

The highest Lord in His expansion as Maha-Visnu first manifests from His maya-shakti (shadow energy) pradhana (the three gunas sattva, rajas, tamas in unmanifested condition). Stimulated by time (sight of the Lord), from them emerge the three gunas (appearance of material nature – satva, rajas, tamas) and then mahat-tattva, the unmanifested totality of material elements. From them evolved the 24 elements of bodies and the universe through transformation: ahankara (false ego which bring forth the material elements, material knowledge and material activity), manas (mind), buddhi (intelligence),  avyakta the unmanifested condition of prakrti, material nature), the 5 tanmatras (bodily senses), the 5 knowledge absorbing senses, the 5 working senses and the 5 mahabhutas (the grand elements – ether, air fire, water and earth). Ahankara is manifested first., The 5 mahabhutas evolve from the false ego in tamo-guna; the false ego in rajo-guna brings forth the 5 senses with their 5 objects (sound, touch, form, taste, smell).”

^{(Sena Srikanta – III.6)} 

 

Buddhism

Gautama Buddha neither asserted nor denied the creation of the world and the soul by a creator deity. The idea of a creator deity of whatever sort, whether being or abstract principle, is ultimately neglected or treated as a secondary matter in Buddhism. Gautama Buddha himself explained this by pointing out that wrestling with these questions, which are beyond man’s reason, yields no direct progress or enlightenment for present religious life and action. He is known for directing the entire consciousness towards enlightenment and development in the here and now.

 

Creation stories from the ancient cultures of Greece, Egypt, America and Oceania

 

Greek-Hellenic creation

According to Hesiod’s famous and amazingly relevant Theogony, in the beginning there was chaos (emptiness) and pneuma (spirit). From them arose, through Eros (love), the solar system, Helios (the sun) and Gaia (the earth).

 

Egyptian creation myths (Africa)

In the ancient Egyptian cultural centers of Heliopolis, Hermopolis and Memphis, three similar and yet different creation myths were handed down:

“In Heliopolis, the creation was attributed to Atum, a deity closely associated with Ra, who was said to have existed in the waters of Nu as an inert potential being. Atum was a self-engendered god, the source of all the elements and forces in the world, and the Heliopolitan myth described the process by which he ‘evolved’ from a single being into this multiplicity of elements. The process began when Atum appeared on the mound and gave rise the air god Shu and his sister Tefnut, whose existence represented the emergence of an empty space amid the waters. (…) Next, Shu and Tefnut coupled to produce the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut, who defined the limits of the world. Geb and Nut in turn gave rise to four children, who represented the forces of life: Osiris, god of fertility and regeneration; Isis, goddess of motherhood; Set, the god of male sexuality; and Nephthys, the female complement of Set. (…)

These nine gods were grouped together theologically as the Ennead, but the eight lesser gods, and all other things in the world, were ultimately seen as extensions of Atum.

The creation myth promulgated in the city of Hermopolis focused on the nature of the universe before the creation of the world. The inherent qualities of the primeval waters were represented by a set of eight gods, called the Ogdoad. The god Nu and his female counterpart Naunet represented the inert primeval water itself; Huh and his counterpart Hauhet represented the water‘s infinite extent; Kuk and Kauket personified the darkness present within it; and Amun and Amaunet represented its hidden and unknowable nature, in contrast to the tangible world of the living. (…)

According to the myth, the eight gods were originally divided into male and female groups. (…)

The Memphite version of creation centered on Ptah, who was the patron god of craftsmen. (…) The Memphite theology said that Ptah created the world in a similar way. The ideas developed within Ptah‘s heart (regarded by the Egyptians as the seat of human thought) were given form when he named them with his tongue. By speaking these names, Ptah produced the gods and all other things.

The Memphite creation myth coexisted with that of Heliopolis, as Ptah’s creative thought and speech were believed to have caused the formation of Atum and the Ennead.”

(Wikipedia – III.7)

 

Quiché-Maya creation (South America)

It is amazing that this Mayan creation myth describes, in addition to a creator trinity, the primordial soup put forward by science:

“This is the account of how all was in suspense, all calm, in silence; all motionless, still, and the expanse of the sky was empty.

This is the first account, the first narrative. There was neither man, nor animal, birds, fishes, crabs, trees, stones, caves, ravines, grasses, nor forests; there was only the sky.

The surface of the earth had not appeared. There was only the calm sea and the great expanse of the sky.

There was nothing brought together, nothing which could make a noise, nor anything which might move, or tremble, or could make noise in the sky.

There was nothing standing; only the calm water, the placid sea, alone and tranquil. Nothing existed.

There was only immobility and silence in the darkness, in the night. Only the Creator, the Maker, Tepeu, Gucumatz, the Forefathers,* were in the water surrounded with light.** They were hidden under green and blue feathers, and were therefore called Gucumatz. By nature they were great sages and great thinkers. In this manner the sky existed and also the heart of (…) Heaven, which is the name of God and thus He is called.

Then came the word. Tepeu and Gucumatz came together in the darkness, in the night, and Tepeu and Gucumatz talked together. They talked then, discussing and deliberating; they agreed, they united their words and their thoughts.

Then while they meditated, it became clear to them that when dawn would break, man must appear. Then they planned the creation, and the growth of the trees and the thickets and the birth of life and the creation of man. Thus it was arranged in the darkness and in the night by the Heart of Heaven who is called Huracán.

The first is called Caculhá Huracán. The second is ChipiCaculhá. The third is Raxa-Caculhá. And these three are the Heart of Heaven.

Then Tepeu and Gucumatz came together; then they conferred about life and light, what they would do so that there would be light and dawn, who it would be who would provide food and sustenance.

