<P> Before the creation of Eä and Arda (The Universe and the World), Melkor was the most powerful of the Ainur, the "angelic beings" created by Eru Ilúvatar (who is analogous to God in Tolkien's legendarium). Melkor, dissatisfied that Eru had abandoned the Void, had sought to emulate his creator and fill the Void with sentient beings . This, however, required the Flame Imperishable, the Secret Fire, which belonged to Eru alone; though Melkor searched for this, he could not find it . In what he hoped would be an alternative expression of his own originality and creativity, he contended with Eru in the Music of the Ainur, introducing what he perceived to be themes of his own . </P> <P> During the Great Music of the Ainur, Melkor attempted to alter the Music and introduced what he believed to be elements purely of his own design . As part of these efforts, he drew many weaker - willed Ainur to him, creating a counter to Eru's main theme . Ironically, these attempts did not truly subvert the Music, but only elaborated Eru's original intentions: the Music of Eru took on depth and beauty precisely because of the strife and sadness Melkor's disharmonies (and measures to rectify them) introduced . Unlike his fellow Ainu Aulë, Melkor was too proud to admit that his creations were simply discoveries made possible entirely by Eru . Instead, Melkor aspired to the level of Eru, the true creator of all possibilities . </P> <P> Since the Great Music of the Ainur stood as template for all of history and all of material creation in the Middle - earth cycle (it was first sung before Time, and then the universe was made in its image), the chaos introduced in the Music by Melkor's disharmonies was responsible for all evil in Arda, and subsequently there was an aspect of everything in Middle - earth that came of Melkor's malign influence; everything had been "corrupted". Tolkien elaborates on this in Morgoth's Ring, drawing an analogy between the One Ring, into which Sauron committed much of his power, and all of Arda--"Morgoth's Ring"--which contains and is corrupted by the residue of Melkor's power until the Remaking of the World . </P> <P> After the Creation, many Ainur entered into Eä . The most powerful of them were called the Valar, or Powers of the World; the lesser, who acted as their followers and assistants, were the Maiar . They immediately set about the ordering of the universe and Arda within it, according to the themes of Eru as best they understood them . Melkor and his followers entered Eä as well, but he was frustrated that his colleagues would not recognize him as leader of the new realm, despite his having a greater share of knowledge and power than all the rest . In anger and shame, Melkor set about ruining and undoing whatever the others did . </P>

Who is valar in lord of the rings