PADMA PURANA

Maha Pralaya, Vishnu kills Madhu Kaitabha and Creation of Brahma again

After the end of twelve thousand divine years or one Chatur Yuga, Brahma’s one day was completed and there was Maha Pralaya. Maha Muni Markandeya was the sole witness of Maha Vishnu lying on the top of a ‘Bargadi’ tree branch as a toddler while swimming in a huge sheet of deep water and the Lord accosted the Sage by his name and the surprised Markandeya wondered who the toddler was!

The boy replied that he was the ‘Purana Purusha’ who bestowed long life to the Sage. Maha Vishnu affirmed that He was the Virat Paramatma with thousands of heads, hands and feet; that He was ageless; that He was the Creator, Preserver and Annihilator; that He was the Devas, Danavas, Prajapatis, Maha Tatvas, Pancha bhutas, the Present / Past and Future; the Dharma /Artha / Moksha Rupa; the Karanam, Kaaranam and Karta or the Act / Action / and the Actor! The Sage Markandeya was overwhelmed with what he saw, heard and felt as Narayana Himself provided the blissful vision! Then the Golden Lotus sprouted from the Maha Vishnu’s navel and Lord Brahma was found with his Pancha Mukhas on the top of the Lotus surface, getting readied to script Universal Creation. Meanwhile two demons brothers called Madhu and Kaitabha approached Brahma and asked him as to who was he, why was he intiating the act of Creation and who authorised him to do so.Brahma replied that the Supreme Master of the Universe was Maha Vishnu from whose navel the Golden Lotus got sprouted. The demon brothers approached Vishnu, greeted him and asked for the boon of invincibility even while Vishnu enquired as to how they escaped death during the Maha Pralaya! The demon brothers reiterated their desire that they could be killed at a place where there was none killed earlier. As if their desire was granted, Vishnu expanded his thighs, bent them down and killed them. Brahma resorted to Tapasya and since he felt lonely, created his better half from his body and continued to create Ten Prajapatis and five ‘Kanyas’viz. Lakshmi, Saadhya, Viswesha, Devi and Sarasvati.Then he created Surabhi followed by Eleven Rudras. Surabhi gave birth to cows, Yagna and Devatas as also ‘Hamsa’ (Swan) and ‘Aushodhis’including ‘Anna’ (food). Lakshmi and Dharma gave birth to Soma and Sadhya gave birth to Devatas called Sadhyas viz. Bhava, Prabhava, Krushaaswa, Suvaha, Aruna, Varuna, Viswamitra, Chala, Dhruva, Havishman, Tanuja, Vidhana, Abhimata, Vatsara, Bhuti, Sarvaasuranishudana, Suparvi, Brihatkanta and Mahalokanamaskruta. Vasu Devi created Vasusanjnak Devatas who followed Indra. Vishva Devas were born to Vishvesha and Dharma and these were Mahabahu Daksha, King Pushkar, Chakshusa Manu, Mahoraga, Vishwanuga, Vasu, Bala, Nishkala, Rurudra and Parama Kantimaan Bhaskara. Marutwati gave birth to Marudganas viz. Agni, Chakshu, Jyoti, Saavitra, Mitra, Amara, Sharavrishta, Suvarsha, Mahabhuja Viraja, Raja, Viswayu, Sumati, Ashvagandha, Chitra Rashmi, Nishidha, Atmavidhi, Chaaritra, Padamaatraga, Brihat, Bahudrupa and Vishnusanabhiga. Aditi and Kashyapa gave birth to Twelve Adityas.