Under the banyan tree

Tales from Siva Mahapurana

The Creation of Man and the Coming of Rudra:

After Brahma was appointed Lord of Creation and Vishnu Lord of Sustenance, Shiva vanished into silence. Brahma and Vishnu withdrew from their forms as swan and boar, yet the memory of that great contest lingered.

The first-born divine beings, along with Vishnu and Brahma, had witnessed too much, too soon. While they were still grappling with the mystery of their own birth, they saw Brahma and Vishnu locked in a great contest—and Vishnu emerge as its victor. Awe filled them, yet so did uncertainty. Their hearts brimmed with questions, for the newborn universe had already unveiled wonders and conflicts beyond their comprehension.

Narada approached both gods and asked, “Why a swan, and why a boar?”

Brahma replied that the swan can rise steadily and has the power to separate milk from water, a gift that symbolizes the ability to distinguish illusion from reality. For this reason, Brahma had taken the form of a swan. But when Narada, without hesitation, asked why he had lied, Brahma grew humbled. He now understood—one who is immersed in the endless tasks of creation can never fully grasp the ultimate truth.

Vishnu, who had gone downward, chose the form of the boar. The boar can steadily dig deep into the earth, and Vishnu, the eternal wanderer of forests, found his essence in this form.

Since Vishnu, as Varaha—the great boar—emerged victorious by aligning with truth, a new age began. Thus, the Varaha Kalpa, the Age of the Boar, was born.

After answering Narada’s questions, Brahma returned to his work of creation, while Vishnu withdrew and formed Vaikunta, his eternal abode.

Yet even with all his knowledge, Brahma was troubled. A vast expanse of water already existed—though he was the Lord of Creation, he wondered what was his to truly create. In search of clarity, he entered the waters and began a deep penance. From that austerity, an egg was born—vast and shining, but without life, insentient and still.

As Brahma’s meditation continued, Vishnu revealed his Virat Rupam—the Cosmic Form. In that single boundless form resided all worlds, all beings, gods, elements, and galaxies—every fragment of existence woven together. The Virat entered the egg, filling it with consciousness, and thus the insentient became sentient. Life stirred within, and the universe awakened.

As the egg broke and the universe began to unfold, from it were also born the five dark illusions—forces of ignorance and desire, a shadow steeped in knowledge yet veiled in darkness.

Brahma turned to his task of creation. First came the vegetation, spreading life across the new world. Then followed the animals, creatures of land, water, and sky. Yet Brahma felt no deep satisfaction. Seeking greater purpose, he meditated again, this time with detachment, and from his penance arose the divine beings—resplendent, radiant, and powerful. They filled the heavens, yet even they did not bring Brahma complete contentment.

So he entered a deeper meditation once more, and from that stillness emerged humankind. In them, Brahma found a sense of fulfillment, for among all his creations, humans alone carried the capacity to embrace morality, to walk the path of virtue.

Then, from the unfolding order of existence, the five elements were born—earth, water, fire, air, and space—the foundation upon which all creation would endure. Brahma grew weary of creation. His body trembled, for the vast labor of bringing forth an entire universe weighed heavily upon him. In his exhaustion, he turned to his five sons, born of his mind, and pleaded for their help in continuing the work of creation.

But his sons, though wise beyond measure, were untouched by worldly desires. They had already embraced detachment and the path of renunciation. With calm resolve, they told their father they had no wish to be bound to the toil of creation. Instead, they withdrew into deep meditation, seeking truth beyond the material world.

Brahma knew there was still much to be done. Weary and worn, yet burning with fury, he resumed his job.

Brahma did not yet know—his work was far from complete. For what awaited next was the fierce and terrible emergence of Shiva’s form: Rudra.