Brahma
Brahma is called the lord and father of all creatures, a divinity who is generally considered to be the creator of the universe. Brahma frequently arises in Indian literature in a trinity, alongside Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma is the creator god, Vishnu is the sustainer of the world, and Shiva is the destroyer of the world. It is notable that unlike the other two members of the trinity, Brahma lacks a wide following of devotees. In modern-day India, Brahmanism has diminished in importance compared to the other two members of the trinity. In fact, there are only two temples in all of India devoted solely to Brahma.
In one story of Brahma's creation, he is born from a golden egg that floated in the primeval waters. In another depiction, Brahma is born in the lotus that emerges from Vishnu's navel as he lies on the primordial milk ocean. We can conclude from this image that Brahma is the creator God, but he is subsidiary to Vishnu.
In artistic representations, Brahma is often depicted with four faces. When Brahma is born, he has only one head, but he grows additional faces so that he is always able to observe his beautiful wife, Sarasvati. In a later legend, one of these faces is destroyed.
According to one legend, Brahma and Vishnu argue about which of them created the universe. While they quarrel, a large lingam — “phallus” in Hindu terminology — rears its head out of the ocean, crowned with flame. Brahma and Vishnu see a cave within the phallus in which the god Shiva resides. Overwhelmed by the sight of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu agree that Shiva is the creator.
Hindu mythology includes not only a creation myth, but a destruction myth, too. The current age is called the Kali-Yuga, the final stage of a kalpa or time begun eons ago. This dark age is approaching its end, in which the world will be destroyed and prepared for another cycle of creation.
