Within the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, Brahma is the creator.

Brahma grew in a lotus out of the navel of the sleeping Vishnu. The daily alternation of light and dark is attributed to the activity of Brahma.

In order to create the world and produce the human race, Brahma made a goddess out of himself. One half was woman and the other half was man. Brahma called the woman Gayatri, but she also became known by many other names such as Saraswati.

Brahma has four heads, but used to have five. The four extra heads appeared when Gayatri was very ashamed with Brahma’s love for her and tried to escape from his gaze. The tremendous tapas that Brahma had practiced for the purpose of creation were entirely annihilated through his desire to unite with his daughter. One head was lost later when Brahma lied to Vishnu and thus caused Shiva to become very angry.

The four Veda’s are said to have sprung from his heads. In the Life of Ganga, Brahma advised Bhagirathi to ask the help of Shiva in containing the power of Ganga (goddess of the Ganges River).

Stories about Brahma

• Brahma can swallow everything
• Brahma Tries to Illumine Vishwamitra and Vashishtha
• The Pride of Brahma

Related

• The Cosmic Gods