An ancient legend, passed down through runes in Sāmā, the Ancient Language of Gods readable only by the priests, tells the tragic tale of Apā, the ultimate sacrifice.
Apā, depicted often as an innocent child spirit, rose from the embers of the Ocean of Infinity (The Sacred Ocean). He embodied conscience and intellect, and his body was the universe itself. As he grew, unable to fathom the mystery of his existence, he explored the world around him and within him - the Sacred Ocean and his Self.
His hair was said to be the shade of fire, for fire dwelled within him. Afraid to quench it with his spirit, he allowed it to burn at the top of his head, forming his hair.
Wherever he walked, life emerged from his feet. But when the footprint dried, the life form wilted and died with it.
Unable to come to terms with the pain he was inflicting on his own creation, he made the ultimate sacrifice.
He cut himself into a million pieces and covered the universe. He became space, time, the ocean, the rains, plasma, and matter.
From each drop life, ormed a new life formed.
His blood formed the water bodies, his tears the rain, his spirit the millions of lives, and his thoughts, life's intelligence.
His voice became the Word, the sacred sutra passed down through generations to the keepers of the Apā temple.
Creatures emerged from the embers of the ocean, having imbibed his life essence. The purest form was that of the demi-Gods, who dwelled in the highest plane or Swarka. They were created to protect the weak.
The humans, lower beings with lesser magic, were created to propagate love. They lived in Gaya.
The last layer was for earthly beings like the Nagas, who had a higher tolerance to venomous environments. Shy but powerful, they had low levels of magic but high levels of venom and brute strength, and the ability to adapt to almost any environment. They lived in the plane of Pātalā.
The three planes were connected by the Sacred Mountain, said to be the center of the universe, Mount Meru. Some called it Sumēru, some referred to it as the portal, and others, the Gate to Heaven.
With his final breath, he split himself into Hotrā and Napat, and to them he gave his sword, Mitrā, and shield, Sorn.
With that, he disappeared, present everywhere in everyone and everything, animate or inanimate, having a form yet being formless, having life yet being lifeless.
Some tales speak of His soul becoming Napat and Intellect becoming Hotrā.
Some believe Napat represents the beginning (creation) and Hotrā represents the end (destruction).
Some say Napat is finite and Hotrā is infinite.
Some others say Napāt is Time and Hotrā is void or space.
It didn't matter what people thought; no one knew the truth. And those who knew the truth kept it to themselves.