Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Thirteenth Session

Bhagavata Tritiya Skanda (Book Three)

Chapter 10 to 13 

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Story - Details of Appearance(creation) Included

To Brahmaji the truth finally revealed itself and now Brahmaji was ready to carry out the task. The ocean and the wind that was scaring him before, now did not bother him, he drank it all. He looked around and saw the lotus he was sitting on and divided it into three parts, and the three Lokas. 

- Bhuh Loka 

- Bhuvar Loka

- Suvah Loka 

He sat down again in ‘Tapa’. This time Prakrti(God) come forth to help in the 10 fold creation. Parkrti made the first 6 and following 3 were made by Bhrama(vikriti)

- Prakriti

  - Mahat Tattva

  - Aham 

  - Subtle elements

  - Indriyas

  - Deities presiding over the Indriyas

- Vikriti

  - Plants and trees 

  - Animals

  - Human

- Prakriti + Vikriti

  - Sages like sanat Kumar

With the above in place, conceptually and in the subtle form. Lord Brahma first created the five forms of agyaan (ignorance) :

- Tamas – absence of knowledge about one’s own self

- Moha - Self identification with the body

- Maha–moha – Craving of enjoyment

- Tamisra – Anger

- Andhatamisra – Looking upon death as ones own end

Seeing such a misleading creation as sinful, Brahma did not feel much pleasure in his activity, and therefore he purified himself by further meditation. Then he began another term of creation.

This resulted in the creation of the four Kumaras – Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanat-kumara, who refrained from all worldly activities and were Urdhavaretas. Brahmaji urged to help in creation. But, when these four refused to generate progeny, anger (krodh) was generated in the mind of Brahma.

Although he tried to curb his anger, out of his anger from between his eyebrows instantly a child who was red and blue was born.

The child cried loudly to his ‘father’ and requested him to designate him a name and a place.

“As you were crying out aloud the moment you were born, people will address you with the name Rudra”, Brahma pacified the child by first giving him a name.

The heart, the senses, the air of life, the sky, the air, the fire, the water, the earth, the sun, the moon and austerity are places for your residence.

Manyu, Manu, Mahinasa, Mahan, Siva, Ṛtadhvaja, Ugrareta, Bhava, Kala, Vamadeva and Dhrtavrata are your 11 other names

Dhi, Dhrti, Rasala, Uma, Niyut, Sarpi, Ila, Ambika, Iravati, Svadha and Diksa are your eleven wives (the Rudranis).

You are the master of the living beings. Accept these different names and places and the wives belonging to them and increase the population on a large scale Brahma asked Rudra.

Rudra generated unlimited sons and grandsons. All of them assembled together and attempted to devour the entire universe. When Brahma saw this he became afraid of the situation and requested Rudra to stop generating living entities of this destructive nature.

He advised his son Rudra to undergo penance which would result in creation of the universe as it was before.

Rudra took leave from his father and started performing austere penances.

Thus, this attempt also failed to yield the desired result. Hence, ones again Brahma went on with his ‘Tapa’. Now again he tried to have a tangible creation. He created and from various parts of his body came out;

- 10 Rishis 

- Dharma in the form of Nara and Narayan - Right breast

- Adharma - Back

- Kama - Heart

- Anger - Brow

- Greed - Lower Lip

- Vak - Mouth

- Kardamma - Shadow 

So on went the creation, till he got infatuated with Vak. He got attracted and attached to his on creation. This unrighteous act was appalled by the 10 Rishis. They said neither has it been done by any Brahma before or shall be done by any Brahma after. When rebuked like this he realised his mistake and dropped his body. The four quarters picked up the body with continued in the form of fog and darkness.

Now, with his pure subtle self, he went on with the work of creation and from his four faces came; 

- The four Veda and their further subdivisions 

- The fifth Veda, the Itihasa and Puranas

- The four types of priest 

- The four pillars of virtue

- The four types of Ashrama 

- The four types of Brahmanas

- The four types of Vanaprashta

- The four types of Samyasi

- The four branches of knowledge 

- The various meters 

- The gayatri

- The Pranava - A, U and M and AUM combined

This mesmerising creation, coming out of all his four heads, filled the space, but yet, Brahma’s task at hand was not accomplished.

So, he again went into deep Tapa, with which he manifested a pure body for himself and further divided the body into two. One half became Manu and the other Shatrupa. Now, they are ready to obey, but need earth to live on. 

Brahmaji again wonders if this attempt will also fail. He ponders on how to bring the earth out of the deep ocean in which it has been engulfed. While this thought is going on in his mind, out comes a small ‘Boar’ from his nose and multiplies in sizes. He becomes humongous and takes a leap into the ocean, battled Hiranyaksha and kills him and brings the earth back up. 

God in the form of a ‘Boar’ supports and makes possible the act of creation by re- establishing the earth. Amidst the praises and applauses this Boar - which is the Varaha Avatar disappears.

Questions - Food for Thought

Part 1

1. When all was created by Brahma, there is good and bad alike, why is it that humans are more inclined towards ignorance?

2. What is meant by Penance? Is giving up something in order to gain a favourable situation known as penance?

3. What is anger? What kind of anger is right? Is internal anger which is not expressed but kept inside considered anger?

