View source for What Is Annihilated and What Is Eternal

When we look at the world around us, it appears stable and permanent. However, the Vedic literature reveals a sobering truth: everything made of matter is temporary. Whether it is an individual human body, a towering skyscraper, or an entire galactic system, all material manifestations are subject to the strict laws of creation, maintenance, and eventual destruction. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the ultimate goal of human life is to distinguish between what will inevitably be annihilated and what will exist eternally.

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=== The Destiny of the Material Body ===

The first step in self-realization is understanding the temporary nature of our physical covering. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the material body is simply a machine created by the laws of nature at a specific point in time. Because it has a beginning, it must logically have an end. When the body is annihilated, it simply merges back into the earth, just as a broken clay pot returns to the soil.

* [[Vaniquotes:Everything that is created is annihilated at a certain stage. Both the material body and the material world are created, and they are therefore subject to annihilation|Everything that is created is annihilated at a certain stage. Both the material body and the material world are created, and they are therefore subject to annihilation.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Different bodies and capacities are simply transformations of the earth that exist in name only, for everything grows out of the earth and when everything is annihilated it again mingles with the earth|Different bodies and capacities are simply transformations of the earth that exist in name only, for everything grows out of the earth and when everything is annihilated it again mingles with the earth.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:This body, after all, is produced by the unmanifested nature and again annihilated and merged in the natural elements. Therefore, it is the common property of everyone - SB 10.10.12|This body, after all, is produced by the unmanifested nature and again annihilated and merged in the natural elements. Therefore, it is the common property of everyone - Srimad Bhagavatam 10.10.12.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If the next birth is a fact, the next bodily form is also a fact. As soon as we accept a material body, we must accept the fact that that body will be annihilated and that we will have to accept another body|If the next birth is a fact, the next bodily form is also a fact. As soon as we accept a material body, we must accept the fact that that body will be annihilated and that we will have to accept another body.]]

=== The Indestructible Spirit Soul ===

While the physical body perishes, the conscious entity inside the body does not. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently quotes the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' (''na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre'') to prove that the spirit soul—described scientifically as the anti-material particle—is eternal. It cannot be cut, burned, or annihilated by any scientific weapon. It simply transmigrates from one temporary form to another.

* [[Vaniquotes:Na hanyate hanyamane sarire (BG 2.20). This is the authoritative statement, that I am not annihilated on account of my body being annihilated|Na hanyate hanyamane sarire (Bhagavad-Gita 2.20). This is the authoritative statement, that I am not annihilated on account of my body being annihilated.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The spirit soul is never born, nor can he ever die. He has no past, present, or future, because he is eternal. And although very old, he is always fresh and does not become annihilated even after the annihilation of the body|The spirit soul is never born, nor can he ever die. He has no past, present, or future, because he is eternal. And although very old, he is always fresh and does not become annihilated even after the annihilation of the body.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The soul can never be cut into pieces, nor annihilated by any number of weapons, regardless of scientific devices. Nor was it ever possible to cut the individual souls from the original Soul. BG 1972 purports|The soul can never be cut into pieces, nor annihilated by any number of weapons, regardless of scientific devices. Nor was it ever possible to cut the individual souls from the original Soul.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The temporary material body is certainly a foreign dress. The Bhagavad-gita (2.20) clearly says that after the destruction of the material body the living entity is not annihilated, nor does he lose his identity|The temporary material body is certainly a foreign dress. The Bhagavad-gita (2.20) clearly says that after the destruction of the material body the living entity is not annihilated, nor does he lose his identity.]]

=== Cosmic Creation and Devastation ===

The cycle of birth and death applies to the entire universe as well. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals that the material cosmos is repeatedly manifested and destroyed by the supreme will of the Lord. During the night of Lord Brahmā, a partial devastation occurs, and at the end of Brahmā's life, the entire cosmic manifestation is completely annihilated, merging back into the body of Mahā-Viṣṇu until the next creation.

* [[Vaniquotes:In Bhagavad-gita (BG 9.10) the Lord (Krsna) says: "This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again"|In Bhagavad-gita (Bhagavad-Gita 9.10) the Lord (Krsna) says: "This material nature is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, and it is producing all moving and unmoving beings. By its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again".]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When Brahma's day is manifest, this multitude of living entities comes into being, and at the arrival of Brahma's night they are all annihilated. BG 8.18 - 1972|When Brahma's day is manifest, this multitude of living entities comes into being, and at the arrival of Brahma's night they are all annihilated. Bhagavad-Gita 8.18 - 1972.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The origin of the material creation is Maha-visnu, who lies in the Causal Ocean. While He sleeps in that ocean, millions of universes are generated as He exhales, and they are all annihilated when He inhales|The origin of the material creation is Maha-visnu, who lies in the Causal Ocean. While He sleeps in that ocean, millions of universes are generated as He exhales, and they are all annihilated when He inhales.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The creation of the material world, wherein the conditioned souls are allowed to act subordinately by the Supreme Lord, takes place again and again after being repeatedly annihilated. The material creation is something like a cloud in the unlimited sky|The creation of the material world, wherein the conditioned souls are allowed to act subordinately by the Supreme Lord, takes place again and again after being repeatedly annihilated. The material creation is something like a cloud in the unlimited sky.]]

