History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.45

v7.c95.45

This myth about a golden egg of the universe is developed from Ṛg. X. 129 3 and X. 121. 1 (Hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartatāgre) in the Ch Up. III. 19 1-2 'In the beginning this universe was *asat* (not unfolded), it became *sat* (began to unfold), it was born (i e it took form); then an egg was evolved, it lay (in waters) for the period of a year; then it broke up, the two halves were one of silver and the other of gold, the silver half is this earth and the golden half is heaven'. This is followed in Manusmṛti as will be shown later on.