Shreemad Bhagavat Mahapuran- Canto: 2, Chapters: 6 & 7
Brahmaji tells Naradji that this Brahmand (cosmic egg of the universe) remained lifeless for a thousand years, after which Bhagwan infused it with life. The Virat Purush (Cosmic Being) emerged from the Brahmand, whose infinite limbs are described in detail:
- Mouth: Speech and its presiding deity, Agni (fire), were born from the mouth of the Virat Purush. The seven meters (of Vedic hymns) emerged from his seven essential elements.
- Tongue: The ambrosial food suitable for consumption by humans, ancestors, and gods, along with all types of tastes, the sense of taste, and its presiding deity, Varun, emerged from the tongue of the Virat Purush.
- Nostrils: From his nostrils came the five vital airs—Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Samana—along with the wind and the sense of smell. The Ashwini Kumaras, all medicinal herbs, and both ordinary and special fragrances also originated from his sense of smell.
- Eyes: His eyes are the source of form and light, and the eyeballs are the birthplace of heaven and the sun.
- Ears: All directions and pilgrimages that purify came from his ears, while space and sound emerged from his sense of hearing.
- Body: His body is the treasure trove of all the essences and beauty in the universe. All sacrifices, the sense of touch, and air were born from his skin; his body hair became the source of all vegetation or only those necessary for performing sacrifices.
- Hair, Beard, and Nails: From the hair, beard, and nails of the Virat Purush, clouds, lightning, rocks, and metals such as iron are born.
- Arms: The protectors of the world, the Lokapalas, emerge from his arms.
- Movement: His movement and walking serve as the foundation for the three worlds—Bhuh, Bhuvah, and Svah.
- Feet: His divine feet provide protection, dispel fears, and fulfil all desires.
- Generative Organ: The Virat Purush's generative organ is the source of water, seed, creation, clouds, and the Prajapati. His reproductive organ is the origin of the pleasure derived from union.
- Excretory Organ: From the excretory organ of the Virat Purush originate Yama, Mitra, and the process of excretion, while the anus gives rise to violence, Nirrti (destruction), death, and hell.
- Back: From his back arise defeat, unrighteousness, and ignorance.
- Veins and Bones: Rivers and streams are formed from his veins, and mountains from his bones.
- Abdomen: Within his abdomen reside the primal nature, the essence of all fluids, the oceans, all living beings, and their death.
- Heart: His heart is the birthplace of the mind.
- Dependents: Brahma, Narad, Dharma, Sanak and his brothers, Shankar, knowledge, and the inner self—all are dependent on his consciousness.
In the end, Brahmaji asks how we can enumerate everything. You, Sanak and his brothers, Shankar, deities, demons, humans, serpents, birds, deer, crawling creatures, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Yakshas, Rakshasas, ghosts, serpents, animals, ancestors, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, Charanas, trees, and various other beings—whether they dwell in the sky, water, or on land, the planets and stars, comets, lightning, and clouds—all are the Virat Purush. This entire world—everything that has ever been is, or will be—is encompassed by him, and this world is situated within the measure of only ten fingers of him:
- Earth: Ten times the water,
- Water: Ten times the fire,
- Fire: Ten times the air,
- Air: Ten times the space,
- Space: Ten times the ahankara (ego),
- Ahankara: Ten times the Mahattattva (Great Principle),
- Mahattattva: Ten times the Prakriti (primordial nature).
Just as the sun illuminates everything with its light, Shree Krishna (the Puraan Purush) pervades and illuminates the entire universe. Shree Krishna is beyond actions and thoughts and is the master of infinite bliss and liberation. All worlds are parts of Bhagwan, and all beings reside within these worlds.
- Above Maharloka: Janaloka, Tapoloka, and Satyaloka, respectively, are where eternal nectar, safety, and fearlessness reside. Brahmacharis (celibates), Vanaprasthas (hermits), and Sannyasis (renunciants) are the residents of these lokas.
- Below Maharloka: In Bhooloka, Bhuvarloka, and Svarloka, the householders or those who are devoid of prolonged Brahmacharya live.
Path of Ritual Action and Path of Devotion:
- Path of Action in the Form of Ignorance: Those with desires take refuge in Karm-marg (path of ritual actions) to fulfil their wishes and enjoy pleasures.
- Path of Devotion in the Form of Knowledge: This path is for selfless worshippers who seek the divine without any desires.
Both paths are fundamentally based on the Supreme Lord. Just as the sun illuminates everything with its rays while remaining separate from them, similarly, the Supreme Being, from whom this entire universe has originated, resides within everything but remains transcendent.
Acquisition of Sacrificial Materials and the Role of Bhagwan Shree Krishna
Brahmaji tells Naradji, "When I was born from the lotus of the navel of the Virat Purush, I found no materials for the Yajna (sacrifice) except his limbs. Therefore, I envisioned the Yajna Pashu, the Yupa (pillar), the grass, the sacrificial ground, and the appropriate time for the Yajna within his limbs. The necessary items for the Yajna—vessels, barley, rice, ghee, essence, iron, Earth, water, mantras, names of deities, resolutions, rituals, faith, and devotion—were all obtained from the limbs of the Virat Purush. With these materials, I performed the Yajna of the Supreme Being. Then, your elder brother and the nine Prajapatis also meditated upon and worshipped that Virat Purush. Subsequently, Manu, sages, ancestors, deities, demons, and humans worshipped the Supreme Being through Yajnas."
Brahmaji continues, "This entire universe exists within that Bhagwan Shree Krishna, who is devoid of attributes but adopts the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) for the purpose of creation. By his inspiration, I create the world. Rudra destroys the world at his command, and as Vishnu maintains it."
