Vol 02.020 | Pre-SaraNAgati Issues |
10 February, 1997
|
In this Issue:
1. Note from the Editor 2. Excerpts from Chapter 21 of "Hinduism Rediscovered" on " Evolution and Dissolution of Matter- Space - Time Triad" |
Dear Bhagavatas,
We give below excerpts from Chapter 21 of "Hinduism Rediscovered" dealing
with "Evolution and Dissolution of Matter- Space -Time Triad" This issue
deals with "Annexures 1 to 4 " referred in the body of the text.
Dasoham
Anbil Ramaswamy
2.
Excerpts from Chapter 21 of "Hinduism Rediscovered"
containing the Annexures 1 to 4 referred in the body of the text
in this series.
ANNEXURE I: TRANSLATION OF PURUSHA SUKTA HYMN
[ I have attempted a loose translation in verse form of the famous
Purusha Suktam hymn as follows. Any corrections or suggestions to improve
will be gratefully acknowledged]
A thousand heads has the Purusha, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet He envelops the earth on all sides ever exceeding it by the breadth of at least ten fingers -the Lord of immortality who grows ever greater by food.
This Purusha is all that was, is and will ever be He is the mightiest, yet he is mightier than himself. Three quarters of him is in the highest realms
All that is in the Universe appear again and again in the balance of the quarter below.-those that consume food and those that do not.
The shining Virat was born from him; from him was born the Brahma Viraj through whom he created himself as the very earth and its creatures thus encompassing all that is
The Gods prepared for the sacrifice with the Purusha as the oblation; Spring was oil; summer the victual and autumn the offering
They anointed the Purusha with the seven meters as the fencing sticks around the sacrificial fire; with the thrice seven verities as the very grass fuel.
The Sadhyas and Rishis sprinkled holy waters on this Purusha And, commenced the holy sacrifice called ' Sarvahuth ' - thus they sacrificed the sacrifice
From the sacrifice arose curds dripping with butter Arose from the sacrifice beasts wild and mildthose that live in woods and those that live in village as also the birds that fly.
Arose from the sacrifice the Vedic Riks, the Saman hymns spells and charms as also those of the Yajus, Krishna and Shukla
Kines and animals with single row of teeth and those with dual rows of teeth - horses, goats and sheep
When they in their imagination divided the Purusha how did they visualize the various parts - the face, the arms, the sinews and the feet?
The Brahmin was his mouth, the chiefs of army were his arms the tradesmen his thighs and the servitors his feet. The moon was born from his mind, the Sun from his eyes
Indra and Agni issued forth from his mouth; the winds from his breath from his navel sprang forth the atmosphere; the sky was shaped from his head.
The four directions took their directions from his ears Thus all the worlds were fashioned with specific forms and names to eke out existence on the earth and heavens
Thus, in an imaginary sacrifice, the Devas sacrificed the creator The very remembrance of this holy sacrifice of the Purusha is sure to secure deliverance from Samsara
The eternal Suris live happily ever and anon in Paramapada ever propitiating the Paramapurusha enjoying supreme everlasting bliss in his glorious company
One who knows him the way Brahma , Indra and the Devas did as the Primordial Purusha resplendent like the Sun and beyond all darkness- such a one attains him in this life itself.
ANNEXURE 2: SCHEME OF DYAVA PRITHVI IN THE HINDU COSMOLOGYNOTE
SUVARLOKA or SVARGA If you IMAGINE a globe, the Suvarloka or Dyava ( the Celestial) may be said to be in the region above the Arctic circle;
BHUVARLOKA- The Bhuvarloka (Atmospheric) may be said to occupy the entire region between the Arctic circle on top up to the Antarctic circle at the bottom level;
WITHIN THIS BHUVARLOKA The region corresponding to the tropic of Cancer from the Equator upwards may be said to correspond to the Teyu (Fire region);
The Equatorial region extending between the Cancer at the top and Capricorn at the bottom may be said to represent the Vayu (Air region);
The region lying between the Capricorn line up to the Antarctic circle may be said to represent the region of Apah ( Water);
BHULOKA The region below the Antarctic circle may be said to represent the Bhuloka( Earth region)
SUVAR LOKA a. k. a. SVARGA or DYAVACELESTIAL ( ETHER)
BHUVAR LOKA ATMOSPHERIC comprising TEYU ( FIRE) VAYU (AIR) and APAH(WATER)
BHU LOKA a. k. a. PRITVI -TERRESTRIAL ( EARTH )
ANNEXURE 3 : SCHEME OF LOKAS IN THE HINDUCOSMOLOGY
Above Satyaloka is Paramapada or Vaikunta, the abode of Lord Vishnu- Narayana
Sl./Loka/ World of Abode of/ Distance. to next below World/ Remarks
ANNEXURE 4 SCHEME OF DVEEPAS IN THE HINDUCOSMOLOGY
Name of Dveepa / Name of Land Surrounding Ocean made of Presiding deity/
Ruler/ Extent of Land and Ocean (units in Diameter of 10,000 ) yojanas
TOTAL 510
ANEXURES 5 and 6 will follow