Dashavatar – Matysa Avatar

By the end time of previous Chakshusha Manvantara, King Shraddhadeva son of Vivasvat was ruling in the Kingdom of Dravida (Southern India), a great king and supreme devotee of Lord Vishnu also known as “Satyavrat” because of his quality of always speaking truth, he was Sage in nature but due to his kingly surroundings and splendid lifestyle was still not devoid of Ego, hence Lord Vishnu decide to teach him the correct path before title him as “Manu” for next Manvantara and this is where the story of Matsya Avatar Begins.

One fine morning when Satyavrat was performing his daily morning rituals in river a small fish appears in his palm and surprisingly ask for refuge before king drop him into water as he was scared to be eaten by big fishes in River. By showing a nature of doubt on king’s ability to be able to provide a comfortable space, fish convinced King Satyavrat to take a pledge. Surrounded with the Ego and underestimating this little fish as a tiny creature King took a pledge of providing a comfortable space for living peacefully and brought him into his splendid palace. 

King arranged a water pot inside his palace and in the mood on Consolation said to fish that now he can fearlessly live his whole life in this pot, soon after king’s words fish started to grow making the pot uncomfortable with his size just in a couple of seconds, Without caring much Satyavrat order his servant for a bigger utensil and fish was shifted into it, but the same scene repeated again and fish shorten this utensil, this time Satyavrat ordered even much bigger container and this good size fish which was a tiny creature just a while ago was shifted once again, since the king was not compromising with his ego neither did the fish and he again defeated this big container with his size and started acting uncomfortable in it. This act repeated quite a lot of time  until king decide to move out of palace, with a bit of worrying Satyavrat shifted this as of now a big creature in his Garden Pond, but this unbeaten fish once again outgrow and ask for a comfortable refuge. Finally due to his pledge Satyavrat was in tension and decide to move the fish back into river as now he was in a pretty big size to be eaten by any other creature, somehow king manage to shift back this fish into river, his whole day has finished in this act now it was evening time sun was about to set but still Satyavrat has not given up his Ego completely hence fish decide for a final call and outgrow the size of river and ask for comfortable space as he is under the refuge of this great king.

Finally King Satyavrat given up his Ego completely now has understood the truth behind this creature that he is some much more powerful divine personality in form of fish, surrendered to this fish and he himself ask for the refuge. This magical creature was none other than the Beneficent Lord Vishnu, after hearing Satyavrat’s prayer Fish form Lord changed himself and appeared in a hyperphysical marvellous form known as “Matysa Avatar”

Matsya Avatar Lord Vishnu Saving King Satyavrat's Boat from Great Deluge

Supreme Lord than reveal about all destructive great deluge that would be coming very soon and ordered him to build a huge boat housing his family, Saptarishi’s (Divine Seven Sage), Nine types of Seeds, set of different type of birds, animals and other necessary creatures to repopulate the earth after the deluge would end and the oceans and seas would recede. Lord Vishnu also informed at time of deluge he will appear as a huge horned fish and Sheshnaag will act as a rope with which the king fastened the boat to horn of the fish. At time of deluge while roaming Lord will preach and also answer all the queries of King Satyavrat. The incident happen as indicated by Supreme Lord. After this Great Deluge when oceans receded, with the assistance of Saptarishi’s King and his family repopulated the Earth as instructed by Supreme Lord.
            “Shraddhadeva” is Present Manu and our Manvantara is called as “Vaivasvata” as Satyavrat is also know by his father‘s name.

Creation of Universe - The Begining (Part 3 of 3)

At the very beginning when there was no substance visible or invisible, neither light nor darkness not even time cycle, only the omnipresent supreme lord was there. He then existed in  the form of Purush(Spirit) which is his first form next proceeded by two other forms Discrete and Indiscrete and last was Kala (Time) . As per Vishnu Puran these four Pradhan (Primary or Crude Matter), Purush (Spirit), Vyakta (Visible substance) and Kala (Time) is the pure and supreme condition of Supreme Lord Vishnu.
The chief Principle “Pradhan” which is the indiscrete cause is often called as “Prakruti” (Nature). Prakruti is source of all matter it is a creative forces of action the sources of form, manifestation and nature, which is Pure Objectivity, Non-Conscious, subtle possessing neither colour nor form, endowed with the three qualities (in equilibrium) the mother of the world, into all that is produced is resolved, By that principle all things were invested in the period subsequent to the last dissolution of the universe, and prior to creation.
Purush is unmanifested, formless, Supreme Self, Pure Consciousness, Static Unchanging

