The Development of Hindu Iconography c19.s1.5

c19.s1.5

¹ The myth of Brahmā's incestuous love for his own daughter as noticed in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (I. 7, 4, 1ff.) can be traced to the Ṛgveda passage (X. 61, 4) which seems to refer to some atmospheric phenomenon; this story is further elaborated in the Matsya, Bhāgavata and other Purāṇas to the detriment of this god. Brahmā's passion for telling lies is to be noted in the sectarian story explaining the Liṅgodbhavamūrti of Śiva whose Bhairava form is sometimes described as Brahmāśiraśchedakamūrti (the form in which he cut off one of the superfluous heads of Brahmā).