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Prajapati
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===Vedas=== His role varies within the Vedic texts such as being one who created heaven and earth, all of waters and beings, the creator of the universe, the creator of gods and goddesses, the creator of [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]] and [[devi]]s and ''[[asura]]s and [[Asura|asuris]] and'' the cosmic egg and the [[Purusha]].<ref name="Williams2008p234"/><ref name="JonesRyan2006p332">{{cite book|author1=Constance Jones|author2=James D. Ryan|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OgMmceadQ3gC |year=2006|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-0-8160-7564-5|page=332}}</ref> His role peaked in the [[Brahmana]]s layer of [[Vedas|Vedic]] texts, then declined to name a group of creators in the creation process.<ref name="Williams2008p234"/> In some Brahmana texts, his role is paired since he co-creates with the powers of the creator goddess [[Vāc|Vac]].<ref name="Kinsley1988p12">{{cite book|author=David Kinsley|title=Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition|url=https://archive.org/details/hindugoddessesvi0000kins|url-access=registration|year=1988|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-90883-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/hindugoddessesvi0000kins/page/12 12]–13}}</ref> In the ''[[Rigveda]]'', Prajapati appears as a name for [[Savitr]], [[Chandra]], [[Agni]] and [[Indra]], who are all praised as equal, same and gods of creatures.<ref name= Bhattacharji322>{{cite book|author=Sukumari Bhattacharji |year= 2007 |title=The Indian Theogony |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lDc9AAAAIAAJ |publisher = Cambridge University Press|pages= 322–323}}</ref> Elsewhere, in hymn 10.121 of the ''Rigveda'', is described ''[[Hiranyagarbha]]'' (golden embryo) that was born from the waters containing everything, which produced Prajapati. It then created ''manas'' (mind), ''kama'' (desire), ''tapas'' (heat) and Prajapati created the universe. And this Prajapati is a creator god who created the universe, one of many [[Hindu cosmology]] theories, and there is no supreme god or supreme goddess in the ''[[Rigveda]]''.<ref>{{cite book|author=Gavin D. Flood|title=An Introduction to Hinduism |url= https://archive.org/details/introductiontohi0000floo |url-access=registration|year=1996 |publisher= Cambridge University Press|isbn= 978-0-521-43878-0|pages= [https://archive.org/details/introductiontohi0000floo/page/45 45]–46}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Henry White Wallis|title=The Cosmology of the Ṛigveda: An Essay|url= https://archive.org/details/cosmologyigveda00wallgoog|year= 1887|publisher= Williams and Norgate|pages=[https://archive.org/details/cosmologyigveda00wallgoog/page/n67 61]–73, 117}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Laurie L. Patton|title=Bringing the Gods to Mind: Mantra and Ritual in Early Indian Sacrifice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gSZmbbsg9bEC |year=2005|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-93088-9|pages=113, 216}}</ref> One of the striking features about the Hindu Prajapati myths, states Jan Gonda, is the idea that the work of creation is a gradual process, completed in stages of trial and improvement.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jan Gonda|title=Prajāpatiʼs rise to higher rank |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2OIUAAAAIAAJ |year= 1986|publisher= BRILL Academic |isbn=90-04-07734-0|pages=20–21}}</ref> In the ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana]]'', embedded inside the ''[[Yajurveda]]'', Prajapati was self-created from Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and Prajapati co-creates the world with Vac.<ref name="WilkeMoebus2011p414">{{cite book|author1=Annette Wilke|author2=Oliver Moebus|title=Sound and Communication: An Aesthetic Cultural History of Sanskrit Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9wmYz_OtZ_gC |year=2011|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=978-3-11-024003-0|pages=414–416}}</ref> It also includes the "golden cosmic egg" mythology, wherein Prajapati is stated to be born from a golden egg in primeval sea after the egg was incubated for a year. His sounds became the sky, the earth and the seasons. When he inhaled, he created the devas and devis, and light. When he exhaled, he created the asuras and asuris, and darkness. Then, together with the Vac, he and she created all beings and universe.<ref name="Leeming2010p144">{{cite book|author=David Adams Leeming|title=Creation Myths of the World: An Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9I62BcuPxfYC |year=2010|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-174-9|pages=144–146}}</ref> In Chapter 10 of the ''Shatapatha Brahmana'', as well as chapter 13 of ''Pancavimsa Brahmana'', is presented another myth where in Prajapati is a creator god, becomes creating with Vac, the creator goddess, all living creatures generated, then ''Mrtyu'' seizes these beings within his and her womb, but because these beings are created by Prajapati and Vac, they desire to live like him and her and Prajapati and Vac kill Mrtyu and creates the universe with releasing all living creatures in his and her womb.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jan Gonda|title=Prajāpatiʼs rise to higher rank |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2OIUAAAAIAAJ |year= 1986|publisher= BRILL Academic |isbn=90-04-07734-0|pages=5, 14–16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Sukumari Bhattacharji |year= 2007 |title=The Indian Theogony |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lDc9AAAAIAAJ |publisher = Cambridge University Press|pages= 324–325}}</ref> The ''[[Aitareya Brahmana]]'' tells a different myth, wherein Prajapati, having created the gods and goddesses, turns into a stag and approaches his daughter with Vac, [[Ushas]] who was in the form of a doe, to produce other animals. The gods and goddesses are horrified by this incest, and joined forces and created the angry destructive [[Rudra]] to kill Prajapati for doing incest with Ushas and before Prajapati mates with Ushas, Rudra drives Prajapati away. Then Rudra kills Prajapati and Ushas runs away and Prajapati is resurrected.<ref name="Leeming2010p144"/> The ''[[Sankhyayana Brahmana]]'' tells another myth, wherein Prajapati created [[Agni]], [[Surya]], [[Chandra]], [[Vayu]], [[Ushas]] and all deities. Agni, Surya, Chandra, Vayu, Ushas and all deities released their energies and created the universe.<ref name="Leeming2010p144"/> In section 2.266 of [[Samaveda|Jaiminiya Brahmana]], Prajapati is presented as a spiritual teacher. His student [[Varuna]] lives with him for 100 years, studying the art and duties of being the "father-like king of gods and goddesses" and is a king of the gods and goddesses.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jan Gonda|title=Prajāpatiʼs rise to higher rank |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=2OIUAAAAIAAJ |year= 1986|publisher= BRILL Academic |isbn=90-04-07734-0|pages=17–18}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Sukumari Bhattacharji |year= 2007 |title=The Indian Theogony |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lDc9AAAAIAAJ |publisher = Cambridge University Press|pages= 326–327}}</ref>
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