How did it all begin?

Download Story

Watch Video

Community: Sikhi

 


Return to stories about how our world began.

Background:

The Guru Granth Sahib contains the holy scriptures of the Sikhs. It is a collection of prayers and hymns which contain the actual words and verses as uttered by the Sikh Gurus. The explanation of creation that was written in the Guru Granth Sahib is incredibly detailed.

One of the most distinctive features of the Guru Granth Sahib is that it is the first religious book which contains the writings of persons belonging to different communities, castes, and diverse regions of the country. It incorporates the writings of holy men of different faith. This story uses sections from the Guru Granth Sahib to describe how the world was created.

Follow up questions:

  1. What does this story suggest the world was like before creation started?

  2. How did creation come into being?

  3. Did you notice any patterns in the way the words were written?

  4. The story suggests the world was created of air, water and three worlds. Does this remind you of any other matter that exist in different forms?

  5. Are there any similarities or differences with other creation stories you have heard?

  6. What have you learnt about the Sikhi view of God? What do you want to remember?

How the Universe Began

In the beginning ..

“Before the Universe was created, for countless ages, there was utter darkness (nothingness).
How the Universe began - (Story can be found on back)
No heaven or earth. The will of Akaal (God) reigned everywhere.

No day no night, no sun, no moon.

Only Akaal stayed in solitary meditation.”

Creation begins ..

Then Satguru say:

“With the one word of Akaal, the universe was created.”

Satguru describes the process as:

“from the true one (Akaal), air (gases) were created.

From air, water was created.

From water the three worlds were created, with Akaal’s divine light within all bodies.

Creation continues ..

It is written that Akaal (God) created the entire Universe, including the Earth, solar systems and galaxies, billions of years ago, and that the Universe is still being created and evolving ever since.

"Many millions are the fields of creation and galaxies.

Many millions are the skies and solar systems.

Many millions are divine incarnations.

He has unfolded Himself in so many ways.

He has expanded His expansion of creation many times.

Forever and ever, He is the One, the One Universal Creator.

Many millions are created in various forms.

From God they emanate, and into God they merge once again.

His limits are not known to anyone.

O Nanak, God exists by Himself."

 

This is not the only time Akaal has created the Universe; he has done it many times. Only Akaal is constant.

(Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, p. 1035; Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, p. 1037-38; Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, p. 276)