Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.3024

c9.3024

It is believed that Svāyambhuva and Śatarūpā are the first human beings. A story as given below, occurs in Matsya Purāṇa. Brahmā took birth as a man somewhere in Kāśmīra. Brahmā who took birth as man, created Śatarūpā from his own body, without any decrease in its radiance. Svāyambhuva (Brahmā) appreciated the beauty of Śatarūpā. He grew amorous. But Brahmā was ashamed of his feeling, as Śatarūpā being half of his body, was his daughter. Being subjected to love and shame at the same time Svāyambhuva stood there, looking at Śatarūpā. To avoid the look of Brahmā, Śatarūpā moved to one side. Brahmā had no courage to turn his face to that side. So another face sprang up on that side for him. Śatarūpā turned to four sides and Brahmā thus got four faces. His amour subsided. When the desire subsided, a man originated from Brahmā. That man is Svāyambhuva. (For further details see under Manvantara).