Pajāpati
References:
Mulapariyaya Resources
[MN 1]
PTS: Middle Length Sayings I, #1: Discourse on the Synopsis of Fundamentals, Horner, trans., pp 3.
WP: Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha: The Root of All Things, Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi, trans., pp 83
Examining the Mulapariyaya — Analysis
The Root Sequence, Bhikkhu Thanissaro, translation of the Mulapariyaya
| Pāḷi | MO | Hare | Horner | Punnaji | Bodhi | Rhys Davids | (Mrs)Rhys Davids | Thanissaro | Walshe | Woodward |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pajāpati | The Creator | Pajapati | Pajapati | Pajapati |
Pāḷi Text Society
Pāḷi English Dictionary
Edited by T. W. Rhys Davids and William Stede
[EDITED ENTRY]
Pajāpati: [Vedic prajāpati, prajā + pati Lord of all created beings, Lord of Creation] Prajāpati (Np.), the supreme Lord of men, only mentioned in one formula together with Inda and Brahmā, viz. devā saindakā sabrahmakā sapajāpatikā in sense of foll. 2. prajāpati (f.) [of Ved. prajāvant, adj.-n. fr. prajā "having (or rich in) progeny," with p for v] "one who has offspring," a chief wife of a man of the higher class (like a king, in which case="chief queen") or a gahapati, in which case simply "wife"
This gets into Hindu cosmology a little. In this case although it is possible to say All is Brahma, and arrive at a concept very similar to the Western Judeo/Christian "God"; this "one" is a "station" occupied by a multiplicity of beings existing together simultaneously as well as sequentially occupying the same office. Pajapati is one of the Brahmas, the one identified with The Creation of The World. That important "Mother Figures" are, on Earth, called Pajapati reflects this role as creator. Then it gets more complicated. Pajapati is also a name for Mara, or Death. This reflects the delimma discussed in "Pajapati's Problem", namely that the One who creates has by that creation also caused the death or ending of that creation.