First Sarga, The Beginning
At the time of creation, from the Equilibrium of the qualities (Prakriti) presided over by Spirit proceeds the unequal development of those qualities and constitute the Principle Mahat or Mahad (Intellect) often called as “Mahat-Tattva” 

From this Mahat generated the threefold “Ahankara” (Egotism) viz. Vaikarika (Pure / Sattvic Guna), Taijasa (Passionate / Rajasic Guna), Bhutadi (Rudimental / Tamasic Guna) 


Second Sarga : Panch-Mahabhut

• Bhutadi Ego distorted into fundamental of sound of which “Ether” (i.e. Sky or Space) is produced, hence sound is characteristic of Ether.
• Ether with its sound characteristics became productive and engendered fundamental of touch from which “Wind” (Air) is originated, the property of which is touch (Ether with the rudiment of sound, enveloped the rudiment of touch).
• Then touch form Wind becoming productive, produced the fundamental of Form (Colour) from which “Fire” (Light) proceeded, Form is its attribute.
• Light becoming productive produced the characteristic of taste from which originated “Water” with taste characteristic.
• Than water deformed and created characteristics of smell of which “Earth” Originated with smell as its property.

These Five Basic Elements are known as “Panch-Mahabhut” are elemental creations proceeding from the principle of Egotism affected by the property of Darkness

Third Sarga : Dasendria
The ten Organs of Sense(Indriya) are said to be produced by Taijasa Ego which is passionate i.e. Rajasic in nature headed by their ten lords which are produced by Vaikarika Ego which is Sattvic in nature and the Eleventh is Mind which is also produced by Vaikarika Ego. Of the ten, five are Gyanendriya - Organs of Perception (Gyan means knowing, Indriya means sense) viz. Skin (touch), Eyes (vision), Nose (smell), Tongue (taste) & Ears (hear) with the help of Mind allows one to perceive the world around them. Other five are Karmendriya - Organs of Action viz. organs of Excretion and Procreation, Mouth (for Speech), Hand (for creation), and Feet (for motion), contains the properties of Five Basic Elements Ether, Wind, Fire, Water & Earth respectively. These ten indriya’s possess different energies but cannot do anything alone, have to combined and through their mutual association with each other and with intellect perform their respective tasks.

These three sections are known as “Prakritik Sarga” as they are created naturally (i.e. by Prakruti) by the wish of Supreme Lord.

Fourth, Mukhya Sarga : Immovable Objects
Now it was time for Lord Brahma to start with his works, at first Brahma meditate for creation and appeared immovable objects like Planets, Mountains with five types of Vegetation’s (trees, shrubs, climbing plants, creepers and grasses), which lacks the ability like intellect, sense of motion etc. Since immovable things are first creation of Lord Brahma it is called “First Creation” i.e. “Mukhya Sarga”


Fifth, Tiryak Sarga : Animals Creation
Brahma meditated again and their appeared Animals with 28 different sorts, their characteristic was the quality of darkness, destitute of knowledge, mistaking error for wisdom etc. 

