llyllyllullyessfIn the following article, mathomathis would talk about “Creation”, keeping Vedas and Upanishad as the base. The article is written by the Author: “Kadambi Srinivasan” part of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Tirupati 2019.
Basis
Puranas contain history of remote times. They are meant for common people and describe the times, troubles and triumphs of their heroes. A Purana usually gives prominence to a certain deity (Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna). Most use an abundance of religious and philosophical concepts in their narration from Bhakti to Sankya. According to Matsya Purana, they deal systematically with five subjects called Pancha Lakshana. They are –
- Sarga – The creation of the Universe
- Pratisarga – Secondary creations after dissolution
- Vamsa – Genealogy of Gods and sages
- Manvantara – Creation of the human race and the first human beings
- Vamsaanucharitam – Dynastic histories.
Beginning, There was a great deluge. The entire Earth was submerged in water. Lord Narayana was absorbed in Yoga nidra after the Maha pralaya. He was reclining on the great serpent Adisesha. The entire Universe had been withdrawn into Him and lay dormant in Him. The three Gunas Sattva, Rajas and Tamas were in equilibrium. So it was a long time. Then TIME caused a disturbance in the three Gunas and the equilibrium was upset. Out of the navel of the Lord Narayana emerged a thin stalk. This grew into an immense lotus. Into that lotus entered the Lord in another form which was Brahma. Brahma found that he had four heads. He then looked around and saw large expanse of water and nothing else. It seemed to him that the waves around appeared to be telling him to perform Tapas. He then did the Tapas for hundred years. All of a sudden, he saw the form of Lord Narayana in his mind. Brahma realized He was the Purusha. Lord Narayana told him “I have set you the task of creating the world” and then, the lord brahma beings creating the world’s.
Out of the mind of Lord Brahma were born the four Rishis Sanaka, Sananda, Sanaatana and Sanat Kumara. Brahma asked them to take up the task of creation and multiply. However, the minds of the Rishis were made up of attaining salvation. They refused to undertake the task of creation. Brahma was angry with them but he controlled it. However, his anger took up a form and emerged out of his forehead. The child began to cry as soon as he was born. The child asked for a name and a place to stay. Brahma told the child “Do not cry. Since you cried the moment you are born, you will be called Rudra. The heart, the senses, life, the sky, air, fire, water, earth, the sun, the moon and tapas are the places assigned to you. You can go now and produce many in your image”.
Brahma then created ten sons out of his body. These were – Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Daksha, Marichi, Vasishtha and Narada. Dharma and Adharma were also born out of Brahma. Out of his heart was born desire and out of his brows anger. His shadow took a form and this son was named Kardama. From his mind and body was created this entire world. The four Vedas were born out of his four faces. Brahma then divided his body into two; one was male and the other female. They were called Swayambhu Manu and Shatarupa. As soon as he was born Swayambhu Manu asked his father what he wanted him to do. Lord Brahma commanded that the work of creation should be continued. At that time the Earth was submerged in water and the Manu did not have a place to start. Brahma then sought the help of Lord Narayana who assumed the form of a boar in order to raise the Earth from below the water. He plunged into the ocean, located the earth, raised it on his tusks and began to climb. An Asura named Hiranyaksha tried to stop His progress but he was killed. Swayambhu Manu and Shatarupa produced five children; three were daughters- Akuti, Prasuti and Devahuti. The sons were Priyavrata and Uttanapada. Akuti was married to a rishi by the name Ruchi, Devahuti to Kardama and Prasuti to Daksha. The children of these and their descendants have populated the world. Daksha had thirteen daughters. He gave them in marriage to Kashyapa, son of Marichi. Diti was one of them.
Diti’s sin: One evening just after Kashyapa finished his evening worship, Diti came to him and wanted him to make love to her. Kashyapa refused pointing out that evenings are sacred for the worship of Mahadeva. However, Diti was determined to have her way. As a result of her sin, Diti gave birth to two sons and both of them were wicked. They were known by the names Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakashipu. It was this Hiranyaksha who was killed by Lord
Narayana in the form of Varahamoorthy. Hiranyakashipu also hated Lord Narayana intensely. However, his son Prahlada was a great devotee of the Lord. Hiranyakashipu persecuted everyone including the Devas. However, when he started punishing his son he crossed the limit. Lord Narayana killed him manifesting in the form of Narasimha. Devahuti served her husband Kardama with great devotion. They had nine daughters. Sage Kardama married his daughters to Rishis. Kala was given to Marichi; Anasuya to Atri; Shraddha to Angiras; Havirbhu to Pulastya; Gati to Pulaha; Kriya to Kratu; Khyati to Bhrigu; Arundhati to Vasishta and Shanti to Atharva.
