Prathama Prashna — The Enquiry Into Creation

Introduction

The Prashna Upanishad belongs to the Brahmana portion of the Atharva Veda, specifically the Pippalada Sakha. It consists of 67 mantras distributed across six chapters, each chapter addressing one profound question asked by a disciple to Rishi Pippalada.

The Upanishad adopts a scientific and analytical approach to spiritual enquiry. The Rishi guides the students gradually from the known to the unknown, from the manifest to the unmanifest, and from the material to the Supremely subtle — the realm of Pure Consciousness.

In this post, we focus on the First Question, which concerns the origin of the universe and the forces that sustain all living beings.

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Shanti Mantra 

प्रश्नोपनिषत्

ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः श‍ृणुयाम देवा
भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः ।
स्थिरैरङ्गैस्तुष्टुवाꣳसस्तनूभिर्व्यशेम देवहितं यदायुः ॥

स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः
स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः ।
स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः
स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु ॥

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Translation:
May we hear auspicious words with our ears, O Devas.
May we see auspicious sights with our eyes, O worshipful ones.
With firm limbs and healthy bodies, may we live the full span of life devoted to the divine.
May Indra, of ancient fame, bless us; may the all-knowing Pusan bless us;
May Tārkṣya, the protector, bless us;
May Brihaspati bless us.
Om, peace, peace, peace.

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Prathama Prashna

The First Question: Origin of Creation

The Prashna Upanishad First Question deals with the origin of the universe — how existence emerges, what sustains life, and the twin principles of Rayi (matter) and Prana (energy).
Vedanta asserts that the universe is a manifestation, not a mechanical creation. It arises from Prajapati, and ultimately returns into Him.

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Mantra 1.1 — Students Approach the Rishi

Mantra 1.1:
Sukesa, the son of Bharadvaja; Satyakama, the son of Sibi; Sauryayani of the family of Garga; Kausalya, the son of Asvala; Bhargava, the son of Bhrigu of Vidarbha; and Kabandhi, the son of Katyayana — all these seekers of Brahman approached Rishi Pippalada with faith and offerings in hand.

Commentary:
The six disciples represent six temperaments of humanity. “Firewood in hand” signifies humility and the traditional discipline required for Vedic learning. The Prashna Upanishad First Question formally begins with this reverential approach.

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Mantra 1.2 — One Year of Austerity

Mantra 1.2:
The Rishi said: Stay with me for a year. Practice faith, austerity, and continence. Then ask what question you choose.

Commentary:
Spiritual enquiry requires preparation of mind and character. The Rishi teaches that tapas, discipline, and purity are prerequisites for subtle understanding — a theme repeated throughout Vedanta.

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Mantra 1.3 — The First Question

Mantra 1.3:
After a year, Kabandhi Katyayana asked: O venerable Rishi, from where are all these living beings born?

Commentary:
This is the first philosophical enquiry: the origin of creation. The Upanishad now shifts from discipline to cosmology.

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Mantra 1.4 — Creation: Rayi and Prana

Mantra 1.4:
The Rishi said: In the beginning, the Creator projected life (Prana) and matter (Rayi), intending that the two together would produce all beings.

Commentary:
Here the Upanishad introduces the twin aspect of creation:

• Rayi → matter, form, substance

• Prana → energy, life-force

This parallels modern physics: E = mc², energy and matter are interchangeable. The ancient Rishi explains creation in the language of dual principles — a concept echoed in quantum cosmology.

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Mantra 1.5 — Equality of Rayi and Prana (1)

Mantra 1.5:
Rayi and Prana are equal aspects of creation. One has form; the other is formless. Both arise from the subtle elements (Tanmatras), from Prajapati.

Commentary:
Neither matter nor energy is superior — both are projections of the same Consciousness. Modern science similarly states that fields and particles emerge from a unified quantum vacuum.

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Mantra 1.6 — Equality of Rayi and Prana (2)

All Life is One

Mantra 1.6:
The Sun is Prana; the Moon is Rayi. What has form is matter. What is formless is subtle. Creation continues through their interaction.

Commentary:
The Prashna Upanishad First Question here unifies cosmology and biology.

• Sun = Prana, source of energy

• Moon = Rayi, governing form, cycles, nourishment

This is an early holistic model: life is sustained by the interaction of cosmic energy and matter.

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Mantra 1.7–1.8 — Vaishvanara: Source of Prana and Rayi

Mantra 1.7–1.8:
Vaishvanara, the cosmic Being, assumes all forms. Prana is His rising fire. The wise know Him as the all-pervading, all-knowing One.

Commentary:
Vaishvanara is the cosmic organism, the totality of all beings. The Sun becomes His outward form, distributing life as Prana.

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Mantra 1.9 — The Southern Path (Pitriyana)

Mantra 1.9:
Those who perform rituals with desire attain the world of the Moon. From there, they return again. This is the path of the forefathers (Pitriyana).

Commentary:
This path is governed by Rayi (matter). It represents cyclic existence — action, reward, rebirth.

You may link to:
Wisdom of Five Fires — Panchagni Vidya (ChAndogya Upanishad)

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Mantra 1.10 — The Northern Path (Devayana)

The Path of No Return

Mantra 1.10:
Those who practice austerity, faith, and knowledge attain the realm of the Sun, the immortal world. From there they do not return.

Commentary:
Devayana is the path of Prana (light, knowledge). This symbolizes spiritual liberation — rising beyond material cycles.

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Mantra 1.11 — The Sun as Lord of Time

Mantra 1.11:
The Sun is the Lord of Time, giving seasons and months, sustaining the world with rain and light.

