"In the beggining this world was only Brahman, and it knew only itself (Atman), thinking: 'I am Brahman.' As a result it became the Whole (sarva). Among the gods, likewise, whosoever realized this, only they became the Whole. It was the same also among the seers and among humans. Upon seeing this very point, the seer Vamadeva proclaimed: 'I was Manu, and I was the Sun.' This is true even now. If a man knows 'I am Brahman' in this way, he becomes this whole world. Not even the gods are able to prevent it, for he becomes their very self (Atman). So when a man venerates a deity, thinking, 'He is one, and I am another', he does not understand."

~Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10