Power of gold: The mythological origins of the universe

Gold features prominently in religions originating from India -- Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism as well as ascetic religions like Jainism. Devotees are supposed to give away gold in donation to charities and in honour of deities.

Gold is mentioned throughout Hindu mythology, where it has been described as the source of power, as well as being able to transmit waves of divine consciousness.

Gold destroys harmful germs in the body. – Brahmangranth.

According to Hindu mythology, gold is considered the soul of the world. The legends say that in a gloomy and lifeless world, the creator produced water from his body and deposited a seed, which transformed into a golden egg as radiant as the sun. It was from this golden egg, the creator himself was re-born as Lord Brahma. He was then known as Hiranyagarbha – the one born of gold.

Hiranyagarbha is a Sanskrit term that translates as “golden embryo,” “golden womb” or “golden egg.” It is derived from the words hiranya, meaning “golden” or “wealth,” and garbha, meaning “womb,” “germ/seed" or “essence.”

Gold is also regarded as the seed of Agni (the God of Fire).

Gold is the most sattvik (Sattva-predominant) amongst all the metals, according to Swami Atmashraddhananda in his book Gita for Everyday Living: Exploring the Message of the Gita.

Sattva is one of the three Guṇas (attributes), which are philosophical and psychological concepts developed by the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy. It is the quality of goodness, positivity, truth, wholesomeness, serenity, wholeness, creativity, constructiveness, balance, confidence, peacefulness and virtuousness that is drawn towards Dharma and Jnana.

Gold is a metal that absorbs sattvik and Chaitanya (divine consciousness) enriched waves and emits them into the atmosphere. Gold also leads in preserving Chaitanya-enriched waves in the form of Tej-tattva (Absolute Fire Principle). Hence, it is believed that an individual who wears gold ornaments receives the benefit of sattvikta and Chaitanya.