The Multiverse

Vishnu dreaming of infinite universes

The **Multiverse** is comprised of our Universe, and infinite alternate universes, as well as dimensions, realms, and planes of existence.

## **Notable** **Religions**

### Hinduism

In Hinduism the gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva; are in charge of the creation, preservation, and recurrent reformation of infinite universes. Brahma creates universes; Vishnu preserves, and maintains them; then Shiva destroys and reforms them when their lifecycle is at an end. Once their lifespan has expired, Shiva will then destroy the realm; at that time there is nothing left but an endless ocean.

Vishnu's body pores release bubbles which later become universes & each universe has size & lifespan according to the number of heads of the Brahma in it. Our Brahma has 4 heads so ours is the smallest kind of universe available.

The Hinduism an unnamed goddess has the title of *Anekakotibrahmandajanani* (One who gives birth to millions of universes.)

## Tales of Krishna and Brahma

**A famous Hindu myth involving the gods Krishna and Brahma involves the multiverse.**

*It was the time when Lord Krishna was on earth living in land of Braj. He used to play everyday with his friends while taking his cows & calves out for gazing.*

*One day, Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, heard about Krishna. He also got to know that Krishna has recently killed a demon in the form of a huge snake named Aghasur.*

*Brahma knew the power of Aghasur & hence thought that it’s impossible for any human to kill Aghasur, he’s too powerful for even demigods.*

*According to Brahma, this cowherd boy Krishna has deceived the innocent people of Braj and is making them a fool. So, he decided to test Krishna and wanted to teach him a lesson.*

*Finally, Brahma came to Earth. He witnessed that Krishna was eating & playing with cowherd boys. Krishna was eating from their hands & was feeding them with his hands.*

*Brahma stole away all the children and calves and hid them away in his realm. Now when Brahma came back he was utmost shocked.. He observed that like any other day, Krishna was having his lunch in the forest with his friends he had just now stolen. Calves were also gazing nearby. Brahma couldn’t believe his eyes & got extremely baffled. He used his divine vision & observed that stolen boys & calves were still in his realm – sleeping.*

*He plunged in the lotus in front of Lord Krishna. He has realized his blunder mistake. He apologized. Within a moment, there were thousands of Brahmas around Krishna.*

*To see his amazement, Krishna explained him that he is Brahma or creator of just one universe; there are infinite universes or muitiverses in creation.*

*Krishna told Brahma that since he was under the impression that he’s the only creator, he had summoned other Brahmas so that he could see & realize the truth & reality.*

*Some Brahmas had 10 heads, some had 100 & even 1000 heads. Within a moment all Brahmas returned back to their respective universes as Krishna asked them to do so.*

## **Texts and Scriptures**

The concept of multiverses appear many times in Hindu literature such as the Puranas:

*Every universe is covered by seven layers — earth, water, fire, air, sky, the total energy and false ego — each ten times greater than the previous one. There are innumerable universes besides this one, and although they are unlimitedly large, they move about like atoms in You. Therefore You are called unlimited.* **(Bhagavata Purana 6.16.37)**

*Because You are unlimited, neither the lords of heaven nor even You Yourself can ever reach the end of Your glories. The countless universes, each enveloped in its shell, are compelled by the wheel of time to wander within You, like particles of dust blowing about in the sky. The śrutis, following their method of eliminating everything separate from the Supreme, become successful by revealing You as their final conclusion.* **(Bhagavata Purana 10.87.41)**

*Of those countless universes, O Rama, in some there are only plants; some have Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and others as the presiding deities, and some have none at all; in some there are only animals and birds; in some there is only an ocean; some are solid rocks; some are inhabited only by worms; some are pervaded by dense darkness; in some gods dwell; some are forever illumined. Some seem to be heading towards dissolution; some seem to be falling in space towards destruction.* **(Section III. Utpatti Prakaranam - chapter 29-30)**

*What am I, a small creature measuring seven spans of my own hand? I am enclosed in a potlike universe composed of material nature, the total material energy, false ego, ether, air, water and earth. And what is Your glory? Unlimited universes pass through the pores of Your body just as particles of dust pass through the openings of a screened window* **(Bhagavata Purana 10.14.11)**

*The child that will become the Lord of countless Brahmândas* (universes)*, now an orphan having no father nor mother began to look upwards from the waters. This boy came to be denominated afterwards by the name of Mahâ Virât, when he became gross and grosser. As there is nothing finer than radium so there is nothing grosser than Mahâ Virât. The power of this Mahâ Virât is one-sixteenth of that of S’ri Krishna, the Highest Self. But this boy, is the Sole Stay of all this Universe and he is denominated by the name “Mahâ-Visnu”. In his every pore countless universes are existing. So much so that even S’ri Krishna could not count them. If it were possible to count the number of dust particles, it is impossible to count the number of universes. So there are endless Brahmas, Vishnus, and Mahes’varas. In every Brahmânda, there is Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahes’a. Each Brahmânda extends from Pâtâla to the Brahmâloka. The abode of Vaikuntha is higher than that, again the abode of Goloka is fifty koti yojanas higher than Vaikuntha.* **(Chapter III, 9, Sri Mad Devi Bragavatam)**

