Brahma Purana

It is the 1st amongst 18 puranas. It is a major puran. It consists of 2 parts - Purva Bhag and Uttar Bhag. The Purv Bhag narrates the creation of cosmos, Krishna’s and Rama’s charithra, Goutami Mahatmya (glorification of River Godavari). In the 2nd part we have details of Purushottam Tirtha. According to Padma purana this is a Rajas Purana.

In the beginning of universe there was water everywhere and (Lord Vishnu) the divine essence slept on this water. Water is known as nara and ayana means bed. So Vishnu is known as Narayana. In the water there emerged a golden egg (i.e. Anda). Brahma was born inside this egg. Since he created himself, he is called swayambhu, born (Bhu) by himself (swayam). So Brahman is known as swayambhu. He then split egg into two and created heaven and the earth from the two parts of egg. Skies (air), direction, time, language, and senses were created in both heaven and earth.

This puran is about the God “Brahma”. It was told by Brahma himself and hence it got the name “Brahmam”. It contains 10000 shlokas, 243 chapters. Uttara khand contains 105 chapters. It contains “The Gautami mahatmya” which describes the holiness of Godavari.

The three actions in universe are Creation, Maintenance (Paripalan) and Destruction. Brahma is known as creator. Brahma Shrishti is explained in this purana. According to this purana he made it first as eggshaped with his power. It was then split into 2 parts. One above (swarga) and one below. It then formed into 14 Lokas.

This resulted in the creation of

1. Sapta rishis namely :- Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulasthya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vashishtha rishis
2. Ashta vasus namely :- Apa, Dhruva, Soma, Dhara, Salila, Anala, Pratyusha, Prabhasa
3. Eleven rudras namely :- Ajaikpad, Ahirbudhnya, Virupaksh, Raivat, Har, Bahuroop, Trayambak, Savitra, Jayant, Pinaki and Aparajit.
4. 12 Adithyas namely :- Amsha, Dhata, Bhaga, Tvashta, Mitra, Varuna, Aryama, Vivasvana, Savita, Pusha, Amshumana and Vishnu.

According to this puran, from Brahma’s right leg toe, Daksha prajapati appeared and created thousands of Manasputras. They did not follow his wish of participating in creation and went into Gyana marga. Then Dakshaparajapati created women and through them he created living beings. He created Devas, Rakshasas and Human beings. Through Kashyap he created Birds, serpents etc.

When Kashyap’s wife  was pregnant the god of wisdom (Dharma) came in the form of a Sage for bhiksha (alms). Kashyap’s wife came walking slowly to greet the sage as she did not want the fetus to get harmed. The sage got angry at this act of coming slowly and cursed fetus and it died. Kashyap saw all this through his divine vision (Dhyana Drishti) and he made the dead fetus come to live to be born as “Marthanda”. Marthanda created Vaivasvat manu, Yama, Yamuna, Savarni, Sani, Tapti, and Ashwin devatas.

The history of Sun (god), Surya Ashtottaram, Surya Upasana, is explained in this purana. It also contains the creation of 14 manus, the birth of “Samban” by Jhambavati, how Lord Shiva became a Linga, Kashi Mahima, details about Prayag, Meru, Jambhudwip, other Dweeps, mountains, plants etc. It also explains the Ekambara Purushottama Kshetra. It explains about the birth of Sage Akrura and shlokas written by him. It also gives the account of how Subhadra, who was a apsara, was reborn. It contains Shiva Sahasranaaam, life of Sage Kandu, who performed severe penance by which even Indra feared that sage may occupy his seat. It gives an account of Lord Krishna’s birth, history and death. It explains in details varna dharma, ashramas and practice of sadachar.

There is also detailed explanation of Ekasadi Vrat. It explains that if one fasts during Ekadasi while contemplating on the Lord and performs Dwadashi worship how one attains mukti. This is explained in the story.