Markandeya said : He performed severe asceticism lasting for many hundred years with the desire of getting a virtuous son equal to a Brahmana, in reputation when invocation was made with Vyahriti hymns and with the aid of the five sacred fires, namely Kashyapa, Vasishtha, Pranaka, the son of Prana, the son of Angira, Chyavana and Trivarcha, there was a bright fire full of the animating principle and of five different colours.

Its head was brilliant as the flaming fire, its arms were as bright as the sun; its skin and eyes were gold coloured and its feet, O descendant of Bharata, were black.

Its five colours were given to it by these five men, by reason of their great penance. This celestials being is therefore described as appertaining to five men and he is the progenitor of the five tribes.

Having performed asceticism for ten thousand years, that being of great merit, produced the terrible fire appertaining to the Pitris in order to begin the work of creation and from his head and mouth respectively. was son

He created Brihat and Rathantara, who quickly steal life away. He created Shiva from his naval, Indra from his prowess and wind and fire from his soul.

And from his two arms and hymns Udatta and Anudatta. He also created the mind and the five senses and other creatures. Having created these he produced the five sons of the Pitris,

Of these Pranidhi was the son of Brihadratha, Mahattara the son of Kashyapa, Bhanu was the grand son of Chyavana and Saubhara, the son of Varcha.

Anudatta the son of Prana. These twenty five beings were created by him. Tapa also created fifteen other gods who obstruct sacrifices. (They are) Subhima, Bhima, Atibhima, Bhimabala and Abala, Sumitra, Mitravan, Mitrajna, Mitravardhana, Mitradharman, Surapravira Vira, Suresha, Suvarchas and Surahanta.

These deities were divided into three classes of five each. Placed here in this world, they destroy the sacrifices in heaven.

They frustrate their objects and spoil their oblations of Ghee; they do this only to spite the sacred fires carrying oblations to the celestials.

If the priests are careful, they place the oblation in their honour outside the sacrificial altar; to that particular place where the sacred fire may be placed, they cannot go.

They carry the oblations offered by the votaries by means of wings. When appeased by hymns they do not frustrate the sacrificial rites.

Brihaduktha, another son of Tapa belongs to the earth. He is worshipped in the world by virtuous who perform Agnihotra sacrifices.

Of the son of Tapa, who is known as Rathantara, it is said by the priests that oblation offered in his honour is offered to Mitravinda. The celebrated Tapa was thus very happy with his sons. men J