Ainulindalë

Ainulindalë is the genesis account of the Middle-earth. It is also the first section of The Silmarillion narrative, modified and released by Christopher Tolkien from the works of his late father, J.R.R. Tolkien. Many ideas and developments throughout the ages of Middle-earth originated from the declarations spoken in Ainulindalë. Everything began through the power of Eru Iluvatar, who created his first beings, the Ainur, the manifestation of the energies and ideas of Iluvatar. The Ainur then sang the Great Music to form all life and creation. Iluvatar then transformed the Music into physical manifestations of forms and elements, thus creating Ea. Ea was the Universe, and within it is Arda, the realm and world where Middle-earth is. It also reveals the backstory of the first Dark Lord Melkor, who was one of the Ainur. Since the Great Music of the Ainur and the creaton of Arda, he has the desire to expand his dominion throughout Middle earth, and ultimately make life of his own...

The word Ainulindalë is a Quenyan term that means the Music of the Ainur. [1] Its other names were The Great Song and The Great Music.

The Ainulindalë begins with the narrative before the existence of all things. Before the birth of Time and the World of Arda. It all originated from Eru Iluvatar, the divine, pre-eminent being of all. He is the First of All Names and the Father of All. Eru means the One, He that is Alone. He forms all beings and all life through the Imperishable Flame. He dwells in the Timeless Halls, beyond the confines of the physical realm. He developed his first creations here and began the work of bringing life and things into existence.

Iluvatar first created the Ainur (which means holy one, Ainu is its single word) through transforming his ideas into life. The Ainur became the first of his works of life, the most powerful of all his creations. Eru Iluvatar taught them the gift of Music as their path of living and duty. They helped him bring all things into existence.

The Ainur thrived with their gift and filled the vastness of Heaven with its sweet hymns, creating through the melodies. And so the Ainur created the First Theme. At first, each Ainu would only imitate the principal designs and harmony of Iluvatar, as they have already existed from the beginning. With this impression, the Ainur created their minor designs and melody after Iluvatar. Then they slowly learned to work with other Ainur. Iluvatar assigned each of his main designs and melody to an Ainu, who crafted their minor designs from them, eventually becoming a part of them. And so each idea of Iluvatar corresponds to one Ainu. Through hearing and pondering, an Ainu collaborates with another, then all together. Hence, the grand collaboration of the Ainur brought forth elaborate hymns, nurturing, and ornamenting of other melodies and designs, and it was a splendid symphony. After an immersion of hymns, Iluvatar then introduces a primary concept of an idea, design, or scheme, declaring it to all the Ainur. The Ainur then takes responsibility for the combined efforts to bring this divine idea into existence. The Ainur were personifications of the ideas of Iluvatar. But they were also beings with thoughts and will of their own. The gifts of the Ainur are for nurturing the creation. And in the end times, all life created by Iluvatar will understand the ideas and designs personified by the Ainur and the connection of everything. And all will see the grand purpose of Iluvatar in all things.

The prime and the strongest of the Ainur was Melkor. He was closest to the thoughts of Iluvatar, and he even perceives Iluvatar's principal designs and schemes from which many of the Ainur arise. But he was hasty during the instruction of musical collaboration. He proudly devised his hymns and became too eager to refine them. Then, he developed an urge to put his designs into existence, desiring to bring forth life just as Iluvatar. As the Ainur's orchestra began their collective musical symphonies to bring forth Iluvatar's magnificent plan, Melkor partakes but presents his unique hymn and disturbing the order. It was unconventional, turning out far different from all the Ainur as he was often all by himself. It was also independently suited instead of cooperative.

