Brahma

   In later Vedic myth the senior god of the Great Triad with Vishnu and Siva. He was said to be born from the golden egg called Narayana, which floated on the waters. He divided himself into two halves, a male half called Purusha, and a female half called Satarupa. In view of the fact that Purusha is also described as a primeval giant from whose dead body the world was created, it would seem possible that at some very early stage Satarupa may have been the mother goddess from whom Brahma developed. The whole conception of Brahma as the universal all-pervading deity appears to have arisen comparatively late in the structure of Vedic religion, and to be rather a theological concept than an expression of popular opinion. The Matsya, Kurma and Varaha avatars of Vishnu have also been attributed to Brahma.

   The Kalpa, or Day of Brahma, was supposed to cover the entire period from the creation of the universe to its final destruction. Brahma is represented as red or gold coloured, robed in white, and seated on a swan. He has four heads and four arms. In his hands he holds a rosary, a vessel containing Ganges water, a portion of the Vedas, and a sceptre. His city is Brahmapura on the summit of Mount Meru. Although Brahma is the most familiar name in the Hindu pantheon, he has receded so far into the background as to be almost outside the field of popular worship.