[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Akbar (1556–1605)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar) › [Akbarnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama) › [The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge) › 64 # The Book of Akbar 64: CHAPTER XIV. The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 64 - **Language:** English ### [64](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.64) Account of Adam (Peace be upon him!) It is well-known that he came into existence about 7,000 years ago through the perfect power of God, without the intervention of a father’s loins or a mother’s womb and that he was equably compounded of the four elements. His soul emanated from the fountain of bounty in perfection proportionate to his body. He was entitled man (insan) and received the name of Adam. At that time the first degree of Capricorn coincided with the eastern horizon, and Saturn was in that Sign, while Jupiter was in Pisces, Mars in Aries, the Moon in Leo, the Sun and Mercury in Virgo, and Venus in Libra. Some have said that at that time, all the planets were in their degrees of exaltation, but clearly this does not accord with astronomy for there is a difficulty about Mercury,—the Sun’s exaltation being in Aries and Mercury’s in Virgo. But Mercury can never be more than 27° distant from the Sun, how then can he be in exaltation when the Sun is in exaltation, or how can the Sun be in exaltation when Mercury is so? And reflecting on the astrological principle that Mercury takes the nature of whatever planet he be associated with, it has occurred to me that Mercury may have been in the condition of applying to some other planet which was in exaltation. Adam was of lofty stature, of a wheaten colour, had curling hair and a handsome countenance. There are different accounts of the stature of this patriarch, but most agree that he was sixty cubits high. Almighty God produced Eve from his left side and gave her in marriage to him, and by her he begat children. Historians have told many strange and wondrous things about this hero and though there be no difficulty about the extent of God’s power, yet experienced and practical men of the world, on looking to the course of nature, rather hesitate about accepting them. It is said that at the time of his death, he had 40,000 descendants, and that his immediate children were 41, viz., 21 boys and 20 girls, but some say there were 19 girls. Seth was the most eminent of them all. Some have said that Adam wrote about elixirs (?) (ta‘fīnāt) and other occult sciences, has so stated in his "Lives of Philosophers." For example the very learned Shahrazūrī. It is said Adam died in India and was buried on a mountain in Ceylon (an island) which lies towards the south and which is now known by the name of Qadamgah-i-adam (Adam's footprint, i.e. Adam's Peak.) He was ill 21 days and Eve died, according to one account, a year, according to another, seven years and according to a third, three days after him. Seth, his successor and administrator, buried her by Adam's side, and it is imported that Noah brought their coffin on board the Ark at the time of the Deluge, and afterwards buried them on Abu qubais. According to another account, they were buried in Jerusalem, and according to a third tradition, in Najf-Kufa. - [Previous: 63](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.63) - [Next: 65](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.65) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.64](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.64) · Pramāṇa