Pralaya, dissolution takes place at the end of every Kalpa. When the process of creation starts again Prakriti evolves first from the three Gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Then Adrishta, Destiny takes over for a while. Adrishta rouses Ahamkara – self-consciousness – from His deep slumber.
Ahamkara creates the five Tanmatras, the subtle elements that we perceive through our sense organs. We can hear, touch, see, taste and smell only because of the Tanmatras.
Our Tanmatras then combine and recombine in different permutations and combinations to create the Pancha Maha Bhutas. The Pancha Maha Bhutas are the five gross elements – Ether ( Akasha), Air ( Vayu), Fire ( Agni), Water ( Jala) and Earth ( Prithvi).
These Pancha Maha Bhutas then combine and recombine in various permutations and combinations endlessly to create living beings. Living beings are just material forms that exist in space and time. We can perceive Pancha Maha Bhutas with our active sense organs when we come in contact with them. Our mind, Manas, then receives, arranges and carries these impressions to our sense organs and enables us to perceive things.
The Gunas, Tanmatras, Pancha Maha Bhutas and Prakriti together create a golden egg. This egg floats for thousands of years on the waters of Ekarnava, the only sea that exists after dissolution takes place. This egg has no Atma either till Vishnu, the supreme soul enters into the golden egg and lies upon Ananta Sesha who floats on the Ekarnava.
At the appropriate time, a radiant lotus, the abode of all living beings, emerges from Vishnu’s navel. Brahma is born inside this lotus. For many years Brahma tries to come out of the lotus and make some sense of the cosmos.
That is when he hears an asiriri which says, “Tapasya is your way.”So Brahma meditates for countless years before he begins his task of creation.
The Rakshasas and Yakshas
Initially, Brahma too fumbles and falters with his task of creation. From his ignorance, Tamo Guna, he creates five kinds of Avidya – Tamisra (Anger), Andha Tamisra (foolishness), Tamas (lethargy), Moha (Delusion) and Maha Tamas(darkness). Brahma feels disgusted with the Tamasic body that he creates. So he casts it away and decides to begin afresh.
This body that Brahma casts away becomes the night. The Yakshas and Rakshasas, the first protectors of the cosmos eagerly took Brahma’s body for themselves.
In no time, the Yakshas and Rakshasas feel hungry and thirsty. When the ravenous Yakshas and Rakshasas find no food to eat anywhere they decide to eat Brahma’s flesh and drink his blood to satiate their hunger and thirst.
Petrified Brahma says, “I created you. You have to protect me. Not eat me.” The Yakshas and Rakshasas realize their folly so do not devour Brahma. But they keep Brahma’s dark body as their own forever. That is why we believe that the Rakshasas and Yakshas are always awake at night.
The Devas
This time Brahma decides to assume a body that radiates light from every limb. He creates beings called Devas from his face. But Brahma does not feel very satisfied with this new body either. So he abandons it. So the devas preserve this body of Brahma as their own. That is why we call the Devas as gods of light and believe that they are awake during the day.
The Asuras
Brahma now uses a combination of light and darkness and a different part of his divine body to create his next body. Using this new body he extrudes beings from his genitals and anus. The passionate Asuras instantly cling to this body of Brahma’s and are eager to unite with him.
Initially, Brahma feels amused to see their clingy nature. But when he sees their physical passion he quickly realizes that the Asuras are hell-bent on raping him. He feels scared, flees to Vishnu and asks Him for help.
Vishnu asks Brahma to abandon that body of his immediately. And the minute Brahma does this his dark body transforms into a seductive irresistible woman. The Asuras eagerly keep this woman for their pleasure. That is why it is said that Twilight is a time for sexual arousal.
Gandharvas and Apsaras
Brahma laughs aloud when he sees the kinds of creatures he has created so far. He looks at them all with passion. And with his passion-filled laughter, he creates yet another body with a pale golden hue and wonders who will claim this body of his.
The Gandharvas and Apsaras take this discarded body of Brahma as their own, crown Viswavasu, the greatest of all Gandharvas as their king and live happily in this body. That is why we believe that the Gandharvas and Apsaras are awake during the enchanting moonlight.
Bhutas and Pretas
Now Brahma feels physically and mentally tired after doing so much work. He yawns and abandons the body that he creates while yawning with fatigue. He shuts his eyes when he sees the wild and naked Bhutas and Pretas taking his discarded body as their own.
Brahma knows that the body he has just discarded is made of lassitude, yawning, sleep and madness. That is why we believe that bhutas and pretas will possess us if we are lethargic and while away our time in excessive sleep.
The Pitrs
Brahma now tries a new technique to create his next body. He remains invisible and feels exhilarated with his new idea and wonders who will be eager to take up an invisible body. The Pitrs take up Brahma’s discarded invisible body with reverence. And that is why we worship our Pitrs with havya and kavya – burnt offerings and poems – invisible things.
Siddhas and Vidyadharas
When Brahma creates a mysterious vanishing body, the Siddhas and Vidyadharas know they have got the best gift of all. They take up Brahma’s discarded body and transform into magical beings who could choose to remain invisible in the world of forms.
The Kinnaras and Kimpurushas
Brahma now anoints himself with sandalwood paste. He adorns himself with beautiful seasonal blooms and looks into the mirror while admiring his new body. Brahma then casts off his painted body and creates dawn.
The Kinnaras and Kimpurushas take up this body of Brahma’s the minute he discards it. That is why we consider the early hours of dawn as the Brahma Muhurta. That is why we believe that the Kinnaras and Kimpurushas and their women look so beautiful, talk in riddles and sing praises of Brahma.
The Nagas
But Brahma knows he has not yet fulfilled the task of creation. He trembles with rage when he sees that all his creations were not growing up and multiplying as quickly as he wanted them to. He shakes his body angrily and creates a new body from the hair that falls off it.
The hooded, venomous serpents and king cobras take up this discarded body of Brahma’s as their own. That is why we always feel scared when we see serpents.
The Manus
Brahma now creates a human body and gifts it to the Manus. He says, “O Manus, you, my sons will be the fathers of mankind. As Prajapatis you will take on the task of creating more of your kind on the earth.” And that is how Manus like Daksha and Kardam created the race of human beings.
Something to reflect upon
Sometimes, we need to do is pause and thank our ancestors for revealing such wondrous facets of the cosmos to us. Through such stories we understand that God has created space in the cosmos for all kinds of creatures. Let’s learn to live with them in harmony.
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