80 
THE COSMOGONY 
Veda, " In the beginning the waters producing a child, 
brought forth an embryo, which as it was coming into life 
was enveloped in a golden covering " (Muir's Sans. Texts, 
Vol. IV, p. 16). 
From this it is evident (1) that when Hiranyagarbha 
was born the universe was in a chaotic state pervaded with 
water ; (2) that he rose from an embryo generated by the 
water when the earth was " void and without form ;" and 
(3) that he made the world into its present form from the 
existing shapeless chaos. " For he who is god above all 
gods established the earth and the sky;" he " formed the 
brilliant waters" and "the snowy mountains ;" and hence 
all creation unite in " declaring his greatness." 
Was this chaos eternally self-extistent independently of 
Hiranyagarbha ? or was there a time in the unspeakable past 
when he produced it ? or did the chaotic waters by some 
unknown law of development gradually and spontaneously 
produce him ? or were both eternally and independently 
co-existent ? It appears from this hymn that both were 
regarded as eternally and independently co-existent. It is 
stated in the eighth verse that Hii-anyagarbha " through 
his greatness beheld the waters which contained power," 
i.e., " the great waters " of verse 7 which " pervaded the 
universe " or chaos. He must have beheld these before he 
was bom from the golden embryo, for the " great waters " 
of these verses are different from the " great and brilliant 
waters " of verse 9. The former are the great primeval 
waters from which the Avorld was made ; and the latter are 
the seas, the lakes and the rivers, "formed" by the creator. 
Of course it might be affirmed that he beheld the great 
chaotic waters after he was bom ; but the former view is 
more in harmony Avith other vedic passages. The Atharva- 
Veda, 2, 6, says, " In the beginning the waters, immortal, 
and vei-sed in the sacred ceremonies covered the universe 
containing an embryo ; over these divine waters wa^ the 
