"Thus Vishnu and Brahma disputed, and at length they agreed to allow the matter to be decided by the Vedas. The Vedas declared that Siva was creator, preserver, destroyer. Having heard these words, Vishnu and Brahma, still bewildered by the darkness of delusion, said, 'How can the lord of goblins, the delighter in graveyards, the naked devotee covered with ashes, haggard in appearance, wearing twisted locks ornamented with snakes, be the supreme being? ' The incorporeal Prana (Life), then assuming a form, said, 'This is not the real form of Siva; but when united to his energy, he sometimes, under the figure of Rudra, delights himself in various illusive sports.' But even these words dispelled not the spiritual darkness of Vishnu and Brahma; when suddenly appeared between them a wondrous effulgence filling the heavens, earth, and mid-air. In the midst of this they beheld a human form, vast, uncreated, of a dark hue, holding in his hand a trident and a rosary, and wearing a serpent for a Brahmanical thread. On seeing whom, the fifth head of Brahma glowed with anger and said, 'I know thee well, O Chandra Shekera, for from my forehead didst thou spring, and because thou didst weep I called thee Rudra. Hasten then to seek the refuge of my feet, and I will protect thee, O my son! ' At these proud words of Brahma, Siva was incensed; and from his anger sprang into existence a terrific form (Bhairava), whom he thus addressed:

[paragraph continues] 'Chastise this lotus-born!' No sooner did Bhairava receive this order, than instantly he cut off the head of Brahma with the thumb of his left hand. That member which had committed the fault received punishment; and therefore Brahma was deprived of his fifth head." Upon this Vishnu and Brahma praised Siva.

In another part of the same Purana [**] is another legend, giving a somewhat different account of this circumstance:--

"Formerly all things movable and immovable having been destroyed, nought remained but one boundless ocean; nor fire, nor air, nor sun, nor atmosphere, nor stars, nor planets, nor light, nor earth, nor heaven, nor gods nor demons existed then; and all was involved in impenetrable darkness. One being alone, Maha Kala (Siva), pervaded all space; who being desirous of creation, churned his left arm with his right forefinger; whence issued a bubble, which increasing in size became an egg resembling gold. This egg Maha Kala divided with his hand; of the upper part he formed the heavens, and of the lower half the earth, and in the centre of it appeared Brahma with five hands and four arms, to whom Maha Kala thus said, 'Through my favour effect creation.' Having thus spoken, he disappeared.