Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Pakal 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 Pakal
Malayālam word meaning Day. A story about the origin of day, night, dawn and dusk is contained in վṣṇ ʳܰṇa. At the time of the great Deluge everything from gods down to the rocks lay submerged in Parabrahman (Supreme Being). sat in meditation to initiate what he termed as ٲṛṣṭi, the four species of living beings like the devas, asuras, 辱ṛs and men. When the meditation proceeded, the Tamoguṇa in became prominent and so first and foremost of all, the asuras were born from his waist. Then discarded his Tamoguṇa and the manifestation of the discarded Tamoguṇa became Night. sat again in meditation and from his face sprang out the devas, who were embodiments of ٳٱṇa. discarded the ٳٱṇa and it then became Day. That is why asuras are powerful at night and devas by day. Then another manifestation with ٳٱṇa predominating sprang out from and it was called Pitṛs. discarded that also and it became Dusk. sat again in meditation and then were born men who were a manifestation of Rajoguṇa. discarded that also and it then became Dawn. That is why men are strong at dawn and the 辱ṛs strong at dusk. It is because of these that it is said that day, night, dawn and dusk are bodies of . All the above four are an asylum of the three ṇa.
Night is called Uṣ� and day, ղṣṭ. Ի (dusk) is the time between Uṣ� and ղṣṭ. When the fierce and terrible Ի commences, a set of ferocious demons called Mandehas desire to eat the Sun. A fight ensues then between the Sun and the demons and by a curse of ʰ貹پ the demons die daily though their bodies never perish. At that time the best of Brahmins with the sound of 'OM' vibrating recite the ⲹٰī and throw water upwards. That water transforms itself into ղܻ and burns to death the wicked demons. The first oblation to the sacrificial fire is performed reciting the mantra which begins with "Sūryojyoti�". 'OM' is but վṣṇ, lord of the Vedas with the lustre of Ṛk, Yajus and 峾. The very utterance of the word 'OM' therefore, destroys the demons Mandehas. (Chapter 8, ṃśa 2, Chapter 5, ṃśa 1, վṣṇ ʳܰṇa).