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Saturday, November 23

"I am the Creator of the Hiranyagarbha from which Brahma was born"



From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiranyagarbha
Hiraṇyagarbha (Sanskrit: हिरण्यगर्भः ; literally the 'golden womb' or 'golden egg', poetically translated as 'universal germ') is the source of the creation of universe or the manifested cosmos in Vedic philosophy, as well as an avatar of Vishnu in the Bhagavata Purana.[1] It finds mention in one hymn of the Rigveda (RV 10.121), known as the Hiraṇyagarbha Sūkta, suggesting a single creator deity (verse 8: yo deveṣv ādhi devā eka āsīt, Griffith: "He is the God of gods, and none beside him."), identified in the hymn as Prajāpati. The concept of the "golden womb" is again mentioned in the Vishvakarman Sūkta (RV 10.82).
The Upanishad calls it the Soul of the Universe or Brahman,[2] and elaborates that Hiraṇyagarbha floated around in emptiness and the darkness of the non-existence for about a year, and then broke into two halves which formed the Svarga and the Pṛthvi.
In classical Purāṇic Hinduism, Hiraṇyagarbha is the term used in the Vedanta for the "creator". Hiraṇyagarbha is also Brahmā, so called because it is said he was born from a golden egg (Manu Smṛti 1.9), while the Mahābhārata calls it the Manifest.[3]
[...]
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What follows is my exchange with a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba, who wrote in response to my June 21 post  More on Sathya Sai Baba and the Golden Heart Lingam (Hiranyagarbha), and which had followed up my June 1 post, Saving power of photo of Golden Heart Lingam - Sathya Sai Baba

9 comments:

Himanshu said...
What I heard from a person who was there at the time Baba created this lingam is that the lingam represents the creator Brahma. and so Baba is the creator of Brahma who created this world.
Pundita said...
Himanshu, Is that what Baba said -- is the person actually quoting him? Also, did the person mention whether the lingam came from Baba's mouth or whether he materialized it from a hand gesture? I would very much like to know the definite answer -- although it seems to me that it was the latter. I'd also like to know anything else about the incident that this very fortunate observer can recall -- including whatever he can remember exactly about what Baba said at the time. Thank you! This particular lingam, its significance, is somehow incredibly important in my view.
Himanshu said...
The person who said so is none other than Satyajit Salian who was Baba's physical caretaker till the end. Sathyajit said Baba materialized the lingam not from His mouth as is usual but from His hand. and he said that Baba rotated His hand in vertical circles and not horizontal circles as He usually does. Baba said this is how creation happened. the Hiranyagarbha lingam is the beginning of creation. The lingam represents Brahma and so Baba actually is the creator of Brahma he said. I would give the link to the Youtube video but it's in Hindi. Satyajit was giving a talk in Shirdi [India] in 2014 when he said the above.
Pundita said...
Himanshu, Thank you very much for this precious information! I intend to publish as a separate post our exchanges in this comment section for the benefit of other Indian readers of my blog. (I will alert you here when I publish the post.) I will also publish, in the same post, Sri Satyajit Salian's 2014 talk at Shirdi even though most of it is in Hindi. I found that the talk is divided into four parts on YouTube. If this series of four YouTube posts is the same you're referring to, can you kindly tell me in which of the parts he mentions the Hiranyagarbha lingam materialization? If you're referring to a different YouTube post, can you kindly send the link? Thank you. And while this may be too much to ask, is there any chance you could translate into English just the sentences he spoke that refer to the lingam?
I continue to be amazed by the lingam and the materialization incident itself. Baba clearly intended that very few people were to witness the materialization and understand its significance at the time. But in my view, from Satyajit's discussion, this was the most amazing of all Sai Baba's known materializations. And while I am still guessing, from what Satyajit said -- and from the great importance that Baba attached to the lingam -- the materialization even more strongly suggests that it marked the formal end of Sathya Sai Baba's 'worldly' mission. Again, thank you very much. Pundita
Pundita said...
Or maybe I should say it marked the end of the Avatar's mission. Something like that.
Himanshu said...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyGwYF8yegw
Yes, that is the correct Youtube that you found, and it is part 1 where Satyajit talks about the Hiranyagarbha lingam from around 5:00 onwards. I posted the link above for ready reference. If someone can provide subtitles for the youtube that would be nice for English speaking devotees. I don't know how to do subtitling I'm sorry. Satyajit says that after creating the lingam with a wave of His hand, Baba said that this lingam contains, Brahma who created the universe and it is Baba therefore who created Brahma. implying that Brahma is a lesser God than Sathya Sai. Satyajit is awestruck by this revelation from Baba and he talks about that for a while. 
Well, Baba said in 2006 that His mission had been accomplished. So it was sometime before 2006 that the Avataric Mission was over and it simply unfolds by itself. So it's possible that you are right about the significance of the Hiranyagarbha materialized on May 5, 1991. 
I'm also stunned by this event. though I was led to it for a different reason. Sai Ram.
Pundita said...
Himanshu, Thank you again. The additional information is helpful. I don't like to be a stickler, but I'm trying to get very clear on what Baba himself said and what Satyajit said, which is why I was hoping for an English translation of just those specific sentences. But even what is clear at this time is absolutely amazing -- yes, stunning.
19:54 
Himanshu said...
Shri Satyajit Salian at around 14:00 of the Youtube (Part 1) quotes Baba as saying that "I am the Creator of the Hiranyagarbha from which Brahma was born". those are the exact words of Baba.
23:31 
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5 comments:

Himanshu said...

much appreciation for your post. since our convo here ive shared this photo with many other devotees. may Baba bless us all, always and in all ways.

Pundita said...

Your help was invaluable, Himanshu!

ramesh said...

The complete transcript plus audio of this discourse can be had here.

https://sathyasai.us/devotion/discourse/prasnopanishad-%E2%80%93-answers-fourth-and-fifth-students

I couldn't find find any mention of Baba saying that "I am the creator of Hirnayagarbha ......" in the transcript. Could be in the actual audio? You will have to listen

Translations and subsequent interpretations are tricky, especially when the master or guru is no longer physically present. One should be careful.

Himanshu said...

well your post was invaluable for me too.

Himanshu said...

dear Ramesh, The source for the Baba quote is the Satyajit youtube which has already been posted in the blog. however i give it here once again for ready reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyGwYF8yegw&t=8s

Satyajit was attending the Summer Course 1991 and he is describing the creation of the Hiranyagarbha lingam in the above youtube.

and if one listens from minute 14:00 onwards, Satyajit says in Hindi, quoting Baba "JIS HIRANYAGARBHA SE BRAHMA NE JANAM LIYA HAI USS HIRANYAGARBHA KA SRISHTIKTIKARTA MAIN HOON" meaning 'THE HIRANYAGARBHA FROM WHICH BRAHMA HAS TAKEN BIRTH, I AM THE CREATOR (SRISHTIKARTA) OF THAT HIRANYAGARBHA'.

you are right that often times there maybe a mistake in translating and editing Baba discourses. one has indeed to be very careful. sai ram.