Asanâ_ | | | +−−−−−−−−−−+ | | | | Vâna 100 Sons | +−− Hiranyâksha | +−− 49 Maruts GENERAL REMARKS ON THE TABLES. 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 Trilokî, 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 manifestation of life, life energies streamed forth from the Mahar Loka, more as types than as individuals. These types are called Prajâpatis or the Lords of life kingdoms. They carry back to Trilokî all the life energies of the previous Kalpa. At Pralaya, they draw back unto themselves all the life energies of the dying Trilokî, and take a lasting sleep in the archetypal plane ( Mahar Loka ) to which they properly belong. The Prajâpatis 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 Manvantara. This is fully explained in the fourteenth Chapter of the Eighth Skandha. The Kumârs are not Prajâpatis, as they come from a plane higher than Mahar Loka. In the first Manvantara, Marichî, Atrî Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasistha, Daksha, and Nârada are mentioned as the chief Prajâpatis. Of these, Nârada is not strictly speaking a Prajâpati, or Lord of creation, as he took no part in the work of creation, though he is called so having proceeded from Mahar Loka. Kardama, Ruchi and Visvakarmâ are some of the other Prajâpatis. Of the Prajâpatis, 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 Trilokî. The sages are relieved every Manvantara by others who take up their place. The seven sages of our Manvantara, are different from the Prajâpatis of the first Manvantara. It is by great sacrifices and by great efforts that the highest Rishis of a Manvantara attain the position of the Seven Sages. The Sages may become Prajâpatis, and Prajâpatis may become Kumâras. And men may become sages, if they follow the true path. The grades that divide men from sages or Rishis proper are many, and human evolution proceeds on the line of those grades.