4. Procreation - Bringing a child into this world. What decorum needs to be followed?

5. If Manu and Shatarupa came from the same Brahma, more on the same?

6. Do we also get fully absorbed by our own creation? Full of ourself?

7. What is subtle importance of Varaha Avatar?

Part 2

1. Why only 3 Lokas were created, we have 14 Lokas?

2. Why Sages like Sanat Kumar are considered created by Prakriti and Vikriti, when they came after Brahma and from him?

3. Is Brahma a designation? Are there more Brahmas?

4. In the four pillars of Virtue, why has the word Vidhya been used as a synonym for purity?

5. Is there a significance behind the four face of Brahma and the pair of four for everything?

6. When the creation is yet to begin, how is Hiranyaksha still there?

7. Where did the earth sink?

8. Is time - Cyclic or Linear?

9. What are the types of Pralaya?

10. How many Manus and Manvantars?

11. What is the life cycle of Brahma?

12. What is the duration of the Kalp?

‘Knowledge is having the right answers. Intelligence is asking the right questions.’

Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

Jai Hanuman 🙏

Shrimad Bhagavata Mahapurana

Synopsis of the Thirteenth Session .. Continuted 

Bhagavata Tritiya Skanda (Book Three)

Chapter 10 to 13 

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Sub-Stories 

It is essential to be in a receptive state of mind when we start reading books and hearing stories about God. We have to to keep walking in faith. We have to walk with Shradha, Vishvas and the willingness to let ‘God’ in.

Story One - Importance of Shradha and Vishvas

One day Narad Muni went out on his routine tour around earth. 

There he saw a Sage submerged in water, he went up to the Sage and did Naman. The sage was very happy to see Narad Muni and he requested Narad Muni to ask God when he would come to meet the Sage. He also added that he was sure that God would come soon. 

Next, Narad Muni saw a cobbler, who jumped up at the sight of Narad muni and did Naman. He was so overwhelmed to Narad Muni. Narad muni stopped, to talk and while taking asked do you have any question for God. The cobbler said, What do I know to ask? But, as you insist, Would I ever be able to meet God? 

Narad Muni went up to God and narrated both the episodes. 

- God said, Tell the sage, another 100 births before he can even think of meeting me. 

- God Said, Tell the cobbler I can’t wait to meet him too, will be coming soon.

Narad Muni was baffled he said, the Sage has been doing so much to please you and the cobbler here does not even have time to pray. 

God said, You will know, when you tell each of what i was doing when asked. Tell them, I was passing an elephant through the needle head. 

The puzzled Narad muni, did as was told. He went to the sage and the cobbler and on being asked what God was doing he told them about the needle and the elephant.

The Sage Said, Impossible, how can he pass an elephant through the needle head. It can not be. I feel you did not even meet God and who know if you are Narad Muni or not.

The cobbler said, Oh, look at the greatness o God, only he can do these majestic things. 

Narad Muni was amazed and for a moment felt this man was silly. He asked, ‘You believe what I am saying?’

The cobbler said, 

‘Yes I totally do believe. God can do anything. Look at this ‘Date Seed’ and look at this big Date tree. If God an put this big date tree in this tiny little seed. If God can put this numerous date trees in this one seed. Why can’t he put a elephant though a needle head. 

God can do anything, it is we who are unable to comprehend his doing with our limited ability to understand his magnificence. Not for a moment do I doubt what you said Narad Muni.’

Narrad Muni, had tears gushing out, and he hugged him telling him that God will be coming very soon to meet him.

Story Two - The willingness to let ‘God’ in

We all know about King Dhruv. It so goes that after the end of his reign, God come down to take him to Vaikunth Dham. 

Now Dhruvji being Dhruvji, was alarmed and said, ‘I really want to go to Vaikunth Dham, but it would be so unfair to leave my citizens behind. I wish I could take all of them with me’. 

To which God said, Don’t bother so much, nobody anyways wants to come to me. Don’t worry, they would rather stay here then be with me’. 

But, Dhruvji felt how could that be possible, who would miss the opportunity be with the Lord. So, God agreed and allowed to him to take whoever was willing to.

Dhruvji was so happy and sent messenger all around the announcing what he felt was a joyous news. But, to his disappointment nobody came, everyone one had one reason or another to not accept this blissful, ones in a life time offer. Now, Dhurvji was alarmed and he extended the offer to go to Vaikunth Dham to animals. Again, no one was ready to, and finally a pig agreed to come with its family.

Dhruvji was so happy, that he could at least take someone to the blissful realm. But, on the way, the pig suddenly asked, ‘What will we get to eat in Vaikunth Dham? Will we get our food the Excrete? If not, I don’t want to go.’ and he turned back.

Dhruvji said, ‘I am talking you to that blissful realm and you are worried about Excreta.’

God saw Dhruv coming all alone and with a long face. God went up to him, hugged him and said come lets go. He further said,

‘I told you, no one will come, you did believe me. I am always waiting to run at being called even ones. But, no one remembers me, no one calls’. 

Jai Shri Krishna 🙏

Jai Hanuman 🙏