Aim

To understand that at the end of a cosmic millennium (Brahmā’s lifespan), material creation dissolves into Krishna, and at the beginning of the next cycle, He recreates it again by His will.

Purport

The creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material cosmic manifestation are completely dependent on the supreme will of the Personality of Godhead. “At the end of the millennium” means at the death of Brahmā. Brahmā lives for one hundred years, and his one day is calculated at 4,300,000,000 of our earthly years. His night is of the same duration. His month consists of thirty such days and nights, and his year of twelve months. After one hundred such years, when Brahmā dies, the devastation or annihilation takes place; this means that the energy manifested by the Supreme Lord is again wound up in Himself. Then again, when there is a need to manifest the cosmic world, it is done by His will. Bahu syām: “Although I am one, I shall become many.” This is the Vedic aphorism (Chāndogya Upaniṣad 6.2.3). He expands Himself in this material energy, and the whole cosmic manifestation again takes place.

Objectives

By the end of the lesson students should be able:

1. To explain that creation, maintenance, and annihilation of the cosmos depend on Krishna’s will.
2. To understand what is meant by “the end of the millennium” in terms of creation cycles.
3. To describe the duration of Brahmā’s lifespan and its correlation with cosmic cycles.
4. To explain the concept of the energy of the Supreme Lord winding up at annihilation and re-expanding at a new cycle.
5. To recall and interpret “Bahu syām: Although I am one, I shall become many,” from Chāndogya Upaniṣad.
6. To understand Krishna’s potent capacity to manifest the entire universe by His will.

Key points / Takeaway

• Cosmic creation is temporary and cycled by divine will.
• Brahmā’s one hundred years signify a full cycle of cosmic manifestation.
• Annihilation means energy returns to Krishna; creation follows His intent.
• The Vedic aphorism “Bahu syām” reinforces the unity and multiplicity of the Supreme.
• Krishna’s supreme potency sustains infinite universes through successive manifestations.