What existed before this Universe came into being? How the Universe we see was created? What shall happen to Universe later?

1.1 What existed before this Universe came into being?

 

adi roop anadi moorat ajoni purkh apar.
sarb maun trimaun dev abhaiv adi oodar.
sarb palak sarb ghalak sarb ko puni kal.
jatar tatar birajhi avdhoot roop rasal. (79)

The Infinite God existed before the Era. His origin is unknown. He is unborn, Omnipresent, and Unlimited.

'JAAP SAHIB'...........ROOAL CHHUND. TAV PARSAD (BY YOUR GRACE)

 

Before the universe came into manifestation, there was nothing except the all-pervading Truth. There was no form of any kind-subtle or gross. The formless God absorbed in profound primal silence existed all alone. How long such a state existed, He alone knows.

ARBAD NARBAD DHUNDOO-KAARAA

DHARAN NA GAGNAA HUKAM APAARAA

NAA DIN RAIN NA CHAND NA SOORAJ

SUNN SAMAADH LAGAA-IDAA || 1 ||

KHAANEE NA BAANEE PAON NA PAANEE

OPAT KHAPAT NA AAWAN JAANEE

KHAND PATAAL SAPAT NAHEE SAAGAR

NADEE NA NEER WAHAA-IDDA || 2 ||

NA TAD SURAG MACHH PA-I-AALAA

DOJAK BHIST NAHEE KHAI KAALA

NARAK SURAG NAHEE JAMMAN MARNAA

NAA KO AAE NA JAA-IDDA || 3 ||

BRAHMMA BISAN MAHES NAA KOEE

AWAR NA DEESAI EKO SOEE

NAAR PURAKH NAHEE JAAT NA JANAMMA

NA KO DUKH SUKH PAA-IDAA || 4 ||

………………

BED KATEB NA SIMMIRAT SAASAT

PAATH PURAAN UDEY NAHEE AASAT

KAHTAA BAKTAA AAP AGOCHAR

AAPE ALAKH LAKHAA-IDAA|| 13 ||

 

The above Gurbani Sabad describes the nebulous darkness that pervaded before the creation of the Universe. Everything was in a nebulous state. Nothing visible existed. No fauna or flora had been created. There was neither earth nor sun nor the moon. There was no direction, no heaven or hell. Even Brahma, Bisan and Mahes did not exist. There were no empty rituals, or any places of pilgrimage. It was all- pervading Sunn (Primal Silence) and Sach-khand.

1.2 How the Universe we see was created?

Let’s see what major religions of the worl have to say on this:

Hinduism:

First the murmuring sounds resembling those of the waves of the ocean, the fall of rain and then running rivulets, after which the bhervi will be heard, intermingled with the sounds of bell and conch.......NAD BINDUPANISHAD

Jains also agree that the world came into existence from sound. That sound is Oankar, Oankar (Saviour of all).

 

In Islam Mohammad Sahib, the founder of lslam declared that one sound came out from God. The sound was 'Kun' and there from the world came into existence.

The Muslim Sufis declare:

Creation came into being from Saut (Sound or Word)

and from Saut spread all light.

SHAMAS TABREZ

The Great Name is the very essence and life of all names and forms.

Its manifest form sustains creation;

It is the great ocean of which we are merely the waves,

He alone can comprehend this who has mastered our discipline.

ABDUL RAZAQ KASHI

Similarly in Christianity according to Bible one sound came from God. Which one? It was 'Logos'. From this the creation came into existence. In the Gospels we have: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with. God and the Word was God..............ST. John

Moses heard the commandments of God amidst thunder and flame, while in Zoroastrian and Taoist thought alike there are references to the “Creative Verbum,” the “Divine Light,” and to the “Wordless Word,” the silent Word.

In SIKHISM SGGS chapter ''SIDH GHOSHT'', Guru Nanak ji confirms God himself is in SUN SMADH / IN THE PRIMAL VOID FORM, then extends himself in "NIRGUN FORM" of WORD / SHABAD/ MANTAR to have his GREAT PLAY created.....Shabad is the directive agent of God, the cause of all creation.

Eh viss sansar tum dekhdey ehu Harka roop hay Har roop nadari aya||

Jo jo racheyo su tisseh dhiyat||

Guru Nanak Ji confirms that this WORD/ sound current is ''ONKAR''. In all of GOD's creations this SOUND CURRENT of ''ONKAR'' exists.

At one point in time, God conceived the idea of bringing His creation or universe into play. How this play manifested, is explained in Gurbani by Guru Nanak Dev Ji:

SAACHE TE PAVNNA BHA-I-YA

PAWANAI TE JAL HOE ||

JAL TE TRIBHWAN SAAJIAA

GHAT GHAT JOT SAMOYE||

(Siree Raag Mahalaa –Page 19)

To start the creative process Nirankaar (formless God) created Air, then Water & Fire. Mixture of these three elements leads to a nebulous state (Dhundoo-kaaraa). Guru Nanak Dev Ji says in Gurbani:

JA TIS BHAANA TAA JAGAT UPAYA

BAAJH KALAA AADAAN RAHAA-I-AA

BRAHMAA BISAN MAHES UPAAE

MAA-I-AA MOH WADHAA-IDAA || 14 ||

WIRLE KAO GUR SABAD SUNAA-I-AA

KAR KAR DEKHAI HUKAM SABAA-I-AA

KHAND BRAHAMAND PAATAAL ARAMBHE

GUPATAH PARGATEE AA-IDAA|| 15 ||

TAA KA ANTH NA JAANAI KOEE

POORE GUR TE SOJHEE HOEE

NAANAK SAACH RATE BISMAADEE

BISAM BHAE GUN GAA-IDAA|| 16 ||

(Maaroo Mahalaa–1 Page 1035)

As and when God willed, He created Maya and put three powers under its authority and also determined the extent of the Universe. In the region demarcated, the physical universe was manifested and creatures created. Ensnaring web of Maya was spread all around. He Himself manifested in His creation as the invisible subtle Atma.

GHAT GHAT RAV RAHEIA BANVAAREE

JAL THAL MAHEEAL GUPTO WARTAI

GUR SHABDEE DEKH NIHAAREE JEEO ||

(Sorath Mahalaa –1 Page 597)

To fulfill the needs of the various life forms on the Earth planet, a necessary contact has been established with the other cosmic bodies like the moon and the sun. The whole Universe runs under His command.

1.3 What shall happen to Universe later?

Ek murat(i) anek darsan, kin rup anek. Khel khel akhel khelan, ant ko phir(i) ek.

When He wishes to end the cosmic play and be all by Himself again, all the life-forming elements disappear into their original essence and this leads back to a nebulous state (dhundoo-kaaraa).