Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Brahmanda included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of ṇḍ
The word ṇḍ means the ṇḍ of (ṇḍ-egg), the Supreme Being which is the root of the origin of the universe. At a time long ago, which is beyond reckoning, there was nothing but an egg. This egg was split into two and from it a male child with the radiance of innumerable suns came out. This wonderful child was helpless. After his birth he cried for a while, because of hunger and thirst. He got no help. There was nobody to feed it. So this wonderful child looked up and lay there. This helpless child was called 'վṭpܰṣa' (the next emanation from ) by those versed in the ʳܰṇa. The boy was so called because he was the most material of materiality. But he was an atom of atoms and the first figuration of God. From each pore of the skin of the great �, who was the base of all the worlds a universe came into being. Thus all the countless universes were born. Each universe has its own trinity of , վṣṇ, Ś and devas (the bright ones), the protectors of the eight zones. One universe comprises fourteen worlds or realms, from to the Brahmaloka (from the nether world to the upper world or the realm of ). Countless such universes exist. Over and above all these universes there is ղṇṭ, and above ղṇṭ there is another world with an area of fifty crore yojanas (leagues), called 'Goloka' (the world of cow). Only the two worlds ղṇṭ and the Goloka are eternal. Bhūloka (the earth) consists of seven islands and sixty-four peninsulas. There are seven worlds above and seven worlds below. The seven upper worlds are Bhūloka, Bhuvarloka, Svarloka, Janaloka, Tapoloka. Satyaloka and Brahmaloka. Thus a universe consists of fourteen worlds. This is the idea given by the ʳܰṇa about ṇḍ. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandhas 9).
Mention is made, in the վṣṇ Purāṇa, ṃśa 2, Chapter 7, about the construction of ṇḍ.
This ṇḍ, like the seed of the Kapittha tree (Vitar—the wood-apple), is covered under, above and all around by ṇḍkaṭāha (egg-shell). The ṇḍ (egg) is covered by water ten times the egg in volume. This water-shell is covered by a shell of fire. Around the shell of fire there is the shell of air and the air-shell is covered with ether. Around the shell of ether there is the shell of Egoism of darkness. Over the shell of Egoism there is the shell of glory and the shell of glory is covered by ʰṛt, the Divine Nature. It is immeasurable. ʰṛt contains numberless ṇḍs. As oil exists in sesame, God pervades the whole universe. This is the connection between ʰṛt and ʳܰṣa. (The Nature and the Supreme Spirit).