The Geography of the Puranas c13.s2.11

c13.s2.11

The central idea of various cosmogonic theories of the Vedic and post-Vedic period appears to be (1) the existence of waters in the beginning and (2) the creation of a cosmic nucleus—Prajāpati (RV. X 121, 7)—the maker of the Universe. This nucleus is often named as Hiranyagarbha (or Golden Egg) which is considered as the source of the existence of all mundane and heavenly entities because it contained fire (heat) within itself. The Aitareya Brāhmana gives more details of cosmogony on the same lines. It says, ‘Prajāpati desired, “May I be propagated? May I be multiplied?” He exhibited fervour and created the worlds, the earth, the atmosphere, the sky; He brooded over the worlds; from these worlds, when brooded over, Agni (fire) was born from the earth, Vāyu (air) from the atmosphere, Āditya (sun) from the sky. He brooded over these luminaries. From these that were brooded over, the Vedas were born, the Rgveda from Agni, the Yajurveda from Vāyu, the Sāmaveda from Āditya….’¹¹ The Kauśitaki Brāhmana goes a step forward. It explains the production of heat by saying that Prajāpati by undergoing penance was heated and there arose Agni (fire), Vāyu (Air), Āditya (Sun), Candramā (Moon) and Uṣā (Dawn). Each of these was ordered by their progenitor to practice penance to effect the propagation of Prajāpati.¹²