Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purana - Brahma Khaṇḍa
7 - Creation of the Earth, mountains and oceans etc. by Brahma.
Brahma then performed tapas with the concentration of his mind and achieved the desired goal. First of all the earth was created with the feet of Madhu and Kaitabha; them the eight high mountains together with many small hills attached to them were created. What could be said about their names? Listen to the names of the chief mountains, which include Sumeru, Kailasa, Malaya, Himalaya, Udayachala, Astachala, Suvela and Gandhamadana, which are known as the eight chief mountains. Brahma then created seven oceans, several rivers, rivulets, streams, trees, villages and cities. The oceans included of saltish water, sugarcane, wine, ghee, curd, milk and pure water. The first of them was spread in an area of a lakh of yojanas. The rest of them become double in size respectively.
There are seven continents (islands) which are surrounded by these oceans. Their lands resemble those of the lotus leaves. The sub continents and the respective mountains too are also seven in number. О Brahmana, I now speak out the name of these islands which are Jambu, Saka, kusha, Plaksha, Krauncha, Nyagrodha and Pushkara.
Thereafter Brahma built up eight cities over the peaks of the Meru mountain for the sport of Dikpalas (which are eight in number).
The lord of the universe created the abode of Sesa and created seven islands in the nether world.
These were named as Bhu-loka, Bhuvar-loka,1 the most pleasing heaven, Janaloka, Tapaloka and Satyaloka. Thereafter Brahma created Brahmaloka a top the Meru mountain, which was free from death and old age. Above that the charming Dhruvaloka was built. Down below seven Patala lokas were created for the lord of the universe. It was more equipped with items of cosmetics and pleasure as compared to the heaven.
1. Region between sun and earth.
There names are given as under- Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talatala, Mahatala, Patala and Rasatala.
The seven dvipas (Islands), seven Patalas in the universe are controlled by Brahma. О Saunaka! innumerable globes are found in the hair pits on the body of lord Vishnu.
With the illusion of lord Krishna, in each globe is infested with the Dikpalas, Vishnu, Siva, Brahma, the gods and the humans.
Brahma, the lord of the universe is unable to count the population of the universe. Not only this even Siva, Vishnu and other gods are unable to do so.
Though Ishvara is unable to count them, still it is quite difficult for them to manage the daily routine of the universe, including the sky and directions.
O best of the Brahmanas, all the things which exist in the artifiial world, they are all perishable and are all like the dreams.
Goloka, which is located beyond Sivaloka and Vishnuloka, is the eternal place. Like the soul, the sky and directions, these are eternal and are beyond the artificial globe.
Summary of chapter 7 of the Brahma Vaivarta Mahā Purana - Brahma Khaṇḍa is as follows:
Receiving the divine empowerment and creative vision directly from Lord Śrī Kṛshṇa, the four-headed creator Lord Brahmā entered deep meditation and began the intricate construction of the physical cosmos. From the elemental forces unleashed by the supreme divine order, Lord Brahmā fashioned the vast cosmic egg containing fourteen planetary spheres, ranging from the highest heavenly realms of Satyaloka down to the lower subterranean realms. He established the vast oceans, the mighty mountain ranges such as Mount Meru and the Himālayas, the flow of sacred rivers, the divisions of time, and the physical bodies of all embodied creatures, setting into motion the eternal cycle of material creation, maintenance, and periodic dissolution.
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