Why Brahma Is Not Worshipped

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Sanat Kumara once asked Nandikeswara.
Sanat Kumara was wanting to start sadhana, but was confused because there were so many methods available. He didn’t know which one to choose.
Nandikeswara advised him to start the threefold sadhana of Mahadeva — shravana, keertana, and manana.
He said those who do not get the opportunity to do the threefold sadhana, they can go for Shiva Linga sadhana, which is also equally effective.

Sanat Kumara wanted to know whether Lord Shiva can be also worshipped on idols, like other gods, or only Shivalinga?
Nandikeswara clarified that — yes, he can be worshipped on idols also.

Then Sanat Kumara wanted to know how the worship of Shiva Linga originated.
Linga puja is something very unique about Lord Shiva. You will not see this with any other devata.
They all have their idols, representing their various aspects, but not something like Shiva Linga.
Shiva Linga is very unique.

Nandikeswara said that Lord Shiva is Parabrahma, Paramatma, and Shiva Linga is his real full representation as his nishkala swaroopa.

Once, Sri Hari, Lord Mahavishnu, was sleeping on top of his regular bed — that is Adishesha.
Brahma Deva arrived there.
He became annoyed.
What is this? I am your senior, I am here and you are asleep. You are showing disrespect to me.
I am like your guru. You are insulting your guru. You need to do prayaschitta for this.

Sri Hari woke up —
And said, Oh Brahma Deva, please take a seat, relax. Why are you so agitated?

Brahma said, don’t you know I am the Pitamaha of the universe?
Why is Brahma called Pitamaha — because Brahma’s sons, his manasa putras, are the actual creators. So he is the grandfather, Pitamaha.
And I am the protector of the universe. Why didn’t you give due respect to me?

Vishnu said, I don’t really agree with this.
I am the support of the universe. Everything is within me. You just sit on a lotus that comes out of my nabhi. That is your status. I was there even before you were born — son.
Sri Hari called Brahma ‘son’, who was considering himself to be the grandfather of everyone.

They both kept on arguing — I am greater than you, I am greater than you.
Sri Hari mounted his Garuda and Brahma mounted his Hamsa. They started fighting.
They both started shooting arrows at each other.
Lethal astras.
Vishnu used Maaheswarastra. Brahma used Pashupatastra.

When they shot these astras, fierce typhoons of flames started roaring all over the universe.
Seeing this, Devas became worried. They all went to Kailasa.

Devadhideva Mahadeva was seated there, surrounded by his gana, served by his gana, in all his royalty.
Devas offered sashtanga namaskara to him from distance itself.
Lord called them nearby and told them —
He said, don’t worry, this is pre-ordained, this was bound to happen.
I will come with you.

The Lord mounted his chariot and left for the battlefield, accompanied by crores of ganas and the Devas.
Many kinds of drums and instruments played music.
Along with Devi Parvathy, Lord Ganesha and Karthikeya.
His huge army followed him.

Upon reaching the battleground of Brahma and Vishnu, the Lord suddenly converted himself into a huge pillar of agni — blazing, fierce agni.
As this happened, the Maaheswarastra and Pashupatastra lost their power and dropped on the ground.
A huge pillar of agni — you can neither see its bottom nor top.

Brahma and Vishnu started wondering — what has happened to the astras, how did they become powerless all of a sudden?
What is this pillar of fire, which has come all of a sudden?
Let’s find out what this is all about.

Shrihari assumed his Varaha form and started digging down to locate the bottom of this pillar of fire.
Brahma mounted his swan and started going upwards to find its top.
Varahamurthy kept on digging down and down, reached Patala and even went beyond. He couldn’t find the bottom of the agni stambha.
He became tired and came back to the battlefield.

Brahma kept on going up and up, seated on his Hamsa.
Suddenly, he saw a ketaki flower coming down — a beautiful, fragrant, fresh ketaki flower.
This was a leela of Mahadeva. He only had dropped the flower. He was enjoying the competition between Brahma and Vishnu.

Brahma asked the flower — where are you coming from? Are you coming from the top of this pillar?
Flower said — I was somewhere in between. I have not seen the top of this.
Brahma said — you have to help me. We will go down together. There you will have to tell Vishnu that I had reached the top of this pillar, I saw you there and picked you up from there.

When they reached down, Brahma became happy that Vishnu couldn’t find the bottom of the pillar.
Ketaki flower told Vishnu as Brahma told.
Vishnu accepted defeat and paid respects to Brahma.

Seeing this, Bhagawan Shankara suddenly assumed his visible form and emerged from the agni stambha.
He was about to punish Brahma for telling this lie.
With shivering hands, Brahma held on to the feet of Mahadeva and begged for pardon.

In the meantime, Mahadeva told Vishnu — I am happy that you kept honesty, even when you wanted to establish that you are greater than Brahma.
Because of this I am going to bless you that hereafter, people will start worshipping you also, just as they worship me.
They will build temples for you and worship you through pratishta, puja and utsava.
In case of worship, Mahadeva gave Vishnu equal status.
That is why we have more or less equal number of Shiva and Vishnu temples.
All the Devas were standing witness to all these happenings.

The Lord was still angry with Brahma.
How could he tell this lie about Mahadeva — that he has seen his end, the top of the agni stambha?
Bhagawan produced Bhairava from between his eyebrows, from his third eye.
And told Bhairava — finish him, he is a liar.

Bhairava caught hold of Brahma’s hair and fiercely aimed his sword and cut off Brahma's fifth head. This was the head that lied.
As Bhairava started going for the other heads, Shrihari prayed to Mahadeva — please don’t do this. You have only given him his status. Please pardon him.
Mahadeva asked Bhairava to withdraw, but hereafter nobody will worship Brahma, because he lied.
There will no longer be temples for him in the world.

Brahma pleaded for mercy. By losing his fifth head as punishment for dishonesty, Brahma also felt relieved that he has been absolved of his sin of lying.
Bhagawan, out of his immense kindness, said that — even though there will be no temples for you, you will have your position in yajnas.
This is why we have a designation called Brahma in yajnas.
One of the priests is assigned the position of Brahma — he would represent Brahma and will get respect and dakshina.
Brahma supervises the yajna.
The most learned and senior priest only becomes Brahma in yajna.
He has the status of the guru of the yajna.

And the Lord told the ketaki flower — get away from here, I don’t ever want to see you anymore. Nobody will use you for puja anymore.
Ketaki also prayed for mercy.
Bhagawan’s heart melted. He said — ok, my devotees are allowed to wear you on their heads, but not me. That way you can wash off your sin with your proximity to my devotees and become free.
I am Satyavak. You have lied. I don’t want you near me.
But still, you can be used as decoration in mandaps where my puja is going on.
In that, even though you are not allowed to be worn above my head, you can still be above me as part of the roof of the mandapa.
But direct archana to me using you — be it vigraha or linga — is never to be done.

Now, don’t think that these are all real competitions and real fights among the Trimurthys.
These are their leelas.
Because, Lord Vishnu, Shri Hari, himself tells Mahadeva while requesting to pardon Brahma — that why are you clipping Brahma’s head, this is given to him by you only.

Through this imagery, we are made to understand the importance of honesty.
Even creator Brahma had to lose one head because — just because he uttered a lie, that too once, not even a very serious lie.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi