How did the Universe Originate - Devi Bhagavad Purana

The Question of Creation: The Origin of the Universe from the Devi Bhagavad Purana

In the Shrimad Devi Bhagavad Purana (Skand 3), the great King Janamejaya approaches Maharishi Ved Vyasa with profound questions about the mystery of creation. Desiring to understand the origin of the Universe, he asks Vyasa about the birth of the cosmic egg (Brahmanda), the nature of the deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, and whether they act independently or under the command of a higher power.

Janamejaya’s inquiry is both philosophical and scientific in nature. He asks whether these deities experience pleasure, pain, or fatigue like mortals; whether they are eternal or perishable; and how they were born. He seeks to know the true cause behind creation—whether it lies in one supreme being or multiple powers.

Vyasa acknowledges the depth of the king’s questions and reveals that he too once sought answers to the same mysteries from the divine sage Narada Muni. Seated on the tranquil banks of the Ganga, Vyasa had bowed to Narada and humbly asked who the true architect of this vast Universe is—whether creation is eternal, or whether it has an ultimate cause.

Narada’s response, Vyasa recounts, delves into the diverse beliefs that exist among sages and philosophers. Some regard Lord Shiva (Mahadeva) as the Supreme Being—the source of deliverance, eternal, and beyond birth and death. Others see Vishnu as the omnipresent Supreme Self, the protector and sustainer of all. Some proclaim Brahma, born of the lotus from Vishnu’s navel, as the creator of all beings.

Still others worship the Sun (Surya) as the visible God, or Indra, the king of heaven and lord of sacrifices. Many revere deities like Varuna, Agni, Yama, Kubera, and Ganesha, each considered divine and powerful within their respective realms.

Yet, another group of wise scholars and yogis declare that the Supreme Goddess (Adi Shakti, Bhavani, or Devi) is the source of all creation—the eternal power from whom the entire cosmos emanates. She is both with attributes and without attributes, the creatrix, preservatrix, and destructrix of the Universe, the Mother of all beings and realms. It is She who manifests as Vaisnavi, Shankari, Brahmi, Lakshmi, and many others, nurturing the worlds through Her divine energy. Remembering Her alone destroys sorrows and grants liberation.

However, the Purana also records that different schools of thought present contrasting views. Followers of the Samkhya philosophy assert that Prakriti (Nature), not God, is the cause of creation, while others reject the idea of a single creator altogether, claiming that the Universe is self-born and governed by its own natural laws.

Conflicted by these many perspectives, Vyasa confesses to Narada that he too feels bewildered. He observes that even the virtuous Pandavas, though righteous and faithful to Dharma, endured great suffering—leaving him uncertain about the true nature of Dharma and the permanence of divine justice. Seeking clarity, he pleads with Narada to deliver him from this sea of doubts.

Narada then shares his own story of inquiry. Once, he too had questioned his father, Lord Brahma, asking, “Who is the true creator—You, Vishnu, or Shiva?”

To this, Brahma replied humbly: “My son, I too do not know the ultimate source of creation. This mystery lies beyond my comprehension. In the beginning, there was only water everywhere—no earth, no sun, no moon, no stars. From that infinite expanse, I emerged upon a lotus stalk. But who created me, and from where the lotus came—I do not know. For these answers, you must approach Lord Vishnu, for He alone knows the truth of creation.”

Thus, the Devi Bhagavad Purana makes it clear that even Brahma—the creator god—does not possess complete knowledge of the universe’s origin. His admission reveals that he is not the Supreme Knower but merely a being assigned a role within creation. The true mystery of existence lies beyond Brahma’s awareness, pointing toward a higher divine power, one that transcends even the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.