Material Nature vs. Material Creation

(written on October 18, 2019)

(References: SB 2.9.33 and BG 13.20-21)

In SB 2.9.33, it is stated that, “Brahmā, it is I, the Personality of Godhead, who was existing before the creation, when there was nothing but Myself. Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation. That which you see now is also I, the Personality of Godhead, and after annihilation what remains will also be I, the Personality of Godhead.” In this verse, Krishna is showing that the material nature (prakriti) is different from the material creation. He says, “Nor was there the material nature, the cause of this creation.” And also, BG 13.20 says, “Both material nature and the living entity are eternal. That is to say that they existed before the creation.”

The material creation is actually the effect of the material nature. The difference between both is the state of unmanifest and manifested. When the material nature was needed to be manifested, the Lord in his purusha avatar placed his glance upon it, causing it to be impregnated with his energies and hence formed into the material creation. Before creation, the material nature is in the state of pradhana or the subtlest unmanifested material energy and during creation, the material creation is in the state of maha tattva where it is manifested. This is the difference between the material nature and the material creation.