S.M. Jain
Jainism does not subscribe to the theory of creation by some super power almighty creator, controller and destroyer God. Those who adorn this concept attribute to such God the best and noblest qualities of utmost kindness, benevolence, perfection without any faults. It is believed that nothing happens, moves, even a leaf does not flicker without his express will. There is obvious flaw and contradiction in this theory. If such almighty God is kind and benevolent, flawless and perfect, then how and why did he create such an imperfect, unkind world full of wars, pestilences, famines, droughts, floods, hunger, and untold miseries. If all that happens is by his express will, then no one does any wrong even a murderer as he is ordained to do so. The scriptures of all sects and religions exhort the respective followers against bad deeds and extol good deeds. These preachings will be irrelevant if all manifestations, actions, good and bad are by the express wish of one almighty God. Also no good person will destroy his own good creation and God being good and perfect should not have created anything bad. It is ignorance about causes of various phenomena and events that conceptualised imaginary power God, controlling all events also solving all problems. It proved dangerous by killing the initiative, confidence and action by individuals, groups and societies
The creation theory has been questioned in Vedas, which are generally cited in its support. Upanishads, Geeta and Mahabharat have also not supported it.
त्रिनाभिचक्रम जरम भवभिति
(Rigveda 1-1)
i.e. Sun is eternal and is never destroyed
यत त उश्वं तत आपूर्यति प्रजापति
(Atharva Veda 12-1-61)
i.e. The sun is throwing out several trillions tons of energy but it is being replenished naturally.
कतरा पूर्व कतरा परायो
कथा जानो कवया को विवेद॥
(Rigveda 1-185-1)
i.e. Rigveda questions: If the universe was created then what for? From where? Who saw it being created?
नविजानामि यतरा परस्मात्
(Atharva Veda 107-43)
i.e. Brahma says, „I do not know who was created first."
Kumaril Bhatt the famous Vedic scholar also opposed creation theory in his treatise Shlokvartik:
प्रवृत्ति कथमाद्याच जयते सम्प्रतियते
शरीरादेविना चास्य कथमिच्छामि सर्जने॥47॥
i.e. What was the reason for creation of universe? If it is because of wishes of God, then how God who is without body, can have wishes.
नचत इचने नैषां प्रतिपत्तिः सुनिश्चिता।
असृष्यवप्यसौब्र यादात्मैश्वर्य प्रकाशनात्॥60॥
यदि प्रानप्यसौतस्मादर्थ आसीन्नतेनस।
सम्बद्ध इति तस्यान्यस्तदयो ऽन्यप्ररोचना॥61॥
i.e. Vedas cannot be trusted because they are work of God who may have mentioned creation to glorify himself. The stanzas, which have mentioned creation, are mere poetry by poets in praise of their own Gods.
Kathopnishad mentions:
उर्द्धमूलोऽधः सारवयषोऽश्वत्यः सनातनः (3-2-1)
i.e. The universe is eternal
Geeta also States similarly:
(i) उर्द्धमूल मधः शाख मश्वत्थं प्राहुख्ययं (15-1)
(ii) न कर्त्तत्वं न कर्माणि लोकस्य स्रजाति प्रभुः।
न कर्मफल सॅयोगं स्वभावस्तु प्रवर्त्तते (5-14)
(God is not creator of universe nor does he design actions of substances. These happen because of their inherent properties).