Even Brahma and Shankar Cannot Comprehend the True Form of Bhagwan
Brahmaji says that he remains absorbed in Bhagwan's loving remembrance, ensuring that his speech, mind, and senses never deviate towards untruth. He himself is a Vedic authority, and the Prajapatis revere him. He states that despite practising Yog diligently, he could not comprehend the ultimate essence of the Supreme Being, as Bhagwan can only be realised through devotion. Brahmaji offers his obeisance to Bhagwan's feet and acknowledges that his glory is so immense that even he cannot fully grasp it, let alone other deities or living beings.
Naaham na yuum yadritaam gatim vidur na vaamadevah kim utaapare suraah
Tanmaa-ya-yaa mohita-buddha-yaah tv idam vinirmitam chaatma-samam-vichaksh-mahe
"I, my sons, and even Shankarji do not know His true form; how then can other deities know it? We are all so deluded that we cannot even fully comprehend the world created by His divine illusion and can only make guesses based on our own limited understanding." (Bhagavat 2-6-36)
Bhagwan's maya is so powerful that it captivates the world, leading all to be bewildered and unable to fully comprehend the truth of creation. Bhagwan is unborn, the Supreme Person, embodying knowledge, and is true and complete. He has no beginning or end and is free from the three Gunas, eternal and unique. When great souls calm their minds, senses, and bodies, they experience Bhagwan. However, the arguments of the unenlightened obscure this realisation. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj says:
Jehi maaya-vasha vishva charachara
Brahmand-nayak vidhi, hari har
Naachat jyon nat paravash baanar
Tehi dai chhaach neku si chhorin, kotin naach nachaay
"Under the influence of His maya, the entire world, both mobile and immobile, dances like a puppet. The Creator Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are also controlled by this divine illusion. And yet, the same God, whose maya makes others dance, Himself dances to the claps of the Gopis just for a bit of buttermilk."
After this, Brahmaji introduces Naradji to the incarnations of Bhagwan, saying that the first incarnation of the Supreme God is the Virat Purush and all entities—time, nature, the five elements, ego, etc.—are His manifestations. I (Brahma), Shankar, Vishnu, Daksha, and other Prajapatis, you (Narad), and other devotees like you, the protectors of the heavenly realms, the kings of birds, the rulers of the human world, the rulers of lower realms; the leaders of Gandharvas, Vidyadharas, and Charanas; the lords of Yakshas, Rakshasas, and serpents; the great sages, the ancestors, the chiefs of Daityas, the rulers of demons; and all entities endowed with wealth, radiance, sensory strength, mental strength, physical strength, or forgiveness; those possessing exceptional beauty, modesty, magnificence, or divine qualities; and everything that is extraordinary in colour, form, or formlessness—are all manifestations of the Supreme God. Additionally, Bhagwan's supremely pure and principal divine pastimes are also described in the scriptures, which I will now narrate in detail.
Leela Avatars and Their Purpose
- Varah Avatar: To rescue the Earth submerged in the deluge and to defeat Hiranyaksha, tearing him apart with His tusks.
- Suyajna Avatar: To resolve great crises in the three worlds, Suyajna appears from Prajapati Ruchi's wife Akuti's womb, creating the gods with His wife Dakshina.
- Kapil Avatar: To impart self-knowledge to His mother Devahuti, leading her to attain enlightenment in this lifetime.
- Dattatreya Avatar: To appear as the son of Maharshi Atri and bestow knowledge. Known as Dattatreya, He grants the yogic, material, and liberation achievements to King Yadu and Sahasrarjun.
- Sanak, Sanandan, Sanatan, and Sanat Kumar Avatar: To restore the lost self-knowledge to the sages through penance at the beginning of creation.
- Nara-Narayan Avatar: To control Shiva's anger and prevent the entry of desire with His pure heart.
- Dhruv Avatar: To send the young Dhruv, troubled by his stepmother's harsh words, to the forest for penance and grant him a high status.
- Prithu Avatar: To appear as Prithu after churning the body of King Vena and to extract medicinal herbs from the Earth.
- Rishabhdev Avatar: To be born from the womb of Sudhevi and practice self-discipline and yoga, known as Maharsiparamhansapad or Avadhuta practice.
- Hayagriva Avatar: To protect and manifest the Vedic scriptures as the golden-aura deity.
- Matsya Avatar: To reveal Himself as a fish to King Satyavrata and protect the Vedas during the deluge.
- Kurma Avatar: To support Mount Mandara on His back and reduce the disturbances caused by its churning.
- Narasimha Avatar: To protect Prahlad and defeat Hiranyakashipu in His man-lion form.
- Gajendra-mukti Avatar: To hear the cry of the elephant Gajendra and rescue him by removing the crocodile with His discus.
- Vaman Avatar: To measure the three worlds with three steps and establish the importance of humility and surrender.
- Dhanvantari Avatar: To provide Amrit (nectar) to the gods and present the knowledge of Ayurveda.
- Parashuram Avatar: To rid the Earth of the burden of Kshatriyas by defeating them 21 times.
- Ram Avatar: To slay Ravan and establish dharma.
- Krishna-Balaram Avatar: To defeat demons and perform divine pastimes.
- Ved Vyas Avatar: To divide the Vedas and provide understanding when people struggle with comprehension.
- Buddha Avatar: To teach righteous living and counteract the delusions caused by demons and asuras.
- Kalki Avatar: To appear at the end of the Kaliyug to restore dharma and defeat falsehood and hypocrisy.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Shreemad Bhagavat Katha [Hindi]- 16.08.2024
