Home > Indian History > Indian Puranas > Tale of Prachetas
Tale of Prachetas
Tale of Prachetas has an important place in the Vishnu Purana. Prachetas were the successors of Prachinverhi and Savarna and they were assigned with the work of multiplying their human race.

Share this Article:

Prachetas were the ten sons of Prachinverhis and Savarana. As the tale of Prachetas in Vishnu Purana proceeds it states that the Prachetas were well skilled in archery. All ten of them practised the same religious austerities and remained immersed in the bed of deep sea for a period of ten thousand years. Prachetas followed the religious austerities in a dedicated manner because it was ordered by their father Prachinverhis that they should follow the words of the Patriarch and accordingly carry on the task of multiplying mankind. Prachinverhi had said that the Prachetas should obey the Patriarch with utmost reverence.

Prachinverhi advised his sons that if they wanted to fulfil all their desires in life it is necessary that they dedicate their lives towards the devotion of Lord Vishnu. The Prachetas should adore the imperishable one, the one who is without an end and a beginning. Thus being instructed in such a manner the ten Prachetas had plunged into the sea with concentrated minds dedicated towards devotion. The tale in Vishnu Purana says that the Prachetas with their minds wholly devoted to Narayana who is the refuge of all creatures and withdrawing their thoughts from all other external objects, they had remained within the sea for a span of ten thousand years. Under the deep sea it was their sole aim to worship Hari, the lord of the universe with an unperturbed mind. The Prachetas from deep below the sea uttered praises and salutation for the Lord Vishnu.

Vishnu Purana narrates that Lord Vishnu was pleased with the austerities that were performed by the Prachetas. Thus being pleased with their devotion the lord appeared before them in the middle of the water. The lord wanted to give boons to the Prachetas. As a result the Prachetas asked the lord for the multiplication of mankind as had been ordered by their parents. The boon was soon granted to the Prachetas and the Prachetas also came out of the sea.4r

The tale about the Prachetas in the Purana states that when the Prachetas were engaged in devout exercise of their dedication to the lord the earth was covered with huge trees and the subjects of the universe suffered from diseases. The time of ten thousand years when the Prachetas were under the sea, the wind did not blow and mankind did not put in labour. On coming out of the sea, the Prachetas were irate and as result wind and flame issued from their mouths. The wind had uprooted all the tress and the forests got consumed with the violent fire and the earth was left bare.

The Prachetas renounced their ire and took Marisha righteously as their wife and begot on her the eminent Patriarch, Daksha.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Puranas


Concept of Naraka in Vishnu Purana
Concept of Naraka has been discussed in the Vishnu Purana in an elaborate manner. It has been said that a person reaches hell if he commits an evil deed and the hell into which he reaches is determined by his actions.
Characters of Markandeya Purana
Markandeya Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Markandeya, Demon Mahisha, Dama, King Khaninetra and Khanitra.
Concept of Varna in Narada Purana
Concept of Varna in Narada Purana describes four basic varnas which include Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. Varna has been classified as per deeds performed by them.
Characters of Padma Purana
Some of the Characters of Padma Purana are Vishnu, Rama, Sita and Shiva.
Characters of Brahma Purana
Brahma Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, Rama and Parvati.
Characters of Shiva Purana
Shiva Purana will give an idea about the mythological characters like Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Brahma and Krishna.
Adhyayas in Agni Purana
Adhyayas in Agni Purana are all encompassing. The chapters have dealt with a variety of subjects related to human lives. A large number of chapters have been dedicated to religious aspects of human life.
Ramayana in Agni Purana
Ramayana in Agni Purana has been described by Lord Agni in a vivid manner.
Puranic Deities of India
Puranic Deities in India are worshipped by the Hindus, they are of immense supremacy and are considered to be almighty.
Indian Puranic Tribes
The existence of Indian Puranic tribes is often mixed with mythology and fiction that depict them as superhuman or sub.
Puranic Texts
Puranic Texts are vital according to Hindu, Jain or Buddhist religion; they describe the history of the Universe.
Puranic Shaivism
Puranic Shaivism established during the Gupta Dynasty. This puranic religion developed and expanded, and was accompanied by the development of Brahmanical forms of worship. The stories of the Puranas spread rapidly through the singers and narrators.
Puranic Sources of ancient Indian history
In defining the ancient Indian history Puranic sources are indeed important.