Sometimes we need to go back to basics … In the many years I have spent working with children and their wonderful innocent philosophies, I observed that reviews of ‘basics’ work just as well for adults as they do for children! Anyone of any age loves a good basic story of life and spirituality. Creativity yields growth of self.  Basics yield strength and support the spirit.

There are many different stories and beliefs about creation contained in the Hindu scriptures. One synopsis is as follows:

With its cyclical notion of time, Hinduism teaches that the material world is created not once but repeatedly, time and time again. Additionally, this universe is considered to be one of many, all enclosed "like innumerable bubbles floating in space." Within this universe, there are three main regions: the heavenly planets, the earthly realm and the lower worlds. Scripture goes into some detail as to the nature of these regions and their respective inhabitants.

Hinduism is therefore not predominantly earth-centered, and puts much emphasis on other "planes of existence" – various material abodes and the spiritual realm itself. This is reflected in Hindu stories and specifically through the concept of lila (divine pastime).These lilas take place in the spiritual world and are replicated at sacred locations on earth.

There is no one simple account of creation, and there are many detailed and inter-related stories. Central is the narration of the sacrifice of the primal being (purusha), found in the Rig Veda. On the metaphysical level, the universe is created from sound (vak). Sound corresponds to ether, the subtlest of the five material elements. According to such sankhya philosophy, the elements develop progressively from subtle to gross.

The atman, more subtle than any matter, generates his own successive material bodies. This world and its creatures are here to facilitate the soul's self-centered desires, and ultimately to enable his return to the spiritual world.

“From the depths a humming sound began to tremble, Ohm. It grew and spread, filling the emptiness and throbbing with energy … Vishnu's servant, Brahma awaited the Lord's command. Vishnu spoke to his servant: ‘It's time to begin’, Brahma vowed. Vishnu commanded: ‘Create the world’ and a wind swept the waters.” – Real Legends and Myths

What is OM?

The sacred sound Aum is believed to be the first sound at the start of creation.

Om (also spelled Aum) is a Hindu sacred sound that is considered the greatest of all mantras. The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m. Thus Om mystically embodies the essence of the entire universe. This meaning is further deepened by the Indian philosophical belief that God first created sound and the universe arose from it. As the most sacred sound, Om is the root of the universe and everything that exists and it continues to hold everything together. The syllable Om is composed of the three sounds a-u-m (in Sanskrit, the vowels a and u combine to become o) and the symbol's threefold nature is central to its meaning. It represent several important triads:

• the three worlds - earth, atmosphere, and heaven
• the three major Hindu gods –Brahma, Vishu and Siva
• the three sacred Vedic scriptures - Rg, Yajur, and Sama

OM possesses a vibrational aspect apart from its conceptual significance. If pronounced correctly, its vibrations resonate through the body and penetrate the ātman.  This is why it is used successfully in chanting. At another level, the three sounds that constitute the syllable—a, u, and m—have been associated with the states of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, states to which all life can be reduced. Thus, by repeating the syllable the chanter passes through all three states.

Existence in the entire cosmos vibrates with an energy that is audible to a mystic as a humming vibration. The closest experience of this sound in ordinary experience would be the humming sound of an electric transformer. Yet this humming is produced by the atoms of the universe vibrating at different frequencies.

In Sanskrit this sound is called Anahada Nada (also called Anahad Shabd in Sikh scriptures). Literally this means “sound produced without striking.” It is an unstruck sound, which unlike ordinary audible sounds is not produced by two things striking one another.

AUM represents this sound in its fullness from creation to eventual destruction.

Side Note: Years ago while observing a class of young five year old children learning the foundation of Hinduism I was struck by an observation made by one little boy. He stood up in class and told the teacher that he must be wrong about  creation:

"It is quite simple", he said, "The great power in the universe put his hand upon his sacred string instrument which when he vibrated it, sent a shock wave through the universe. That  sound was love. All things were created from that love."

Children have simple philosophies of truth. I learned much that day.

http://hinduism.iskcon.org/concepts/112.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/hinduism/symbols/aum.htm

https://nexusnovel.wordpress.com/2006/09/13/om-or-aum-symbol-the-primal-sound-of-creation/