Stories From The Bhagawatham - How A New Cycle Of Creation Began

 

During his travels, Vidura came to the Ashram of Maitreya Rishi and requested him to narrate the various leelas of Lord Narayana. Maitreya Rishi began his narration with the beginning of a new cycle of creation.

A deluge had submerged the earth. Lord Narayana was in Yoga Nidra after the Pralaya, having absorbed the entire Universe into Him where it lay in dormancy. There was a state of equilibrium for a long while. Then the concept called Time caused some disturbance in the equilibrium. Out of the navel of Narayana, there arose a thin stalk which grew into an enormous lotus and illuminated its surroundings with its brilliance. Into this lotus, entered another form of Narayana named Brahma. Finding Himself all alone, Brahma looked around in all directions, and in every direction He looked, He sprouted a new head. All He could see was a vast endless expanse of water around, and all He could hear was the sound of the waves crashing against each other. He looked downwards and realized that He was seated on a lotus. He travelled downwards in the stalk but could not find its end. He came back to His original place and pondered what to do. The waves, through their sounds, seemed to whisper. “Tapas! Tapas!” Accordingly, He decided to do penance and went into meditation.

It was during meditation that Brahma finally got a vision of Narayana, reclining on the enormous Adisesha. Brahma recognized Narayana as the Supreme Divine and realized the purpose for which He had appeared in the Universe – to create a new world. Narayana told Him likewise. “I have brought you into the Universe to create a new world with lifeforms in it.” Saying, “So be it!” Brahma started the process of Creation.

The first beings to be born were the Maanas-putra (mind-born) sons of Brahma named Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanatkumara. Brahma commanded them to help to produce people in the world. However, all four being Rishis, they just wanted to attain liberation and refused to do His bidding. Brahma let them go although He felt angry with them. This anger burst out of Him and took on the form of a being with a reddish hue. He cried out. “Give me a name and a place where I can live.” Brahma said. “As you cried out the moment you were born, I name you Rudra. You can permeate the entire world. Go now, and produce more beings.”

Brahma proceeded to produce ten sons from His body. Out of His heart, Desire was born and out of His eyebrows, Anger. His shadow took on a form and was called Kardama. From His mind, the entire world sprang forth. From His four faces, the Vedas appeared.

Brahma split Himself into two forms – a male named Swayambhu Manu and a female named Shatarupa. Thus were born the first of the beings in a new cycle of creation.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya!