In the beginning, before time as we know it, there were no lakes, no mountains, no rivers, and not even the vast oceans. All that existed was Mahakala, the Great Time, alone—present solely for the benefit of all worlds yet to be. For the sake of creation, Mahakala placed desire itself in his hand, setting the spark that would ignite existence. From this act, desire took form—a small globule, a mere bubble at first. But through the immense force and energy of Mahakala, this bubble grew and swelled. When Mahakala struck it with his hand, it transformed into a great two-lobed shape. From the very center of this form appeared Brahma, the Creator, radiant with five faces and four arms. Mahakala addressed Brahma, saying, “O mighty-armed one, by my favor, create a wondrous creation.” Yet, even as Brahma was prompted to set forth creation, he did not consider the gods in his thoughts. Instead, through his own deep austerity, Brahma beheld Mahakala, who then bestowed upon him the six-limbed Veda—the very source of all knowledge. Still, Brahma remained in austerity, turning his devotion to Bhava, another name for Shiva. With reverence, Brahma chanted, “Salutations to Shiva, whose nature is pure consciousness, who transcends the three qualities, whose radiance knows no bounds. Salutations to you, who delight in creation through rajas and who sustain the world through sattva. Homage to Shiva, the supreme Self, beyond all elements and nature. You are the very forms of earth, water, fire, space, wind, moon, and sun; all these bodies are your embodiment. All the lights, all worlds, all beings, all that will come to be, and all causes—they are you.” Moved by this devotion, the hidden One—Shiva—spoke: “O Brahman, ask for your boon.” In his heart, Brahma desired a son, Bhava, out of great reverence for Shiva. Shiva responded, “Because you have sought me as a son in your mind, O Four-faced one, and since you have asked what should not be asked, my portion, Nīlalohita, will become yours. Because you have remembered me with devotion as a father, your name, Brahmā, will become renowned in this world.” Having thus received both a boon and a curse, Brahma set about creating his son. He rubbed his forehead with a hand holding the sacred fuel of sacrifice, and from within, his son emerged. This son had five faces, ten arms, and wielded the spear, bow, sword, and the power of destruction. He wore the crescent moon upon his matted hair and was clad in a lion-skin garment. He was Bhava, Rudra, Pinākadhṛk—known as Nīlalohita, the blue and red-hued bearer of the bow. First, Rudra created the seven mind-born sages, beginning with Sanaka, and then others. He fashioned the gods in eight forms and brought forth the animal species in five ways. Thus, creation began with the gods. After making Brahmā, Rudra created beings in the realms below as well. At this, Brahmā said to Rudra, “You have been made unworthy of worship by me.” To this, Nīlalohita, the blue and red-hued one, replied, “Indeed, I have not been worshipped by you.” Then, delusion overtook Brahmā. His mind, inflamed by passion, grew proud. “There is no god equal to me, by whom creation has been expanded,” he declared. Lost in arrogance, the five-faced Brahmā became swollen with pride. From his second face, the origin of the Ṛgveda emerged, along with its limbs, sub-limbs, histories, secrets, and all their collections. From that face, gods and demons of wondrous brilliance were born, along with their sons. But all these beings became anxious and confused, their minds unsettled, feeling themselves overpowered—though there was no enmity among them. Thus, the first stirrings of creation and pride unfolded in the beginning of the worlds.