Having created the universe Brahma populates it with living beings that include plants, animals, humans and the immortals.
In the earlier articles “Creation in the Puranas” and “Creation in Brahmavaivarta Purana” the descriptions of Brahma creating the universe have been provided. The reason for the many creation myths prevalent in Hindu mythology has also been stated. In this article the narrative of Creation is being carried forward with the creation of living beings. This particular description is taken from the Bhagavata Purana.
In Canto 3, Chapter 10, the Bhagavata Purana enumerates ten types of creation activities. The first six are the creation of the “material energy” from the Om or the essence of the Supreme Being or from the Brahm, whatever name may be given to the primordial energy. The creation of the “material energy” is actually the subject of the Vedas; the Bhagavata Purana only briefly enumerates these. The last four are the creation of the plants, the beasts, the humans and the immortals. It is these four that are of interest in the Puranic period.
There are six types of plants described. Collectively they are described as beings that do not move by themselves. They are further characterized as unconscious but feeling the sensation of pain. Twenty-eight species of beasts are described as lower animals. They possess four characteristics: they do not have any knowledge of destiny; they obtain what they desire through their sense of smell; they are ignorant in nature and they have a poor memory. The ninth creation is that of human beings. All human beings are classified into a single species. The characteristics of humans are described as follows: the mode of passion is very strong; so is the need to quell their hunger by eating; they lead miserable lives but are not aware that they are doing so and hence appear happy. There are eight types of immortals described in the tenth creation. These are the Devas, the forefathers, the Asuras, the Gandharvas and the Apsaras, the Yakshas and Rakshasas, the enlightened ones, the ghosts, spirits and ghouls and the superhuman beings.
In Chapter 12, more details are provided about the creation of the immortals. First Brahma created the four sages - Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumar. These four refused to participate in further procreation because by nature they were meditative and free from material or carnal desires. They decided to spend all their time in devotion of the Supreme Being. Then Brahma produced sons from various parts of his body. Marichi was created from his mind, Atri from his eyes, Angiras from his mouth, Pulastya from his ears, Pulaha from his navel, Kratu from his hand, Bhrigu from his touch, Vashishta from his breath, Kardam from his shadow, Daksha from his thumb and Narada from his thoughts.
Then the Bhagavata Purana describes in detail the creation of religion and irreligion, the creation of the Vedas and the other branches of learning and the sciences and the creation of the rituals and the social norms. All this completed Brahma turned his attention to the procreation of the human race. He could not endlessly create people using his mental powers. He needed to create a race that would be fruitful and multiply on its own.
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