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Cosmology refers to ideas about the nature of the universe and how it works. The ancient Hindu word loka means the realms of the universe – all that is real. Hindus believe that the material world is not ‘all that is’. They believe there is a spiritual reality that is bigger or perhaps ‘more real’ than what can be seen, heard and touched:

Beyond the senses are the objects; beyond the objects is the mind; beyond the mind, the intellect; beyond the intellect, the Great Atman; beyond the Great Atman, the Unmanifest; beyond the Unmanifest, the Purusha. Beyond the Purusha there is nothing: this is the end, the Supreme Goal. (Katha Upanishad 3.10–11)

This teaches that the ‘Great Atman’ is a long way beyond a person’s experience and intelligence. Beyond the Great Atman, there are things that are not manifest or see-able. Beyond those things, there is Purusha (which means ‘cosmic consciousness’). Beyond that there is nothing – it is the end (which is also ‘the supreme goal’ for Hindus).

Devas and devis

Hindu ideas about the universe are developed from a collection of ancient texts. The spiritual reality also includes the gods and goddesses. They are referred to as devas (male) and devis (female, also spelled ‘devees’) in some ancient Hindu scriptures.

The word ‘deva’ means a shining or enlightened being. Some Hindus recognise living humans as devas or devis. These are humans who have achieved extraordinary spiritual feats during their lives on Earth. Hindus think of these people as shining alongside the gods and goddesses.

Gunas

The Sanskrit word ‘prakriti’, which means ‘nature’, refers to everything that exists in the physical universe. Prakriti has three qualities or stages, called the three gunas (or trigunas). These are ‘created’, ‘remaining’ and ‘destroyed’.

Hindus believe that all nature will go through the three gunas, or stages. Everything is first created, then remains for a time and is then destroyed. The three gunas are linked to the gods of the trimurti, as Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer. Hindu understandings of time are cyclical, or not in a straight line, so this universe is seen as one of many.

Purusha – cosmic consciousness

To begin to understand the concept of cosmic consciousness, imagine that the whole universe has a single mind. Some Hindus describe Purusha as the urge or spirit that caused our universe to come into being.