The Beginning of the World

Indian Mythology

The Rig-Veda, one of the oldest of Indian sacred texts, cites the most common Indian creation myth. The Hindu creation myth cites Purusha, the being beyond all others, as the creator of the basic elements of the world. He is a part of all aspects of the Earth. When he was sacrificed, the seasons, holy writings, and animals were his ritual accompaniments.

His body formed the castes of Indian Hindu society. Castes were strict stratifications in society that members marry and live within in order to supposedly fulfill their purpose in life. Purusha's mouth was the highest caste of Indian society, the Brahmans - priests and leaders. His arms became the second highest caste - Kshatriyas, the warriors. Vaishyas, farmers and merchants, were formed from Purusha's thighs, while his feet created the Shudras, the lowest caste created to serve the higher castes.

Purusha's body went on to form the rest of the known Universe in Hindu mythology. His mind was the moon, his eye was the sun, the storm and fire gods Indra and Agni were from his mouth as well, his breath was the wind, his head was Heaven, his feet were earth, and his navel became the atmosphere.

The procedure used to sacrifice Purusha went on to become the protocol for later rituals and sacrifices, to a certain extent.

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Another creation myth describes water as being the womb for a small seed planted by Brahma, the Hindu Trimurty, or trinity, god considered the Creator. Before he existed as Brahma, he was a Divine Being.

The seed grew into an egg, which the Divine One resided in for a year. He cracked it open and emerged as Brahma. From the egg's remains, he produced Heaven and Earth. Heaven was one half while Earth and its beings were the other half. Brahma himself gave beings the mind and the five senses.

The Dawn and Dusk of Man is a Thinkquest Mythology Project by Sheila, Min, Ana and Tencia of Montgomery Blair High School.