Lord Brahma

Lord Brahma

Chera Dynasty, 15th Century AD,  Thiruvananthapuram Museum,  Kerala

            Lord Brahma is the most neglected of the Gods of the Hindu Trinity. While Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are worshipped all over India, there are hardly any temples dedicated to Lord Brahma.                 According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma was born out of Lord Vishnu ' s navel, while the latter slept on his snake, Sheshnag.  Lord Brahma is the creator of the universe. It is said, having created, He fell in love with his creation. He chased his "daughter", wanting to have it. Seeing his arrogance, seeing his mala fide intention, Lord Shiva cut off the fifth head of Lord Brahma which used to look upwards towards the sky.

           This story, like any other myth,  is merely symbolic.  Arrogance and mala fide intention have no place in an orderly universe. Rule of Law must prevail. Even the Gods are not above "Dharma " (righteous acts). Lord Brahma has four heads in order to symbolise that a given fact  can have various interpretations. Different points of views can co-exist. This is the foundation of our pluralism and of our catholic world view.