Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.s9.4

v2.c16.s9.4

Once upon a time the great *rishis*, desirous of learning as to who was the real author of this Universe went to the top of the mountain Mēru and put Brahmā, who was seated thereon, the question which was engaging their thought. In his vanity, forgetting the real creator, he boasted that he himself was the great Architect of the Universe. Meanwhile, Śiva appeared on the scene and justly claimed the place for himself. Though his own position was reasonably defended by Śiva, Brahmā would not yield; the Vēdas and the Praṇava (the sacred syllable *Ōm*) also interceded on behalf of Śiva in vain. At last, through the will of Śiva, there appeared near by a huge pillar of illumination, which demonstrated the greatness of Śiva, but Brahmā remained still obstinate. Incensed with anger at the thoughtless conduct of Brahmā, Śiva ordered Bhairava to cut off that one out of the five heads of Brahmā, which reviled him. Brahmā suffered temporary death, but, soon revived by the power of his austerities, accepted the superiority of Śiva. However, the sin of having killed Brahmā (the major sin called *brahmahatyā*) possessed Bhairava (a form of Śiva). Bhairava requested Brahmā to suggest to him some penance to get rid of this sin; Brahmā advised him to beg food in the skull of the head cut by him till he met Viṣṇu who would devise means for wiping off the sin. Till then, said Brahmā, the sin would assume the form of a woman and be ever pursuing him. Bhairava surrounded by a host of *bhūtas* (goblins) went from place to place begging for food. All the women of the houses he visited fell in love with him and set out, singing and dancing, to accompany him. Last of all he reached the abode of Viṣṇu and attempted to enter it, but Viṣvaksēna, the gate-keeper, would not allow him to enter. A fight ensued in which Viṣvaksēna was killed and added one more sin of *brahmahatyā*. Bhairava, fixing the body of the gate-keeper of Viṣṇu on his trident, got into the interior of Viṣṇu’s mansion and begged for food. Viṣṇu cut open an artery on the forehead of Bhairava and told him that the blood that flowed from it was the fittest food for him. Bhairava next requested Viṣṇu to assist him in washing off his sin. Viṣṇu pleaded on behalf of Bhairava to the personified female form of *Brahmahatyā* to quit him but she