Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.2498
Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c4.2498
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c4.2498.1
Lord Rudra took the form of Varuṇa and performed a sacrifice. Many hermits, all the devas, Agni and others, Vaṣaṭkāra (Exclamation in sacrifice) which took body, and all yajñāṅgas came to the sacrificial hall. All the expedients, all the glories which are thousands in number took shape and came to the sacrifice. Ṛgveda arrayed in garments of heroism came there. All the omens, all the voices, all the emotions, all the etymologies of pronouncing Veda Sūktas, all the svarabhaktikas, Oṃkāra (the syllable Oṃ) the eye of all the Vedic metres and their theories, all restraints and donations, all Vedas, Upaniṣads, accomplishments, Sāvitrī, the past, the near future and distant future, all these came there. The Lord Śiva held everyone of them. He offered his spirit by his spirit. The sacrifice took many forms and shed radiances. Paramaśiva is heaven, is the sky, is the earth, is the ether and the husband of the Earth, is the lord of all accomplishments, is noble and the lord of radiance. This Lord is lauded by the names Brahmā, Śiva, Rudra, Varuṇa, Agni, and Prabhāvatī. Śiva is the King of all the worlds. Penances, sacrifices, vows emblazed by fast, all the directions and gods of directions, Indras, celestial maids, mothers of the worlds, all these assumed forms and came to the sacrifice in multitudes. Everybody who witnessed the sacrifice of Parameśvara, who was in the form of Varuṇa, was greatly pleased. Seeing the pleased celestial maids standing in rows passion arose in Brahmā.
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He had seminal discharge. Āditya (the Sun) took the earth on which the semen fell and threw it into the sacrificial ladle and with recitation of spells offered it in the sacrificial fire as if it was ghee. The powerful semen contained the three attributes of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. From the attribute of Rajas arose the living world which had activity as its purpose. Radiance is the quality of Sattva which entered the living and non-living world. It gives light to everything. It also gives the power of discrimination. From the semen offered in the fire, three sons with body and the attributes of demi-gods came out. The male who originated from the flame called 'Bharjana' became Aṅgiras. The male who originated from the burning coals became Kavi. Over and above these three radiances, other radiances also originated from the sacrificial fire. From the Marīcis (rays) of the fire Marici the father of Kaśyapa was born. From the Kuśa-grass spread on the floor of the hall of sacrifice, the Bālakhilyas were born. Atri also was born from the Kuśa-grass. The noble hermits called Vaikhānasas, who have grown powerful by penance and became the seat of all good qualities, were born from the sacrificial ashes. From the stream of fire which are the eyes of the sacrificial fire the handsome Aśvins were born. The rest of the Prajāpatis were born from the ears of the fire.
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From the pores of the skin of fire were born the hermits, from the sweat the ‘chandas’ (metre of Vedas) and from might, the mind. For this reason the Vedic scholars and knowers of the Śruti and those who see the superiority of Vedas, say that fire is a combination of all the gods. The trees that feed the fire are called Māsas (months), the sap of the tree is called Pakṣa (half of the month i.e. full moon to new moon and new moon to full moon), the pith of the tree is called night and day and the flames are called Muhūrtas (auspicious moments). Rudras were born from the blood of fire and the golden coloured gods, the Maitras, also were born from the blood of fire. From the smoke of the fire, the Vasus, from the flame of the fire Rudras and the Ādityas of the extreme radiance were born. The planets and stars which stand in their places in the sky are the charcoal of the fire. Brahmā declared that fire was Brahmā the supreme spirit, eternal and the giver of all wishes. The sinless Mahādeva, who was in the form of Varuṇa said, “This sacrificial fire is mine, and I am the sacrificer. So the children born as the first fruit of this sacrifice are mine. So Bhṛgu, Aṅgiras and Kavi are my sons, no doubt. Let everybody who moves along the sky know that these three are my sons, the fruit of my sacrifice.” Agni said, “These are born from my organs. They had been depending on me for their sustenance.
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So they are my sons.” Brahmā the teacher of all the worlds and the grandfather of all living beings said, “They are my sons. I offered my sperm to the fire, and these sons were born therefrom. How can they be claimed by anybody else? Here, I am the utterer of the spell and the offerer of the sperm. I am the owner of the sperm. I am not the owner of the fruit? There is no contest on the point that the birth of Bhṛgu and others is from the oblation of my sperm.” The gods who heard these arguments bowed their heads before Brahmā and greeting him said, “Lord Brahmā, It is not only us that are born from you, but the entire world of living and non-living is born from you. So let Agni and Deva in the shape of Varuṇa have their wishes.”