Laws of Manu; Chapter 1
This (universe) existed in the shape of Darkness, unperceived, destitute of distinctive marks, unattainable by reasoning, unknowable, wholly immersed, as it were, in deep sleep. Then the divine Self-existent (Svayambhu, himself) indiscernible, (but) making (all) this, the great elements and the rest, discernible, appeared with irresistible (creative) power, dispelling the darkness. He who can be perceived by the internal organ (alone), who is subtile, indiscernible, and eternal, who contains all created beings and is inconceivable, shone forth of his own (will). He, desiring to produce beings of many kinds from his own body, first with a thought created the waters (Sum. Nammu) and placed his seed in them.
That (seed) became a
golden egg, in
brilliancy equal to the sun; in that (egg) he himself was born as
Brahma,
(Sum. Anu) the progenitor of the whole world. The waters are called narah, (for)
the waters are, indeed, the offspring of
Nara; as
they were his first residence (ayana),
he thence is named Narayana
(Water-residence; as in
Ea)
From that (first) cause, which is
indiscernible, eternal, and both real and unreal, was produced that
male, who is famed in this world
(under the appellation of) Brahman.
The divine one resided in that egg during a whole
year, then he himself by
his thought (alone) divided it into two halves; And out of those two halves
(Inner and outer half;
male and
female)
he formed heaven
(above;
inner half)
and earth
(matter, below, outer half)
and in the middle the sphere, the eight points of the horizon, and the eternal
abode of the waters. (lake
Acherusia)
From himself
(atmanah)
he also drew forth the mind,
which is both real and unreal, likewise
from the mind,
the ego,
which possesses the function of self-consciousness (and is) lordly;
Moreover, the great one, the soul, that is affected by the three qualities, and,
in their order, the five organs which perceive the objects of sensation. But,
joining minute
particles even of those
six, which possess measureless power, with particles of himself,
he created all beings.
(Nara
also means "man", as in Adam. Man is soul and these waters actually are the
waters of soul, Purusha)
(Above
actually is the middle of the sphere, the Egg, where the throne is.)