CREATION OF GODS & GODDESSES FROM INDIAN EPICS
With
the objective of creating the deities, demons, ancestors and human
beings, Brahma abandoned the part of his physical body in the ocean. The
demons originated from the thighs of his abandoned body. Lord Brahma
blessed the demons with physical bodies, which were Taamasik in nature.
This part of Brahma's body became famous as Ratri (night). After that
Brahma created the deities from his mouth with the help of Satva guna.
The deities were given pure bodies. This part of Brahma's body which was
Saatvik (pure) in nature became famous as day.'
'After this, Brahma acquired another
physical body and created the ancestors. After creating the ancestors,
he abandoned his body, which transformed itself in the evening. Brahmaji
then acquired another body, which was affluent of Rajas qualities and
thus was created human being. He again abandoned his body and from it
was created Jyotsna- the transition period of day and night.'
'Jyotsna, evening and day contain the
quality of Satva in themselves. Night has the quality of Taamas in
itself. The deities, demons and human beings are most powerful during
the day, night and Jyotsna period respectively. The ancestors are most
powerful and invincible during the evening time.'
'Brahma then created creatures who had
moustaches and beard on their face. Some creatures among them started
attacking the others. Those who were being attacked and pleaded 'save
us' were called the Rakshasas (demons). The attackers who thundered 'we
would devour you up' were known as Yakshas (celestial beings).
'Brahma was very displeased by their
tantrums. Some of his hair fell down on earth and thus were created the
snakes. The flesh-eating Ganas were next to be created. These Ganas were
extremely volatile in nature. After that, Brahma created the Gandharvas.'
'This way after having created these
eight types of divine creation, Brahma created all the animals and birds
from his body. He created the goat from his mouth, lamb from his heart,
cow from his stomach and back, animals like horse, elephant, donkey,
rabbit, deer, camel and mule were created by Brahma from both his legs.
Variety of vegetation and medicinal plants were created from the hair of
his body.' 'Brahma then created the following things from the first of
his four mouths- Gayatri, Tri- rik, tri- vrit, Saam, Rathantar and
Agnishtom. From his mouth facing south, he created Yajuh,
Traishtumchhand, Panchadasha-stom, Vrihatsaam and Uktha. From his mouth
facing west, he created Shaam, Jagatichhand, Panchadasha-stom, Vairoop
and Atiraatra. From his mouth facing north, he created twenty-one
Atharva, Aaptoryaam, Aanushtubha and Vairaaj.'
'In the beginning of Kalpa, Brahma
created the natural things like lightning, Vajra, cloud, rainbow and
birds. After that he created the deities etc. He then created stable
things like mountains, living creatures that could move, demons, birds,
animals and snakes etc. All these living creatures take birth and
re-births, reap the fruits of the past Karmas done in their previous
life. This is the way Brahma had done creation at the end of the
dissolution period.'
Copulative Creations
Brahma
created one thousand couples from his mouth in the beginning of
creation. These couples were radiant and possessed virtuous qualities (Saatvik).
Once again, Brahmaji created one thousand couples from his chest but
this time they possessed the quality of Rajas. This phenomenon was
repeated for the second time and once again one thousand couples
manifested themselves from his chest. These couples were both Rajas as
well as Taamasik by nature. At last Brahma created one thousand more
couples from both his legs. These couples were completely Taamasik by
nature. The couples started copulating and this process has been
continuing since then.' 'Brahma now became worried as to how to
accommodate such a large number of people. Initially, these people used
to roam about every where, as there were no permanent residences to
accomodate them. At the arrival of Treta Yuga, they developed attachment
and started living in houses. Subsequently they started living in
various types of abodes- Pura, village, Dronimukha, Shakhanagar,
Kharvatak, Drami, Gram and Sanghosh etc.'
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