Chapter 2 : The Creator Brahma

On the sea of consciousness Vishnu sleeps

Shesh Naag as his bed. He deeps

in Samadhi as One with the source,

The still, unlimited, abounding force.

From his navel creativity arises,

In the form of lotus it symbolizes.

On the lotus is seated Brahmaa-

Vidhaataa, the destiny-maker, giver of karma.

The inherent laziness, ignorance, will

To perform without God in heart - that zeal

Malevolent transforms as earwax of Naaraayan

Gives birth to Madhu and Kaitav - demon

Twins challenging Him to arms.

Vishnu slays both, as Brahmaa alarms,

Awakening the God out of slumber

Praying fervently in pitiful number.

Demons' fat creates mental earth

Med of asurs gives Medini's birth.

Then Vishnu says looking at the first-born,

"O Brahmaa! Build from creation torn.

Post great fight some wonderful happens

Spiritual world the fat wrappens

Heralding the new world material.

Write the theories in serial

Unbeginning, unending, Sanatan, immortal

The Vedas, of life divine portal."

Thus Brahmaa the Baageesh, Lord of speech,

He the Swayambhu, self-born, reach

Out to create the Vedas and the sons of his mind,

Manas-putras - Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya combined

With Pulaha, Kratu, Vashistha, Bhrigu, Daksha and Naarad. Begot

Marichi Kaashyap the great sage. Lot

of daughters fathered by Daksha, one among the Lords of people,

Prajaapatis. Thirteen simple

Married to Kaashyap - Aditi, Kapilaa, Danu, Kadru, Muni, Krodhaa,

Danaayu, Singhikaa, Kaalaa, Diti and Pradhaa;

And Vishwaa and Vinataa. From Aditi's womb

Born twelve Aadityas, in our hearts who loom.

Dhaataa, Mitra, Angsha, Bhaag, Barun, Aryamaa,

Twastaa, Vishnu, Vivaswaan, Pushaa, Shatrunaamaa

And Sabitaa are the Aadityas twelve.

To God deep in their hearts they delve.

Diti's descendants are called daityas,

Demons, most rivalling Aadityas.

From Danu come Daanavas the giants,

Very quick to multiply, world-tyrants.

Singhikaa begets four krurakarmaa sons,

Evil-doers all. As eldest Raahu comes.

To four sons Danaayu gives birth,

Vikshar, Val, Vir, Vritra famous in earth.

Kaalaa brings forth Krodh the anger,

Vinaashan the destruction and others -

By gods unkillable. Vinataa bears six,

Among whom Sri Vishnu picks

As His mount Garur, the king of birds.

Begotten of Kadru grows towards

Infinity, called Vaasuki; and

Other children number thousand.

Anurambhaa, Akiraa and other Vishwaa's daughters

Prime Nandinis - girls with great characters;

Alambushaa, Mishrakeshi beauty unparalleled,

Rambhaa, Tilottamaa, Subaahu, Surataa - even Brahmaa failed

To create beauty surpassing theirs

In the three worlds as each fares.

Kapilaa's sons are Haahaa, Huhu - kings

Of Gandharvas who dance and sing.

Muni begot sixteen sons fine,

As Mauneya Gandharvas in the world they shine.

All the sabre-toothed of land, sea and sky

Are born from Krodhaa, humanity they defy.

Angiraa, the son of Brahma, bears three talented -

Brihaspati, Utathya, Saswarttya who enchanted

The world with their wisdom, knowledge,

Shared their views with who had the privilege.

Pulastya bears Vishwashrabaa the all-talented one,

Who bears Yakshas as Kuber, whose anger was gone,

Became the King and gods' favourite.

His wealth I can't write.

From Brahmarshi Atri come sons four -

Dattaatreya to whom all blessings pour

from Tridev the Trinity, Brahmaa, Vishnu, Maheshwar

Or Shiv - whose anger non-feeble

Is carried by Durvaasaa. The other two - Som and Aryaman the noble

With daughter Amalaa the pure. Kratu bore the pygmy sages,

Very learned, very small, down the ages

Found to be most chaste and pious,

Firm, austere as the Himalayas,

Brahmachaaris, unmarried, they all

Are tapaswis, ascetics, God they enthrall.

Among others, Pulaha bears Sahishnu the endurance,

Between success and failure the difference.

Vashistha is the great guru, in scriptures well-versed,

Author also, merciful, anger he dispersed.

Naarad the great lover of God,

Is always-chanting, chira-kumar - celebate, no fraud

In his mind, the most innocent,

Can travel at will, all lokas he went.

Trikaalajna he knows future, present, past,

To the needy gives advice just.

In Brahmaa's breast God Himself resides.

Dharma the justice, duty, without vice,

Emerges. At the wish of Brahmaa,

Ten daughters of Daksha, all dharma-

Lovers, got married to him. By name

Kirti the deed, Lajjaa the shame,

Lakshmi disciplined goal, Dhriti the holder,

Medhaa intellect, Pushti digestion, Kriyaa actioner,

Shraddhaa respect, Mati intention

And Buddhi the intelligence. Son

Manu and Shatarupaa daughter

Formed when Brahmaa gave to alter

His body, and made two parts.

Created people - Maanav - those sweat-hearts.

Tired, not knowing what to do,

Brahmaa breathes out, Vishnu comes to rescue.

"Meditate at Saraswati, you are full of taamas -

Darkness, the want of knowledge. To make it pass

You need raja, the vigour to create,

But you need Sattwa, the 'gun' to innovate.

These three gunas will run the world,

Peace will come to mind whirled."

So Brahmaa dhyans at Saraswati River,

The beautiful Devi Saraswati comes to deliver.

All-white, the pure, the Goddess of Knowledge,

Her veena casts away the mind-blockage.

In its tune Brahmaa got drenched,

In saras - the water - was his thirst quenched.

He proposed the Goddess, both did marry,

In Brahmalok they sit together, merry.

When we think of creation, the melody within,

The mover of universe and the inner violin,

They are Brahmaa and Saraswati in another form,

Brahmaa's story make us warm.

Tune of universe sings Brahmaa's wife,

Inspired, Pitaamaha - the Grandfather - gives us life.

* * *

So we, with all others,

All living beings, become brothers.

Nay, we were one, from Brahmaanda we emerge.

Thus called Universe. From anda - egg - we surge.

A closed space wherein all dwelt,

All energy confined. They not felt

Anything. Great power in great slumber,

They built on to numerous number.

Brahmaa's anda or Brahmaa the anda

Goes to mean the same Brahmaanda.

O, the Creator, inspire me,

Efficient at your task I be.

Baagdevi!! The Goddess of speech!

In your incessant flow may the zenith I reach.

Lord Brahmaa, Maa Saraswati and all Maharshi's feet

I want, I care not for defeat.