Random Thoughts Part 3 - Brahma was a Palghat Iyer !
It is customary to follow the Maha GanaPathy Vandanam with Saraswathy Vandanam. Having written about Lord Vinayaka in my previous article, I now seek Sree Saradambal's Blessings. Goddess Saraswathy is the Adhi Devatha for knowledge as well as for all modes of transmission of knowledge. The Mythological stories, both western as well as Oriental, give some insight into the past. The western Mythology does not talk much about the process or steps through which Universe was created. They simply say that God created all beings. Hindu mythology gives some insight into the different stages.
Our Puranas say there was at least one Brahma prior to the present one, since there was a Brahmapralayam or 'night for Brahma', before the present Brahma was born as "Padmaja" on a lotus.
Most stories in our Puranas, relate only to the present Brahma Kalpa. There is only passing reference to the first or previous Brahma kalpa. In Srimad Bhagavatham there is story about "Dhruva", son of Uthanapada and grandson of Swaymbhuva Manu. This is in first Manwantharam of first Brahmakalpam. Lord Brahma splits his body into Male and Female and the Male is named Swayambhuva Manu. The Female is Satharoopi (the name means 100 forms.) (The western concept of Adam and Eve could be these two.)
All creations before Sayambhuva Manu were only Unisex.
Our Mythology states that in the first Brahma Kalpa, stand alone sensory organs, Gnanendriyas(5) and Karmendriyas(5) and Anthakarana vrithis(5) etc were separately created before creation of living organisms. These are Input / Out put /and Logic devices. This was followed by creation of Vayu, Akasam etc., namely the medium through which these organs could be used. (I presume there were many models for each organ like eyes, ears etc.) All these creations were thoroughly mixed and put together into one large egg or "Andam" and left in water (Karana Jalam) for few Brahma Kalpas. This egg was then divided into 14 lokas. The Virat Purusha himself becomes the first Brahma. Then, as per His will, the various life forms manifest in these 14 Lokas. At the end of first Brahma Kalpa, Maha Pralayam takes place, and all creations again get mixed up and gets absorbed into Maha Vishnu.
Second stage of creation started when Brahma appeared from Nabhi kamala of Maha Vishnu.
According to modern science, existence of water in any planet is indication of existence of life in that planet. Our mythology starts by stating that Brahma was born when there was water everywhere and a Lotus appeared from Nabhi kamalam of Lord Vishnu. Our Puranas also state that Brahma creates universe utilising the Nabhi kamala or lotus. Why Lotus? What does it signify? Could it be the core Stem cell for creation of various Organs and living beings?
First act of Brahmaji was to find out as to what is happening around. He wanted four faces to look simultaneously in all four directions. He had the Nabhi Kamalam or Stem Cell. Thus Brahma creates four faces and became Nalu(4) Mughan or "Nanmughan". He did not see anything except water in all the four directions. But he hears the sound "Thapa, Thappou, Thappu".
The first sound he hears is "Thappu" "Thappu". Very similar to what we say in Palghat Iyer tamil "Thappu" or "ThappiParu" or Thedi Paru or Search. (In Tamil Nadu this word Tappu means Wrong.). People of my generation may remember the phrase in Malayalam "Kundham Poyal Kudathilum thappuka". In the Gramam when something is missing, they used to say in Palghat Tamil, "antha Arayilay erangi Thappi paru, Ellam Kedakkum". Or as a city bred would say "Avanodu Pockettilay thappi paru". Thus Thappu or Thapa for us means, 'search". Brahmaji was told to search (or research) in pure and simple Palghat Iyer tamil language. Tapasya means, "research". Tapasvi is "researcher". Thus the first language is Palghat Iyer Tamil. Was Brahma a Palghat Brahmin?
Lord Vishnu appeared before Brahma and gave boon etc. are well known stories. Hence I will not repeat. Puranas also say that Brahmaji starts creation of Tri Lokas (Swargam, Bhumi and Pathalam) by utilizing the Lotus.
