# Lord & Creation > [!summary] > *How does the unlimited Lord create the material world? These analogies illuminate the mystery of creation—how God creates without effort, maintains without attachment, and dissolves without loss.* ## Spider & Web ### Creating from Himself As a spider creates its web from its own body, the Lord creates the material world from His own energy. He is both the efficient and material cause. ![[cc/madhya/20/146#purport|spider]] —Cc. [[cc/madhya/20/146|Madhya 20.146]] Purport ## Potter & Clay ### Shaping the Creation As a potter shapes clay on a wheel, the Lord shapes the material creation through His energies. The clay (matter), wheel (time), and potter's skill (the Lord) work together. ![[cc/adi/5/63|potter]] —Cc. [[cc/adi/5/63|Ādi 5.63]] See also: [[sb/4/31/17|SB 4.31.17]], [[cc/adi/5/51|Ādi 5.51]] ## Dreamer & Dream ### Creating Through Will As a dreamer creates an entire world within his mind, the Lord creates the material manifestation through His dreaming potency (yoga-nidrā). ![[sb/2/1/39#purport|dreamer]] —SB [[sb/2/1/39|2.1.39]] Purport ## Actor & Performance ### Uninvolved Despite Appearing Involved As an actor plays various roles without being affected by them, the Lord appears to act in creation but remains transcendentally situated. ![[sb/5/18/26#purport|actor]] —SB [[sb/5/18/26|5.18.26]] Purport ## Sun & Its Effects ### Creating Without Contact As the sun creates various effects (evaporation, growth, warmth) without direct contact, the Lord creates through His energies without material involvement. ![[bg/9/10#purport|sun]] —Bg. [[bg/9/10|9.10]] Purport ## Artist & Painting ### Creative Intelligence As an artist creates a painting manifesting his intelligence, the cosmic manifestation displays the supreme intelligence of its creator. ![[sb/2/10/49-50#purport|artist]] —SB [[sb/2/10/49-50|2.10.49-50]] Purport ## Government & State ### Delegated Administration As a government operates through various departments and officers, the Lord maintains creation through demigods and natural laws. ![[sb/2/7/50#purport|government]] —SB [[sb/2/7/50|2.7.50]] Purport See also: [[sb/2/9/33|SB 2.9.33]] ## Child Playing ### Effortless Creation As a child builds sandcastles at the beach effortlessly and joyfully, the Lord creates and dissolves universes as His play (līlā). ![[sb/6/15/6#purport|child playing]] —SB [[sb/6/15/6|6.15.6]] Purport *Complete reference: [[index/entries/analogies|Analogies Index]]* *See also: [[wiki/analogies/lord-living-entities|Lord & Living Entities]], [[wiki/analogies/maya|Māyā]]*