... Creation and Vishnu as Varaha

A page from Vishnu Purana

Literature whether it is contemporary or ancient gives glimpses of age, its socio-economic, political, religious, philosophic and historical aspects. It carries a multiple approach to life and existence. Knowledge, wisdom and revelation of the ancients attract and teach art of life and do not conceal imperfections and disapprovals. Subjects of creation, conservation and dissolution form the rudimentary material and reveal through tales and legends the process of formation, annihilation, and growth of life in between. They speak of different ages - diverse dynasties, lineage of rulers with microscopic particulars.

Puranas are encyclopedic in scope and import. A man observes essence of existence of humankind in entirety. More, a sensibly thoughtful and philosophical intellect beyond the limitations of temporal existence goes further than the borders of transitory life. An exciting and motivating the scripture is and naturally, an inquisitive intellect after it understands teaches art of living and highlights truth and righteousness. The great sage Vyasa wrote Puranas with the objective to transmit the real meaning of the Vedas. The legends speak about the spirit of ancient wisdom.

We know that Karmas are creators of human activities and their nature in totality. One learns that the Supreme Brahma is attainable through devotion, deep meditation even as a man tries to pursue virtues of dharma - truth and righteousness, which takes away shadows of illusions and instills feelings of self-discipline. It takes a man to peace and harmony.

Vishnu in Boar incarnation ( Varaha ) Badami Caves, Bijapur district, Karnataka

Sage Suta narrated the sacred legend of Vishnu Purana as sage Maitreya had told him, who in turn, had inherited it from sage Prasara.

Sage Maitreya free from the customary morning rituals, touched feet of sage Prasara and asked, “O Guru, you have studied all the scriptures –the Vedas, the Vadanga and other major religious books. I wish to hear about the sacred message of the scripture because even the holy men opposed to me do not get an opportunity to say that I did not work hard, and so I do not know anything about the scriptures.”

“O great sage, I wish to hear about the origin of universe and its creation. What shape it would take in future? How did it come into existence, and tell me about its causes and objectives? Who created it and why? Where it had dissolved earlier, and later, merged with… and where it will go ultimately when it faces extinction? O monk, I am eager to know about bhutas - the sky, source of oceans, all the mountains, the earth and its situation and about the foundation, dimensions and vastness. Also, tell about the foundation and birth of gods of heavens and the dynasties, and about the birth of Manus, the Manvantara appearing frequently at the specified time in perfect regularity. I want to know about the division of four Yugas -the ages –the kalpas, and the divisions and consequent nature of annihilation. Further, I wish to know about the beginning of different religions, gods and sages, royal priests and their character and emergence, and creation of sage Vyasa’s Vedas and their various segments, and description of four Varnas and Ashramas.”

Prasara told Maitreya, “O man of religion, grandfather Vasistha related it to me, and today, I thank you that you reminded me of the sacred background. O Maitreya, when I heard that on inspiration or probable provocation from sage Visvamitra, a raksasa –a monster, had devoured my sage father, I was extremely angry. To destroy all the raksasasa, I organized a Yajna. It continued for a long period, and therefore, the fire of Yajna reduced hundreds of raksasasa to ashes.

~*~

The holy tales of Vishnu Purana relevance to contemporary life is unique. One learns that the great lord exists in each particle of created beings –the animate and the inanimate. Nothing exists without his intents and objectives. The Trinity is the cause of creation, conservation and destruction

Reward of Karmas is certain –good or bad. Anger hurts and humiliates. A life of purity and sanctity benefits the virtuous. Vishnu is the creator he is the Universe. He is lord of the worlds, beyond birth, undying and eternal.

When grandfather Vasistha observed large-scale deaths of raksasa, he said, “O child, it is not good to be very angry. Calm down the fire of Yajna and observe restraint. Raksasa did no crime. It was to happen for the sake of your father. Fools get angry. How it is possible for the wise men? O dear child, tell me who kills whom? A person reaps the fruit of his karmas. O dear, anger is a powerful destroyer of glory that a man obtains through honour and observance of severe discipline -tapa, a man earns and gathers after intense and agonizing efforts. Let anger not control you because it deprives and strips off sages of good life here and beyond, and therefore, to protect the sanctity they exercise restraint. Now, there is no use to scorch and torture innocent raksasa, and therefore, terminate this Yajna, for the real wealth of virtuous people is forgiveness.”

