Hindu puranas
Hindu Puranas are replete with Stories with the moral of destroying
Evil and vindicating Virtue. They describe incidents related to Avataras,
Devas, Vamshas, Kings, Rishis, Demons, and humanity in general.The
underlining message in all the Puranas is that all the Species in the
Lord’s Creation - be it Devas or Demons, humanity or other living Beings
are bound by the basic Principle ie. one sows as reaps. One’s own ‘Karma’
or action is decided by the previous action in the never-ending cycle of
births and deaths. This current action of any Being shapes the future
Karma. The Supreme Force creates ‘Maya’ or Illusion and influenced by ‘Tri
Gunas’ or The Three Characterisics of Satva-Rajas- Tamas Nature, Maya
decides ach and every action or the Cause which further leads to the
Reaction or the Effect! Hence, morality is the crux and behaviour is the
cornerstone of all Beings, with special reference to human beings.
Veda Vyasas scripted Eighteen Main Puranas besides several Upa-Puranas. The
Main Puranas are Brahma Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Brahmanda Purana,
Bhagavata Purana, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Varaha
Purana, Vamana Purana, Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana,
Markandeya Purana, Agni Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana, Bhavishya and
Garuda Purana. Some of the prominent Upa Puranas include Deva Bhagavata,
Narasimha, Vayu, Sthala, Nilamata Puranas.
Some basic facts common to Puranas
The Unknown and Eternal Paramatma or The Supreme Energy materialised the
Alternate Power called Prakriti / Maya which further appeared as Maha
Tatwa or the Great Awareness. The latter made possible the occurrence of ‘
Ahamkara’ or Ego in Abstract Form or the Inherent Consciousness which got
transformed as Bhutas or Tangible Entities the very First Entity being
Narayana who created ‘Apo Naara’ or the Radiant Water who floated on that
Water and was hence called Narayana. He deposited his virility with the
resolve of creating and there manifested a Brahmanda, the Huge Golden Egg
inside which there was seated Hiranya garbha Brahma. The Egg had two parts
viz. Diva/ Urthwa Loka or the Upper Part and ‘Bhuva’or Earth and the Space
between these Parts was ‘Akaasha’ the Sky. There were manifestations
eventually of Sapta Lokas (Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka, Swarloka, Maharloka,
Janarloka, Tapoloka and Satyaloka), Sapta Patalaas ( Atala, Vitala, Sutala,
Talaatala, Mahatala, Rasatala and Patala); Dasha Dishas or Ten Directions
viz. Uttara or North-East or Purva-
Dakshina or South-Paschim or West-Ishanya or North East -Agneya or South
East-Nirruti or South West- Vayavya or North West-Urthwa or Upper Region
and Atho Lokas or the Nether Worlds; Sapta Dwipas (Jambu, Plaksha,
Salmaali, Kusha, Krouncha, Shaka and Pushkala); Sapta Samudras (Lavana or
Salt, Ikshurasa or Sugarcane juice, Sura or Wine, Ghrita or Classified
Butter, Dahi or Curd, Ksheera or Milk and Suswada or Sweet Water);
Sapta Parvatas (Sumeru , Kailas, Malaya, Himalaya, Udyachala, Agastyachala,
Suvela and Gandhamadana); Ashta Loka Palakas (Indra, Agni, Yama, Nirruti,
Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and Ishana); Kaal maana or Time Calculation
(Triti-hundred tritis oneVedha- three Vedhas one Lava-Three Lavas on
Nimesha- Three Nimeshas one Kshana- five nimeshas one kashta or eight
seconds- fifteen kashtas one laghu or two minutes- fifteen laghus one
danda- six to seven dandas one fourth of a day or night-four praharas or
yamas one day or night- two pakshas a month-two months a Ritu or Season-
Six months one Ayana-365 combinations of a day / night one year- one year a
Deva year-1200 Yugas comprising Satya of 4800 Deva Years, Treta Yuga of
3600, Dwapara of 2400 and Kaki yuga of 1200 Deva Years make one a Maha
Yuga-100 Maha Yugas one Kalpa and Two Maha Kalpas are one life time of
Brahma; Brahma is now passing through his fifty first year and his life
span is 100 such years; we are now in the 28th Kali yuga of the first day
of the first year of the third Sweta Varaha kalpa, second paraartha in the
reign of the Seventh Manu named Vivaswanta. Kali Yuga is calculated to have
commenced on 17th February 3102 BC of Julion Calendar). Besides the Kaala
maana (Time), other notable creations were Manasa (Thought), Vaak (Speech),
Shad Vargas or the Six Aberrations of Kama-Krodha-Lobha-Moha-Mada- Matsara
viz.
