Concept · All traditions · Pan-India

Hiranyagarbha

Also called: Golden Embryo, Golden Germ, Golden Egg

The Golden Embryo who arises in the beginning as the one lord of all that exists (Rigveda 10.121, its only occurrence in that Veda). The Shatapatha Brahmana tells of a golden egg on the first waters from which Prajapati is born; the Laws of Manu have Brahma born in it, and the name later belongs to Brahma.

Sources: Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer; The Satapatha-Brahmana, tr. Julius Eggeling (Sacred Books of the East 12, 41); The Laws of Manu, tr. G. Buhler (Sacred Books of the East 25); Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897) · see Hiranyagarbha's web

Relations 1

Hiranyagarbha form of

Prajapati (God) · The Golden Embryo and the god called Who
The Golden Embryo of RV 10.121 is named Prajapati in its last verse; expressly identified in the Taittiriya Samhita per Macdonell.

Stories 1

The Golden Embryo and the god called Who
Origin · as the form in which he arises · 4 tellings

Cited

Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 10.121 Primary text (translation)
The Satapatha-Brahmana, tr. Julius Eggeling (Sacred Books of the East 12, 41) § 11.1.6 Primary text (translation)
The Laws of Manu, tr. G. Buhler (Sacred Books of the East 25) § 1.9 Primary text (translation)
Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897) § 39 Scholarly