Brahma: In
Hindu belief, Brahma is the senior member of the triad of great
gods, which also includes Vishnu and Shiva. In later Hindu belief,
he became symbolized as the supreme eternal deity whose essence makes
up the cosmos.
Brahma
is considered the creator of the universe. Before the cosmos existed,
Brahma was all alone, self contained and self-content. Eventually,
he felt inadequate and longed for company.
Brahma split himself and created
the goddess Shatarupa. Her many forms captivated Brahma, and he desired
to posses her.
But that was not to be. Like all material things, Shatarupa would
turn into something else every time Brahma got to her. She turned
into a cow, a mare, a goose and a doe. Brahma kept pursuing her, taking
the form of the corresponding male - a bull, a horse, a gander, a
buck. Thus all creatures of the cosmos, from the smallest insect to
the largest mammal, came into being.
Brahma
sprouted five heads, so that he could watch Shatarupa at all times.
To restrain Brahma's lust, Shiva wrenched off one of Brahma's five
heads. This helped
Brahma come to his senses, and he took Saraswati,
the goddess of knowledge, as his consort. With her help, he regained
control of his mind.
For
creating the universe,
Brahma became known as the lord of progeny.
But he is not worshipped because he is responsible for distracting
the mind away from the soul and towards the cravings of the flesh.
