SECTION –CCXIX
(Markandeya-Samasya Parva Continued)
"Markandeya continued, 'He (Uktha) performed
a severe penance lasting for many years, with the view of having a pious son
equal unto Brahma in reputation. And when the invocation was made with the
vyahriti hymns and with the aid of the five sacred fires, Kasyapa, Vasistha,
Prana, the son of Prana, Chyavana, the son of Angiras, and Suvarchaka--there
arose a very bright energy (force) full of the animating (creative) principle,
and of five different colours. Its head was of the colour of the blazing fire,
its arms were bright like the sun and its skin and eyes were golden-coloured
and its feet, O Bharata, were black. Its five colours were given to it by those
five men by reason of their great penance. This celestial being is therefore
described as appertaining to five men, and he is the progenitor of five tribes.
After having performed a penance for ten thousand years, that being of great
ascetic merit produced the terrible fire appertaining to the Pitris (manes) in
order to begin the work of creation, and from his head and mouth respectively
he created Vrihat and Rathantara (day and night) who quickly steal away (life,
&c.). He also created Siva from his navel, Indra from his might and wind
and fire from his soul, and from his two arms sprang the hymns Udatta and
Anudatta. He also produced the mind, and the five senses, and other creatures.
Having created these, he produced the five sons of the Pitris. Of these
Pranidhi was the son of Vrihadratha. Vrihadratha was the son of Kasyapa. Bhanu
was the godson of Chyavana, Saurabha, the son of Suvarchaka, and Anudatta, the
son of Prana. These twenty-five beings are reputed (to have been created by
him). Tapa also created fifteen other gods who obstruct sacrifices 4. They are
Subhima, Bhima, Atibhima, Bhimavala, Avala, Sumitra, Mitravana, Mitasina,
Mitravardhana and Mitradharaman, 5 and Surapravira, Vira, Suveka, Suravarchas
and Surahantri. These gods are divided into three classes of five each. Located
here in this world, they destroy the sacrifices of the gods in heaven; they
frustrate their objects and spoil their oblations of clarified butter. They do
this only to spite the sacred fires carrying oblations to the gods. If the
officiating priests are careful, they place the oblations in their honour
outside of the sacrificial altar. To that particular place where the sacred
fire may be placed, they cannot go. They carry the oblation of their votaries
by means of wings. When appeased by hymns, they do not frustrate the
sacrificial rites. Vrihaduktha, another son of Tapa, belongs to the Earth. He
is worshipped here in this world by pious men performing Agnihotra sacrifices.
Of the son of Tapa who is known as Rathantara, it is said by officiating
priests that the sacrificial oblation offered in his honour is offered to
Mitravinda. The celebrated Tapa was thus very happy with his sons."
Footnotes
448:4 In Hindu Mythology there are no gods who
destroy sacrifices. It is only the Asuras who do so. The Burdwan translator
renders this passage,--"fifteen other gods belonging to western nations or
Asuras." It is noticeable that the beings that were denounced as Asuras by
the Hindus were worshipped as Gods (Asuras) by the followers of Zarathustra.
448:5 In connection with the names of these
Mitra-gods, it is to be remembered that Mitra was the name of the principal god
of the ancient Persians.
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