Philosophy and Religion / Harivamsa

Harivaṃśa

219. The creation of the Vedas

VAISHAMPAYANA said:—Thus desirous of creating the universe the Lord began to think. While he was thus meditating a Purusha came out of his mouth.

Arriving before the Lord, the Purusha asked “what shall I do?” The Lord, the master of the universe, smilingly replied:—“Divide
yourself into two.”

Saying this, the Lord disappeared. O Bhārata, when the Lord disappeared bodily no relic of his movement was seen there like unto a lamp put out.

Then the Hiranyagarbha, who is sung in the Vedas, began to meditate on the words uttered by Him. Formerly the Lord of the universe was the only Patriarch therefore he alone is entitled to sacrificial offerings.

THE PATRIARCH said:—The Great one asked me to divide myself into two, but I have a great doubt regarding the division of Self into two.

When the Patriarch was thinking thus the word Om was recited; with its sound the earth, sky, and heaven were filled.

When Prajapati's mind was practising Om again from the heart of the god of gods, sprang Vashatkar. Again originated the three great sacred words Om, Bhur, Bhuva, etc., with which the heaven, earth and sky are filled.

Aterwards was produced the sacred Gayatri of twenty-four words the originator of metres. Completely recollecting that celestial verse Prajāpati created Savitri.

The Lord then created the four Vedas, Rik, Saman, Atharvan and Yayush with their accompanying religious rites (1-11).

Thereupon from his mind emanated Sana, Sanaka, Sanātana, Barava, Sanandana, and the omnipotent Sanatkumar. With Rudra these six Rishis are the mind-begotten sons of Brahmā.

In Yoga Tantra the Yatis and the Brahmanas speak highly of these six Rishis, Brahmā and Kapila. Afterwards the Self-sprung Deity created his eight mind-begotten sons namely Marichi, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Angira and Maru and the Pitris of all creatures, gods, Asuras and Rākshasas.

At the end of Nishesha Kalpa, the termination of the thousand Yugas, all these and their offspring disappeared from the world. Again after a thousand years these celestial Yogins, capable of procreating progeny, will again take birth.

For a particular work with the end of every cycle the gods change their names and births. From Prajāpati's right thumb the divine Daksha was born. His wife was born from Brahma's left thumb.

Daksha begat on that wife his celebrated daughters the mothers of the world. O king, with their progeny the whole world is covered. Thinking in his mind about the multiplication of his progeny Daksha conferred his daughters, Aditi, Diti, Kātā, Anāyu, Sinhikā, Muni, Prādhā, Krodhā, Surabhi, Vinatā, Surasā, Danu and Kadru on Kashyapa.

Daksha gave his ten daughters namely Arundhati, Vasu, Yāmi, Lamvā, Bhimā, Marudvati, Sangkalpā, Muhurtta, Sādhyā and Vishwā, on Brahmā's son, Manu.

Then he conferred his beautiful daughters of blameless limbs, having lotus like eyes and full-moon-like countenances, namely Kirti, Lakshmi, Dhriti, Pushti, Buddhi, Medhā, Kriyā, Mati, and Lajjā, on Dharma.

Then was born Atri's son Atreya full of water. He was of thousand rays, the lord of planets and the dispeller of darkness. Prāchetas Daksha conferred on him his most excellent twenty-seven daughters, Nakshatra, Yogini, Rohini, etc.

Hear, I will name the progeny of Kashyapa, Manu, Dharma and Shashi. Kashyapa begat on Aditi the gods Aryamā, Varuna, Mitra, Pushā, Dhātā, Purandara, Twashtā, Bhaga, Angsha, Savita and Parjanya.

We have also heard that Kashyapa begat on Diti two sons. They were Hiranyakashipu and the powerful Hiranyāksha. They were endued with in comparable prowess and like unto Kashyapa in asceticism.

Hiranyakashipu had five sons who were all very powerful. They were Pralhāda, Anulāva, Sanglahda, Hlāda and Anulhada. Pralhāda had three highly powerful sons, namely Virochana, Jambha and Kujāmbha.

Virochana's son was Bali whose only son was Vāna. His son was Indradamana, the victor of hostile cities. Danu had numerous children who were all celebrated as great Asuras in the world.

Of them the first-born Viprachitti became the king. Krodhā had many sons and grand-sons whe were called Krodhavashas. They were highly dreadful and ruthless.

Singhikā gave birth to Rāhu who assailed the sun and the moon. He devours the moon and destroys the sun. Kāta’s children were like unto Death, highly dreadful effulgent, like dark blue clouds and had eyes shining like the sun.

Kadru had many sons of whom the thousand headed Sesha, Vāsuki and Takshaka acquired ascendaney. They were all virtuous, well-read in the Vedas, engaged in doing good unto creatures, givers of boons and capable of assuming forms at will.

Vinatā's sons were Tarksha, Aristhanemi, the highly powerful Garuda, Aruna and Aruni. Pradhā gave birth to the daughters Anavadyā, Anukā, Anunā, Arunapryā, Anuga, Subhagā and the eight holy Apsaras worshipped even by the celestial saints.

Alamvasha, Misrakeshi, Pundarikā, Tilottamā, Surupa, Lakshmanā, Kshemā, Rambhā, Mandramā, Asitā, Suvāhu, Suvritta, Sumukhi, Supryā, Sugandhyā, Surasā, Pramāthini, Kāshya and Shāradvati were celebrated as Manneya Apsaras.

Vishwāvasu and Bharanya were known as Gandharvas; Menakā, Sahajanyā, Parnini, Punjikasthata, Kratusthata, Ghitachi, Vishwāchi, Urvashi, Anumlochā, Pramlochā and Manovati, these ten were the celebrated Apsaras.

From Prajāpati's determination were produced ambrosia, liked by the whole world, the Brahmanas, the cows and the Rudras. They have been all described in the Purana as the offspring of Subrahi. I have thus described the progeny of Kashyapa, I will now describe that of Manu.

O sinless one, I will describe them to you in brief. Vishwā gave birth to Vishadevas and Sādhyā to Sādhyas. Marudvati gave birth to Maruts and from Vasu Vasus were born.

Bhānu's sons were Bhanus, Muhurtta's were Muhurttajas and Lamvā gave birth to Ghosha. Jāmi gave birth to Nāgadithi and Arundhati gave birth to all the objects of the world.

Sangkalpā gave birth to Sangkalpa, and Lakshmi gave birth to Dharma's son Kāma, the most favourite of the world. Kāma begat on his wife Rati two sons Harsha and Yasha.

Soma begat on his wife Rohini the great lord Varshā by whom the moon becomes effulgent as soon as he rises. Thus thousands of wives and sons were born.

This is the root of the world. The Lord Prajāpati distributed powers amongst creatures according to their merit. The Lord then created the ten quarters, the earth, Rishis, oceans, birds, trees, herbs, serpents, rivers, gods, demons, the sky-rangers, sacrifices and mountains (12–60).

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