Creation Hymn

This is a beautiful hymn, full of wonder and very honest. For once, someone is not trying to brush everything unknown under the feet of Gods. Someone is open to the thought that even the most revered Gods may be subsequent to this creation, and even they may not have an insight into its origins. Someone is brave enough to feel the raw awe and wonder truly about this creation.

Where do the gods fit in this creation scheme?

The non-existent was not; the existent was not at that time. 

The atmosphere was not nor the heavens which are beyond.

What was concealed? Where? In whose protection? 

Was it water? An unfathomable abyss?

There was neither death nor immortality then. 

There was not distinction of day or night. 

That alone breathed windless by its own power. 

Other than that there was not anything else.

Darkness was hidden by darkness in the beginning. 

All this was an indistinguishable sea. 

That which becomes, that which was enveloped by the void, 

that alone was born through the power of heat.

Upon that desire arose in the beginning. 

This was the first discharge of thought. 

Sages discovered this link of the existent to the nonexistent, 

having searched in the heart with wisdom.

Their vision was extended across; 

what was below, what was above? 

There were impregnators, there were powers: 

inherent power below, impulses above.

Who knows truly? 

Who here will declare whence it arose, 

whence this creation? 

The gods are subsequent to the creation of this. 

Who, then, knows whence it has come into being?

Whence this creation has come into being; 

whether it was made or not; 

he in the highest heaven is its surveyor.

Surely he knows, or perhaps he knows not.

                          --- Rig Veda