The Brahmavaivarta Purana takes a view on creation that is slightly different from that of the other Puranas, but this view is crucial to our understanding of perhaps the
According to the Brahmavaivarta Purana the universe is divided into several regions or ‘lokas’. All but four of them are destroyed with each cycle of destruction. Three of these are Vaikunthaloka, Shivaloka and Brahmaloka, the abodes of the Trinity of Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma respectively. However these Gods are not manifest in their abodes once the universe has been destroyed. The fourth region is Goloka, which is the region of Krishna, who is the eternal manifest form of Brahm. He resides permanently in Goloka, through creation and destruction.
Within Goloka there is a region called Rasamandala. When Krishna was in this region, a beautiful maiden emerged from the left side of Krishna’s body. This maiden was Radha. From the pores of Radha’s body emerged countless women and from the pores of Krishna’s body emerged an equal number of men. These men and women enjoy perennial existence in Rasamandala and descend on earth only during the avatar of Krishna as the milkmen and women of Braj.
The creation of the universe after its destruction begins when Krishna wills it to happen. From the right side of his body Vishnu emerges and takes up residence in Vaikunthaloka. While from the left side of his body Shiva emerges and takes up residence in Shivaloka. From the lotus on Krishna’s navel Brahma emerges and waits for the next stage of creation to take place.
From the wax of Vishnu’s ears two demons emerge. These are Madhu and Kaithaba. They immediately try to attack Brahma, but Vishnu pins them between his thighs and crushes them to death. He then takes the fat from their bodies and gives it to Brahma to create the earth or bhuloka.
Brahma creates the earth with the seven continents and the seven oceans. The continents and oceans are named in the Puranas. The continent on which Hinduism evolved is Jambudvipa. On Jambudvipa Brahma creates eight major mountains named as Sumeru, Kalash, Malaya, Himalaya, Udayachala, Astachala, Subela and Gandhmadana. He also creates the rivers and lakes.
The universe consists of the seven regions of the upper world and seven regions of the netherworld. The earth or bhuloka is the first region of the upper world. The regions of the upper world are known as lokas, whereas regions of the netherworld are known as ‘talas’ or lakes. This is the universe that gets created and destroyed during each cycle.
According to the Brahmavaivarta Purana Krishna also created consorts for the three manifestations of the Trinity. Saraswati emerges from his mouth as she was the Goddess of learning and was married to Brahma. Lakshmi emerged from his head and was married to Vishnu and Durga emerged from his thoughts and was married to Shiva.
When Vishnu descended to earth as Rama, Lakshmi descended as Sita. But Krishna avatar was a bit complicated because it entailed a combination of Krishna and Vishnu. During the first part of the avatar, when Krishna lived in Braj Radha accompanied him as his consort. But because of a curse Krishna and Radha were destined to be separated for a 100 years. During this period Krishna reigned as the king of Dwarka while Radha remained in Braj. As king of Dwarka he married Rukmini, who was the avatar of Lakshmi.
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