Hi List, The first legend about "beheading of vishNu; dadhyanc AtharvaNA story" was posted earlier. This legend occurs during the explanation of darsha-pUrNamAsa ishti in S.Br. Once there was a clash between asuras and devas and the latter were worsted. The asuras started dividing this earth among themselves by spreading out ox-hide from west to east. When the devas saw this, they also wanted a share of this earth. They went to the asuras with vishNu as their head, as vishNu is verily the sacrifice, and asked for a share. The asuras grudgingly agreed, but allowed a share corresponding the the size of vishNu. Now this vishNu was a dwarf (****). The devas didn't care anyway and agreed to the condition. They enclosed vishNu with gAyatrI metre on the south-side, trishtub on the west-side and jagatI on the north. They enclosed vishNu with Agni on the east side. With it (or him- vishNu), they toiled and sacrificed and obtained the whole earth from the asuras. <The brAhmaNa continues with an arthavAda, that whoever performs such and such enclosure around the altar knowing this will get the land of his rivals and enemies> Now, vishNu being enclosed by meters on 3 sides and agni on the fourth side became weary and very tired. So, he hid himself in the roots of plants, below the earth. The devas wondered - "whatever happened to vishNu? Whatever happened to sacrifice?" They dug up 3 angulas below the earth and found vishNu there. That is why, the altar should be 3 angulas deep. They enclosed vishNu second time with mantras from vAjasanEyi samhita. This legend contains the germ of the vishNu's vAmana avatara story that was popularized in the purANas. I will write about manu and fish legend from S.Br. later. However, the fish was not identified with vishNu. Regards, KK
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