Prajapati

For the community known as Prajapati, see Kumhar.

In Hinduism, Prajapati (Sanskrit: प्रजापति (IAST: prajā-pati); Gurmukhi: ਪ੍ਰਜਾਪਤੀ, ਪਰਜਾਪਤ; ) "lord of creatures" is a Hindu deity presiding over procreation, and protector of life. He appears as a creator deity or supreme God Viswakarma Vedic deities in RV 10 and in Brahmana literature. Vedic commentators also identify him with the creator referred to in the [1] Nasadiya Sukta.

Prajapati as per Veda

  1. Viśvákarma[2]

In later times, he is identified with Vishnu, Shiva, with the personifications of Time, Fire, the Sun, etc. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 8.8.16 cites Viśvákarma is one of the prajāpatis, the sons of Lord Brahmā who generate progeny[3]. He is also identified with various mythical progenitors, especially (Manu Smrti 1.34) the ten lords of created beings first created by Brahmā, which are the

Prajapatis:

  1. Marichi,
  2. Atri,
  3. Angiras,
  4. Pulastya,
  5. Pulaha,
  6. Kratu,
  7. Vasishtha,
  8. Prachetas or Daksha,
  9. Bhrigu,
  10. Nārada.

The Mahabharata mentions, in the words of celestial sage Narada, 14 Prajapatis (lit:caretakers of the Praja), namely:

  1. Daksha,
  2. Prachetas,
  3. Pulaha,
  4. Marichi,
  5. Kasyapa,
  6. Bhrigu,
  7. Atri,
  8. Vasistha,
  9. Gautama,
  10. Angiras,
  11. Pulastya,
  12. Kratu,
  13. Prahlada and
  14. Kardama who are the caretakers of the fourteen worlds - seven lokas and seven talas.[4]

The Kumhars, a potter caste, claim descendant from Prajapati Daksha,[5] and therefore are known as Prajapati.[6]

Possible equivalent

The name of /PRA-JĀ[N]-pati/ ('progeny-potentate') is etymologically equivalent to that of the oracular god at Kolophōn (according to Makrobios[7]), namely /PRŌto-GONos/. According to Damaskios, Prōtogonos (also known as Phanēs) had four heads, those of "a Serpent (Drakōn)... and a bull; a man, and a god",[8] while Prajā-pati is likewise reckoned as 4-headed [one head each having produced deva-s (gods), ṛṣi-s (sages), pitṛ-s (ancestors), and nara-s (humans), according to the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa[9]].

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.mamandram.org/magazine/2008/10/vishvakarma-architect-of-the-gods/
  2. ^ Yajur veda 18-43 Prajapathirviswakarma mano gandharvasthasya ....
  3. ^ http://vedabase.net/v/visvakarma "viśvakarmā prajāpatiḥ — Viśvakarmā, one of the prajāpatis, the sons of Lord Brahmā who generate progeny.; SB 8.8.16" http://vedabase.net/sb/8/8/16/, httpvedabase.net/v/visvakarma, Extracted on 09:49, 22 December 2010 (UTC)
  4. ^ Narada said.. The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896), Book 2: Sabha Parva: Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva, section:XI. p. 25 And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these Prajapatis, and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas; Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world,--all stay in that mansion beside the lord Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic power, and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious 'Sanatkumara' of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga..."
  5. ^ http://books.google.co.in/books?id=57vUAAAAMAAJ&q=kumbh+Kumbhar&dq=kumbh+Kumbhar&hl=en&ei=ylUCTPOrHISyrAfbkKU8&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg
  6. ^ Office of the Registrar General (1972). Census of India, 1961, Volume 14, Issue 5. Manager of Publications, Government of India. p. 13. 
  7. ^ Robert Graves : The Greek Myths. 1955. vol. 1, p. 31, sec. 2.2
  8. ^ [ttp://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Phanes.html
  9. ^ Julius Lipner : The Hindus. Routledge, 1994. p. 45
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