Kapila Vasudeva: Finally, Lord Narayana was born as Devahuti’s son. He was named Kapila. It was this Kapila who established the well known Sankhya Yoga. Kapila Vasudeva was born to reveal Brahma Vidya to human beings. Kapila teaches Atma Vidya to his mother to help her realize the Lord. After the birth of Kapila, Kardama retired to a forest and spent his days in Tapas. After teaching his mother Brahma Vidya, Kapila leaves home. Devahuti spent the rest of her life on the lines taught by her son and attained liberation. The spot where she attained Brahman became a holy spot. It is called Siddhapada. Even gods visit this place. Sage Kardama’s next daughter, Shraddha, was married to Sage Angiras. They had a son and he was Brihaspati. Havirbhu married Sage Pulastya and they had two sons; one was Sage Agastya and the other was Vishravas. The son of Vishravas was Kubera. Vishravas had another wife named Kaikasi. She was the mother of the famed Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Vibhishana. Kratu’s wife Kriya was the mother of Rishis named by “Valakhilyas”. Kyati, wife of Bhrigu had two sons. One of them was the father of Mrikandu. The other son was Sage Shukracharya, the Acharya of Asuras.
Atri’s Tapas: Daksha Prajapati married Prasuti, the second daughter of Manu. They had sixteen daughters. Thirteen of the daughters were married to Dharma. One daughter was given to Agni; one to the Pitris and one was given to Lord Mahadeva.
Anasuya, daughter of Manu was married to Sage Atri. Sage Atri performed a great penance on the mountain of Ruksha. He wanted a son from the Lord of the Lords who will be like Him. Pleased with his Tapas all the three murthis- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahadeva appeared before him. Overwhelmed by the simultaneous presence of the tri-murthis Sage Atri worshipped them appropriately. In response to the query from the three murthis, the sage replied “I prayed for the best among you to grant me a son in His image. It is up to you to tell me who is the best from among you”. Brahma, Vishnu and Mahadeva were amused by his words. “We are all aspects of the Brahman. It is the same Brahman who creates, preserves and destroys. We wanted you to realize the truth and that is why all three of us have come. You will be father of three sons, each one an amsha (unit) of each of us. They will become very famous and bring you a great name”. The son born to Atri with the amsha of Brahma was the Moon; Datta was the son with the amsha of Vishnu and the son with the image of Mahadeva was Durvasa.
Arrogant King: Daksha Prajapati’s daughter, Sati, married Lord Mahadeva. Daksha once performed a great Yagna by the name Brahma Satra. As the Yagna was about to commence, Daksha felt that Mahadeva insulted him. In an uncontrollable anger he abused and cursed the Lord. In an atmosphere charged with anger and emotion the followers of Daksha and Lord Mahadeva exchanged curses. As a follow-up on this Yagna, Daksha performed another where he pointedly did not invite Mahadeva. The Lord did not attend the Yagna but allowed His wife to attend, since she was very keen. However, on arrival at the yagnashala, she discovered that her father, Daksha, ignored her. Others at the scene did not dare to defy Daksha. Sati was furious at the insult targeted towards her husband. She spoke harshly to her father. Then by yogic power she burnt her body and was reduced to ashes.
On hearing about the tragedy at the yagnashala, Lord Mahadeva was not at all surprised but was very furious. He pulled a strand from his matted locks and threw it on the ground. Out of it was born Virabhadra glowing like fire. Mahadeva ordered that the proud Daksha along with the yagnashala to be destroyed. Virabhadra along with Pramathaganas rushed to the yagnashala. Within a short time the place was destroyed and Daksha was killed. All the Devatas accompanied with Lord Vishnu and Brahma went to Kailasa to meet Mahadeva and pacify Him. He forgave Daksha and who came back to life with the head of a goat. The Yagna got completed Successfully.
Dhruva’s Tapas:- Uttanapada, the son of Manu, had two wives; Suniti and Suruchi. Suniti’s son was Dhruva and Suruchi’s son was Uttama. Surichi was the favourite wife of Uttanapada. Under the influence of Suruchi the king treated Uttama with great affection and openly neglected Dhruva. The child ran to his mother and complained. Suniti advised the child to take refuge in Lord Narayana. He went away to a forest not knowing how to gain the grace of the Lord. Sage Narada decided to help the child. He initiated the Maha mantra “Aum Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” and told him to repeat it with his mind firmly concentrated on the Lord. Dhruva performed intense Tapas repeating the mantra. Lord Narayana was very pleased with the young devotee. He blessed the child that his wish to become the favourite of his father will come true and his father will crown him as a King In addition the Lord told the boy that He is assigning a place for him which will be eternal. The Sun and Moon will revolve round it. At the end of his life Dhruva reached Lord Narayana.