“On the wise counsel of great noble soul grandfather, I thought deep and then, concluded destructive Yajna. Vasistha was very happy, and at that time, Brahma’s son monk Pulastya arrived. Vasistha poured reverential oblations, and thereafter, elder brother of great sage Pulaha, Pulastya occupied the dignified seat and said to me, “O son, on the advice of elderly sage Vasistha, despite bitterness and hatred for the raksasa, you forgave innocent beings. Therefore, you will hold knowledge and wisdom of all Holy Scriptures. O fortunate soul, in spite of the terrific fury, you did not annihilate my progeny, and therefore, I confer on you a boon. O child, you will become great spokesperson and orator, and understand the real nature and image of gods where the purity of heart and intellect will guide you to virtuous acts. O Maitreya, I recalled every word of wise sage Vasistha and Pulastya when you put a question. Now, I shall narrate tales of Purana and the also wisdom of Vishnu Purana. Therefore, listen to me attentively. Vishnu is the creator of universe and the holy text remains situated in him, and in every animate and inanimate creation. He is the universe.”

The sage continued to say, “O monk, Brahma, Vishnu and Sankara - the Trinity is the cause of creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. Trinity is the protector of devotees. It is sans imperfection. The supreme soul is pure and eternal beyond change, stays invincible. Therefore, to the great lord Vishnu, I salute. He is ‘One’, and still transforms ‘the self’ into various images - gross and subtle, the cause and the affect, the effable and beyond words and is the foundation of moksa of devotees. I salute lord Vishnu, the origin of creation, continuation and annihilation, and he is eternal, who appears in various images and figures for the devotees, and as an image of time, he is the source of creation, situation and extinction. I salute the lord, who is lord of the worlds, beyond birth, imperishable and timeless.”

Later, sage Prasara recalled an ancient tale Brahma narrated to Daksa and other monks on the riverbank of sacred Narmada, who related it to king Purukutsa. The king later told the same tale to Sarswata, who told, “O Brahmin, he is eternal, the Supreme situated within the great lord, who is beyond image, Varna, name or quality, birth, virtue of increase, outcome and destruction. He is situated everywhere and the universe is situated in him. Therefore, the wise men call him Vasudeva.”

“Only wise men can see the Supreme Purusa, the eternal, who is beyond expression and time. He is the source of universe of three Gunas –Sattvic, Tamasic and Rajasic and yet he is beyond these attributes. He exists from the time of annihilation to the advent of creation of universe when it is neither day nor night. Neither sky has identity nor does earth exist. There exists no darkness, light and as such, nothing exists. It is only the Supreme, Brahma the Supreme Purusa. In the images of Supreme and Purusa - Vishnu, during the period of creation they unite and create, and thereafter, separate and the process of annihilation begins. The lord in a state of equilibrium gives birth to Mahatattva – the great cosmic element that constitutes Sattvic, Rajasic and Tamasic qualities, and these three qualities create different elements essential for creation, the result of entry of the lord. The great element is the origin of sky, sound, touch, air, fire, taste and water, and therefore, other elements originate from the three qualities. Coming together of different qualities of bhutas make creation possible but these elements cannot do anything separately.”

“At the end of age, saturated with Tamas qualities, Vishnu transforms into the image of Rudra and devours or wipes out all bhutas. After destroying all bhutas –the physical components of existence, he floods the entire universe with water, and then the lord sleeps on the bed –on the hood of great Naga -Sheshnaga. He gets up in the image of Brahma, and creates the universe. Thus, Vishnu in the images of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the trinity again starts of process of creation, preservation and destruction. The great lord as Vishnu takes care of creation and protects, and creator Brahma creates the worlds. At last, in the image of Shiva, he dissolves and merges everything into ‘the self’, and again, the process of creation of beings begins – thus the cycle of creation, continuation and annihilation is law of the Supreme.

The earth, the water, the dazzle, the light, the air and the sky, and all the senses and ‘the inner self’, the great soul that comprise the universe, are in the image of Purusa because it is the cosmic image of the eternal and the immortal Vishnu. Vishnu is Brahma, he is Shiva, and he is the source of creation. He looks after the created beings. At last, he destroys everything, and dissolves ‘the self.’

