PURUSHA SUKTAMEarly Vedic man wondered how the world was created. He was inspired by the intricate mysteries of nature yet was not afraid as in other civilizations. He set out to explore making synthesis, reasonable analysis. Vedas hold rich knowledge, regarding astronomy, physiology, medicine, mathematics etc., Rishi's explanations are reasonable and objective. He is a poet (kavi) who puts his thoughts and visions into beautiful rhythmic poems. His explanations on creation are available in Rigveda 10th mandala (suktas No.129, 130 and also 90).Purusha sukta is the 90th sukta in 10th Mandala, Astaka 8, adyaya 4 of Rigveda, the ancient of all the Vedas. Rigveda does not identify the sukta by that name, but 90th sukta came to be known as Purusha Sukta later on. The presiding deity of the mantra is Purusha, a collective personality which pervades whole of the universe. Purusha is pure consciousness and the other part is called Prakriti, which forms the visible world. Since all the mental activities are done with a machine called brain formed by a combination of Purusha and Prakriti, the completeness of Purusha can not be perceived. God is known as Aprameya - the One that can not be fully comprehended. This Cosmic Supreme has been shared by the devas. It is described that the devas did a sacrifice where ingredient required was Purusha himself and after the sacrifice the manifesting world came to being. The author of this sukta is Narayana who is lauded in the Bhagavata and Mahabharata. Rigvedic version has the first fifteen verses in anushtup chandas (meter) and the last one in trishtup.During vedic times, no other religion co-existed with vedic culture. In Purusha sukta, the God of the Universe is described and praised. He is not merely the God of Israelites and does not hold forth any promised land. He is Himself the Universe and all the land is the promised land! Due to this reason, the ideas described in Purusha Sukta appeals to all nations, all the religions, all the cultures at all times. This is of course, if you think there is no difference between the Creator and Creation. In the Vedas (to call it a Hinduism would not be appropriate as no other religion and culture was existing parallel), there is no difference between the two. Take Purusha Sukta, for instance. In Daivibhagavata, we read that He wished to multiply and the very thought caused the world! Does the President paint his house? He desires, and the next moment it would be done! God is more powerful than any Presidents. He need not have to make dolls on all the six days to take rest at weekend. It is also said that the meters of mantras are capable of generating spiritual force during recitation. The vedic mantras were passed on to the next generation by verbal method only. This means, the way you recite these mantras is the similar to the one when it was composed!Followers of religions from the East can not comprehend why God had to make dolls and why he would favor Israelites or make moon and sun as ornaments to magnify His creation. Similarly, for a Christian or an Islamic mind, it comes as a shock that the mortal man is himself one of heads or limbs of this Supreme being. By and large the Western religions are abundant in theology than philosophy. When He is thought to be Almighty, then any might should represent him. As human being is a bundle of specialized cells living in unison , the Purusha is a great circle having centre everywhere. It is not that the Devas, Rishis did cut the Supreme, nor fire came out of His mouth. The Rishis made a mental synthesis, referred in the sukta as Yajna and through this divine thought became glorified.The objection to Purusha Sukta is that it advocates caste system and makes the lower classes subservient to elite. Sukta describes manifestations of God in the human beings as well as in the creation. It does not attribute to the present cast system. It is merely a socio-economic division. Srimad Bhagawad Geeta says,"The fourfold varnas are made by Me in accordance with habits and deeds. Though I am the Creator of varnas, I am above them" (Chapter IV-Jnana Yoga, Sloka 13)Purusha Sukta used in every worship (abhishekha, nirajana as well as along with mantra pushpa at the end of pooja) is an extension of the 90th sukta of Rigmandala 10. The extended mantras have origin in Yajurveda. It begins with shanti mantra. As such it assumes a great significance to believers. It is recommended that one should recite this sukta everyday. The sukta can be incorporated in your daily worship or simply recited. When one connects himself to a Supreme Cosmos, he will enlarge to be a greater personality. Pronunciation is the specialty of veda mantras. After one gets acquainted with pronunciation of compound letters, one should practice the way the mantra should be recited.TRANSLITERATIONMay all miseries leave us. We sing in Your praise in sacrifices. May diseases be cured. May birds, bipeds and quadrupeds be happy. May peace be on us.(Rigveda version begins) A thousand heads Purusha, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet. (The Supreme embodiment exists through every mind, every eye and is working through every limb). On every side pervading earth he fills a space ten fingers wide. (He exists pervading whole universe). All these are verily Himself - whether they existed in the past, existing in the present or yet to come into existence. He confers immortality to all these. This is His splendor. He, the Supreme manifests like this. By a part of His splendor, He supports all in the universe, whereas the remaining large part is unmanifested. He is above the cycle of birth and death. Only a part of Himself is the universe, and within this part is both living and non-living beings. From him Viraj was born; again Purusa from Viraj was born. (Cosmos emerged from Him). From the Cosmos, First Creator came out. He gradually grew. He created earth and various bodies, Gods and Demons. Then the Devas performed a sacrifice. Himself was the sacrifice and offering. The spring became ghee, the summer became wood and autumn became rice offering. In that sacrifice, seven vedic meters represented seven boundaries, twenty five ingredients - twelve months, five seasons became three worlds and the sun formed sacrificial faggots and He became the sacrificial animal. He was purified by sprinkling water and with mantras. With him the Devas and Risis conducted sacrifice. Devas and Rishis. He formed the creatures of the air, ghee mixed with curds and also animals - both wild and domestic. From this sacrifice came out Rik, Yajur and Sama mantras and vedic meters. From this sacrifice came out horses, cows and other animals. How can one imagine the thought that went before creation of human beings! Which of the limbs of Him should represent which section of man, what should be his head, hands, things and feet? Let brahmana represent head - power of thought and discrimination, let kshatriya represent His arms - power of protection and preservation, let vaishya represent the thighs - power of acquisition and distribution, let shudra represent feet - power of support and movement of the Supreme person. Moon emerged from His mind, sun from His eyes, Fire and King of Gods from His mouth, and Wind God from His breath. From His navel emerged Space, Heaven from His head, earth from His feet and directions from His ears. This way the world came into being.Seven fencing-sticks (samit - wood used in yajna) had he, thrice seven layers of fuel were prepared, When the Gods, offering sacrifice, bound as their victim, Purusa. The Devas performed first sacrifice using God. The sacrifice is the first lesson. The one who follows this reaches the Glorified, like the Gods who attained this earlier. (Rigveda version ends)I know the Supreme Person who has sun's luster and is beyond all ignorance. The Wise one molded Himself in various forms and named them differently. The First Creator knew the Supreme person. He made the King of Gods for the benefit of others. The one who knows this becomes immortal - no other way is possible. The Devas performed first sacrifice using God. The sacrifice is the first lesson. The one who follows this reaches the Glorified, like the Gods who attained this earlier. All the materials and water arose from Visvakarma. He excelled other Gods. Sun rises through His brilliance. The world in gloom receives the brilliance from sun. I know the Supreme who is splendorous as sun and who repels darkness. The one who knows this becomes immortal - no other way is possible. He moves in the space causing end of darkness. Though unborn manifests as many. The wise who realize this do not have rebirth. Sage Marichi attained this. Salutations to that Sun God, the elder and leader of Gods. The one who knows Brahman as described earlier, the Devas declared, will have sovereignty over Gods. Oh, Sun God, Hri (Devi) and Lakshmi are Your wives, day and night Your sides, Stars are Your own form, Aswinis Your mouth. Grant me all my wishes.May all miseries leave us. We sing in Your praise in sacrifices. May diseases be cured. May birds, bipeds and quadrupeds be happy. May peace be on us.
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