CHAPTER I.
Weary and overburdened with its load of sorrow and weakness, the great heart of Mother Earth lifted her voice unto the heights of the skies, complaining.
Her patience and faithfulness were qualities of wondrous worth to Brahmā, the Creator, [2] and so, drawing aside the curtain from his abode. He looked into her soft and wearied eyes, saying:
| [2] | Brahmā is the Creator of the details of the Universe. The Supreme Creator is the Supreme Deity, Krishna. He creates by His Will. The inequilibrium of the three Cardinal Attributes (Sattwa, Rāja, Tama, or Illumination, Activity and Obscuration) embodies the Creative Will of Krishna, as explained in the foregoing part of this book. This inequilibrium starts the current and force of Creation. Vāsudeva, as the manifestation and centre of the first flush of Creation, springing from Krishna as a result of this loss of poise, is the Second Creator in whom the seed of Creation (unpoise of Attributes) dwells as an Unknown Feeling of differentiation. Sankarsana, who springs from Vāsudeva, is the Third Creator, but acts only as the Unconscious Cause of Creation. Pradyumna, who springs from Sankarsana, carrying the Abstract Idea of Creation, is the Fourth Creator, the Semi-Conscious Cause of Creation. Aniruddha, born of Pradyumna as the Full-Conscious Cause, is the Fifth Creator. This Aniruddha is called Nārāyan and Vishnoo. From Him springs Brahmā, the first sprout of Creation. He is the Sixth and the Operating Creator, called in the Hindoo Books the "Father of Creation," the "Grandfather of all God's creatures." Brahmā's Abode is the Brahmā Loka, otherwise called the Satya Loka or the Seventh Heaven, the Seventh from the Earth Sphere (First Heaven). Just over the Brahmā Loka is the Vaikuntha Loka, the Abode of Vishnoo, the Abode of Salvation (Mukti), where souls freed from the last bondage of matter and its influence go for Rest and Reward. This Abode of Vishnoo is unapproachable even by the gods and the illumined souls who dwell on earth or in the Four Upper Heavens. Brahmā alone by mediation can communicate with Vishnoo on any subject bearing on the welfare of Creation and receive a response from Him who is the Outerward Form of Krishna. |
"O Mother Earth! Long hath the pain of ingratitude and faithlessness pierced thy tender heart, and with courage and loving mercy hast thou borne its stings. But now a balm is to come unto thee and soothe thy wounded love and readjust those things of which thou dost complain.
"Yet a little while, O thou Goddess of Plenty, and One shall play upon thy breast, which will make the veins of thy body to thrill with warm love, so that thy heart will be beautiful beyond what it yet has been.
"Thy mountains shall laugh in great happiness on seeing the beauty of Him who shall cast His lotus eyes upon their rugged sides.
"Thy rivers shall flow in rhapsodies when His Sweet Body shall sanctify their waves by its contact.
"Thy harvests shall come forth in great plentifulness.
"Thy cows shall give forth milk that shall be nourishing and healing unto all whom it will feed.