The Geography of the Puranas c13.s6: Secondary Creation

c13.s6.1

The Purāṇas do not stop at the origin of the earth and the extra-territorial spheres but also establish the order and describe the manner in which 'the Diety created the gods, sages, progenitors, demons, men, animals, trees and the rest that abide on earth; in heaven, or in the waters.'¹⁵ After the creation of Mahat, Tanmātras and Aindriyaka (i.e., intellect, rudimental principles of senses) He created the inanimate bodies; then the animals (including birds) followed by divinities. The seventh creation was that of the Arvaksrotas, i.e. that of man. The inanimate bodies include the mineral and vegetable kingdoms, i.e., (a) trees, (b) shrubs, (c) climbing plants (d) creepers and (e) grasses.