King Prithu:- One of the descendants of Dhruva was a tyrant named Vena. He would not listen to advice from his ministers and continued with his reign of terror. The Rishis then invoked the God of death and Vena died. After the death of Vena, the land had no king to rule. Eventually with the help of penance of the Rishis a boy and a girl was born. They named the boy as Prithu. The girl was named Archis. From the lakshanas, the Rishis knew that he was born from an amsha of Lord Narayana. Archis was Sri Maha Lakshmi.
When he was old enough, the boy was crowned as king. After he was crowned as king, the Rishis called him Prithu, the great protector of the world. Prithu noticed that his subjects were thin and emaciated. He concluded that Earth was not yielding enough. So he confronted Mother Earth and decided to punish her. Mother earth got frightened and explained that as time passed sinful acts were being committed everywhere. In a fit of anger she decided that the people were not fit enough to enjoy the wealth provided to them. However, she promised that she will now agree to yield enough food for all people. Everyone then got what he wanted. King Prithu was very pleased with the earth and her bounty, that he made her his beloved daughter. Since then mother Earth came to called as Prithvi. He was the first king that ever won the hearts of the people. From his time kings have been called “Rajas”. “Ranj” means charm, “Ranjayati iti Raja”. Prithu was the first Raja – “Adiraja”. King Prithu performed one hundred Ashwamedha Yagnas.
King Prithu’s grandson was Havirdhana who married Havirdhani. They had six children and the eldest was Barhishat. He married Shatadruti, daughter of the lord of the seas. Ten sons were born to this couple and they were famed as Prachetas. King Barhishat believed in the performance of yagnays and he performed many. Sage Narada took interest in him and initiated the Brahma Vidya advising him that it was the way for salvation. King Barhishat followed his advice.
Prachetas, the ten sons of King Barhishat, were great devotees of Lord Narayana. Lord Mahadeva was pleased with them and decided to help them. He taught them Rudra Gita and asked them to repeat it with a steady mind in order to gain the favour of Lord Narayana. They did that. The Lord Narayana was pleased with their devotion and asked them to marry Marisha, daughter of an Apsara. He also told the brothers that she will bear them a son whose fame will spread all over the world. All ten of them married Marisha. A son was born to them and he was Daksha. It was the same Daksha Prajapati who insulted Lord Mahadeva. He was born as a human being for the sin he committed. Prachetas crowned Daksha as the king and left for the forest. However, he too left for the forest to perform Tapas.
As mentioned earlier that Swayambhu Manu had two sons – Priyavrata and Uttanapada. We learnt earlier that Uttanapada’s son was the famed Dhruva. Priyavrata was the eldest son of the Manu. However, he had no desire to rule the kingdom and left for the forest to perform Tapas. Uttanapada and later Dhruva ruled the land. However, when Daksha, their descendant, left for the forest, the land was without a ruler. Lord Brahma went to Priyavrata and persuaded him to take up the reins of ruling the kingdom. Priyavrata married Barhishmati, daughter of Vishwakarma. Ten sons and a daughter were born to them. Agnitra was the eldest son. Three of his brothers left to the forest to perform Tapas. Agnitra and his six other brothers ruled the seven islands. The daughter Ojasvati was married to Shukra and their daughter was Devayani. People were happy during his rule. Priyavrata was interested in tracing the path of the Sun. He equipped himself with a chariot fast enough to travel with the Sun. He travelled with the Sun around the Earth seven times. The moats formed by the quick progress of his chariot became the seven great seas. They were named – Lavana, Ikshu, Sura, Sarpi, Dadhi, Kshira and Madhu. The earth divided into seven islands. They were named – Jambu, Plaksha, Shalmali, Kusha, Krauncha, Shaka and Pushkara.
King Bharata:- Agnitra’s son was Nabhi and he had no children. He performed a great sacrifice where he worshipped Lord Narayana. The Lord was pleased with Nabhi and promised that he will be born as a son to Nabhi. The child was named Rishabha. Rishabha was crowned as the king after Nabhi. Rishabha married Jayanti the daughter of Indra. They had hundred sons; the eldest of them was Bharata. Bharata was a great king and the land was called Bharatavarsha after him. After a long number of years, Bharata decided to retire to the forest. He distributed his kingdom among his sons he went away to the ashrama of sage Pulaha near Haridwar. He worshipped Lord Narayana with great devotion. His heart was filled with peace born out of renunciation and detachment. One day he rescued a new-born deer when her mother died. He brought up the deer with great care and was greatly attached to it. His meditation and prayers were all things of the past.
And when he died Bharata’s mind was on the deer. Since his thoughts were on the deer, Bharata was born as a deer. However, he had the privilege of remembering his previous birth. As a deer he travelled to holy places and finally died. And that was not the end of it all. Bharata was born again as a son of a Brahmin in the Angirasa clan. He was disgusted and did not want any attachment with anyone. His thoughts were continuously on Lord Narayana and it did not bother him to do menial jobs. He was Jada Bharata. He wandered over earth till he obtained salvation.