Encyclopedia

http://www.archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft

Pauranic Expert Vettam Mani said that the universe remained in embryo form or in the bijarupa. 

1. These Panchabhutas{five elements} were first divided into two (each was divided into two). Then by a process of the combination of these ten parts different substances were born
2. Each half of each of these five bhutas{elements} is again subdivided into four parts. These 1/8 parts are joined to the other halves and by combining them in other fractions of the material bodies(sthulasariras of all beings are made."

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