Theos-Talk Archives (February 2006 Message tt00575)

PRALAYA as described in the Puranas
   
  As HPB use to say, these scriptures contents need some keys for the real meaning to be grasped.
   
  from BRAHMA PURANA, Chapter 124 - Description of Annihilation
   
  Vyasa said :
   
  1. The reabsorption of all living beings is of three kinds. (1) Naimittika (conditional) (2) Prâkritika (natural) and Ayantika (the ultimate one).
   
  2. The conditional re-absorption is Brâhma (pertaining to Brâhma). It is the re-absorption at the end of a Kalpa (set of four Yugas). The ultimate one is salvation and the Prâkrita (natural one) is (delimited) by the Parârdhas.
   
  The sages said :
   
  3. O holy sage, explain the number of Parârdha as it has been mentioned before, and by doubling which the natural re-absorption has to be realized.
   
  Vyasa said :
   
  4. O brahmins, each one of the digits is condidered ten times as much in value as the previous one on the right. Therefore at the eighteenth place it is called Parârdha (i.e. one followed by seventeen zeros).
   
  5. Double the Parârdha is considered, O brahmins, as Prâkrita Laya (natural reabsorption). At that time everything manifest merges and dissolves into the unmanifest which is the cause of all.
   
  ...follows explanation for duration calculation, to end up with 360 human years make on divine year, twelve thousand divine years 
  make a set of four Yugas, a thousand sets of four Yugas being one day of Brahmâ, called a Kalpa. At the end of that period is the 
  Naimittika Laya (conditional re-absorption) of Brahmâ.
   
  13. O leading brahmins, its nature is very terrible. Listen to it even as I narrate. I shall explain the Prâkrita Laya (natural re-absorption) afterwards.
   
  14. At the end of a set of four Yugas when the surface of the Earth is almost worn off there will be a very severe drought extending over a period of a hundred years.
   
  15. Then, O excellent sages, almost all of those earthly things that are of poor strength are destroyed due to the excessive pressure.
   
  16. Then the imperishable lord Krishna assumes the form of Rudra and endeavours to keep the subjects within himself for the purpose of annihilation.
   
  17. Then, O excellent sages, lord Vishnu is tationned in the seven rays of the sun and sucks up the water.
   
  18. After drinking up the water present in the elements and living beings, O Brahmins, he makes the entire surface of the Earth dried up and withered.
   
  19. He dries up oceans, rivers, mountains and mountain springs. He sucks up the water that is present in the nether world too.
   
  20. As every particle of water vanishes there will be seven suns, each of a thousand rays and they become increased in size due to their watery diet.
   
  21. Blazing from beneath and above, O brahmins, those seven suns burn up the three worlds along with the nether worlds.
   
  22. On being burnt by those blazing suns, the three worlds, along with the extensive area of mountains, trees and oceans, become devoid of viscidity.
   
  23. Then the entire area of the three worlds, O brahmins, has all the trees and watery parts dried up. The Earth attains the shape of the back of a tortoise.
   
  24. Therafter lord Hara, the annihilator of all created beings, terrible like black fire, burns the nether worlds from below by means of the hot breath of the serpent Sesha.
   
  25-26. After burning the nether worlds that huge fire reaches the Earth. It burns the entire surface of the Earth. Then the terrible fire burn the Bhuvah world and the Svarga world. With the clusters of flames whirling and curling the fire revolves there itself.
   
  27-28. At that time the entire area of the three worlds appears like a frying pan. It is surrounded by whirling clusters of flames. At that time, O brahmins, the residents of the two worlds lose their strength. They are enveloped by the scorching heat. When their abodes are taken away (i.e. consumed by fire), they go to the Maharloka.
   
  29. From there also people proceed ahead to Janaloka on being scorched by the great sunshine ten times more powerful. They are desirous of a supreme abode.
   
  30. After burning the entire universe, O excellent sages, the lord in guise of Rudra, produces clouds by means of breath expelled from his mouth.
   
  31. Thereafter, rise up in the sky the Samvartaka clouds that are terribly destructive. They are as huge as big herds of elephants. They contains fierce lightening streaks and they rumble.
   
  32. Some of these clouds are like a collyrium mountain; some are like the elephant Kumuda. Some are smoky in colour. Some are yellow.
   
  33. Some are turmeric;some resemble the exudation of lac juice; some appear like lapis lazuli; and some are like sapphire.
   
  34. Some resemble a conch shell and other the turner's lathe; some are like Jâti flower (white jasmin) and some are lke Kunda. Some are scarlet coloured like the tiny insect Indragopa (glow-worm) and some are like Manahshita (?)
   
  35. some of the terrible clouds rise up like the petals of a lotus; some have the shape of an excellent city; some are like big mountains.
   
  36. Others resemble the apartments on the top of the houses; soem are like the dry tracts of ground. They are huge in body and loud in their sound; they cover the sky completely.
   
  37. Making heavy downpours, O brahmins, the subdue the extremely terrible fire that has spread over the entire area of the three worlds.
   
  38. Even after the fire has been extinguished, O excellent sages, those clouds shower down water for more than a hundred years flooding the entire Universe.
   
  39. After flooding the entire Earth by means of heavy downpours with the torrents, O brahmins, they flood the Bhuvarloka and the heaven above.
   
  40. With the whole universe enveloped in darkness, with all beings mobile and immobile destroyed, those great clouds shower for more than a hundred years.
   
  ...The two next chapter cover the natural re-absorption and the Ultimate re-absorption.

  Jacques
   
  
Jerry Hejka-Ekins <jjhe@charter.net> wrote:
  Dear Dave,

My understanding of "obscuration" is that the planet is in a state where 
the lifewaves have temporarily moved on, or, at least, become completely 
dormant. On the human level, that state would correspond to what we 
call sleep. Pralaya would correspond to the body's demise and 
decomposition. 

Best
Jerry



soulsurvivor7771 wrote:

>So you are saying that the statement "...It is quite correct 
>that Mars is in a state of obscuration at present, and Mercury 
>just beginning to get out of it. ", appeals to your intuition? You 
>must have a very intelligent intuition.
>
>With the greatest respect to HPB, I could not even begin to 
>understand what 'obscuration' means. Lots of fundamentalists prove 
>their point by quoting the Bible.
>
>Regards,
>
>Dave
>--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Vladimir wrote:
> 
>
>>Thursday, February 23, 2006, 6:59:33 PM, soulsurvivor7771 wrote:
>>
>> 
>>
>>>You should choose whatever 'truths' you feel are logical, 
>>> 
>>>
>reasonable 
> 
>
>>>and most important appeal to your intuition. You should 
>>> 
>>>
>definitely 
> 
>
>>>consider the source of course, but choosing only on the basis of 
>>> 
>>>
>the 
> 
>
>>>source does not sound like a good idea to me.
>>> 
>>>
>>Neither it does to me. And your and CWL's statements on Mars look 
>> 
>>
>way
> 
>
>>out of the system of theosophy presented in HPB's and the 
>> 
>>
>Masters'
> 
>
>>texts, which are much more logical and appealing to my intuition 
>> 
>>
>than,
> 
>
>>for instance, what I saw on your website.
>>
>>That is why I prefer those sources instead of yours.
>>
>>
>>Healer, heal thyself.
>>
>>
>>Vladimir
>>
>> 
>>
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> 
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
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