Very well then. I base the following propositions on Indo-European mythology, and the traditions that arose out of it. Since this is the gods I believe in- the Devas.
I believe that the gods were born from the great interactions of cosmic forces. The old ones, I will call them, the most primal and unpredictable of gods- are the ones that were born.
Because they were born from the forces playing on one another and not the physical phenomena themselves- the gods are not material in the sense we perceive being.
Of these old ones born were beings such as Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, Gaia the Earth Mother, Eris, Typhon/Mara, and others. The most pure of intent and good among these old ones was Brahma the Creator. His intent was to create, almost like a writer is compelled to write.
He tweaked the evolutionary forces on this planet until humans were made- his most valued creations. Don't ask me to question why someone like Brahma would value humans so much. He acts as he will act. He's a god.
However, the other deities were tweaking other natural and cosmic phenomena. To my mind, this partly explains why existence as it currently is can be seemingly contradictory and opposed to processes within itself. Because distinct beings brought about these things, and some of them are not in agreement. Think how matter and anti-matter are opposed.
Let's skip a lot of the cosmological conclusions I've drawn though, and come to humans ourselves. How we came to be.
As powerful as Brahma is- he wasn't powerful enough to assert his rule over the earth. That would be beings like Kronos, and later Indra/Zeus. Remember, I stated I draw these conclusions from Indo-European mythology in general. Indra is a born being. We know this from the Vedas and Indian mythology, but the details there are less.
Therefore, to the Greeks I go to fill in this information. Kronos, as the Greeks call him- ruled the earth for unknown eons with his Titan brethren. Earth and sky were their parents, but in a spiritual way- not like we mortals could perceive.
Kronos cared for nothing except his own rule we are told. Making sure he held his power without end. This means he cared nothing for humans or any concept of law- beyond keeping them loyal.
Kronos lavished all kinds of blessings and boons upon humans, but he cared nothing for deeper matters like law, justice, fairness, or goodness. This is the time scientists know as the infancy of humans. The golden age, it is called in mythology. The first age of humanity's existence.
This age's end was brought about by several cosmic events. Let's discuss what I surmise those were.
Prometheus, one of the Titans, began to long for the throne of Kronos. He wished to be king. That desire was like a burning ambition in him constantly.
This Prometheus decided to enlist humans to his aid, seeing potentiality in us. He began to teach us to be warriors. He developed in our kind all kinds of vices and destructive inclinations. He corrupted what Brahma had made, into something the Creator never would have wanted.
Brahma is a gentle and kind being by his nature. He could do nothing to stop such ruthless ambition like Prometheus's. While Prometheus was gradually evolving humans to be his soldiers and loyalists to fight for him- Zeus/Indra overthrew his father and became king of immortals.
Prometheus turned on Zeus. He determined it was time to make his move. First he taught humans to insult Zeus and the Olympians/gods of Mount Meru by sacrificing them the leftover, unusable bits.
Then he brought humans fire in a cylinder, which I determine was a weapon he gave us to wipe out the gods once and for all. This bringing forth of fire, is the Sanskrit word Pramathia. It is an action of Agni. Thereby, we know Prometheus and Agni are one and the same. However, Agni is a good being, so let's proceed in our story.
Prometheus brought forth fire in a cylinder weapon, intent on humans destroying the gods of the heavenly mountain. Zeus immediately brought this plot to an end. Easily overpowering Prometheus- he chained him to a rock in one of the hells.
Then Zeus/Indra began to teach humans about law and virtue. He did this partly out of pity, for the beings he had rescued from his father's rule. Zeus was always stated to have a good and blessed nature, with a sense of law and higher divine knowledge.
Zeus, who is in fact Indra- was the new ruler of the earth in it's cosmic sense. In due time he sent Hercules to release Prometheus. After this was done- Prometheus ascended from hell. He had been reborn as Agni, who is a blessed being. I already demonstrated how the two are connected.
Later on Brahma, Indra, and Agni would all come to take take refuge in the Buddha- our texts tell us. The Buddha being one beyond the constructed, the order, the created, or the destroyed. He comes from the highest realm, residing in Nirvana.
Those gods that recognize this will take refuge in the Lord. The Buddha's coming forth was necessitated by the state of things the gods had caused, in part. Because the Buddha is so filled with compassion for suffering beings, and he knows beings like the gods and ourselves cause suffering due to ignorance. Not out of true malevolence.
That brings us to where we currently are- the Kalpa, or age in which the Buddha's Dharma has appeared.
I tried to keep that short. If you have questions- ask.
