Studies in Indian Art c9.s1.3

c9.s1.3

The basic point of view is that the cosmos or creation is an emanation from the Supreme Being, who is called Prajāpati or the Creator. The several powers of the Creator are the devatās. What is created is infinite nature comprising the five elements of gross matter. Thus there are basically two entities, namely the Devas and the Bhūtas, or what in modern terms may be equated as Energy and Matter. All external forms are material. They have no substance in themselves. They are merely the vehicles of the manifest glory of the Devas. The Devas are unmanifest, while matter or creation is manifest. Each form is a symbol of the formless. Cosmos is an aggregation of forms. But its source is the Supreme Unmanifest Creator. He is both formless (Arūpa), and Omniform (Viśvarūpa).