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GENERAL REMARKS ON THE TAWLES,
These Tables must not be mistaken for human genealogies.
The reader will have to carry himself in imagination to a time when
there was a vast sheet of nebulous mass, when the globes and planets
had not been formed, and the phenomena now known as day, night,
year, month and season were still unknown.
The process known as Pralaya had absorbed the life energies
of Triloki, which remained latent in that intermediate plane between
the higher and the lower Lokas known as Mahar Loka. When the
creative process set in, and the ground was prepared for the manifes-
tation of life, life energies streamed forth from the Mahar Loka, more
as types than as individuals. These types are called Prajapatis or
the Lords of life kingdoms. They carry back to Triloki all the life
energies of the previous Kalpa. At Pralaya, they draw back unto
themselves all the life energies of the dying Triloki, and take
a lasting sleep in the archetypal plane (Mahar Loka) to which
they properly belong. The Prajapatis of the First Manvantara become
the Rishis of other Manvantaras. As the first Lords of creation bring
back the life energies as well as the lost experiences of the previous
Kalpa, so the Rishis bring back the lost knowledge of each Manvan-
tara. This is fully explained in the fourteenth Chapter of the Eighth
Skandha. The Kumars are not Prajapatis, as they come from a
plane higher than Mahar Loka. In the first Manvantara, Marichi, Atri
Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasistha, Daksha, and
Narada are mentioned as the chief Prajapatis. Of these, Narada is
not strictly speaking a Prajapati, or Lord of creation, as he took no
part in the work of creation, though he is called so having proceed-
ed from Mahar Loka. Kardama, Ruchi and Visvakarm^ are some of
the other Prajapatis.
Of the Prajapatis, seven form distinct types by themselves.
They preside over the seven stars, which form the constellation of Great
Bear. They send forth their energies from the plane of the Seven
Sages, and guide the course of life evolution that takes place in
Triloki. The sages are relieved every Manvantara by others who take
up their place. The seven sages of our Manvantara, are different
from the Prajapatis of the first Manvantara. It is by great sacri-
fices and by great efforts that the highest Rishis of a Manvantara
attain the position of the Seven Sages. The Sages may become
Prajapatis, and Prajapatis may become Kumaras. And men may
become sages, if they follow the true path. The grades that divide
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