Part 24 (1/2)

The sages say that in the central portion of the top of Sumeru is the abode of Brahma, made of gold, 10,000,000 Yojanas in area, and of four equal sides.

Surrounding the abode of Brahma are the eight abodes of the eight Lokapalas situated respectively in the directions presided over by these Lokapalas. Each of these abodes has the color of its own Lokapala and each extends over 2 1/2 thousand yojanas. (The names of these abodes are given in other Puranas. Thus:

Manovati is the abode of Brahma.

Amaravati ” ” Indra.

Tejovati ” ” Agni.

Sanyavati ” ” Yama.

Krishnangana ” ” Nairita.

Sradhavati ” ” Varuna.

Gandhavati ” ” Vayu.

Mahodaya ” ” Kubera.

Yasovati ” ” Isa.

THE GANGES.

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 7.*

The Avatara Vamana asked Bali, the Daitya King, for as much s.p.a.ce as he could cover in three steps. The first step covered the earth. Vamana then raised his foot over the heavens and the stroke of his left toe-nail caused a hole in the cosmic egg. Water entered the hole from outside, water that carried the was.h.i.+ngs of Vishnu's feet and that was consequently capable of purifying all the impurities of the world and that was in itself very pure, water that was then called Bhagavat pudi.

In a thousand yugas the stream reached the highest point of Svar Loka, called Vishnupada.

Dhruva carried the stream on his own head with ever increasing devotion.

The seven Ris.h.i.+s (of the Great Bear) carry the sacred water in their braided tufts of hair, as something better than Mukti, for the stream of devotion flows from Vishnu direct.

Thence the stream pa.s.ses through the path of the Devas, studded with thousands and thousands of starry chariots, till it overflows the lunar regions and fall down on the abode of Brahma in Meru.

There the stream divides itself into four parts called Sita, Alakananda, Vankshu and Bhadra.

The Sita flows from the abode of Brahma through the highest mountain ranges, she comes down to Gandha Madana, thence through Bhadrasva Varsha she falls into the salt ocean towards the east.

So the Vankshu flows through the Malyavat range into Ketumala Varsha and falls on the west into the Salt ocean.

The Bhadra flows north from the Sumeru peak through several mountain ranges down to Sringavat range and pa.s.ses through Kuru in to the Salt ocean.

The Alakananda flows south from the abode of Brahma through several mountain ranges to Hema Kuta and thence to Himalaya till it reaches Bharata Varsha (_i.e._ Nabhi Varsha) and at last flows through it into the Salt ocean.

There are a thousand other rivers and a thousand other mountains in each Varsha.

[The real source of the Ganges is not the melting of snow in the Himalayas. That may be the source of the waters that swell the bed of the Ganges, as we see it. But the Ganges is something more than a volume of waters. There is a spiritual current underlying its waters. That current comes from regions higher than the highest peak of the Himalayas. Hence the great sanct.i.ty attached to it].

THE MYSTERIES OF THE VARSHAS.

*SKANDHA V. CHAP. 17-19.*