Sixth, Dev Sarga : Urddhasrotas
The Sixth Sarga is consider most important as many Divinities appear in this creation.
Unhappy with his previous creations Lord Brahma calm his mind and started meditating again and a third creation appeared, abounding with the quality of goodness, termed “Urddhasrotas”
➥ Sankadik Rishi - First appeared four Divine Children’s, they were the mind born creation named Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara. They were born infant, who lacks the feeling of desire and thought they are incapable of giving birth to mankind, hence refused to proceed with the Order of Brahma and instead devote themselves to Lord Vishnu and undertook lifelong vows of renunciation & celibacy. They are said to wander throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with purpose to teach, all four brothers studied Vedas from their childhood, and always travelled together. The age of the sages varies in various sacred texts, The Kumaras remained in form of children due to their spiritual virtues.
➥ Prajapati - Creator Brahma thought Desire is Co-related with Knowledge and roots of Knowledge is Education, hence decided that knowledge should be present before the birth of mankind. Next one by one he create seven sons often called as "Saptarishi" they are Vashista, Krathu, Pulasthya, Pulaha, Angirasa, Atri & Marichi. They were also born from visualizing hence they are called as "Manas-Putra" (mind born son). These Seven Divine Sage were born with highest divine knowledge, clairvoyance, very long life & for the purpose to spread Religion & Knowledge, to fulfil these purpose they went to perform penance, They are originator of "Gotra", because of their special qualities these sages got a special designation called as BrahmaRishi (meaning highest class of Rishis who has understood the meaning of Brahman or has attained the highest divine knowledge Brahmajnana)
Later he created few more sons in sage form viz. Prachethasa, Bhrigu and Narad (who is considered 10th son and became "Devrishi"), all possess Brahma Gyan and Unique Qualities.
In some texts it is said that all these tens sons are together called as Ten Prajapati's
➥ This creation process carried on and Brahma from different parts of his body manifested nine more personalities like Dharma, Kama etc. and one of the most important Prajapati "Daksha", who is known as First Prajapati (off course after Brahma himself) who later married to “Prasuti” (daughter of Svayambhuva Manu and Shatrupa) it was the first marriage in Hinduism.


Seventh : Manushya Sarga
After creation of so many divine personalities, Lord thought of giving birth to human race and created a lookalike of himself a male named “Manu” (Often called Swayambhu Manu) with him also created female named “Shatrupa” (Shatrupa meaning one who can take multiple forms) who was Purified from the sin by her austerity, became wife of Manu. Later Manu and Shatrupa gave birth to two sons named Priyavrata and Uttanapada and two daughters named Prasuti and Aakuti.


Eighth : Anugraha Sarga
In Eighth Sarga Lord created other class with little divine powers like Yakshas, Pisachas (goblins), Gandharvas, Apsaras (nymphs of heaven), Sarpas (Serpent), Kinnaras etc.


Ninth : Kaumar Sarga
In the last and final Ninth Sarga the four Divine Sankadik Rishis reappeared to enlighten the world with their knowledge, wisdom and guidance.


Finally the creation of Supreme Lord is over as he has successfully build a platform for regeneration work to happen by itself which is going on and on till date.

Creation of Universe - Cosmology (Part 2 of 3)

As per Hindu Mythology Lord Brahma is the creator of Universe. He has four heads, to monitor all four directions, he is often called Svyambhu (meaning self-born). He was born from a Lotus which emerged from Lord Vishnu’s Navel. Some literature states that he was born from a Golden Egg known as “Hiranyagarbha” which has a different magnanimous theory.

Brahma often called as "Parampitah" meaning Father of Everything created in Universe

As per Hindu Cosmology the creation and destruction of the universe is a cyclic process in a time span of 8.64 billion years which repeats itself forever and Big Bang is not the beginning of everything but just the start of present cycle.

So in simple terms it can be understood by

Ayana is a six month period of Sun's progress either from North or South of the ecliptic, two Ayana compose one human year

1 human year = 1 Dev Ahoratra (i.e. A Complete Day - 1 Day & 1 Night of Demigods, Northern Ayana is Day and Southern Ayana is Night)

30 Ahoratra of Dev = 1 Month of Dev

360 Dev Ahoratra = 1 Dev Vatsara (1 Year)

12000 Dev Vatsara = 1 Chaturyuga (often called as Maha-Yuga)

One Chaturyuga includes

(12000 Dev Vatsara of which

• 4800 Vatsara is Human’s 1 Satya or Krita Yuga
• 3600 Vatsara is 1 Treta Yuga
• 2400 Vatsara is 1 Dwapar Yuga & remaining
• 1200 Vatsara is 1 Kali Yuga) hence 432000 Human Years = 1 Kali Yuga, the present yuga in which we are living

71 Chaturyuga = 1 Manvantar (i.e. Lifespan of One Manu)

Before the beginning of First and after each Manvantar follows a Samdhi Kala which is of same duration as a Krita Yuga

14 Manvantar = 1 Kalpa (1 Day of Lord Brahma, includes 14 Manvantara and 15 Samdhi Kala)

2 Kalpas = 1 Day & 1 Night of Brahma
Two Kalpas constitute a Day and a Night (is of equal duration as of Day) of Brahma and here comes the “Cycle of our Universe” i.e. 8.64 billion human years

8.64 Billion year is said to tbe One Life Cycle of Universe

30 Days of Brahma = 1 month of Brahma

360 Days of Brahma = 1 Bramha Year

50 years of Bramha = 1 Paradha (Para meaning 100, Adha meaning half)

2 Paradha’s = 100 years of Brahma which is known as 1 “Para” or “Maha-Kalpa” and this is lifespan of the Supreme Lord Brahma.

