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Creation: The idea
is mentioned in great detail in several
anuvākās. There is the correspondence between the creation
at the cosmic level and the mode of manifestation of the cosmic
powers in an individual. Some references are: (i) (4.1.8), which contains the famous
Hiraņyagarbha
Sūkta, RV (10.121); (ii) (4.3.10): "17 steps in the
Creation of Universe'.
(iii) (5.3.6.1): 14 steps in creation: Āditya,
dharma, heaven, midworld, earth, the
day, the night, Vasus,
Rudrās, Ādityās,
Pitŗs, offspring, Ray-Cows and plants,
(iv) TS (4.6.2).
The
anuvāka TS (4.6.2) reproduces many
mantrās from the two famous creation
hymns of RV namely (10.81), and (10.82) associated with
ŗşhi Vishvakarman.
(4.3.2.5) mentions that this ŗşhi is
associated with thought. (4.3.2.2) mentions that the deity
Vishvakarman, the All-worker whose
power is manas or mind (or thought).
However the mantrās are ordered
differently in TS. It gives an excellent overview of the
manifestation of the cosmic powers or Gods both in Cosmos and
humans. We reproduce the translation of all the seventeen
mantrās including the two which are
not in RV.
4.6.2: Manifestation
of the Gods in the universe and in us:
Entered all: RV
(10.81.1)
Offering all these
worlds in oblation, the seer and our father is seated as the
invoker;
Seeking the riches
with the power of aspiration;
(Later) he himself
entered into all the manifested beings while shrouding in mystery
his Supreme form.
Comprehensive mind:
RV (10.82.2)
Vishvakarman
is of comprehensive mind;
He is the Disposer,
the Ordainer, and the highest Seer;
All the offerings
and impulsion rejoice in him;
Where, they say,
that the One (eka) is there,
beyond the seven seers.
[The offerings are
the self-offerings of the aspirants. They rejoice since they will
be divinized by Vishvakarman.]
Assigns the Names:
RV (10.82.3) (v)
He who is our father, our originator, the
ordainer.
Who manifested us
from primeval existence, who alone assigns their names to the
Gods;
To him other beings come questioning (for knowledge).
Strength and light:
RV (10.82.4)
Him the seers
completely worship with offerings and with elaborate praise like
the ancient singers;
He fashioned both
the beings of strength and the beings of light in the expanse of
middle world.
Who find him not: RV
(10.82.7)
You shall not find
him (vishvakarman) who created
this world;
Another principle
shall be betwixt you (hence you shall not find him);
Enveloped in the
mist of ignorance and with useless talk, the singers reciting
mantrās for satisfying desires move
about enjoying life.
What is that: RV (10.82.5)
What is that which
is beyond the heaven, beyond this earth, which is beyond the Gods,
which is hidden from the asurās, which
the waters bore, in the beginning, the secret
embryo.
With which all the
Gods were established together?
ONE: RV (10.82.6)
The waters first
bore this embryo;
Where all the Gods
contemplated together;
The ONE is
established in the centre of the Unborn.
On this ONE all the
created things depend.
Vishvakarman
Vishvakarman,
the God, was first born;
Second was the
Gandharva;
Third the father,
the originator of the growths of earth;
In many a place in
the waters did he deposit the child.
Originated the
worlds: RV (10.82.1)
The father of
vision, wise in spirit;
Originated these two
worlds, rich in light, which bow to him in a spirit of surrender;
When the ancient
boundaries were made firm;
Then did heaven and
earth became extended.
Eyes and ears on all
sides: RV (10.81.3)
With eyes on every
side, with a face on every side;
With hands on every
side, with feet on every side;
He, the sole God,
creates heaven and earth and welds them together with arms and
with wings.
Questions: RV
(10.81.2)
What was the basis
or primal matter?
When was the
beginning?
How was it done?
From which the
Designer of all things, beholding all fashioned the Earth and
shaped the glory of the Heaven?
Questions: RV
(10.81.4)
What was the wood,
and what the tree, from which they formed the heaven and earth
secretly?
O you wise ones,
ponder; inquire with your minds?
Offer your body in
yajňa: RV (10.81.5)
Your highest abode,
lowest abode, and the
midmost abodes are here, O Vishvakarman;
During the offering
do you teach your comrades (about your abodes), O Lord of
self-law?
Rejoicing, do you
yourself offer your body in sacrifice, (thus enhancing its
vigour)?
Close to us: RV
(10.81.7)
(We invoke) the lord
of speech, Vishvakarman, for the
increase of plenitude;
Let us invoke him
this day and yoke our minds to him;
May he who is close
to us delight in our offerings;
May he (grant) us
blessing, all-sided happiness and protection, his work is
perfection.
Impel us to Light:
RV (10.81.6)
O
Vishvakarman, waxing great with the
oblation, you offer in sacrifice your own body rejoicing;
Let the others around wander here and there;
May the Lord impel
us towards the light.
O
Vishvakarman, with the strengthening
oblation, you did make Indra, the
protector, free from scathe.
To him all the
ancient people bowed in homage;
He, the forceful one
is invoked in many ways.
Designer of all
Homage to the lord
who manifests the knowledge in streams and ocean to the lord of
all the streams, homage!
Through all the days
(continue) to offer to the Designer of all (vishvakarman),
the immortal offering. |
