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Introduction
Knowledge about Brahman (the Supreme Being) and Dharma is the subject and object of all Hindu scriptures. These scriptures in the Sanskrit language, which are of the nature of revelations, have been handed down from master to disciple and thus from one generation to the next. In this hierarchy of literature, the Vedas are the first to be revealed, the others being evolved from them.
Towards the end of the last Kalpa, there was the Great Deluge or Pralaya; Rudra, as the then presiding Deity, created as part, of His duty, a new Brahma for Swetavaraha Kalpa, the present Kalpa. It is said his choice fell on this Brahma by virtue of his tapas in the previous Kalpa. Rudra then commissioned him to create a new Universe and disappeared.
As he started to work, Brahma realised to his consternation that he bad completely forgotten the order of Creation, as a result, of course, of the enormous lapse of time; Brahma, therefore, performed an austere penance. Rudra appeared before him (now called Prajapati) and taught him once again the technique and the order of creation.
Author - V.A.K.Ayer
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