~*~

One learns about the age, Time and its dimensions, four Yugas, Manvantara and its age. One knows about the constitution of Manvantara –its gods, the sages and the kings. Birth of Brahma and deliverance of Earth and the creation it is. Lord descends as Varaha –incarnation of lord Vishnu enters the subterranean world. Prithvi –the earth glorifies the supreme

The wise sage on the request of monk Maitreya told him about the age of Brahma and other divine souls, and the nature of time and death of age and time. These are eternal subjects of intellectual probing and expansion of knowledge. Here, no reasons and efforts work. Therefore, like the warmth and heat of fire, it is natural that Brahma enjoys powers of creation in the age.

“O wise man, he takes birth through organizing Yajna correctly and its age is one hundred years, so says an estimate. O pure soul, I told you about Time-image, Kaalrupa of Vishnu. Through the lord, one measures the age of earth, the mountains, the seas and the animate or the inanimate beings.”

He explained the meaning of a moment, muhurata, and told that thirty muhuratas was one day and night and so equal number of two parts constituted one month. He talked about the ayana of six months - Daksiyana –a night of gods, and Uttarayana –a day of gods, and thus, two ayanas were equal to one year. Those who were scholars of ancient history, times and archeology, estimated the age of Satya, Treta, Dwapar and Kali Yugas - chaturth Yugas at four, three, two and one thousand divine years…and so he gave details of each age, divine years, evenings etc. One thousand ‘chaturth Yugas’ constitute one day of Brahma, he told.

Sage Prasara averred that ‘in one day of Brahma, fourteen Manus take birth of almost similar features and dimensions. Each consists of seven sages, seven gods, lord of gods Indra, Manu and sons of Manu, who were the kings of Manvantara. They took birth in an age of Manu, and later, faced death and destruction. ‘Know that a little more than seventy-one ‘chaturth Yugas’ are equal to one Manvantara, and it is time and age of Manu and other created beings’, he told.

“It also means that a Manvantara is equal to eight lacs fifty-two thousand divine years. Further, it is equal to thirty crores sixty-seven lacs and twenty thousand man’s years. It means fourteen times more is one day of Brahma. Afterward, it is moment of eternal annihilation –The Brahma Pralaya.”

“O Monk, at the time of annihilation, the earth, the heavens and the subterranean worlds, the physical existence of creation because of extreme heat begins to scorch and the created beings including the sages and the Siddhas - men of perfection after suffering torture go to the world of human beings –the world of mortals. Thus, after the three worlds –the universe turns into a sheet of water –a large sea, and at this moment, the yogis of the worlds concentrate on Narayana.

At this great hour, born of lotus yoni, Brahma feels satisfied as he gulps down the three worlds –the universe and so sleeps on the bed called Shesh-shayee -the vast hood of mighty Naga called Sheshnaga for one night, which is equal to one day of Brahma. After the lapse of long period of one night, begins the process of creation of the universe with all the citizens –sages, gods, Indra, Manu etc. Thus, if one calculates, one year of Brahma and then, one hundred years…hundred years of Brahma is the age of supreme Brahma.” Therefore, the great sage Prasara continued to explain. The monks were very happy and appeared greatly satisfied.

Sage Prasara continued and told sage Maitreya about the birth of Brahma and the deliverance of Earth and the creation the world. He told, “After the end of earlier Kalpa, the embodiment of sattva qualities, the virtues of truth and righteousness, Brahma woke up in wisdom and observed the entire cosmos as a massive void. He is beyond Narayana, beyond anxiety, Brahma, Shiva…and, he is the god of gods, an image of Supreme Brahma, beyond beginning and the origin of entire creation.” Because out of the vast sea of water, Nara – Purusa took birth, so water is Naar and it is the living place –ayana of Narayana –Vishnu, and so he is Narayana. Braham knew that the earth was under the depth of water and so he decided to bring it out and immediately transformed it into the figure of mighty Varaha. Earlier, he had descended as Fish, Kurma etc.

In the beginning of the new epoch, he took birth as Varaha saturated with the spirit of the Vedas and understood the situation, who is the refuge of everyone and yet nobody, not a bit. He is an eternal divine asylum ‘unto itself’ and on profuse praise of sages, Sanaka and other men of wisdom and perfection and the Siddhas entered depths of water. When the earth, goddess Vasundhara noticed the arrival of the lord, she in all humility began to eulogize the great lord.

Prithvi – the Earth said, “O lotus-eyed lord whom conch, chakra, mace and padam decorate, I salute you. Liberate me from the grasp of the lord of subterranean worlds. I took birth through you in the past. Earlier also, you granted liberation. You are the cause of the sky and various elements –the bhutas. O lord, I salute. You are the cause, the origin, the image of death, and the source of creation, and so you transform into the great lord Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra, and you are the guardian and the destroyer of creation.”

