[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c8.1637 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1637 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c8.1637 - **Language:** English ### [c8.1637](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.1637) PAKAL. Malayālam word meaning Day. A story about the origin of day, night, dawn and dusk is contained in Viṣṇu Purāṇa. At the time of the great Deluge everything from gods down to the rocks lay submerged in Parabrahman (Supreme Being). Brahmā sat in meditation to initiate what he termed as Jagatsṛṣṭi, the four species of living beings like the devas, asuras, pitṛs and men. When the meditation proceeded, the Tamoguṇa in Brahmā became prominent and so first and foremost of all, the asuras were born from his waist. Then Brahmā discarded his Tamoguṇa and the manifestation of the discarded Tamoguṇa became Night. Brahmā sat again in meditation and from his face sprang out the devas, who were embodiments of sattvaguṇa. Brahmā discarded the sattvaguṇa and it then became Day. That is why asuras are powerful at night and devas by day. Then another manifestation with sattvaguṇa predominating sprang out from Brahmā and it was called Pitṛs. Brahmā discarded that also and it became Dusk. Brahmā sat again in meditation and then were born men who were a manifestation of Rajoguṇa. Brahmā discarded that also and it then became Dawn. That is why men are strong at dawn and the pitṛs strong at dusk. It is because of these that it is said that day, night, dawn and dusk are bodies of Brahmā. All the above four are an asylum of the three guṇas. - [Previous: c8.1636](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.1636) - [Next: c8.1638](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.1638) - [Up: c8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.1637](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c8.1637) · Pramāṇa