Thus let it be done! Let the emptiness be filled! Let the water recede and make a void, let the earth appear and become solid; let it be done. Thus they spoke. Let there be light, let there be dawn in the sky and on the earth! There shall be neither glory nor grandeur in our creation and formation until the human being is made, man is formed. So they spoke.

Then the earth was created by them. So it was, in truth, that they created the earth. Earth! they said, and instantly it was made.

Like the mist, like a cloud, and like a cloud of dust was the creation, when the mountains appeared from the water; and instantly the mountains grew.”

(Meta Religion – III.8)

 

Hopi creation myth (North America)

The creation myth of the Hopi (“the peaceful people”) also rests on creation by the deity Taiowa:

“Es offenbart sich die planvoll gestaltende Schöpfergottheit Taiowa. Ein Neffe, Sótuknang wird von Taiowa mit der grundlegenden Schöpfung von Erde, Wasser und Wind beauftragt. Sótuknang ruft danach die Spinnenfrau hervor, die zwei erste Menschen als Zwillinge, umgeben vom Gewand der Schöpfungsweisheit, formt. Der eine Zwilling soll die Erde noch stärker festigen, der andere soll durch seine Stimme Ordnung schaffen, indem er als Echo der gesamten Welt Loblieder für den Schöpfer ertönen lässt. Danach halten die beiden von den Polen her die Erde in regelmäßiger Drehung. Die alte Spinnenfrau (sie ist eine wichtige Figur in der Mythologie nicht nur der Völker des Südwestens der USA) erschafft nun vier weitere Menschen: gelb, rot, weiß, schwarz. Vier verschiedenfarbige Lichter offenbaren dabei als Mysterium der Schöpfung den Atem des Lebens und die Wärme der Liebe. Weithin erklingt ein großes Schöpfungslied. Nun erhalten die Menschen – viele sind es inzwischen – als letzte Gabe die unterschiedlichen Sprachen, die sie aber nicht als Grundlage für Zerwürfnisse nutzen sollen. Ihre Aufgabe ist vielmehr, in Harmonie miteinander zu leben und den Schöpfer Taiowa zu ehren.”

(Steinwege & Först – III.9)

 

Iroquois creation (North America)

I find that what is special about the Iroquois creation myth is the heavenly woman appearing as the feminine part of the deity and the description of a separation or a fall of souls:

“Diese Ur-Frau, ursprünglich in einer oberen (der unseren ähnlichen) Welt als Frau des eifersüchtigen himmlischen Häuptlings lebend, stürzte in einen unheimlichen Abgrund, in dessen Tiefe die Fluten des Anfangs wogten. Dank hilfreicher Geschöpfe – Wasservögel fingen die Frau auf, Wassertiere holten Erde aus der Tiefe und häuften sie als Insel über eine Schildkröte – konnte die Himmelsfrau auf der sich weitenden Insel die Lebenswelt der Indianer mit Pflanzen und Tieren erschaffen. Sie wurde zur großen, von vielen Stämmen als heilig verehrten Erd-Mutter.”

(Steinwege & Först – III.10)

 

Maori creation (New Zealand)

The Maori believe that it is Io from whom everything proceeds when he speaks it. He also floats above the water at the beginning of the world and forms matter through his spirit:

“Before time Io – the eternal all-knowing – resided in infinite, immeasurable space. Nothing at all existed and all was encapsulated in darkness and covered by water. Io is a talking god who creates everything by speech. He created light by telling darkness: ‘Darkness, become enlightened dark!’ Immediately, light appeared.. Then he said to the light: ‘Light, become darkened light!’ Then darkness returned and Io spoke a third time: ‘Let there be darkness above and below. Let light be above and below. But brilliant light shall prevail. This way light prevails over darkness.’ The god Io saw the water and ordered it to accumulate. And he ordered heaven to rise, whereby the earth appeared.”

(Tworuschka – III.11)

 

Aborigine creation myth (Australia) 

The aborigines, who still possess telepathic abilities, believe creation to have occurred in a dream. This means that they knew there was a spiritual world that manifested itself in the material world. There are also elements of Buddhism with reincarnation and of Hinduism with the days and nights of the deity that they believe to span a cycle of 26,000 earth years.

“Australiens Ureinwohner, die Aborigines, kennen eine Ur-Zeit als Traum-, als Schöpfungszeit. Himmel und Erde sind, von einer unsichtbaren Energie geschaffen, bereits da. Ein Gott Altjira wird zum Schöpfer der Menschen, denen er sich im Traum offenbart. Wichtig sind die Ahnen. Sie durchwandern die Welt, ehe ihre Kraft in die Erde eingeht und sie zu heiligen Hügeln, Bäumen, Quellen werden. An solchen Orten kommen die Menschen tanzend und singend zusammen, Altjira und die Ahnen zu verehren. Sie wissen von der Gegenwart als von Tagen, die im Traum zu ihnen sprechen. Sie wissen von einer offenen, stets traumhaft sich wiederholenden Zukunft. Denn: In allen Zeremonien setzt die Schöpfung sich unablässig fort. Nichts verschwindet. Alles lebt weiter.”

(Steinwege & Först – III.12)

 

Mother Earth and Father Sun have thus always been revered, down to the times of the advanced Greek and Egyptian civilizations at the turning point. GAIA and RA make life possible and nourish all living things. The original peoples still had the correct connection to and attitude about nature, which they revered as divine creation. Today, they are thought of in the “educated West” and by Darwinists as naive, simple or even stupid primitive peoples who believe their ancestors, who knew no “science”.

But this is not true of the advanced Egyptian and Greek civilizations, upon which much of our science is still based.