The Great Music of the Ainur roars in a cycle with the hymn of Iluvatar. It was low-pitched, infinite, and magnificent with a hint of refined melancholy that makes it fascinating. But Melkor's melody was intense, proud, and looping as it overpowered the symphony with its force. Even though Melkor aimed to smear and conquer the Music of the Ainur, the rest of them picked up his hymn and transformed it into the Music's woeful tones. As elaborated in the Book of the Lost Tales, the main hymn was exceptional, profound, fascinating, and with a touch of insatiable woe. Meanwhile, another melody faded into the unified theme and turned into a part of it, yet it was harsh, proud, and overbearing. It echoed as it sought to overcome the other. But somehow, it changed into an enhancement, blending with the other.

In the Lost Road, it distinguished Melkor's hymn as altered, to unify with the other as a component. Even when it's flawed, it still originated from the ancient hymn of Iluvatar. With the First Theme originating from Iluvatar, the Great Music of the Ainur advanced even with Melkor attempting to taint it. Later, Melkor succeeded in influencing most of the Maiar (minor Ainur) to support him, later turning into dark beings such as the primeval spider Ungoliant, the Balrog, and the next Dark Lord Sauron. Afterward, Iluvatar commands a Second Theme, but Melkor defiles it once more. Iluvatar then initiates the Third Theme, and still, Melkor taints it. An extensive clash of dissonance took place, which Iluvatar disrupted by directing one note more fathomless than the abyss, far above the firmament and striking as the blaze of Iluvatar's eye. When the Great Music ceases, Iluvatar briskly reprimands Melkor, who then departs from him. It humiliated and infuriated Melkor.

Afterward, Iluvatar reveals a vision to the Ainur. It showed the transcription of the Great Music into creation in the physical realm. It showed that the Great Music of the Ainur has broad influence. More than its arrangement and songs, it also has an outcome and consequences. It is equal to an elaborate timeframe. And it corresponds to the creation up to the conclusion of the natural, realistic world.

The vision was also a brief revelation of the cradle, existence, and extinction of the cosmos. The Ainur perceives and ponders on the elements of the real world and its correlation with each personified Ainu. During this moment, Melkor also beholds the truth that despite his secret thoughts, plans, disturbing attempts, and disastrous ventures, all will ultimately lead to the magnificent purpose of Iluvatar. Melkor sees that all his hidden ideas were still parts of Iluvatar's grand scheme contributing to its fruition and grandeur. The Ainur behold creations they could not recall making, as well as things they recollect but could not comprehend the purpose. The vision shows Arda, which is the world and its realm, and the Ainur receives a word of wisdom on how they must look at it. It speaks not to be fascinated by the enormity of the world. And not to be drawn to the vastness of space than the gentleness and potential of a mustard seed.

Most of the Ainur, as well as Melkor, adored Arda. Melkor especially desired to conquer it and the Children of Iluvatar. [2] The Children of Iluvatar were the Elves or Eldar, and the Men or Edain, who were the primary inhabitants of Arda. As the Ainur beholds all the creation, they saw that from all the elements and vigors of Arda, Water most precisely corresponds to the harmony in the Great Music. It also advances and nurtures the form of Iluvatar's grand scheme. All the Ainur enjoyed Arda's light, but in the sea, they were exceedingly restless. As detailed in the first volume of Book of Lost Tales, the Ainur felt a distinct yearning in the impressive crashing of the sea.

Ulmo was the second Ainur to whom Iluvatar spoke and the next named Ainur after Melkor. His name means the Rainer as well as the Pourer. Upon the discussion of water, it presented Ulmo as the Ainu of Water and the most accomplished Ainu in Music. Iluvatar spoke to him as he declared that Melkor's interference with water only enhanced the element's presence in Arda, and far better than Ulmo's previous notion. Melkor craved to destroy water, but as he sought its destruction through intense heat and harsh cold, he found out that these could not ruin it. Instead, it brought into existence the wonders of Arda in the frozen, falling, and cloud forms of it.

