A Study of the Bhagavata Purana or Esoteric Hinduism Part 15

Perhaps the Ris.h.i.+s represent the sense perceptions which are guided by the Adhidevas who have their abode in the heart of the sun. The Balakhilya Ris.h.i.+s are therefore said to accompany the sun's chariot.

Their connection with Vedic sacrifices is also intelligible, as they are generally directed to the Adhidevas.

TABLE I.

Vasistha is the Controller. He is the spiritual teacher of the Solar Race and represents spiritual Intelligence or Higher Manas. He is the controller of the senses and the lower mind.

Urja is Energy. She is also called Arundhati.

TABLE J.

_Atharvan_ - The Veda called by that name.

_Dadhichi_ - The name of a Ris.h.i.+ who accepted death In order to serve the Devas. Visvakarman forged the thunderbolt with his bones and Indra defeated Vritra, the Asura King, with that weapon.

The line of Atharvan represents self sacrifice for universal good as well as magic or occult wisdom.

TABLE K.

_Bhrigu_ - is the Dweller of Mahar Loka, or the Archetypal plane. Upon the Pralaya of Triloki, the essence of that triple plane and its Karma become embedded in Mahar Loka. The creative process sets in again in strict conformity to the Karma of the past. Bhrigu is therefore father of:

_Dhata_ - or Universal Karma

_Vidhata_ - or Individual Karma, and

_Sri_ or _Lakshmi_ - the wife of Vishnu, the Energy of Preservation.

_Ayati_ - or potency is the wife of Dhata, Mrikandu and Markandeya, are in this line.

_Niyati_ - or fate, is the wife of Vidhata. Prana and Vedasiras are in this line.

_Kavi_ - is another son of Bhrigu and _Usanas_ or _Sukra_ is Kavi's son.

But according to some authorities Kavi is the same as Usanas. It is a matter for reflection how Sukra or the presiding Ris.h.i.+ of the planet Venus is connected with Mahar Loka or the trans-personal plane. Mahar Loka is the first approach to universality and therefore may correspond to Higher Manas. However that be, Venus corresponds to the first plane of universality.

The consideration of Tables C to K has proved to be an interesting one.

But readers are requested to remember that this is a mere study by an inquiring student and they are left to think for themselves. I might have dwelt at some length on this portion of the subject, but that would be going beyond the scope of the present work.

Briefly speaking then,

_Marichi_ - is Monadic ray or atma-Buddhi,

_Atri_ - is the adjustment of the creative, preservative and destructive tendencies in a Jiva,

_Angiras_ - is the Essence of Creation, the auric repository of the Jiva,

_Pulastya_ - is Kamic Intelligence,

_Pulaha_ - is higher Kamic Intelligence, or it may be Pranic also,

_Kratu_ - is lower Manasic Intelligence,

_Vasishtha_ - is Higher Manasic Intelligence.

TABLE L.

_Daksha_ - is the Able.

_Prasuti_ - is the Mother, the Procreative Energy. During the First Manvantara Daksha had nothing to do with s.e.xual procreation. He was the father of 16 primal energies. These energies were wedded to Dharma, Agni, the Pitris and Siva - 13 to Dharma and one to each of the others.

_Dharma_ - is that which binds the creation. Man and man, man and animal, animal and animal, all forms of creation are kept together by Dharma. The binding forces of creation are the wives of Dharma.

_Sraddha_ or Faith is the first wife of Dharma. Her son is _Satya_ or Truth.

_Maitri_ or Friendliness is the second wife. Her son is _Prasada_ or complacence.

_Daya_ or compa.s.sion is the third wife. Her son is _Abhaya_ or Freedom from fear.

_Santi_ or Peace is the fourth wife. Her son is _Sama_ or Tranquility.

The fifth wife is _Tushti_ or contentment. Her son is _Harsha_ or joy.

The sixth wife is _Pushti_ or Fullness. Her son is _Garva_ or Pride.

The seventh wife is _Kriya_. Her son is _Yoga_.

The eighth wife is _Unnati_ or Advancement. Her son is _Darpa_ or Vanity.

The ninth wife is _Buddhi_. Her son is _Artha_.

The tenth wife is _Medha_ or Intellect. Her son is _Smriti_ or Memory.

The eleventh wife is _t.i.tiksha_ or Forbearance. Her son is _Kshema_ or Well-being.

The twelfth wife is _Lajja_ or Shame. Her son is _Vinaya_ or Modesty.

The thirteenth and last wife of Dharma is _Murti_ or Form. Her sons are Nara and Narayana, _i.e._ Humanity and Divinity. The Human Form const.i.tute a Duality. It is in this dual form that Sri Krishna incarnated Himself.

From Dharma we pa.s.s to Agni.

[Agni is used in many senses. It means the channel of communication between different kingdoms in nature, specially between Man and Deva, as also a vehicle of consciousness, and sometimes consciousness itself. It also means the Rupa or form-giving principle in the Universe. It is frequently used in the Puranas in the last sense.]

Agni was wedded to _Svaha_, the 14th. daughter of Daksha. His three sons are _Pavaka_ or the Purifier, _Pavaman_ or that which is being purified and _Sachi_ or Pure. They have 45 sons who with their fathers and grandfather form the Forty-nine Fires. They are separately mentioned in the Vedic Sacrifices in honour of Agni.