=== The Eternal Spiritual Sky ===

If the entire material universe is eventually destroyed, where can the soul find permanent shelter? Śrīla Prabhupāda directs our attention to the spiritual sky (''sanātana-dhāma''). Far beyond the changing, cloud-like material nature exists a supreme, unmanifested realm containing the Vaikuṇṭha planets. Because this realm is composed entirely of spiritual energy, it is never annihilated, even during the total devastation of the material cosmos.

* [[Vaniquotes:Yet there is another nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is. BG 8.20 - 1972|Yet there is another nature, which is eternal and is transcendental to this manifested and unmanifested matter. It is supreme and is never annihilated. When all in this world is annihilated, that part remains as it is. Bhagavad-Gita 8.20 - 1972.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Even though all the material universes are annihilated again and again in the Causal Ocean, the Vaikuntha planets, which are spiritual, exist eternally and are not subject to dissolution|Even though all the material universes are annihilated again and again in the Causal Ocean, the Vaikuntha planets, which are spiritual, exist eternally and are not subject to dissolution.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The other, greater part of His (God's) creation, namely the Vaikuntha world, is neither created nor annihilated; otherwise the Vaikuntha-dhama would not have been called eternal|The other, greater part of His (God's) creation, namely the Vaikuntha world, is neither created nor annihilated; otherwise the Vaikuntha-dhama would not have been called eternal.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Krsna indicates that beyond this changing (six transformations of material nature), cloudlike nature there is a spiritual nature, which is eternal. In addition, when this material nature is annihilated, that avyaktat sanatanah will remain|Krsna indicates that beyond this changing (six transformations of material nature), cloudlike nature there is a spiritual nature, which is eternal. In addition, when this material nature is annihilated, that avyaktat sanatanah will remain.]]

=== Annihilating the Demons ===

The Supreme Lord is not a passive observer of the material world. When atheistic and demoniac leaders disrupt the peace and abandon religious principles, they become a heavy burden on the earth. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Lord personally descends—or empowers His divine weapons and representatives—specifically to annihilate these miscreants and protect His pure devotees.

* [[Vaniquotes:As stated in Bhagavad-gita, whenever there is a discrepancy in the discharge of religious principles, the Lord descends on the surface of the earth to protect religious principles and to annihilate the miscreant|As stated in Bhagavad-gita, whenever there is a discrepancy in the discharge of religious principles, the Lord descends on the surface of the earth to protect religious principles and to annihilate the miscreant.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Devaki said, " I also know for certain that You have descended to annihilate all kinds of miscreants who have been misled in the course of time"|Devaki said, " I also know for certain that You have descended to annihilate all kinds of miscreants who have been misled in the course of time".]]
* [[Vaniquotes:As stated here (in SB 9.15.15), rajas-tamo-vrtam, bharam abrahmanyam: when the ruling class is influenced by the lower modes of nature, namely ignorance and passion, it becomes a burden to the world and must then be annihilated by superior power|As stated here (in Srimad Bhagavatam 9.15.15), rajas-tamo-vrtam, bharam abrahmanyam: when the ruling class is influenced by the lower modes of nature, namely ignorance and passion, it becomes a burden to the world and must then be annihilated by superior power.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:If one is born of a brahmana father but his symptoms are demoniac, he is regarded as a demon. The Sudarsana cakra is always concerned with annihilating the demons|If one is born of a brahmana father but his symptoms are demoniac, he is regarded as a demon. The Sudarsana cakra is always concerned with annihilating the demons.]]

=== Rejecting Spiritual Suicide ===

While devotees seek to return to the eternal spiritual planets, impersonal philosophers harbor a different, dangerous desire. Frustrated by material suffering, they wish to merge their consciousness into a spiritual void, effectively annihilating their individual existence. Śrīla Prabhupāda strongly condemns this "spiritual suicide," explaining that true liberation means preserving one's individuality to eternally serve the Lord.

* [[Vaniquotes:As for those who are impersonalists and who want to commit spiritual suicide by annihilating the individual existence of the living entity, Krsna helps also by absorbing them into His effulgence. BG 1972 purports|As for those who are impersonalists and who want to commit spiritual suicide by annihilating the individual existence of the living entity, Krsna helps also by absorbing them into His effulgence.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:In that (brahma-bhuta) stage of existence, the idea of becoming one with the Supreme Brahman and annihilating one's individuality becomes hellish. BG 1972 purports|In that (brahma-bhuta) stage of existence, the idea of becoming one with the Supreme Brahman and annihilating one's individuality becomes hellish.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:There are five different kinds of mukti. Impersonalists prefer to merge into the existence of the Transcendence, but the personalists, or devotees, do not annihilate their individuality|There are five different kinds of mukti. Impersonalists prefer to merge into the existence of the Transcendence, but the personalists, or devotees, do not annihilate their individuality.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Impersonalists prefer to merge into the existence of the Transcendence, but the personalists, or devotees, do not annihilate their individuality, & thus the devotees of God individually enjoy spiritual variegatedness on the planets of the spiritual sky|Impersonalists prefer to merge into the existence of the Transcendence, but the personalists, or devotees, do not annihilate their individuality, and thus the devotees of God individually enjoy spiritual variegatedness on the planets of the spiritual sky.]]

=== Conclusion ===

Understanding the principle of annihilation completely changes how we invest our time and energy. Since everything material—including our current bodies and the planet we live on—is destined for destruction, investing in mundane economic development is ultimately futile. By practicing Kṛṣṇa consciousness, we shift our focus from the temporary to the eternal, guaranteeing our transfer to the spiritual world, which is never annihilated.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Annihilate|Annihilate]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

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