Asian Mythology: Prajapati

Prajāpati is the “lord of creatures,” the primal being associated with creation in the Indian (see Hinduism entries) Brāhmaṇas (see Brāhmaṇas). But by the time of the epic the Mahābhārata (see Mahābhārata), he has lost his position as the primal soul or first god and has become simply a god whose job is to create. From the time of the Upaniśads (see Upaniṣads) on, he is frequently the same being as Brahmā (see Brahmā) the creator god in the Hindu trimūrti that is Brahmā, Viṣṇu (see Viṣṇu), and Śiva (see Śiva). There are several myths about the process by which Prajāpati created the world. The Aitareya Brāhmaṇa contains a story of incest that echoes the ṛg Veda creation myth (see ṛg Veda, Vedic Cosmogony). Prajapati came to his daughter, the sky or dawn, as a stag, she becoming a doe, and had intercourse with her. But the gods disapproved, and Rudra (see Rudra), who later is Śiva, pierced him with an arrow. Prajapati's seed flowed forth and became a lake protected by Agni (see Agni), or Fire, out of which came many things, including Brhaspati (see Bṛhaspati), the lord of sacred speech—sometimes Indra (see Indra)—necessary for proper sacrifices and mantras (see Mantra). In the Kauṣitāki Brāhmaṇa, it is Prajapati's sons who are seduced by his daughter. From their spilled seed, captured by Prajāpati in a golden bowl, emerges the thousand-eyed Bhava or “Existence,” a version of the old Vedic (see Vedic entries) primal man or Puruṣa (see Puruṣa). In still another myth—in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa—Prajāpati masturbates and spills his seed into Agni. The seed becomes the sacred milk of clarified butter used in sacrifices. By producing progeny and making proper sacrifice, Prajapati, setting a standard for humans, saved himself and existence from the death that is Agni.