GLYPH #2: GOD SHIVA EMERGES FROM A PILLAR OF FIRE

Indus Script glyph #2. @ How Brahma lost his fifth head. A dispute arose between gods Brahma and Vishnu over who was the greatest. Suddenly, an enormous pillar of light and fire blazed up between them. They agreed that whoever could discover the end would be declared superior. Brahma transformed into a swan and flew upwards. Vishnu in the form of his boar avatar dug down towards the netherworld. Both gods searched, but neither could find the end of the pillar. When they met again, Vishnu admitted truthfully that he failed to find the bottom. Brahma, however, lied and produced a flower that he said came from the top. Just as Vishnu was about to bow to him, the god Shiva emerged from the pillar in a rage, and sliced off the 5th head of Brahma which had swollen his ego and caused him to lie. After that is was apparent that Shiva was the supreme deity. Jyotirlinga (radiant linga) shrines across India honor this first manifestation of Shiva as a cosmic pillar of light. Concordance entries for glyph #2: @ | @ ♣

These are epithets and accomplishments of Shiva.

	E: Endless, deep and high. Represents the Jyotirlinga pillar of fire representing Shiva. The pillar of the cosmos, the gods Vishnu and Brahma failed to find the end of it.
	Jyotirlinga, the pillar of fire from which Shiva emerged in the legend of How Brahma lost his fifth head
U	universal, union. Third eye tika. Shiva wallowed poison from Ocean of Milk.
||||	Represents the Ganga river falling from heaven. Shiva saved the world by absorbing the impact of the water fall. It flows gently from the top-knot of his hair.
	The lovely divine maidens, celestial musicians and dancers, the Apsaras, who emerged from the Ocean of Milk. Shiva saved the world by swallowing the poison which emerged from the Ocean of Milk so that the Devas could have the Amrita elixir of immortality and other treasures. The goddess Lakshmi, divinity of wealth and fortune, may be represented by this symbol. She has a special connection to Shiva. The Bael tree which sprouts from her hand, and the fruit, which represents her also, are sacred to Shiva.