> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://bhagavata.keshavaswami.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://bhagavata.keshavaswami.com/canto-12/n.a.m.e/a-annihilation-4-7/types-of-annihilation.md).

# Types of Annihilation

Sukadeva Goswami outlined four main types of annihilation that occur. Firstly, there is occasional annihilation (*naimittika*) which is the destruction of the universe (during the night) after a ‘day of Brahma.’ At this time the universes are absorbed within the body of the Lord while Brahma sleeps. Secondly, there is elemental annihilation (*prakrtika*) which takes place after Brahma’s life of one hundred years. 

Aside from these universal annihilations, is the ultimate annihilation (*atyantika*). This occurs when the individual soul awakens his spiritual consciousness and gains liberation from material encagement. For those still absorbed in bodily consciousness, there is the experience of constant annihilation (*nityada*), or the repeated birth and death of the material body that all conditioned souls experience.