Prajapati

Prajapati

In Hinduism, Prajapati (Sanskrit "IAST|prajā-pati" _sa. प्रजापति "lord of creatures") is a Hindu deity presiding over procreation, and protector of life. He appears as a creator deity or supreme god above the other Vedic deities in RV 10.121.10 and in Brahmana literature. Vedic commentators also identify him with the creator referred to in the Nasadiya Sukta.

In later times, he is identified with Vishnu, Shiva, with the personifications of Time, Fire, the Sun, etc. He is also identified with various mythical progenitors, especially (Manu Smrti 1.34) the ten lords of created beings first created by Brahmā, the Prajapatis Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaka, Kratu, Vasishtha, Prachetas or Daksha, Bhrigu, Nārada.

The Mahabharata mentions, in the words of celestial sage Narada, 14 "Prajapatis" (lit:caretakers of the "Praja"), namely: Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, Vasistha, Gautama, Angiras, Pulastya, Kratu, Prahlada and Kardama who are the caretakers of the fourteen worlds - seven lokas and seven talas. [ [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02011.htm 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..."]

Possible Hellenic equivalent

The name of /PRA-JĀ [N] -pati/ ('progeny-potentate') is etymologically equivalent to that of the oracular god at Kolophōn (according to Makrobios [Robert Graves : "The Greek Myths". 1955. vol. 1, p. 31, sec. 2.2] ), 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", [ [ttp://www.theoi.com/Protogenos/Phanes.html] while Prajā-pati is likewise reckoned as 4-headed [one each head having produced deva-s (gods), r.s.i-s (sages), pitr.-s (ancestors), and nara-s (humans), according to the "Brahma-an.d.a Purān.a" [Julius Lipner : "The Hindus". Routledge, 1994. p. 45] ] .

ee also

*Nasadiya sukta
*Hiranyagarbha sukta
*Hinduism and monotheism
*List of Hindu deities
*Creation myth

References

*"Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend" (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola


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  • Prajapati —    Prajapati, “lord of all born beings,” was a Vedic divinity of some importance. In the period of the BRAHMANAS his status rose even higher, as he was ritually identified with the cosmic PURUSHA, the source of all reality.    In the Rig Veda,… …   Encyclopedia of Hinduism

  • Prajāpati — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda En la mitología hinduista, Prayápati es una deidad que preside sobre la procreación y es protector de la vida. प्रजा पति, en escritura devánagari. prajā pati, en el sistema IAST de transliteración. Etimología: ‘señor …   Wikipedia Español

  • Prajapati —   [ dʒ ; Sanskrit »Herr der Geschöpfe«], indischer Gott; wird seit der Zeit des Rigveda als Weltschöpfer verehrt, erlangte jedoch erst in nachved. Zeit größere Bedeutung …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Prajapati — Mahaprajapati Gautami Mahaprajapati Gautami (pali : Mahapajapati Gotami) ou Maha Prajapati Gautami Theri était la tante maternelle et la mère adoptive du Bouddha. Elle fut, selon la tradition bouddhiste, la première femme à demander à entrer …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Prajapati — /preuh jah put ee/, n. Hindu Myth. a Vedic god personifying a creative force that evolves all things from itself. * * * Creator figure in the Vedic period of India. In early Vedic literature (see Veda), the name was applied to various primal… …   Universalium

  • Prajapati(s) —    In Vedic myth the mindcreated children of Brahma. For practical purposes they may be considered to be the same as the Rishis. The name Prajapati, meaning a Supreme Being, is applied to Brahma, Savitri, and even to Soma. The original seven… …   Who’s Who in non-classical mythology

  • Prajapati — Figura del creador en el período védico de India. En la literatura védica temprana (ver Veda) este nombre se aplicaba a varias figuras primordiales. Más adelante significó una sola deidad, el señor de todas las criaturas, de quien se decía había… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Prajapati — noun Hindu god personifying a creative force; equivalent to Brahma • Instance Hypernyms: ↑Hindu deity * * * /preuh jah put ee/, n. Hindu Myth. a Vedic god personifying a creative force that evolves all things from itself …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Dayanand Prajapati — Born 30 June 1969 (1969 06 30) (age 42) Origin Hapur, India Genres Bhajans Occupations Vocalist …   Wikipedia

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