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Early Indian mythological writings spoke of the Godhead as having three functions: Creation, Preservation, and Dissolution of the Cosmos. Corresponding to these three functions are three deities, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, each of which formed or form the basis of a religion. The religion of Brahma is now pretty much extinct, although it was popular during and for a while after the time of the Buddha (both Buddhist and Samkhyan metaphysics - two of the oldest of the Indian metaphysical systems - incorporate the God Brahma, the Creator, into their system, although ironically both give him a rather low office (the suggested reason for this derogatory attitude will be presented later).
