Hindu Creation Myth (No. 2)
From The Law of Manu
But in the beginning he assigned their several names, actions, and conditions (created beings), even according to the words of the Veda.
He, the Lord, also created the class of the gods, who are endowed with life, and whose nature is action; and the subtile class of the Sadhyas, and the eternal sacrifice.
But from fire, wind, and the sun he drew forth the threefold eternal Veda, called Rik, Yaius, and Saman, for the due performance of the sacrifice.
Time and the divisions of time, the lunar mansions and the planets, the rivers, the oceans, the mountains, plains, and uneven ground,
Austerity, speech, pleasure, desire, and anger, this whole creation he likewise produced, as he desired to call these beings into existence… .
Whatever he assigned to each at the (first) creation, noxiousness or harmlessness, gentleness or ferocity, virtue or sin, truth or falsehood, that clung (afterwards) spontaneously to it.
As at the change of the seasons each season of its own accord assumes its distinctive marks, even so corporeal beings (resume in new births) their (appointed) course of action.
But for the sake of the prosperity of the worlds, he created the Brahman, the Kshatriya, the Vaishya, and the Shudra to proceed from his mouth, his arms, his thighs, and his feet… .
To Brahmans he assigned teaching and studying (the Veda), sacrificing for their own benefit and for others, giving and accepting (of alms).
The Kshatriya he commanded to protect the people, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), and to abstain from attaching himself to sensual pleasures… .
The Vaishya to tend cattle, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), to trade, to lend money, and to cultivate land.
One occupation only the lord prescribed to the Shudra, to serve meekly even these (other) three castes.
Source: Manu, The Law of Manu, in The Sacred Books of the East, vol. XXV, ed. F. Max Müller (Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press, 1886), pp. 12-14, 24.
But in the beginning he assigned their several names, actions, and conditions (created beings), even according to the words of the Veda.
He, the Lord, also created the class of the gods, who are endowed with life, and whose nature is action; and the subtile class of the Sadhyas, and the eternal sacrifice.
But from fire, wind, and the sun he drew forth the threefold eternal Veda, called Rik, Yaius, and Saman, for the due performance of the sacrifice.
Time and the divisions of time, the lunar mansions and the planets, the rivers, the oceans, the mountains, plains, and uneven ground,
Austerity, speech, pleasure, desire, and anger, this whole creation he likewise produced, as he desired to call these beings into existence… .
Whatever he assigned to each at the (first) creation, noxiousness or harmlessness, gentleness or ferocity, virtue or sin, truth or falsehood, that clung (afterwards) spontaneously to it.
As at the change of the seasons each season of its own accord assumes its distinctive marks, even so corporeal beings (resume in new births) their (appointed) course of action.
But for the sake of the prosperity of the worlds, he created the Brahman, the Kshatriya, the Vaishya, and the Shudra to proceed from his mouth, his arms, his thighs, and his feet… .
To Brahmans he assigned teaching and studying (the Veda), sacrificing for their own benefit and for others, giving and accepting (of alms).
The Kshatriya he commanded to protect the people, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), and to abstain from attaching himself to sensual pleasures… .
The Vaishya to tend cattle, to bestow gifts, to offer sacrifices, to study (the Veda), to trade, to lend money, and to cultivate land.
One occupation only the lord prescribed to the Shudra, to serve meekly even these (other) three castes.
Source: Manu, The Law of Manu, in The Sacred Books of the East, vol. XXV, ed. F. Max Müller (Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press, 1886), pp. 12-14, 24.
Hindu Myth Analysis Questions
Source: http://wps.pearsoncustom.com/wps/media/objects/2426/2484749/chap_assets/documents/doc3_1.html
Student research websites
Creation stories: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab83
Sacred texts: http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm
Creation Stories from around the World: http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html
Norse mythology: http://norse-mythology.org/tales/norse-creation-myth/
- Compare caste to your society.
- Describe the Hindu caste system as given in the two passages.
- In your own words, describe the Hindu creation myth. Why are creation myths important?
- The word "sacrifice" appears several times in the first passage. What could this tell us about Hinduism?
- What hints that the caste system will be integral to Hindu society?
Source: http://wps.pearsoncustom.com/wps/media/objects/2426/2484749/chap_assets/documents/doc3_1.html
Student research websites
Creation stories: http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ab83
Sacred texts: http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm
Creation Stories from around the World: http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html
Norse mythology: http://norse-mythology.org/tales/norse-creation-myth/