The Philosophy of the Upanishads c10.s3.t3.1

c10.s3.t3.1

Among the new and fruitful thoughts in which the S'vet. Up. is so rich is to be counted that also of the periodical dissolution and re-creation of the universe by Brahman. "He (Rudra as a personification of Brahman) dwells in the creatures, and burning with fury at the end of time he as lord dashes to pieces all created things";⁵ he regulates all the aims of the creatures, "until finally the whole is lost in him, who is the beginning."⁶ And we must understand similarly the words of Vâj. Samh. 32. 8 quoted above, when they recur in this connection;⁷ it is god, "in whom the universe is lost and reappears" (*yasmin idam sam- c'a vi- c'a eti sarvam*). This process however of the creation and dissolution of the universe is not unique, but is continually being repeated. In S'vet. 5. 3 "the god, who many times spreads forth one net after another in space and again draws it in," is compared to a spider.¹ The reason also for this periodically recurring re-creation of things is indicated in S'vet. 6. 3-4, where it is said, following upon a description of the work of creation :—