Bhageerathi (The Celestial Mother) Part 1 : The Nectar



This universe is made up of the five elements. Among these five elements, it would not be an exaggeration to say that water is the one closest to our minds. When we get drenched in a drizzle, when we dip our feet in a flowing stream, when we drink water during moments of thirst, or when we watch rain clouds surround the sky — not only our five senses, but our very life and heart feel refreshed and cooled.

According to science, this universe is made up of matter. Matter is composed of molecules, and molecules are made up of atoms. According to our Puranas, this physical (visible) universe is filled with thousands upon thousands of cosmic worlds (universes). All of these exist within a subtle, causal ocean that is invisible to our eyes.

Lord Sriman Narayana rests in this cosmic ocean. When He exhales, thousands of universes are born like bubbles. When He inhales, all of them dissolve back into Him. To give a simple example, we have seen children blowing soap bubbles while playing. When they blow air, countless bubbles form and float in the air. Each bubble is like a universe.

For every universe, a Brahma is created by Brahman. He is the first soul born from the Supreme Soul — the highest soul. From him, all beings, from gods to the smallest living creatures, are created.

When I thought about this causal ocean, which is the source of all universes, I was reminded of the Ganga that moistens our land. Who is Mother Ganga? How did she come to this earth? Stories that answer these questions also came to my mind.

Let us see those stories with answers in the next section.

Shanmugapriya K Sambathkumar



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