Lord Brahma Playing the Mridangam

Lord Brahma Playing the Mridangam

 Lepakshi Temple,  Andhra Pradesh, Vijayanagar Empire,16th Century AD

             Initially Lord Brahma had five heads. The fifth head looked towards the sky. But when he chased his own daughter for lust,  Lord Shiva severed his fifth head off. Lord Brahma was left with four heads. The fifth head is the symbol of ego. A creator or an artist does fall in love with his/ her creation. For, creation feeds the ego. Hence, the need to get rid of ego, the fifth head. 

          Lord Brahma is said to have four heads as truth is reality is multi - dimensional. It can be appreciated from different angles. Thus, the need to accept various perspectives
        The Mridangam is the symbol of time--the rhythmic cycle of time, of creativity, of language, of civilisation.  Therefore, Lord Brahma playing the Mridangam.