Ajātivāda

The Sanskrit term Ajativada can be translated as "non-creation". Ajativada is one of several alternately-held creation theories in Hindu Advaita Vedanta philosophy. According to Advaita Vedanta, the world of appearances is considered an illusion and to not actually exist. The idea that the illusory world was not created is called ajativada, or non-creation. The concept implies that searching for a source of the origin of the world in a creator is futile. Some Advaitins translate the concept of ajativada with the phrase: "nothing ever happened" or: "Not even the appearance of creation exists". That is to say, not even the illusion of the world exists.

According to the 8th century Advaitin Gaudapada, ajativada means that causality is internally incoherent and entails the belief that Atman is eternally unborn. Adi Shankara wrote the following in verse 426 of his work Viveka Chudamani (The Crest-Jewel of Discrimination):

On account of constant absorption in Brahman, freed from the sense of reality of external objects, only seemingly enjoying them when offered by others, like a sleepy baby, perceiving the world as that seen in a dream and recognising it only now and then, such a man is indeed rare. He is the enjoyer of the fruits of untold merit and is truly held blessed and revered on earth.

The 20th century sage Ramana Maharshi was a particularly articulate adherent to the concept of ajativada. On Sri Ramana's view, ajativada or non-creation is a part of the highest form of consciousness that can be attained. Sri Ramana described three consecutive steps, each of which corresponds to a different understanding of reality:

That somebody or some god created the world
That the world arises simultaneously with our perception of it
Finally, ajativada, that the world never happened at all

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