Thus, the great earth Prithvi continued to sing glory of Supreme lord, who was beyond understanding and none knew or understood its fundamental nature and mystifying characteristics. Whatever, one thought or imagined, observed or accepted through senses and deeply deliberated on it, was possible because of you, Prithvi said further.

“I am your image and you created me and I take refuge in you O lord. I salute you.” Prithvi continued to sing hymns of grandeur.

“O lord, you are pure I salute. You are Yajna, the image of Onkara and the lord of Fires. You are the Vedas, the Vedanga and the Yajana - Purusa. You are the sun, the stars, the grahas -the planets and the entire cosmos. You are in images… visible, and images only and you are the visible lord, yet invisible and whatever I said earlier and what I did not say is you, and all that is not you, it is you, O lord. I salute you.”

Sage Prasara told the monk that the great lord roared raucously and the lord of lotus eyes, the mighty Varaha, lifted the great Prithvi with the strong jaws and emerged out of the depth of sea. The showers of water that sprang forth from the strong breathing of colossal Varaha rose high and it soaked holy monks Sanaka and others of stunning dazzle. Water created loud noise and as the mighty Varaha moved violently, it scratched the surface of earth with powerful and heavy hooves and began to go down. Out of fear, the Siddhas and the religious men of tapa were terrified, and felt scorched immensely and so started running about to save life. When Varaha emerged out of water with Prithvi in its huge jaws, its entire body and abdomen trembled with utmost noise and were drenched, and observing the unique phenomenon all monks and holy men began to extol the virtues of the Supreme lord.

The holy sages bowed and humbly said, “O god of gods, O Keshav who adorns ‘the self’ with conch, mace, sword and chakra, we greet you. You are the cause of creation, preservation and annihilation of the worlds. You are the great lord, and what is the Supreme Status is the question…it is you and nothing else. O lord, you are Yajna –purusa and the Vedas live in your holy feet, Yajna is situated in teeth… the eyes are night and day and the head is the foundation of supreme Brahma.”

The monks continued genuinely to applaud the lord. He existed in everything and in each creation and nothing existed without him. He was the lord of all.

He was the truth, the manifestation of supreme dharma of humankind. There was none else. It was grandeur and generosity of the lord that the entire universe –the animate and the inanimate lived and grew.

The great monks continued to say, “The entire visible universe is the image of lord and the reflection of knowledge and wisdom. Wise people find meanings in knowledge and wisdom, and therefore, continue to wander around ineffectually because of delusion, ignorance and attachment. O lord, men who possess pure soul and intellect consider you an image of wisdom and knowledge. O lord, grant liberation to Prithvi and bless creation with peace. O lord, grant peace.”

Sage Prasara heard genuine eulogies and was greatly delighted. After a long pause, the miracle happened. The great Varaha -incarnation of lord Vishnu, lifted the great Prithvi up and established her securely on the surface of water. As a huge boat the great Varaha situated it on the massive sheet of water and despite huge size, she never went down. Thereafter, the great eternal lord, leveled the earth, divided it, and situated many mountains at different places, and then, he situated, parched and seared mountains on the surface of Prithvi that had suffered during the last kalpa. Then, he located all the seven vast islands at the assigned places. He thought deeply, and ingeniously made it possible for all the worlds to come into existence as it had happened in earlier kalpa.

Thereafter, Sri Hari Vishnu permeated with Rajas Gunas assumed the figure of four-headed Brahma, and brought into life and existence the entire world along with the creation of the animate and the inanimate beings. Creation is the consequence of inherent powers of different ‘padarathas’ –it relates to dharma, the essence of any substance. According to Purana Dharma, artha, kama and moksa, different rasas, qualities, hidden energies - physically it appears as semen –veerya, power…and so on is the principle where padarathas -vada –physical form of anything is accepted, and here, ‘the god’ and ‘the soul’ have no existence. It also leads to the science of padaratha –vigyan when one learns about its various activities that constitute acts of human beings. Thereafter, one learns about padaratha -vidya when man gains knowledge of substances, their qualities, and the nature of activities and the consequences. The creation of padarathas –material objects if left to it, does not need any further justification because it establishes its gross existence through its dormant powers.

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