The Endless Pillar of Light

Once, Brahma ji and Vishnu ji began to argue. Brahma ji said, "I create the world, so I am the greatest." Vishnu ji said, "I take care of the world, so I am greater." The argument grew bigger, and neither was ready to give in.

Suddenly, between the two of them, a huge, shining pillar of light appeared. It blazed like fire. They could not see where it ended at the top, nor where it ended at the bottom. Both were amazed. They decided, "Whoever finds the end of this pillar first will be called the greater one."

Brahma ji took the form of a swan and flew upwards. Vishnu ji took the form of Varah, a wild boar, and began digging down into the earth.

A very long time passed. Vishnu ji went deeper and deeper, but he could not find the end of the pillar. At last he came back and said honestly, "I could not find its end."

Brahma ji also grew tired of flying up and up. On the way, he saw a Ketaki flower floating down. Brahma ji asked, "Where are you coming from?" The flower said, "I have been falling from the middle of this pillar for a very long time. Its top is still very far away." Brahma ji thought, "I will say that I have seen the top, and this flower will support my words." The Ketaki flower agreed.

Brahma ji came back and said, "I have seen the top of the pillar. This Ketaki flower is my witness." The Ketaki flower also said, "Yes, it is true."

Just then, Shiv ji himself appeared out of the pillar. He said, "This light is my own form. It has no beginning and no end." Vishnu ji had told the truth, so Shiv ji praised him. But he was very displeased with the lie told by Brahma ji and the Ketaki flower.

Brahma ji understood his mistake and asked for forgiveness. Shiv ji said to the Ketaki flower, "You gave false witness, so from now on you will not be offered in my worship." People say that because of this lie, there are also very few temples of Brahma ji.

Since then Shiv ji has been worshipped in the form of the Shivling. The Shivling reminds us that God is endless, with no beginning and no end. And even today, the Ketaki flower is not offered to Shiv ji.