Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.3330

c7.3330

Accordingly Brahmā and Rudra were born and Brahmā started his creation. (1st Skandha, Devī Bhāgavata). (iv) In times of old during the great deluge everything in this universe became extinct. It went on like that for some time and then the five elements and Brahmā were born. Brahmā was born in a lotus. Brahmā decided there should be mud beneath the lotus. He went down through the stem of the lotus and travelled for a thousand years and yet did not find the earth. He came back and sitting inside the lotus started doing penance. After a thousand years Madhu-Kaiṭabhas rushed to attack Brahmā (See under Kaiṭabha). Fearing then Brahmā went under water. As he went deep down he saw a great man sleeping there. It was Mahāviṣṇu and then only he knew he was sitting on the lotus originating from the navel of Mahāviṣṇu. Mahāviṣṇu killed Madhu Kaiṭabhas and gave permission to start creation and Brahmā started his work of creation.