Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.2485

c4.2485

9) *Brahmā is not worshipped.* Long ago Brahmā and Viṣṇu went to see Śiva near Himavān. They saw a shining phallus there in front of them. It was of immense size. One of them went downwards and the other upwards to find out the end of it. Both returned without reaching the top or the bottom and by penance they pleased Śiva who appeared before them and asked them what boon they desired. Brahmā asked Śiva to take birth as his son. Śiva did not like this and said that nobody would worship Brahmā because of his extravagant desire (namely, to have Śiva as his son). Viṣṇu requested that he should be made a servant at Śiva's feet. So Viṣṇu incarnated as Śiva's Śakti (power). That Śakti is Pārvatī. So Viṣṇu and Pārvatī are one and the same in a sense. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Kathāpīṭhalambakam, Taraṅga 1).