Primary Creation
Brahma Vishnu and Siva in early period of creation
While Vishnu was in Yogic sleep on the water, a wonderful lotus sprouted from his navel. Its fragrance spread in all directions. Brahma appeared inside the lotus.
Brahma saw Vishnu sleeping on the water and woke him up. “Who are you?” asked Brahma.
“I am Vishnu, but who are you?” replied Vishnu.
“I am the Creator of everything. What ever there in Universe is inside of my body.” told Brahma
“Is that really so?” wondered Vishnu.
Vishnu there upon entered Brahma’s body. He really found the three worlds, the gods, the demons and the humans inside Brahma’s stomach and was greatly surprised. He emerged from Brahma’s mouth and told Brahma, “What I have seen inside your body is truly wonderful. But I too can show you many worlds inside my body. Please enter and see for yourself.”
It was now Brahma’s turn to enter Vishnu’s body. But when Brahma did this, he could find no end to Vishnu’s stomach. There were endless worlds inside Vishnu’s body. However, Brahma could find no way of coming out from Vishnu’s stomach. He finally managed to emerge through Vishnu’s navel, through the stalk of the lotus that was there.
“How dare you try to confine me inside your body?” demanded Brahma, as soon as he managed to get out.
“Please do not get angry.” replied Vishnu. “I merely thought that I would play with you for a while. Otherwise, it is inconceivable that anyone should dare to confine the great Brahma. Please pardon me. And as a token of your pardon, please grant me the boon that henceforth, you will be known as my son. After all, you did emerge from a lotus that grew out of my navel.”
“Agreed.” said Brahma. “Let us make peace. After all there is no one else. We are the lords of everything; we are parts of the Brahman.”
“Please do not forget Shiva,” responded Vishnu. “Your words will anger him and bring about your undoing.”
While the two were thus conversing, Shiva appeared on the scene. He had a third eye in the middle of his forehead and his hair was matted. A trident could be seen in his hand.
“Who is this fellow?” asked Brahma. “He looks like an upstart.”
Vishnu calmed Brahma down. He also gave Brahma divine eyes so that Brahma could comprehend the true nature of Shiva. Brahma then started to pray to Shiva. Pleased with Brahma’s prayers, Shiva agreed to grant Brahma a boon.
“Please grant me the boon that you will be born as my son,” said Brahma.
Shiva agreed to do so and went away.
Brahma returned to his seat on the lotus flower.
Suddenly, two demons named Madhu and Kaitabha appeared, They were exceedingly strong and threatened to destroy everything that Brahma would create. Brahma therefore requested Vishnu to kill these two demons. Vishnu created two beings from his own body and these two beings killed the demons.
After Madhu and Kaitabha were killed, Brahma again thought of creation and went on meditation for the same; then a boy was born on his lap.
The baby started to cry as soon as he was born.
“Don’t cry,” said Brahma. ”Since you cried when you were born, you will be known as Rudra.”
Lord Brahma's first creation, Rudra then manifested himself as Ardha Narishwar (half male and half female). At the request of Brahma, Rudra dismantled his female part and this resulted into the creation of two distinct forms - one male and the other female. Later on, ten more Rudras manifested from the male form; collectively there were Eleven Rudras, viz. Maha Deva, Shiva, Maha Rudra, Shankara, Neelalohita, Esana Rudra, Vijaya Rudra, Bheema Rudra, Deva Deva, Bhavodbhava and Adityatmika Sri Rudra; their corresponding consorts were Dhee Devi, Dhriti Devi, Ushna or Rasala Devi, Uma Devi, Neeyut Devi, Sarpi Devi, Ela Devi, Ambika Devi, Iravati Devi, Sudha Devi and Deeksha Devi