Desire, Anger, Greed, Infatuation, Arrogance and Jealousy;
as also: Pancha Bhutas viz. Earth, Water, Agni,Wind and Sky;
Nava Grahas of Surya, Chandra, Mangala, Budha, Guru, Shukra, Shani,
Rahu-Ketu;
Chatur Vedas of Rik-Yajur-Saama and Atharva besides Shat-Vedangas viz.
Siksha ncluding Sangeeta and Nayaaya, Vyakarana, Kalpa Grandha, Nirukta,
Chandas Shastra and Jyotish.
Ekadasha Rudras or Eleven Rudras viz. Mahaan, Mahatma, Matimaan, Bhishana,
Bhayankara, Ritudwaja, Urthwakesha, Pingalaksha, Rucha, Shuchi, and
Kalaagni; Sapra Rishis viz. Marichi, Atri , Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha,
Kratu, and Vasishtha;Four Kumaras viz. Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat and
Sanatana; besides Narada-all Brahma’s mind-born sons.;
Chaturashramas,Yagnas and Agni Homas like Shodasi, Ukta, Purushi,
Agnishtoma, Aptoryama, Atiratra, Vajapeya, Goshava etc. Other facts worth
noting in the context of Puranas are Fourteen Manvantaras (Swayambhu,
Swarochisha,Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata, Chakshusa, the present Vaivaswata,
Savarni, Bhoutya, Rouchya and four more Savarnyas) and Prajapatis and
Vamshas, especially of Surya and Chandra and their lineages.
Daksha Prajapati and his wife Prasuti had sixty daughters, ten of whom were
given in charity to Dharma, seventeen to Kashaypa Muni, twenty seven to
Chandra and two each to Rishis Angira, Krasaswa and Bhuta. Dharma’s wives
gave birth among others to Twelve Sadhyas called Jaya Devas considered as
good as Devas reputed in the context of Yagnas like Darsha, Pounamavasya,
Vithi, Vivithi etc. Dharma’s another wife Vasu gave birth to Ashta Vasus
like Dhara, Soma, Ayu, Pratyusa etc. From Angirasa and Vastu Devi was
born Vishwakarma and so on. But the most significant progeny of Daksha’s
daughters was from Kashyapa Muni as follows: Indras and Devas from Aditi;
Diti gave birth to Daityas like Hiranya Kashipu (killed in Narasimha
Avatara as he tormented his own son Prahlada) and Hiranyaksha (who dragged
Bhu Devi to Rasatala but was rescued by Vishnu’s Avatara viz. Matsya Deva)
as also Marudganas ( when Diti performed a very severe Vrata to destroy
Devas and got conceived from Kashyapa, Indra feigned affection to Diti and
when she was asleep entered her womb and by his ‘Siddhi’called ‘Anima’or
miniaturising cut the child seven times by his Vajrayudha and made further
seven pieces totalling forty nine and after delivery each piece became a
Marud by Kashyapa Muni’s powers and the Marudganas turned out to be
share-holders of Yagnas and as good as Devatas and were Indra’s
followers!); Danu Devi gave birth to Danavas whose Chief was Viprachit and
the latter’s wife Simhika gave birth to Simhika who were more cruel and
notorious than Danavas in grit for Tapasya, mainly targeting Sages and
Brahmanas. Rahu was the eldest son of Simhika; the most infamous among the
Simhikas were Vatapi, Bhouma and Namuchi.
The worst of Danavas were Shambhara, Maya, Tarakasura, Jambha, Naraka,
Pralamba etc. who had passion for destroying Yagnas, Shraddhas, children
and cows too. Devi Kadru another wife of Kashyapa Muni was the mother of
Serpents, the most famed ones of the species being Sesha, Vasuki and
Takshaka besides Iravata, Mahapadma, Kambala, Ashwatara, Shankha,
Karkotaka, Dhananjaya, Kaliya and so on. Khasa Devi had two sons one at
dawn time and another at dusk; the elder son had four hands and four legs
with high hair growth all over his body and the younger one had three
heads, three hands and three legs. Bothe were ferocious and grotesque; one
wanted to eat his mother out of extreme hunger and another desired to save
the mother. Kashyapa named them Rakshasas; they were weak and dull but as
the dusk grew into night they became invincible and all powerful with the
ability to change into any Form as they wished, enjoying the flesh of
Devas, Sages, human beings, animals or birds. Surabhi was the mother of
cows and buffalos; Vinata the mother of Garuda and Aruna the charioteers of
Vishnu and Surya; Arista gave birth to Gandharvas; Muni was the mother of
Apsaras or Angels; ILA Devi was the mother of creepers; Tamra gave birth to
vultures, eagles and large birds; Time to aquatics and Saras to tigers,
lions and ferocious animals. Thus, Kashyapa Vamsha stood for Dharma,
Kshama, and Virtue and at the same time for Adharma, jealousy, cruelty and
sheer depravity. K RAJARAM IRS 13626
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