The Divine Purpose Behind Creation
Why did God create a world full of suffering? Vedas say amusement, but Purans say Mercy. Discover the true divine purpose behind Creation and Pralaya.
Amusement or Grace?
The month of Chaitra (Devanagari: चैत्र; ISO 15919: caitra) marks the beginning of the Hindu calendar known as Vikram Samvat(Devanagari: विक्रम संवत; ISO 15919: vikrama saṃvata). This day is celebrated in many parts of India under various names like Ugadi or Gudi Padwa.
A lesser-known fact is that this is the day Lord Brahma initiates the process of creation (Srishti).
Many of us put in phenomenal effort to attain the ultimate goal of life, but the attractions of Maya pose an insurmountable barrier. The frustration of being unable to conquer these material allurements compels us to ask: Why does God create this nasty world which hinders us from reaching Him?
The Scriptural Paradox: For Amusement?
At first glance, the Vedas suggest God created the world for His own pleasure.
लोकवत्तु लीला कैवल्यम्। lōkavattu līlā kaivalyam |
"God created this world merely for His sport (Lila)."
सोकामयत । बहुस्यां प्रजायेयेति । sōkāmayata | bahusyāṁ prajāyēyēti | "After dissolution, God was all alone. He desired to become many."
स ऐकाकी न रमते । sa aikākī na ramatē |
"He was not pleased living alone."
Just as a king visits a bustling park to find a change from his monotonous routine, it is said that God created the world to enjoy the variety.
The Logical Objection
However, this raises a difficult question: How can God enjoy this world where, by His standards, not even one perfectly good thing or person exists?
Furthermore, scriptures state:
- God is Bliss: God is the personified form ofAnanda(Bliss). Does He get tense or bored like us, requiring entertainment?
- The World is Miserable: As the Sankhya philosophy states:
कुत्रापि कोऽपि सुखी तदपि दुखशबलमिति दुःखपक्षे निक्षिपन्ते विवेचकाः । kutrāpi kō'pi sukhī tadapi dukhaśabalamiti duḥkhapakṣē nikṣipantē vivēcakāḥ |
"If any trace of happiness is seen in this world, it is foreshadow of misery. Therefore, the wise consider it to be misery."
If His divine abode, Golok, is a place of pure, perpetual, and unlimited bliss, what pleasure could He possibly derive from this world where His children are suffering?
The True Reason: Causeless Mercy
The Ling Puran resolves this paradox by clarifying the true motive:
आत्म प्रयोजनाभावे परानुग्रह एव हि
ātma prayōjanābhāvē parānugraha ēva hi
"God has no personal need. The reason for all His actions is His nature of Mercy."
Because God is thoroughly self-complacent (Atmarama), He does not need the world for Himself. He creates it solely to grace the souls.
But is this Mercy? You might wonder: How is putting us in such a difficult predicament an act of mercy?
To understand this, we must look at the natural law of the successive cycles of Creation and Dissolution (Pralaya).
- At the time of Pralaya, Supreme God absorbs all universes into His infinite belly (Mahodara).
- At the time of Srishti, He reveals them exactly "as is."
The Cricket Test Match Analogy
Consider a Test Match in the game of cricket. If the game is paused on Day 1, it resumes on Day 2 exactly where it left off.
- If Batsman 'A' had scored 45 runs and Bowler 'C' was bowling, the game starts on Day 2 with that specific data.
- A person unacquainted with the rules might shout, "Cheating! That batsman just walked onto the field, he hasn't hit a single ball yet, how can he have 45 runs?"
Precisely in this manner, God creates the world as it was before Pralaya.
Before the dissolution, we were accumulating spiritual merit, as well as good and bad deeds. During Pralaya, we remained dormant in His infinite belly, earning nothing and losing nothing. When creation begins, our destiny springs back into action.
Conclusion: The Platform for Divine-Bliss
God reveals the world to give us a chance.
अमृतस्य वै पुत्राः । amr̥tasya vai putrāḥ |
"All individual beings are the progenies of God."
He creates the world with the anticipation that we will use this opportunity to follow the right path. To aid us, He reveals scriptures, sends His Saints, and descends Himself.
In a nutshell, the world is not a punishment, nor is it God's playground; it is a school created out of His Causeless Mercy to help us return to Him.
As Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj advises regarding the path to Him:
अतएव देखकर रूप-ध्यान करने वाली बात भूलकर भी मस्तिष्क में न लानी चाहिये । पहले अधिकारी बनने की साधना कर लो ।
"Never entertain the thought that you may begin remembrance of His form after seeing Him. First practice true devotion; the completion of this will qualify you to see His divine Form."
