Varaha

 

Essence Of
Varaha Purana

 

2    The Origin of Creation
The Supernatural Power is indeed singular and eternal. Once this fundamental fact is recognised, explanations on the above queries would not be far to seek. At the commencement of Creation, the Supreme Energy created ‘Pancha Bhuthas’ (The Five Elements) of Air, Sky, Fire, Water and Earth; ‘Ahamkara’(Ego or the Sense of Self or Personality); the Maha Tatva ( The Great Element); Nature; the Collective and Individual Consciousness reflected in the ‘Tri-Gunas’ or Three Aspects or qualities of Behaviour viz. ‘Satva’ ( Pure as coloured white), ‘Rajas’ ( Passion as coloured red) and ‘Tamas’ (Ignorance as coloured dark) in varying permutations and combinations; the ‘Atman’ or ‘Kshetrajna’ (Soul) and ‘Prakriti’ or Maya (Illusion); the‘Tanmatras’ or the subtle forms of Matter as produced by the interaction of the Three Gunas; the ‘Pancha- Indriyas’ (Sense Organs) which are created by Tanmatras viz. Eyes, Ears, Nose, Tongue and Skin; the extensions of the Five Sense Organs or the ‘Jnanendriyas’( Cognitive) as perceived in the forms of Vision, Sound, Smell, Taste and Touch as also the further extensions viz. the ‘Karmendriyas’or the Active Expressions of Speaking, Grasping, Moving, Eliminating and Reproducing. (Together, the Jnanendriyas constitute the Entrance Doors of the Sense Organs and the Karmendriyas constitute the Exit Doors).

Before the conception of the basic canons of Creation as described above, the Supreme Force manifested as Lord Narayan-‘Nara’ meaning water and ‘ayan’denoting abode- who in turn created Earth. Together, Narayan and Earth produced an Egg and from the navel of the Lord, who was lying in yogic sleep, sprouted a lotus; on the top of the lotus stem appeared Lord Brahma who was asked to commence Creation. Lord Brahma could not succeed and out of anger and frustration appeared Lord Rudra who too entered water to perform penance. Brahma executed severe penace too and eventually attained the powers of Creation. He created Prajapathi from the left toe of his right foot and also created the latter’s consort from the right toe of his left foot. The copulative action of Prajapati and his consort had thus paved the way of ‘Srishti’ in a formal manner. Swayambhu Manu who was born from the Prajapathis had thus launched the creation in a regular manner.

While Creation was initiated at the end of each Kalpa, there were more of such steps in the Process. For instance, there were five kinds of ‘Avidyas’ (False Knowledge) produced by Lord Narayana viz. ‘Tamas’ (Darkness), ‘Moha’ (Attachment), ‘Maha Moha’ (Extreme attachment), ‘Tasmira’ (Jealousy) and ‘Andha Tasmira’ (Anger). Thereafter, there was the ‘Mukhya Sarga’ or the principal creation of immovable objects like mountains and trees. Also, there was ‘Thiryaksrota’ related to animals (quadruped);
the sixth creation was called ‘Satvik Sarga’or of Deities with Virtuous nature; the Seventh creation was called ‘Arvaaksrota Sarga’ related to human beings; the Eighth creation viz. ‘Anugraha Sarga’ pertaining to Sages and hermits and finally the ninth creation was of ‘Kaumara Sarga’ related to Eternal Adolescents like Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanat Kumara; then emerged the Ten Manasa Putras viz.Marichi, Angira, Atri, Pulah, Kratu, Pulasya, Pracheta, Bhrigu, Narad and Vasishtha. But, the foremost creation of Lord Rudra was as ‘Artha Nareeswara’; collectively there were Eleven Rudras, viz. Maha Deva, Shiva, Maha Rudra, Shankara, Neelalohita, Esana Rudra, Vijaya Rudra, Bheema Rudra, Deva Deva, Bhavodbhava and Adityatmika Sri Rudra; their corresponding consorts are Dhee Devi, Dhriti Devi, Ushna or Rasala Devi, Uma Devi, Neeyut Devi, Sarpi Devi, Ela Devi, Ambika Devi, Iravati Devi, Sudha Devi and Deeksha Devi.


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