(i) “That first creator of the Creator That Bearer of oblations offered with Holy Rites: That one who utters the Holy Chants: Those two that order Time: That which extends

The given passage is deeply philosophical and symbolic, reflecting the Vedic–Upanishadic vision of ultimate reality. Rather than describing a personal god in a limited human sense, the lines attempt to articulate the absolute principle (Brahman) that underlies creation, time, ritual, and consciousness itself. The language is intentionally paradoxical and poetic, because the reality it seeks to express lies beyond ordinary human understanding and speech.

1. “That first creator of the Creator”

This line immediately establishes a hierarchy beyond conventional creation myths. In many religious traditions, a creator god is considered the highest authority. However, this phrase suggests something even more profound: a principle that precedes the creator himself.

In Vedic philosophy, this ultimate source is Brahman, the formless, infinite reality from which even the creator god (often identified as Prajapati, Hiranyagarbha, or later Brahma) emerges. Thus, creation is not an act performed independently by a deity but a manifestation of an eternal cosmic principle.

The phrase challenges anthropomorphic notions of God and pushes the reader to think of creation as a cyclical, self-emerging process, rather than a single historical event.

2. “That Bearer of oblations offered with Holy Rites”

This line highlights the central role of sacrifice (Yajña) in Vedic culture. Sacrifice is not merely a ritual act performed by humans; it is a cosmic process that sustains order (ṛta) in the universe.

By describing the ultimate reality as the “Bearer of oblations,” the text implies that all sacrifices ultimately reach the same supreme principle, regardless of the deity invoked. Fire (Agni), which carries offerings to the gods, is itself seen as a manifestation of this cosmic reality.

Thus, ritual is elevated from a mechanical religious duty to a symbolic participation in the universal order. The divine does not merely receive offerings; it exists within the very act of offering.

3. “That one who utters the Holy Chants”

Here, the passage moves from ritual action to sacred sound. In the Vedic worldview, sound—especially mantra—is not just symbolic but creative and transformative.

The idea that the ultimate reality “utters the holy chants” suggests that speech (Vāc) itself originates from the divine. The Vedas were traditionally considered apauruṣeya—not authored by humans but heard by sages in deep states of meditation.

This line reinforces the belief that knowledge, language, and consciousness are divine expressions. Chanting sacred hymns becomes a way of aligning human consciousness with cosmic truth.

4. “Those two that order Time”

This phrase introduces a subtle metaphysical idea: duality within unity. “Those two” may refer to several paired principles commonly found in Indian philosophy, such as:

Day and night
Creation and dissolution
Past and future
Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter)

Time (Kāla) is not random or chaotic; it is governed by cosmic laws. The ordering of time ensures rhythm, continuity, and balance in the universe.

In some interpretations, these “two” represent motion and stillness, suggesting that time itself is structured by opposing yet complementary forces. Ultimately, however, both are rooted in the same supreme reality.

5. “That which extends …”

Though incomplete, this phrase implies expansion, pervasiveness, and infinity. The ultimate reality is not confined to a single location or form; it extends through all existence.

This aligns with the Upanishadic declaration:

“Sarvam khalvidam brahma”
(“All this is indeed Brahman.”)

The divine is both immanent and transcendent—present within the world yet beyond it. Everything that exists is sustained and permeated by this infinite principle.

Philosophical Significance

Collectively, these lines express a non-dualistic worldview. The text dissolves boundaries between:

Creator and creation
Ritual and reality
Sound and substance
Time and eternity

Rather than offering doctrinal certainty, the passage invites contemplation and humility. The repeated use of “That” instead of a specific name reflects the Vedic belief that the ultimate truth cannot be fully named or defined.

Conclusion

The passage is a profound meditation on the nature of ultimate reality as envisioned in Vedic and Upanishadic thought. It presents a cosmic principle that:

Exists before all creation
Sustains ritual and sacrifice
Manifests as sacred sound
Regulates time and order
Extends infinitely through existence

Through symbolic and poetic language, the text urges the reader to move beyond surface-level religious understanding and seek inner realization of the unity underlying all diversity. In doing so, it remains timeless, continuing to inspire philosophical inquiry and spiritual reflection across centuries.

📞 WhatsApp Now: 8130208920
🌐 Visit: shop.senrig.in

Read Also :