*And who will search through the wide infinities of space to count the universes side by side, each containing its Brahma, its Vishnu, its Shiva? Who can count the Indras in them all--those Indras side by side, who reign at once in all the innumerable worlds; those others who passed away before them; or even the Indras who succeed each other in any given line, ascending to godly kingship, one by one, and, one by one, passing away* **(Brahma Vaivarta Purana).**

*Lord Shiva said:* *“My dear son, I, Lord Brahma and the other gods, who rotate within this universe under the misconception of our greatness, cannot exhibit any power to compete with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for innumerable universes and their inhabitants come into existence and are annihilated by the simple direction of the Lord.”* **(Shrimad Bhagwatam 9.4.56)**

*By conglomerating all those separate entities He manifested the innumerable mundane universes and Himself entered into the inmost recess of every extended conglomerate [virad-vigraha]. At that time those jivas who had lain dormant during the cataclysm were awakened.”* **(Shrimad Bhagwatam 5.20)**

*Devahuti said: “Brahma is said to be unborn because he takes birth from the lotus flower which grows from Your abdomen while You lie in the ocean at the bottom of the universe. But even Brahma simply meditated upon You, whose body is the source of unlimited universes.”* **(Shrimad Bhagwatam 3.33.2)**

## **Analysis**

### Numbers and Appearances

There is an **infinite number** of other universes. All these universes are unique in their own way.

While some universes are similar to ours, others are widely different. The size of universes also varies; while some universes for example contain planets, stars, and galaxies, while others contain only a single space, or a black void of unknown size.

### Time and Laws

All universes have three spatial axis, allowing creatures to move back and forth, left and right, and up and down. Each universe also has one temporal axis (time); while beings like humans travel along this axis at a constant speed, it takes them one second to move one second in time and one day to move one day in time, powerful supernatural beings can freely move back and forth at any speed. The flow of time within universes is often different from that on Earth, for example one year on Earth is equal to a thousand years in any other universe.

### **Deities**

Our universe isn't the only one with residing gods. Gods exist across the multiverse and while some universes have residing gods, others do not. As mentioned in *Section III. Utpatti Prakaranam - chapter 29-30*

## **Types, Classifications and Variations**

### Current Classifications

1. **Spiritual Universes:** Spiritual universes are spiritual in nature and are inhabited by spiritual beings and are usually intangible or metaphysical.
2. **Astral Universes:** Astral realms are kind of in-between of being physical and spiritual in nature.
3. **Physical/Material Universes:** Physical or material universes are tangible.

### Afterlife

* **Underworlds:** Underworlds are usually ruled over by gods or other beings and are known for either being neutral realms where all the deceased go or hellish worlds full of pain and suffering where evil souls go.
* **Heavens:** Heavenly worlds are realms where the souls of good people go to after they pass away, like Underworlds, they are ruled by gods.

### Universes

* **Alternate Universes:** Alternate universes or alternate realities are worlds that have a similar appearance with Earth or our universe but there are differences, either minor or major.
* **Parallel Universes:** Parallel universes are universes that are considered adjacent or is adjacent to another realm.
* **Bubble Universes:** Bubble universes are universes that exist within another universe.

### Dimensions

* **Pocket Dimensions:** Small self-contained universes that exist within a universe but have their own laws.
* **Parallel Dimensions:** Similar to parallel universes, however parallel dimensions are much smaller than actual universes and exist parallel to each other. Each having their own rules and laws.

## **Interdimensional Travel**

Various method of travelling between universes include:

### **Interdimensional Portals**

Mystical convergences where the barriers between dimensions are weaker, which emit supernatural energy and attract supernatural entities. Interdimensional portals have been known to randomly open and close in locations across the earth.

### **Magic**

Different forms of magic are able to open interdimensional portals, however this requires incredible magical knowledge to successfully preform. Ancient cultures of South America, most notably the Incas have created interdimensional portals powered by ancient magic. While most of these gateways are either destroyed or inactive, some have been reported to contain high supernatural activity.

### **Ouija Boards**

While Ouija Boards were used to communicate with the souls of the deceased, they have a dangerous side effect of opening interdimensional portals and allowing all sorts of evil creatures to enter our world.

### **Deities**

Gods are powerful enough to open interdimensional gateways.

### **Astral Projection / Dream Walking**

Humans can view other worlds by the use of astral projection or dream walking. However they are not actually traveling to these universes physically but spiritually or psychically.

## **Inhabitants**

As there are an infinite number of realms, there is an infinite number of supernatural races/species that inhabit them. Occasionally a new kind of supernatural being finds its way into our world and is then documented in lore. Such as the cases of Mothman, the Sandown Clown, and Spring-heeled Jack for example.

* **Deities**
* Humans
* Infinite Supernatural Races