Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4576

c9.4576

2) Beginning. In days of yore, when Viṣṇu was lying on the banyan leaf as Bāla Mukunda, he began to think "Who am I? Who created me? Why? What have I to perform?" - and soon an ethereal voice was heard, "I am everything. Except me, there is nothing eternal." From behind the voice Mahādevī appeared, and said "Look Viṣṇu. What is there to wonder at? Whenever the universe is subject to creation, sustenance and extermination, you have taken origin by the glory of the Almighty. The Almighty or the omnipotence is beyond attributes. But we are all subjected to attributes. Your foremost attribute is Sattva (goodness - purity) Brahmā whose main attribute is the attribute of rajas (activity - passions), will originate from your navel. From the middle of the brows of that Brahmā, Śiva will be born, whose main attribute is Tamas (inertia darkness). Brahmā, by the power of Tapas (penance) will acquire the power of creation and build the world. You will be the sustainer of that world. Śiva will destroy the same world. I am Devī Māyā (Illusion - personified as the wife of Brahman), the great power depending on you for the purpose of creation." After hearing these words of Devī, Viṣṇu went into meditation and deep sleep of contemplation.