Also One Day of Brahma i.e. 1 Kalpa is divided into 1000 parts called as “Charan”

Lord Brahma wakes up at the beginning of each Kalpa (i.e. Day) and creates Life in Universe and by the end of his day all living entity is destroyed, only water and the zero blackout spread everywhere for whole Night while Brahma sleeps (rests i.e. yoga-nidra), Again in the morning on beginning of new day Brahma wakes up and the same creation process takes place, this creation and destruction cycles constantly goes on forever.

50 years of Current Lord Brahma have elapsed. The last Kalpa at the end of 50th year is called Padma Kalpa. This is the first 'day' of the 51st year. This Brahma's day, Kalpa, is named as ShvetaVaraha Kalpa(White Boar Aeon). Within this Day six Manvantaras have already elapsed and this is the seventh Manvantara and is named as “Vaivasvath Manvantara” (or Sraddhadeva Manvantara) reigned by Manu named “Vamana”. Within the Vaivasvath Manvantara 27 Mahayugas, and a Krita, Treta and Dwapara Yugas of the 28th Mahayuga have elapsed. We are at Kaliyuga of the 28th Mahayuga. This Kaliyuga began at midnight of 17^th February / 18^th February in 3102 BCE in the Proleptic Julian Calendar so only 5117 years are passed out of 432,000 years of current Kali Yuga, and hence another 426,883 years are left to complete this 28th Kali Yuga of Vaivasvath Manvantara. Since 50 years of Brahma have already elapsed, this is the second Parardha, also called as Dvitiya Paradha.

Creation of Universe - Concept (Part 1 of 3)

Hinduism or more frequently called "Sanatan Dharm" is the dominant religion, or Eternal way of Life. Hinduism is more of a guiding philosophy than a religion in true sense of the word. Hindu religious texts are Called as "Puranas", Hindu Mythology has several number of Puranas of which it is always said there are Eighteen most important called as "MahaPuranas". Its been said that their are three main deity viz. Brahma, Vishnu, & Shiva often know as "Tridev". Puranas usually give prominence to a particular deity; Mahapuranas are frequently classified according the three aspects of the divine Tridev. They are usually written by different sage of different time for the purpose to be easily understood by layman hence written in the form of stories related by one person to another. Puranas were originally written in Sanskrit Language but later on been translated by different sage and poet into their regional languages, hence the stories mentioned in Puranas are mostly common and related to each other but many times has a slight variation due to the change in Language, Culture, Point of View and Level of Understanding of Writers, for this reason the stories are not to be taken literally, but have symbolic meanings.

Concept

In Hindu cosmology the universe is created and destroyed in the timespan of 8.64 billion years. In layman's language it is believed that Lord Brahma Create the Universe, Lord Vishnu Take Care & Protect and for the purpose of Regeneration Lord Shiva Destroys the Universe. Hindu Cosmology describes the aspects of evolution, astronomy, astrology, creation etc. In Hindu Mythology for Creation of Universe there are many different stories from different Puranas and believes different form of deities as Para-Brahma (Para means “beyond” and brahma means “neuter” universal self or spirit, hence Para-Brahma means one who is highest beyond all conceptualisations)

Shiva Purana

As per the story in Shiv Purana at the very beginning when there was no universe not even the time cycle, nothing except the complete darkness. In that darkness with the sound of OM (Omkar) a bright divine light appeared and Para-Brahma Lord Shiva Manifested from it (sometimes also believe Shiva Manifested with his Shakti, also called as “Adi-Parashakti” meaning mother of Universe, by whom each and everything on this universe exist). Later on Lord Vishnu Manifested and Lord Brahma sitting in his Lotus was born through Vishnu's navel. Brahma on the wish of Lord Shiva starts creation of universe.

