Creation of Brahma and Vishnu

The rishis said

You have told how Bhava, the paramatman, brought about creation through the mouth of the four-faced one. But we have a doubt. Virupaksha is best among the gods. Hara holds a blazing trident. Bhagavan Rudra has Kala in his self. He is Kapardin and Nilalohita. When the end of the yuga comes and he is enraged, he destroys the worlds with Brahma, Vishnu and Pavaka. Out of fear Brahma and Vishnu bow before him. He is the one who shrinks the worlds and those two are under his control. He is the divinity who once made Brahma and Vishnu from his own limbs, the lord who always secures yoga and kshema. Bhagavan Rudra is the ancient, original divinity. How then did Shambhu become the son of Brahma, whose birth is not manifest? We have also heard before that Prajapati and Vishnu were made from Rudra, so that they were made from each other's limbs. They are the causes of all beings coming into existence. If they appear from each other, there will be higher and lower in qualities and feelings. There is nothing you have not asked and nothing you have not heard. You are Bhagavan's disciple and remember everything. Tell us the truth about how Brahma became lord of sages. Father, we are full of devotion and wish to hear of Ishvara's fame.

Vayu answered

Brahmanas, you are skilled at asking, and you asked at the right place. I once put this question to the grandfather and he answered. I will tell you how Rudra arose and how Brahma and Vishnu arose from each other. All three are causes and were born directly from Maheshvara's self. They are the causes of the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe with all that moves and does not. They have great prosperity, and Parameshvara thought of them. His Shakti always rests in them, and that is what lets them always carry out their tasks. Earlier, their father assigned each of the three a task: creation to Brahma, preservation to Hari and destruction to Rudra. They were jealous of each other and tried to outdo each other. To please their father Parameshvara they took up austerities. In one kalpa Rudra won the favour of Parameshthi, who is in all selves, first, and made Brahma and Narayana. In another kalpa Brahma won favour and, making Rudra and Vishnu, filled the universe. Later Bhagavan Vishnu made Rudra and Brahma. Brahma made Narayana, and was himself made by him. So in different kalpas Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara are born from each other and seek each other's good. Based on what happened in one particular kalpa, great sages speak of their relative power and control and how they arose from each other. Hear a wonderful and sacred account about them that destroys sin.

This is what happened to Parameshthi Brahma in Tatpurusha kalpa. Earlier, in the kalpa named Meghavahana, Narayana became a cloud and rained on the earth for a thousand divine years. Noticing his inclination, the maker and guru of the universe, who is in everyone and every feeling, gave him his imperishable Shakti. From Sarveshvara, who is in all selves, he received the Shakti Shivaa. With her, together with the maker of the universe, Bhagavan Vishnu made the universe. The grandfather, who had been made by Vishnu, saw his prosperity. Overcome with great jealousy, he seemed to smile as he spoke: "Vishnu, go away. I know the reason behind your creating. Doubtless Rudra is above us both. Bhagavan Parameshthi gave you the supreme task of preserving. It is by the favour of that lord of the gods that you have now become a creator. I too will do austerities for Rudra, leader of the gods, and doubtless I will also gain the powers of creating the universe along with you." So the lotus-born Bhagavan slighted Vishnu. Telling him his decision, he did austerities and won Shankara.

Brahma said: "Bhagavan, divinity, lord of the gods, Vishveshvara, Maheshvara, Vishnu came from the left side of your body and I from the right. Yet Achyuta made the universe without me. By the strength he gained by taking refuge with you he is full of jealousy toward me. I told him that since both of us came from Maheshvara, he is not above me. It is true that we have a similar origin. Earlier, because of his devotion, you showed him favour. Shankara, give all that to me too." So he asked the three-eyed Bhagavan, an ocean of compassion. Thinking it fair, Shankara gave him everything, and from Ishvara, who is in all selves, Brahma gained all this at once.

He went swiftly and saw Purushottama lying in his abode in the ocean of milk, in a bright divine car like the sun, studded with gold and jewels, which he had built by the power of his mind. His eyes were like lotuses and he lay on a couch that was the serpent Ananta. His handsome body had four arms and every ornament. He was gentle, holding a conch and a chakra, with a face like the moon's disc and the shrivatsa mark on his chest, and the divinity's smile was pleasant and sweet. From touching a red lotus his tender hands were tinged red, and his lotus feet were red too. He lay in the sleep of yoganidra on the ocean of milk, which was like amrita. Because of the one called Kalarudra he was tinged with tamas. Because he was born of the golden egg he was tinged with rajas. Because of Maheshvara's quality of being without gunas, Vishnu could go anywhere and was tinged with sattva. Seeing him, the talkative Brahma said: "Vishnu, I am going to devour you, just as you devoured me before." Hearing this, Vishnu woke and saw the grandfather. The mighty-armed one was slightly surprised. He glanced at him and smiled. Meanwhile the great-souled one was swallowed, but he was instantly born again through the centre of Brahma's eyebrows.

At that moment Bhagavan, with the moon as his ornament, came there himself to test their powers. He was formless but had taken a form. He had shown them unmatched favour earlier and granted them boons. He arrived where Brahma and Narayana were. Glad, afraid and curious all at once, they praised him. From a distance they showed him great respect and bowed. Bhagavan Bhava, wielder of the Pinaka, affectionately showed them favour, and as they watched he vanished from the spot.