Continuing with the meditation on Hiranyagarbha sukta; it may be seminal to understand that the Vedic vision or Indic cosmogony does not contemplate any concept of absolute origin of time, space or of creation. Wherever there is any mention or enunciation of the uncreate wherefrom co-primordialities of space-time-consciousness or tapas-rta-satya originate; the same is predicated or based on a cyclical view of time . To explain simply, the cycle of creation and of annihilation from and to the un-create repeats itself endlessly. This may happen at the macrocosm level in cosmological terms or at the microcosmic level of each individual body-self when it attains an authentic self or being. The Sacrifice or yajna that., it is believed sustains the cosmic order or Rta, is also a repetition at the microcosmic level of the tapas-rta-satya co-primordialities. Through which the jana or the Vedic seer acting as a sociality partake of and participate with, albeit in a small way, in the cosmic cycles.

It is for this reason there is often no telos (objective or ultimate aim) envisaged by the Vedic seer and therefore also no eschatology ( a promised land spatially or a heaven /kingdom of God vouched- safe in the future). The Vedic seer aims to transcend time and space and be a Trikaal darshi. As seer is one who realises that linear time is a myth and can “see” present past and future.

Western commentators steeped in the Hebraic tradition of Eschatology tend to locate the absolute origin of creation in this Sukta Howvever, the Hiranyagarbaha or golden germ would repeat itself eon after eon and is therefore sam avartagare co-original or even inherent. The golden germ partakes the Indic notion of the primal sound Aad or bhutasya jata. The be-ing or Mahabhuta that aasit or comes to be. (contd)

(The writer is a 1993-batch IRS officer who is presently posted in Punjab.)