Pralaya
Encyclopedia
Pralaya, in Hindu cosmology
, is an aeonic term which specifies different periods of time during which non activity situation persists, as per different formats or contexts.
In the Samkhya
philosophy, one of the six schools of classical Indian philosophy, Pralaya means "non-existence, a state of matter achieved when the three gunas (principles of matter) are in perfect balance.
According to Vishnu Purana
& Agni Purana
, there are 4 different types of pralaya: Praakritik Pralaya, Naimittik Pralaya, Atyantik Pralaya & Nitya Pralaya.
Praakritik Pralaya, which is of 311,040,000,000,000 solar years duration, occurs after the completion of life of Brahma (i.e. 100 Brahma years = 311 trillion and 40 billion earth years = one day of Vishnu
= 1 Parama). After the completion of one Brahma life cycle, the complete dissolution of all the entities (i.e. the Panch Mahaabhoot or Universe
) takes place in the eternity (God). Praakritik Pralaya is the time for which Vishnu sleeps. The next morning, he again gives birth to a new Lord Brahma and ask him to create new worldly entities. Noticeably, Praakritik Pralaya and the Life of Brahma are of equal duration.
Naimittika Pralaya, which is of 4,320,000,000 earth years, occurs just after the end of a Kalpa. Also, known as the Night of Brahma, it signifies the end of living world. In Bhagvata Purana, sage Shukdeva told king Parikshit that if Lord Brahma is supposed to be a child (for example), then in a similar way as a child plays with his toys i.e. making various structures from his toys during day & breaking or dismantling them before he goes to sleep at night; Brahma makes the living world during his day (i.e. Kalpa) & destroys it before going to sleep during night (i.e. Naimittika Pralaya). A new living world is created by Brahma, when he wakes up the next day & so on the cycle continues till Praakritik Pralaya. Again, Naimittika Pralaya & Kalpa are of equal duration.
Atyantik Pralaya, also termed as Moksha, is the final deliverance or the attainment of salvation by a jivan (soul) and after that the jivan is never again in the clutches of karma; nor bounded by the tight ropes of Sansaar. It is therefore a variable time span conditioned or determined by the practise of the different kind of Yogas or Prapatti. It is the final immersion of a soul (i.e. aatmaa), thereby completely eliminating its individualism into the eternal almighty (i.e. Parmaatmaa).
Nitya Pralaya, is the sleep or by an extension thereof, Death.
's epic novel Ulysses
.
"Pralaya" appears in the Persona
series of games (specifically Persona 3
and Persona 4) as an attack. While it can be inherited to other Personae, its original user is "Shiva", a Persona based on the Hindu deity of the same name
.
Hindu cosmology
In Hindu cosmology the universe is, according to Hindu mythology and Vedic cosmology, cyclically created and destroyed.-Description:The Hindu cosmology and timeline is the closest to modern scientific timelines and even more which might indicate that the Big Bang is not the beginning of everything...
, is an aeonic term which specifies different periods of time during which non activity situation persists, as per different formats or contexts.
In the Samkhya
Samkhya
Samkhya, also Sankhya, Sāṃkhya, or Sāṅkhya is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy and classical Indian philosophy. Sage Kapila is traditionally considered as the founder of the Samkhya school, although no historical verification is possible...
philosophy, one of the six schools of classical Indian philosophy, Pralaya means "non-existence, a state of matter achieved when the three gunas (principles of matter) are in perfect balance.
According to Vishnu Purana
Vishnu Purana
The Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
& Agni Purana
Agni Purana
The Agni Purana, one of the 18 Mahapuranas, a genre of Hindu religious texts, contains descriptions and details of various incarnations of Vishnu. It also has details account about Rama, Krishna, Prithvi, and the stars...
, there are 4 different types of pralaya: Praakritik Pralaya, Naimittik Pralaya, Atyantik Pralaya & Nitya Pralaya.
Praakritik Pralaya, which is of 311,040,000,000,000 solar years duration, occurs after the completion of life of Brahma (i.e. 100 Brahma years = 311 trillion and 40 billion earth years = one day of Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
= 1 Parama). After the completion of one Brahma life cycle, the complete dissolution of all the entities (i.e. the Panch Mahaabhoot or Universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
) takes place in the eternity (God). Praakritik Pralaya is the time for which Vishnu sleeps. The next morning, he again gives birth to a new Lord Brahma and ask him to create new worldly entities. Noticeably, Praakritik Pralaya and the Life of Brahma are of equal duration.
Naimittika Pralaya, which is of 4,320,000,000 earth years, occurs just after the end of a Kalpa. Also, known as the Night of Brahma, it signifies the end of living world. In Bhagvata Purana, sage Shukdeva told king Parikshit that if Lord Brahma is supposed to be a child (for example), then in a similar way as a child plays with his toys i.e. making various structures from his toys during day & breaking or dismantling them before he goes to sleep at night; Brahma makes the living world during his day (i.e. Kalpa) & destroys it before going to sleep during night (i.e. Naimittika Pralaya). A new living world is created by Brahma, when he wakes up the next day & so on the cycle continues till Praakritik Pralaya. Again, Naimittika Pralaya & Kalpa are of equal duration.
Atyantik Pralaya, also termed as Moksha, is the final deliverance or the attainment of salvation by a jivan (soul) and after that the jivan is never again in the clutches of karma; nor bounded by the tight ropes of Sansaar. It is therefore a variable time span conditioned or determined by the practise of the different kind of Yogas or Prapatti. It is the final immersion of a soul (i.e. aatmaa), thereby completely eliminating its individualism into the eternal almighty (i.e. Parmaatmaa).
Nitya Pralaya, is the sleep or by an extension thereof, Death.
Pralaya in popular culture
The word pralaya appears in the Cyclops chapter of James JoyceJames Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's epic novel Ulysses
Ulysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
.
"Pralaya" appears in the Persona
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, known in Japan as is a series of role-playing video games developed and published by Atlus. The series is a spin-off of the Megami Tensei series which focuses on demon summoners. However, the Persona series centers around groups of teenagers who have the ability to...
series of games (specifically Persona 3
Persona 3
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, originally released in Japan as simply , is the fourth video game in the Shin Megami Tensei: Persona series of console role-playing games developed by Atlus, which is part of the larger Megami Tensei series of video games...
and Persona 4) as an attack. While it can be inherited to other Personae, its original user is "Shiva", a Persona based on the Hindu deity of the same name
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
.