Commentary:
The Upanishad reveres the Sun as the regulator of life — a concept mirrored in modern astrophysics. Without solar radiation, life on Earth cannot exist.

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Scientific Reflections

• Big Bang and cosmic expansion

• Unified field theories

• Consciousness as fundamental reality (Amit Goswami, John Hagelin)
  The Upanishad’s insights align with many modern scientific models of unity and energy.

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Recommended readings:

1. Back to the Truth: 5000 years of ADVAITA by Dennis Waite.**
2. THE TEN PRINCIPAL UPANISHADS: Translated by Shree Purohit** Swami and W.B.Yeats
3. Brahma Sutra Bhasya of Sankaracharya: Translated by Swami Gambhirananda.**
4. Commentary of Prashna Upanishad: By Swami Krishnananda.
5. Prashna Upanishad By Swami GuruBhaktananda.
6. EIGHT UPANISADS -VOL-1 with commentary of Sankaracharya, Translated by SWAMI GAMBHIRANANDA.
7. THE TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD: SHIKSHAVALLI-ANANDAVALLI-BHRIGUVALLI with Sri Shankara’s Commentary By Sri Swami Satchidanandera Saraswati.
8. Information available on internet.

We may relate above Texts with the BIGBANG theory as below. It is reader’s choice how they relate.

The Universe is Conscious. The Sun has intelligence: Please see the video:

BIGBANG

Relating the Upanishadic Cosmology with the Big Bang Theory

The teachings of the Prashna Upanishad First Question can be viewed in parallel with certain modern cosmological models. This connection is not meant to replace the spiritual vision of the Rishis, but to show how ancient insights and modern science may point toward a unified understanding of creation.

The Upanishads describe the Universe as a manifestation emerging from Prajapati, sustained for a time, and then dissolved back into the same Consciousness. Modern cosmology similarly explains that the Universe began from an extremely subtle, dense, and unified state, followed by rapid expansion.

Big Bang Theory (Metric Expansion of Space)

According to contemporary physics, the Universe began approximately 13.7 billion years ago with an event called the Big Bang. From a single point-like state—the primordial seed—space itself expanded at an extraordinary rate. Over time:

• 13.7 billion years ago: Big Bang; space expands; energy condenses into fundamental particles.

• 13.6 billion years ago: First stars ignite; nuclear fusion lights up the cosmos.

• 13.2 billion years ago: First galaxies form; matter clusters under gravity.

• Today: Stellar era continues; dark energy accelerates cosmic expansion.

• After 10¹⁰–10¹¹ years: Star formation ceases; black holes dominate.

• After 10¹⁰⁰ years: Black holes evaporate; only subtle energy remains.

🪐 Vedanta and Cosmology — A Bridge

Vedanta teaches that the Universe is conscious, supported by Prana, the Universal Life-force. In this vision, the Sun is described not merely as a star — but as the intelligent regulator of life, the source of rhythm, time, and order.

Modern astrophysics does not explicitly use the word “intelligence,” yet it acknowledges that:

• the Sun governs seasons,

• sustains all biological processes,

• stabilizes Earth’s environment,

• and sets the foundation for all ecological cycles.

Thus, the Upanishadic description of the Sun as Prajapati’s representative of life resonates symbolically with scientific understanding.

🌌 A Note to Readers

These parallels are offered only as reflections. Every reader is free to relate the teachings of the Upanishads and the insights of cosmology according to their own understanding and intuition.

GRAND UNIFIED THEORY:

According to Unified Quantum field theory by Dr. John Hagelin, Ph.D. :

“The experience of the Unified field of Consciousness, in which the observer, the process of observation and the observed are unified, is considered to be a means of realizing the ultimate inseparability of the observer and the observed, leading to a completely unified view of Self and the environment traditionally known as ” Enlightenment” or ” Unity Consciousness” “

Books of Related Interest:

1. THE DIVINE MATRIX: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles and Belief. By GREGG BRADEN
2. THE TEN PRINCIPAL UPANISHADS.****** Translated By: Shree Purohit Swami and W.B.YEATS.
3. BLACK HOLES: The BBC Reith Lectures : Stephen Hawking.
4. Taking the Quantum Leap: The new Physics for Non scientists: By Fred Alan Wolf
5. You are the Universe by Deepak Chopra and Menas Kafatos.
6. BIOCENTRISM : How life and Consciousness are the keys to understanding the True nature of the Universe: By Robert Lanza MD with BOB BERMAN
7. The Self Aware Universe: How Consciousness creates the material world: By Amit Goswami, Ph.D.
8. Back to the Truth: 5000 years of ADVAITA by Dennis Waite.**
9. THE TEN PRINCIPAL UPANISHADS: Translated by Shree Purohit** Swami and W.B.Yeats
10. Brahma Sutra Bhasya of Sankaracharya: Translated by Swami Gambhirananda.**
11. Commentary of ChAndogya Upanishad: By Swami Krishnananda.
12. ChAndogya Upanishad: By Swami GuruBhaktananda.
13. EIGHT UPANISADS -VOL-1 with commentary of Sankaracharya, Translated by SWAMI GAMBHIRANANDA.
14. THE TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD: SHIKSHAVALLI-ANANDAVALLI-BHRIGUVALLI with Sri Shankara’s Commentary By Sri Swami Satchidanandera Saraswati.
15. A-U-M Awakening to Reality : By Dennis Waite***
16. Panchadasi: Swami Vidyaranya:
17. Information available on internet.

Expanding and Collapsing Universe: