Brahma

The material cosmos begins with Brahma, demigod from the highest planet (Brahmaloka) in the cosmos. He is known as Pitamaha, the Grandfather, as he is the first created being as well as the original instructor (guru) of the sages. Brahma is also considered Lord’s manifestation (guna-avatar) who presides over the mode of passion. His passionate nature is put to work, and he is engaged in creation. Thus he is the creator god and the progenitor of mankind.
At the dawn of creation, Brahma takes birth on a lotus that sprouts from the divine navel of Vishnu. Finding himself in a new world, Brahma is ignorant of both his own identity and the purpose of life. In an attempt to understand his origin, he climbs down the stem of the spiritual lotus, but finds no answer to his dilemma. Finally he hears the voice of his Lord, Vishnu, call out two syllables: “ta-pa” (literally “austerity” or “penance”). These syllables are pregnant with meaning and Brahma obeys by performing austerity in the form of meditation for one thousand celestial years (billions of earth years). At the end of this period, Brahma is able to see the Lord’s abode and then the Supreme Lord Himself. The Lord recites for him the four seminal verses of the Shrimad Bhagavatam – the verses which formulate the meaning of life. The purification that comes from hearing His voice allows Brahma to create the material universe.
In his Brahma-samhita (5.24-29), Lord Brahma adds details to the version of his enlightenment. According to Brahma, at the beginning of time he is engulfed in total darkness and is bewildered about his service as creator of the universe. At that time, Sarasvati, the divine consort of the Lord, His feminine half, appears before Brahma. She instructs him to meditate upon the confidential Kama-bija-mantra, promising that by its recitation he will receive all that he needs. After meditating on this mantra for one hundred celestial years, Brahma hears the sound of Krishna’s flute. He tries to reproduce the sound with his own lips, but instead finds that he is uttering the esoteric Kama-gayatri-mantra. This mantra purifies him of all illusion, and he is able to proceed with his service of creating the material universes on Krishna’s behalf.
Brahma begins each day by meditating on the Supreme Lord. He prays that he may “engage in the Lord’s service in the creation of the material world,” and that he may not be materially affected by his works, for thus he “may be able to give up the false prestige of being the creator.” (Shrimad Bhagavatam 3.9.23).