Vishnu Puranas

Vishnu Purana / Bhagavata Purana consider MahaVishnu or Narayana as Para-Brahman Supreme God who creates unlimited universes and enters each one of them as Lord of Universe, in some beliefs Lord Vishnu is non-different from the Trimurti. At the beginning of time he manifested in the three different forms all are different individual but of same personality. Vishnu Purana states one which is created has to come to an end, where there is birth their is death for the purpose of Creation (Life) he appeared as Lord Brahma with the Rajas Guna (quality of activity) in him, Lord Shiva for the purpose of Destruction (end, destruction not to be taken as end instead a process of new beginning) with Tamas Guna (quality of darkness) in him and between the time cycle of creation and destruction he does the protection (maintenance) as Lord Vishnu or Narayana with Sattva Guna (quality of goodness) in him.

Devi Mahatmyam

Another Hindu Text Devi Mahatmyam (also known as Durga Saptashati) which is a set of 700 verses arranged in 13 Chapters is a part of Markandeya Purana, it is believed most important by the followers of Shaktism. Devi Mahatmyam states Devi / AdiShakti as the central key to the creation of universe. She is the Divine Mother and possessor of all the existing powers in the Universe. She is the reason behind Manifestation of All three Lords, she is the power that induces Lord Vishnu’s deep slumber on the waters of the cosmic ocean prior to the creation of Universe. Here Devi inspires Lord Brahma to Create Universe and later on has a series of stories.

ISKCON Belief

Some of my SCGM & ISKCON Friends having a very deep concept for this, explained me that Lord Krishna is the Supreme Godhead (not to be confused with Lord Krishna who took birth some five thousand year ago) who is Omnipresent who is the source of all sources and for the affairs of material creation he expands himself into different forms. Maha-Vishnu is just a plenary portion of Supreme Lord Krishna, and later Maha-Vishnu manifest into different forms. The various forms of the Lord are existing eternally in the spiritual world and their descent to the material world is called avatar (literally, one who descends). The various incarnations of Vishnu among which are included Krishna and Balarama sons of Vasudev. Although Krishna appears to be one of the avatars, He is in fact the Original Personality of Godhead, and that all other incarnations are His plenary expansions, Krishna is the complete whole, and when He descends, all plenary expansions and incarnations, including Maha-Vishnu, descend along with Him in His transcendental body.

Brahmanḍ Purana

Some Puranas states that Lord Brahma was born through Lord Vishnu’s Navel sitting in his Lotus, some other states Brahma is self-born in the lotus flower. Another legend says that Brahma was born in water, or from a seed that later became the golden egg known as “Hiranyagarbha” From this golden egg, Brahma, the creator was born. The remaining materials of this golden egg expanded into the Brahmanḍa or Universe. There is a story for "Sharsa Brahma" (Sharsa often referred as thousand) hence the concept of multiple universes as every Brahma creates his Bhramand (Universe) for one (or one hundred) Brahma year.

All the three main deities took over different work and possess different powers and with them have their female counterpart in the form of Shakti. Some belief them just as Power (Shakti) others consider them as Wife or Consort and its obvious wife is often called as better half. In Shiv Mahapuran especially for Lord Shiva there is a concept of Prakriti and Purush while Purush is the Male Deity and Prakriti being his Female Counterpart, once taken a form of “Ardhanarishvara” (Lord who is half women) and also states that Purush is powerless without Prakriti.

Conclusion
At the end whoever is believe as a Main Deity conclusion concept is:

• Lord Brahma – is the Creator of Universe, Gives Life (his Shakti is in form of Mata Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge, Wisdom, Music, Art and Learning, She is cosmic intelligence, cosmic consciousness, and cosmic knowledge)
• Lord Shiva – is the Destroyer / Transformer (his Shakti is in form of Mata Parvati / Durga goddess of power, love, and spiritual fulfilment; She also depicts the transformational power of divinity, the power that dissolves multiplicity in unity)
• Lord Vishnu – the Protector, who take care to run the universe smoothly (his Shakti is in form of Mata Lakshmi Goddess of wealth, fertility and represents all kinds of prosperity, glory, magnificence, joy, exaltation, and greatness.)