Samhāra

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Samhāra literally means ‘withdrawal,’ ‘destruction’.

Religion posits a cyclic theory of creation. Cyclic order is maintained by the following:

  1. Sṛṣṭi - creation
  2. Sthiti - sustenance
  3. Samhāra - withdrawal into the original cause

In samhāra, the process is the exact reverse of sṛṣṭi. The word is also used to indicate destruction or killing in general.


References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore