One of the striking feature of Indian gods and goddesses is their multiple heads. It is not just gods but demons and animals too are represented with multiple heads. Divine creatures having multiple heads is a significant feature of Vedic mythology which has been carried on later into the Puranas . In Vedic mythology, Agni has four heads, Parjanya has three, Brihaspati has seven heads. Thus there are references to three heads, four heads, five heads and even sahahtra meaning numerous heads for certain divinities. Among the Puranic gods, Brahma is said to have four heads. Bhagavad Puranas suggest that while Vishnu lay in deep sleep on the serpent Ananta, a lotus stalk emerged out of his navel and bloomed giving birth to god Brahma. As soon as Brahma emerged into this world he looked around in four directions and manifested four heads, one for each direction. Brahma’s four heads represent the space or four direction or four cardinal points. However there are certain Puranic texts that suggest Brahma originally had five heads and not four. So, what is the mystery behind the fifth head of Brahma?

There are various versions of this tale that introduces the fifth head of Brahma.
Vaman Purana states in the beginning of creation Vishnu lay floating on the waters. First he created Brahma who had five heads. His next creation was Shiva, who too had five heads. Both the gods started quarrelling about their superiority and finally Shiva in a fit of anger chopped Brahma’s fifth head. According to Skanda Purana, as Brahma and Vishnu sat arguing about who is superior, a fiery column emerged out of nowhere seeming to have no beginning nor end and stretching into the skies , Vishnu and Brahma decided to find its origin and its end point. Brahma took the form of a swan and flew skywards to lookout for the head of the column. And Vishnu took the form of the boar and dived into deep waters. After a while they returned and Shiva asked them “Did you find its source?’ and Vishnu admitted that he could not find its source. But Brahma uttered a lie and said he had seen its end point. Shiva immediately chopped Brahma’s fifth head for uttering that lie. Yet in another context it is said the fifth head of Brahma gazed passionately at his own daughter therefore Shiva chopped off that head. It is also said, that all the four heads of Brahma recited four vedas, ie Rigveda, Yajurveda, Atharveda and Samveda each, while fifth head could recite all the Vedas and also the Itihasa. This ability of Brahma to assimilate and hold so much of knowledge worried the other gods who begged Shiva to contain Brahma’s powers. Thus Shiva clipped the fifth head of Brahma with his nail of left hand. In yet another instance it is said that while arguing over who is superior between Shiva and Brahma, all five heads of Brahma started abusing Shiva, and in anger Shiva cut Brahma’s fifth head.

Brahma Purana itself gives an interesting variation of this myth. Once a fierce battle broke out between Asuras and Devas. While Brahma stood amidst armies of Devas, his fifth head which was of a donkey, brayed loudly- ” O you Daityas, why do you run away? Why are you scared of Devas? I shall devour all the Devas for you in a moment”. Hearing this the other Gods got scared and approached Vishnu. He heard them out and then said ” If you cut the head of Brahma and if it falls on earth it would destroy the whole Earth. You need a god who could hold his head in hand without letting it fall on the earth.Only Shiva has the strength to fulfil such an act. Gods thus approached Shiva who promptly cut Brahma’s fifth head . But the severed head got stuck on his palm- and Shiva could not shake it off. It had turned into a skull. Shiva thus roamed earth as Kapalika, or the skull bearer. In another version it is said Bhairav cut off Brahma’s head.

All the versions of the tale concur on the common motif that Brahma’s fifth head had to be clipped off as it spoke inanities, and Shiva is the one who cut off the the fifth head of Brahma. While trying to understand the meaning of the myth, the act of cutting of Brahma’s fifth head cannot be taken literally. But it has to be understood within the context of the Vedic ritual tradition.

Story Collected by Vidya Kamat
Source: Puranic Myth and Culture by S. A. Dange
Location: Pan India
Image Copyright : Vidya Kamat

In many folk traditions in India the first creator is always the Mother- nature.

The following tale is collected from the Nukulamma temple of Ankapalle town of Vishakhapatnam District in Andhra Pradesh. This tale presents ‘Para Shakti’ or the supreme feminine power as the first creator of this universe. To create the universe she laid three eggs. Two of them remained unhatched but the third one hatched and Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshvara ( Shiva) were born. Parashakti as a young devoted mother suckled and nourished them into strong healthy adolescents. When they came of age she gave them each their own cities to dwell and rule. Shiva was given the city of Devagiri to rule. But over a period of time all her three sons turned rogue and disobedient and disregarded her authority as their mother.

One day Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva gathered in Devagiri, enjoying their time together and as usual ignoring their mother. Parashakti decided to teach the boys a lesson. She transformed herself into a twelve hooded cobra and coiled around the city of Devagiri. A fierce battle broke between Parashakti and her three sons- Brahma , Vishnu and Shiva. Parashakti easily won the battle and she killed her sons by biting them on their heads. But, being the loving mother she was, she became very sad and unhappy, and she brought them back to life, whereupon Brahma Vishnu and Shiva admitted their wrong doings and surrendered themselves to her power and authority. She forgave them and established them as ‘Gods’ who would always look after the interests of mankind and take care of them.

Some Folk-myths try to remind the supreme position of the Mother Nature. Lest we forget.
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Story Collected by : Vidya Kamat
Textual Source: Shree Padma, Vicissitudes of the Goddess, OUP, New York, 2013
Location : Andhra Pradesh
Image Copyright : Vidya Kamat

 The mighty Bhima was passing through the jungle at Hemagiri one day when he heard a commotion. ‘The Jungle is usually a quiet and peaceful place!’ he said to himself. ‘I wonder what is going on here!’ he remarked before drawing himself closer to take a look. As he approached, he heard the trees having an argument.

‘What is the matter?’ Bhima asked one of the trees. ‘Why this ruckus?’

‘It’s a long story Bhima!’ said one of the trees.

‘Tell me the problem,’ said Bhima. ‘Perhaps I can help.’

‘You see,’ began the tree, ‘People have a king and government. There is someone to govern them, defend them and protect them. We trees have no king nor government. We need a king.’ The tree continued. ‘Hmmm…that’s interesting,’ mumbled Bhima. ‘So, what is the problem?’

‘But who ought to be made king? And how do we select a government?’ the tree asked. ‘Well…I can help you solve that problem!’ remarked Bhima. ‘But how? asked the trees in unison.

‘I will try pushing the trees one by one,’ Bhima suggested. ‘The tree that is able to withstand my force surely deserves to be King!’ he remarked. The trees thought that was a splendid idea and encouraged Bhima to begin his selection process immediately. Bhima pushed against one species of each tree to test its might. From Neem to Umbar and Kadamba to Palash, they all groaned and bent under Bhima’s strength, some of them falling over.

But three trees stood tall after having been put through Bhima’s stress test. They were the Tamarind, the Banyan and the Peepal. ‘What now?’ cried the trees. ‘We don’t have a winner! Surely, we can’t have three kings!’

‘Well…let’s go to Lord Brahma and ask him to solve this problem for us!’ suggested Bhima. The trees agreed and sent word to the Creator beseeching him to solve the puzzle. Lord Brahma considered the problem and came up with a unique solution. ‘I appoint Tamarind the King!’ Brahma proclaimed. The trees were puzzled and didn’t understand why Brahma had selected the Tamarind.

‘I appoint Banyan the Minister!’ said Brahma and this time laid bare his rationale. ‘For a king must have a resourceful minister. With its vast network of aerial roots, the Banyan can obtain information from every nook and corner of the earth. That is what a good minister is required to do!’

The trees swayed their branches in agreement. They knew the Banyan would make a wise and effective minister. ‘And I appoint Peepal as a Guard!’ announced Brahma. ‘Whenever the wind blows or a storm approaches, the Peepal shall stand guard and alert the others!’ Satisfied that they too now had an able government in place, the trees thanked Lord Brahma and Bhima for their able assistance. And hence it is that to this day, the leaves of the Peepal tree rustle loudly in the breeze, in deference to the wishes of the Creator.

This is one of the many legends and myths associated with the Peepal Tree. This story comes from a Muria tribal legend. The Murias are a tribe from the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

Story Collected by: Mallika Iyer

Source : Brahma’s Hair; On the Mythology of Indian Plants, Maneka Gandhi with Yasmin Singh

Location: Chhattisgarh