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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00012 Apr 2004

 
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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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