It also combined the strengths of Ulmo and the Ainu Manwe, and together they developed a strong bond. The two became the principal Ainur and hand of Iluvatar in his grand schemes. Ulmo spoke that water has transformed into a beauty that has gone far from what his spirit thought. His hidden designs had not prepared the wonder of the snowflake, nor the symphony in the rain. And he declares he shall take Manwe's help, and together form eternal rhythms to the enjoyment of the great Iluvatar. Manwe was the King of the Valar and the most powerful of them. He commanded the sky, air, and wind. Later on, he leads the formation of Arda and also owns the title King of Arda.

As the vision came to a close, it withholds the conclusion of all creation, the final days, and materialization of the Great Music, thus hidden from the Ainur. And so the Ainur understand a portion of what was, what is, and what would be, though not everything. They have the utmost desire for understanding of themselves and the complexity and connection of all in existence. The vision vanished, and the Ainur were uneasy, enamored with the Cosmos, Arda, and the Children of Iluvatar. More so, Melkor desired to play a prominent part in it, yet his desires were more into superiority instead of nurture.

Soon after, Iluvatar captures the complete symphonic work of the Ainur in The Great Music, even that of Melkor's disturbance, and transformed it into existence as substance, forms, actuality, and all things as what he called Eä, also known as Cosmos or the Universe. The word Eä means Let it Be, or It Is.

The strongest and heads of the Ainur had the permission to live within Eä but on a specific term. The life of Eä is the same as the Great Music of the Ainur, having a birth, central point, and death, and so the Ainur would have the same fate and forever be bound in its life. And so the most powerful of them entered Eä, called The Valar, meaning The Powers. Hence, the moment became the birth of Time. The Valar took part in nurturing Arda, and Melkor is with them.

The rest of the writings in Ainulindalë narrates the actions of the Valar to fulfill the plans of Iluvatar. As the Valar came within Eä, they beheld a formless and undeveloped vastness. The Great Music only sang it into existence, but not in its full form. And so the Valar toiled to assemble Eä from its birth and unveil its story. Then the Valar Ulmo, Manwe, Aule, Melkor, and Aule set forth to build Arda. But the first efforts on building up Arda turned difficult as Melkor demanded Arda for himself. In response, Manwe gathered his allied Valar and Maiar, and all formed a stand against Melkor in Arda.

Manwe was the chief Ainur assigned by Iluvatar in Arda and the Great Music's Second Theme. With this knowledge and the assembly against him, Melkor retreats from Arda. Manwe prevails, completing Arda's foundation, fully prepared for the dwelling of the Eldar and Edain. But later, Melkor returns and officially wages war against Manwe and his seat in Arda.

The Valar took a bodily appearance, adorning themselves with garments, and have natural predetermined gender along with their forms. Melkor set foot in Arda, taking the shape of a formidable lord, and warred against the Valar. There were only a few details written about the First War, but mainly it was about Melkor's attempt to abolish everything that the Valar have built within Arda for the Children of Iluvatar. He altered many accomplished things. But still, he could not entirely ruin nor defile the primary purpose and schemes the Valar have completed. And so they finished their work in Arda, despite Melkor's damaging efforts.

At the end of Dagor Dagorath, [3] the foreseen End Time War or War of all Wars, all the destiny of the inhabitants of Arda will depend on its conclusion. In this outcome, the prophesied Second Song of Eru Iluvatar will begin, but what will come forth from it was unknown. Yet it would be more glorious than the first, more beings to be formed from the hymns. Therefore, a new abundance of life will thrive. The Dwarves would help Mahal, also known as Aule, in regenerating the components of Arda through igniting the birthing fires, producing an all-new era for all life.

• Aulë
• Eru Ilúvatar
• Manwë
• Melkor
• Ulmo

• Ainur
  • Valar
• Children of Ilúvatar
  • Eldar or Elves
  • Edain or Men

• Eä
  • Arda
• Timeless Halls
  • Abyss
  • Firmament
  • Void
• Other Mentioned Places
  • Darkness
  • Sea
  • Secret Fire

1. ^The Music of the Ainur.
2. ^Children of Ilúvatar
3. ^The Tale of the Dagor Dagorath.