There is significance to "Lotus" as something Symbolic. ( Not B.J.P.) Many Gods and Godesses have Lotus or Kamal in His or Her hand or sits on Lotus. This signifies that they are not second generation or a clone from any other creation but from original cells created by Lord. All those Gods born from Lotus or with lotus in hand are born independently like Brahma.
All initial creations of Brahmaji were Unisex. Rishis like Vasishta, Narada etc. were born from different parts of Brahma and were to assist in creation. But none of them showed interest. They took to Tapasya or Research.
Brahmaji wanted to transfer the knowledge of Vedas and Upanishads to these Rishis, and through them transfer this knowledge to other creations. Now comes the need for communication and need for Language. It is said in the Vedas that Maheswara himself created the alphabets. (During AavaniAvittam we recite vedam and start with Agnimeelay Purohitham and end with Sanskrit or Devanagari alphabets "Aa E, Un,. ka, cha, ta, tha, Pa etc" and say "Ithi Maheswarini Sutrani"). Realising this need for transmission of knowledge, Goddess Saraswathi was created or Goddess manifests herself from Lotus.
Consider the way MahaSaraswathy is picturised or described. She Has Veena, Pusthaka, and Spadika Mala, and Lotus. What could these signify? Could these be written communication (Pusthaka), through Sound waves (Veena), and Digital communication (Spadika Mala) representing counting or numbers. Or could it be Music, spoken or written communication and then Ganitha or theory of numbers.
The next action of Brahmaji is usually misinterpreted or wrong motives are implied. This cannot be correct or true. The plain statement in the Puranas is that Brahmaji tried to Hug Saraswathi (There is a subtle suggestion in the interpretation that it was with Kama Vikara). It is also said that the rishis like Narada , Vyasa etc objected and then Brahma restrained himself. Please remember that male -female separation had not been done at that stage and creation was restricted to Unisex only. Brahma had not devided his body to male and female. So where is scope for Kamavikara.
What was then Brahma trying to do? Why did Rishis object the step he was taking? "Aalinganam" means holding close to chest, and this means not disclosing this to others. Appropriate interpretation could be that Brahmaji was trying to retain the ability to create music or Language or the whole power of communication or media etc. to himself, and make the whole world into a single universal language or one system of communication. This act, if permitted, could have taken out "the diversity", that was at the core of creations. Hence Brahma, later, bestowed these powers to all the Rishis and then to all Human beings. The ability to communicate and receive knowledge through any or all the mediums is acquired by all, through the blessings of Goddess Saraswathy.
Let me now come down from the Sublime to the Ridiculous. It is known to historians that there was Trade between Kerala and Arab countries in first or second century B.C. itself; that is much before Prophet Mohammad. I believe that Tamil Brahmins were in Kerala even before this period. Some knowledge and language from Iyers must have gone to Arabia. Otherwise how are words in 'Iyer tamil' like "Kusalam Ellorukkum" or Nalam Ellorukkum etc is being used by Arabs, whenever they greet people. The meaning of this phrase is "Is every one happy and peaceful. This greeting, I believe has become "Salam Ellorkum" or Salam Valekum. "Kusalam" became "Salam" and "Ellorukkum" became "ellokkum" and then "vallekkum".
Upanishads while explaining the concept of God, goes on to say that 'after negating everything that can be possibly thought or conceived', 'what ever is left out' is God. Or alternately, everything is God. For example, "Is sun, the God?" No. "Or is Moon or Earth or water or any visible or invisible being the God?" It goes on to say Nethi, Nethi or No, No or in simple tamil, Alla Alla ,repeatedly. What will be the impact on a layman sitting by the side, when such interaction is going on? For every question as to what is God, the answer is Alla, or Allah. What is wrong if some one concludes that the name for God in Palghat Tamil Language is "Allah"? Did Islam go to Arabia from India, nay Kerala?
Contributed By:
K N Ramanathan gets these random thoughts sitting through a well-deserved retired life after a checkered career in various Public Sector and private sector organizations in India. Sri Ramanathan has his roots in Kavasseri, Palakkad & Tali, Calicut and currently spends his days at Boston, USA and Chennai.
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2002 K.N.Ramanathan. This article may not be reproduced in whole or in part without prior permission of the author.