Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 3 Chapter 26:51-63

Book 3: Chapter 26

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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 3: Chapter 26: Verses 51-63
The process of evolution of the Mahat-tattva andother fundamental principles

From these seven principles, roused into activity and united by the presence of the Lord, arose an unintelligent egg, from which appeared the well-known Cosmic Being. This egg, which is known by the name of Visesa, is enveloped on all sides by belts of water, fire, air, ether, the ego and the Mahat tattva, each ten times larger than that which it encloses, and these six being enveloped by the outermost belt of Pradhana (Primordial Matter). All the fourteen worlds, which are a manifestation of Sri Hari Himself, are spread within this egg. Shaking off an attitude of indifference to that shining egg, which lay on the causal waters, the Cosmic Being (now) presided over it and manifested the seats of the various Indriyas out of it. First of all appeared in Him a mouth and thence came forth the organ of speech and along with it the god of fire (the deity presiding over the organ of speech). Then appeared a pair of nostrils and in them the olfactory sense along with Prana (the vital air). In the wake of the olfactory sense came the wind-god (the god presiding over that sense)[1] and thereafter appeared (in Him) a pair of eyes and in them the sense of sight. In the wake of this sense came the sun-god( the god presiding over the same) and next appeared (in Him) a pair of ears and in them the auditory sense and in the wake of it the Digdevatas (the deities presiding over the latter). Then appeared in the Cosmic Being the skin and thereon the hair (on the body as well as on the head), a pair of moustaches and a beard. In the wake of these came the herbs and annual plants (the deities presiding over the hair, which represent the sense abiding in the skin), and then appeared in Him an organ of generation. In the latter appeared the faculty of procreation and thereafter the god presiding over the waters. Next appeared in Him an anus and in the wake of it the organ of defecation and thereafter came the god of death, the terror of the world. Then sprouted forth in Him a pair of hands and in them the capacity of grasping and dropping things and thereafter came the god Indra (the deity presiding over the hands). Next shot forth in Him a pair of feet and in them appeared the power of locomotion and thereafter appeared Lord Visnu (the deity presiding over that power). Next appeared in Him the blood vessels and thereafter came forth blood (the power of circulation). In the wake of it came the rivers (the deities presiding over the blood vessels )and then appeared an abdomen. Next grew therein a feeling of hunger and thirst and in their wake came the ocean (the deity presiding over the abdomen). Then appeared in Him a heart and in the wake of the heart a mind. After the mind appeared the moon (the deity presiding over the mind) as well as-Buddhi (the faculty of understanding); and in the wake of Buddhi came Brahma (the lord of speech and the deity presiding over Buddhi). Next appeared in Him the ego and thereafter Lord Rudra (the deity presiding over the ego); and last of all appeared in Him a Citta (reason) and then the Ksetrajna (the Inner Controller, the deity presiding over reason). When all the aforesaid deities (with the exception of the Inner Controller), though active, were unable to rouse the Cosmic Being into activity, they re-entered each his own seat in order to rouse Him one by one. The god of fire entered His mouth along with the organ of speech; but the Cosmic Being could not be roused even then. The wind-god entered His nostrils along with the olfactory sense; but the Cosmic Being refused to wake up even then.

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References

  1. In Brahma's creation it is the twin-gods Atwinikumaras who preside over the olfactory sense. In the body of the Cosmic Being, however, it is the wind-god who is mentioned as presiding over this sense.

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