Encyclopedia for Epics of Ancient IndiaA - B - C - D - E - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - P - R - S - T - U - V - Y |
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APAVA. [Source: Dowson's Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology] 'Who sports in the waters.' A name of the same import as Narayana, and having a similar though not an identical application.
According to the Brahma Purana and the Harivansa, Apava performed the office of the creator Brahma, and divided himself into two parts, male and female, the former begetting offspring upon the latter. The result was the production of Vishnu, who created Viraj, who brought, the first man into the world.
According to the Mahabharata, Apava is a name of the Prajapati Vasishtha.
The name of Apava is of late introduction and has been vaguely used. Wilson says: "According to the commentator, the first stage was the creation of Apava or Vasishtha or Viraj by Vishnu, through the agency of Brahma, and the next was that of the creation of Manu by Viraj."
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Modern Languages MLLL-4993. Indian Epics. Laura Gibbs, Ph.D. The textual material made available at this website is licensed under a Creative Commons License. You must give the original author credit. You may not use this work for commercial purposes. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. No claims are made regarding the status of images used at this website; if you own the copyright privileges to any of these images and believe your copyright privileges have been violated, please contact the webmaster. Page last updated: October 16, 2007 12:22 PM |