title: How the Universe was Created and Our Purpose In It: The Vedic Answers to the Mysteries of Life
author:  Stephen Knapp 
description: Stephen Knapp has studied the major Vedic texts of India and practiced yoga and the Eastern teachings for over forty years. He has traveled extensively throughout India and has taken over 17,000 photos of the numerous holy places he has visited. He has authored nearly two dozen well-received books on Vedic and Eastern culture and its spiritual philosophy. He is recognized as an authority on Indian traditions and its spiritual culture. He continues to write books, articles, and give lectures at various venues both in the United States and in India.
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  In quest of the truth
  
  
  There was no matter nor anti-matter, there was no air nor sky.
  
  
  There was no death nor immortality, there was no day nor night.
  
  
  There was darkness and chaos, everything a void and formless.
  
  
  Then arose desire, the primal of all traits, discovering existent in non-
  existent.
  
  
  They traversed the void and saw what lies within, mighty forces and free
  energy.
  
  
  Then one wonders, when was it born and who created the universe, for even the
  Gods were created later.
  
  
  Was this created by the Supreme Being, who controls everything?
  
  
  He surely knows, or maybe not.
  
  
  Nasadiya Sukta, paraphrased
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  [Introduction](part0004.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The tale of twins – Mehrgarh and Bhirrana](part0007.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The dawn of civilisation – The Great Harappan cities](part0008.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [What is in a name?](part0009.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The burden of literacy](part0010.xhtml)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [The pioneers of engineering](part0011.xhtml)