Annihilation of the Universe

Question:

It is mentioned in Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 12.4.4 and 1.6.29–30 that at the end of a day of Brahmā, there is naimittika-pralaya at which time the universe and Brahmā enter into Mahā-Viṣṇu. From Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya 20.321–324, Adi 5.68–70, and Brahmā-saṁhitā 5.48, we understand that Brahmā lives for a hundred years, or the duration of an exhalation of Mahā-Viṣṇu. And when Mahā-Viṣṇu inhales, the universe enters into Mahā-Viṣṇu. 

There appears to be a contradiction. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam says the universe enters into Maha-Viṣṇu at the end of Brahmā’s day, and Caitanya-caritāmṛta says it enters Maha-Viṣṇu at the end of Brahmā’s life. 

Do all the universes manifest at the same time when the Lord exhales, and are all the universes annihilated at the same time when the Lord inhales? 

Answer: I think there is a misunderstanding about SB 12.4.4. Below, I present the verse along with the previous two verses, and their translation:

caturyuga-sahasraṃ ca brahmaṇo dinam ucyate
sa kalpo yatra manavaścaturdaśa viśāṃpate

“When four yugas, called a caturyuga, elapse a thousand times, it is called a day of Brahmā. It is also called a kalpa, O king, and fourteen Manus rule in it successively.” (SB 12.4.2)

tad ante pralayastāvān brāhmī rātrīrudāhṛtā
trayo lokā ime tatra kalpante pralayāya hi

“At the end of his day, there is dissolution for the same duration of time. That is called the night of Brahmā. During this period these three lokas [bhu, buvar and svaḥ] are dissolved.” (SB 12.4.3)

eṣa naimittikaḥ proktaḥ pralayo yatra vaiśvasṛk
śete’anantāsano viśvamātmsātkṛtya cātmabhuḥ 

“This is called naimittika dissolution. During this dissolution, Brahmā (ātmabhuḥ), taking the whole universe within himself, sleeps along with Nārāyaṇa (anantāsana).” (SB 12.4.4)

Here in the last verse, it appears that Brahmā and the universe enter into Nārāyaṇa. Śrīdhara Svāmī also takes that meaning. He writes: yatra yadā viśvasṛk śrīnārāyaṇoviśvamātmsātkṛtya svasminnupasaṃhṛtyaśete. Ātmabhūrbrahmā ca tasmin śete. But then he gives an alternative meaning. He writes: tayōrabheda-vivakṣayā vā brahmaṇa evānantāsanatvam uktam – “Or alternatively, Brahmā, considering him as non-different from Nārāyaṇa, is called ananta-āsanam[the name used for Nārāyaṇa].

Thus, we see that Śrīdhara Svāmī was not satisfied with his first explanation because it contradicts the understanding of complete dissolution, which is described in the following verses. Srī Viśvanātha Cakravartī also makes it clear that the three planetary systems [bhu, bhuvar, and svaḥ] are dissolved. Brahmā enters into Nārāyaṇa and sleeps. Thus, it is not stated that the universe enters into Nārāyaṇa or Mahāviṣṇu. Rather, it enters into Brahmā, who enters into Nārāyaṇa. Only the lower three lokas are destroyed. The upper lokas of Mahar, Jana, Tapa, and Satya lokas are not dissolved.

The other reference that you give is verses 1.6.29,30. These verses are not describing the dissolution of the universe, but Nārada’s attainment of a spiritual body. So I think you have given wrong reference.

-Originally published at https://jiva.org/annihilation-of-the-universe/