Manu Svāyambhuva's Divine Lineage Begins

Explore Vishnu Purana's creation myth: Brahmā's mind-born sons, Rudra's emergence, Manu Svāyambhuva's lineage, and Visnu's cosmic role in endless cycles of creation and destruction. 

The Creation of Mind-Born Offspring

Parāśara began his narration:

Brahmā, the creator, continued his meditation. During this time, he gave birth to mind-born offspring. These embodied spirits had forms and abilities derived from Brahmā's own corporeal nature. They ranged from gods to inanimate objects.

All these beings possessed the three qualities, as I've described to you before. However, these initial creations did not multiply themselves.

The Nine Brahmārshis

Seeing that his first creations did not reproduce, Brahmā created more mind-born sons like himself. These nine sons, known as Brahmās or Brahmārshis in the Purāņas, were:

• Bhrgu

• Pulastya

• Pulaha

• Kratu

• Angiras

• Marīci

• Dakşa

• Atri

• Vasiștha

The Creation of Rudra

Before these nine, Brahmā had created Sanandana and other sons. These earlier creations were unique:

• They had no desire or passion

• They were filled with holy wisdom

• They were detached from the universe

• They showed no interest in having offspring

When Brahmā perceived this, he became extremely angry. His wrath was so intense that it could have consumed the three worlds. The flames of his anger encircled heaven, earth, and hell like a fiery garland.

From Brahmā's forehead, darkened with angry frowns, emerged a being called Rudra. This new creation was:

• Radiant as the midday sun

• Fierce and enormous

• Half male, half female

Brahmā commanded Rudra, "Separate yourself," and then vanished. Obedient to this command, Rudra split into male and female forms. He further divided his male self into eleven persons. Some were agreeable, some hideous, some fierce, and some mild. His female nature was multiplied manifold, of complexions black or white.

The Daughters of Daksa

The patriarch Daksa and Prasüti had twenty-four daughters. Their names and marriages were as follows:

Thirteen Daughters Married to Dharma (Righteousness)

1. Sraddha (faith)

2. Laksmī (prosperity)

3. Dhrti (steadiness)

4. Tușți (resignation)

5. Pușți (thriving)

6. Medhā (intelligence)

7. Kriyā (action, devotion)

8. Buddhi (intellect)

9. Lajjā (modesty)

10. Vapu (body)

11. Śānti (expiation)

12. Siddhi (perfection)

13. Kīrtti (fame)

Eleven Younger Daughters and Their Husbands

1. Khyāti (celebrity) - married to Bhrgu

2. Śatī (truth) - married to Bhava

3. Sambhuti (fitness) - married to Marīci

4. Smrti (memory) - married to Angiras

5. Prti (affection) - married to Pulastya

6. Kşama (patience) - married to Pulaha

7. Sannati (humility) - married to Kratu

8. Anasūyā (charity) - married to Atri

9. Urjjā (energy) - married to Vasiștha

10. Svāhā (offering) - married to Fire (Vahni)

11. Svadha (oblation) - married to the Pitrs (progenitors)

The Progeny of Dharma

Dharma's children with Daksa's daughters were as follows:

• Kāma (desire) from Sraddha

• Darpa (pride) from Lakșmī

• Niyama (precept) from Dhrti

• Santoșa (content) from Tuşți

• Lobha (cupidity) from Puști

• Śruta (sacred tradition) from Medhā

• Danda, Naya, and Vinaya (correction, polity, and prudence) from Kriyā

• Bodha (understanding) from Buddhi

• Vinaya (good behaviour) from Lajjā

• Vyavasāya (perseverance) from Vapu

• Kșema (prosperity) from Sānti

• Sukha (enjoyment) from Siddhi

• Yaśas (reputation) from KIrti

One of Dharma's sons, Kama, had a son named Harşa (joy) with his wife Nandi (delight).

The Progeny of Adharma

Adharma (vice) was married to Himsa (violence). They had two children:

• A son named Anrta (falsehood)

• A daughter named Nikrti (immorality)

Anrta and Nikrti married each other and had four children:

• Two sons: Bhaya (fear) and Nārāka (Hell)

• Twin daughters: Mayā (deceit) and Vedana (torture)

The sons and daughters then married each other.

Further Generations

• Bhaya and Maya's son: Mrtyu (death), the destroyer of living creatures

• Narāka and Vedana's child: Duḥkha (pain)

Mrtyu's children were:

• Vyādhi (disease)

• Jarā (decay)

• Śoka (sorrow)

• Trsna (greediness)

• Krodha (wrath)

These beings are known as the inflictors of misery. They are characterized as the progeny of Vice (Adharma). All of them are without wives, without posterity, and without the ability to procreate. They represent the terrifying forms of Visnu and constantly act as causes of this world's destruction.

The Cycle of Creation and Destruction

In contrast to these destructive forces, Dakşa and the other Rsis, the elders of mankind, continually work towards the world's renewal. The Manus and their sons, heroes endowed with mighty power who follow the path of truth, consistently contribute to the world's preservation.

Maitreya, seeking to understand this process better, asked, "Tell me, Brahman, what is the essential nature of these revolutions? How do perpetual preservation, perpetual creation, and perpetual destruction work?"

Parāśara replied, explaining the role of Madhusūdana (Visnu):

"Madhusūdana, whose essence is incomprehensible, takes the forms of these patriarchs and Manus. He is the author of the uninterrupted vicissitudes of creation, preservation, and destruction.

The dissolution of all things occurs in four ways:

1. Naimittika - 'occasional': This happens when the sovereign of the world reclines in sleep. It's also called the Brahma dissolution.

2. Prākrtika - 'elemental': In this type, the mundane egg resolves into the primary element from whence it was derived.

3. Ātyantika - 'absolute': This occurs when a sage, through knowledge, is absorbed into supreme spirit. For them, the world ceases to exist.

4. Nitya - 'perpetual': This refers to the constant disappearance, day and night, of all that are born.

Different types of creation correspond to these dissolutions:

• The productions of Prakrti form what we call elemental (Prakrta) creation.

• What ensues after a (minor) dissolution is called ephemeral creation.

• The daily generation of living things is termed constant creation by those versed in the Purānas.

In this manner, the mighty Visnu, whose essence is the elements, abides in all bodies. He brings about production, existence, and dissolution. Visnu's faculties to create, to preserve, and to destroy operate successively, Maitreya, in all corporeal beings and at all seasons.

One who frees himself from the influence of these three faculties achieves liberation. These faculties are essentially composed of the three qualities: goodness, foulness, and darkness. Upon liberation, one goes to the supreme sphere, from whence he never again returns."

Thus concludes the seventh chapter of the first part of the Vishnu Purana.