Brahma
Brahma carving at a temple in Halebidu
creation
Devanagari	ब्रह्मा
Affiliation	Deva
Abode	Brahmapura
Consort	Saraswati
Mount	Swan
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Brahma (Sanskrit masculine brahman-, nominative brahmā ब्रह्मा, personification of the neuter brahman-) is the Hindu god (deva) of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Halebidu ( Kannada ಹಳೆಬೀಡು is located in Hassan District, Karnataka Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " In Hinduism, Brahmapura is the holy city of Brahma, one of the three primary deities. Saraswati (pronounced as; Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती sarasvatī; Malay: Saraswati Thai: สุรัสวดี is the Swans are Birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and Ducks Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Deva (देव in Devanagari script pronounced as /'d̪evə/ is the Sanskrit word for "god Deity " The Trimurti ( English: ‘three forms’ Sanskrit: trimūrti) is a concept in Hinduism "in which the cosmic functions of creation For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva He is not to be confused with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit in Hindu Vedanta philosophy known as Brahman. Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Also, in Sanskrit grammar, Brahma is nominative singular of generic word Brahman, as Aatma is nominative singular for Aatman. Brahaman and Aatman are same in Vedanta philosophy, the Param-Aatma (Supersoul) and Jeeva Aatma (Individual Soul) are Brahman. His consort is Saraswati, the goddess of learning. Saraswati (pronounced as; Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती sarasvatī; Malay: Saraswati Thai: สุรัสวดี is the Brahmā is often identified with Prajapati, a Vedic deity. In Hinduism, Prajapati ( Sanskrit prajā-pati sa प्रजापति "lord of creatures" is a Hindu deity presiding over procreation "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always

Attributes

At the beginning of the process of creation, Brahmā created eleven Prajapatis (used in another sense), who are believed to be the fathers of the human race. The Manusmriti enumerates them as Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasishtha, Prachetas or Daksha, Bhrigu, and Narada. He is also said to have created the seven great sages or the Saptarishi to help him create the universe. However since all these sons of his were born out of his mind rather than body, they are called Manas Putras or mind-sons or spirits.

Within Vedic and Puranic scripture Brahmā is described as only occasionally interfering in the affairs of the other devas (gods), and even more rarely in mortal affairs. He did force Soma to give Tara back to her husband, Brihaspati. Soma ( Sanskrit: सोम) or Haoma ( Avestan) from Proto-Indo-Iranian * sauma-, was a ritual drink of importance Taraka ( Sanskrit: तारक is a male Daitya, Son of Vajranaka, whose powers were so great that the gods grew alarmed and Skanda, the Brihaspati (or Brahmanaspati) is the name of a Vedic deity, personification of piety and religion the chief offerer of prayers and sacrifices represented as He is considered the father of Dharma and Atri. The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious This article is about the sage named Atri See also the Gotra named Atri.

Creation

According to the Puranas, Brahma is self-born (without mother) in the lotus flower which grew from the navel of Vishnu at the beginning of the universe. For other meanings see Purana (disambiguation. The Puranas ( Sanskrit: sa पुराण purāṇa, "of ancient times" Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily The navel (also called an umbilicus or colloquially belly button) is a Scar on the Abdomen, caused when the Umbilical cord is removed For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific This explains his name Nabhija (born from the navel). Another legend says that Brahmā was born in water. In this he deposited a seed that later became the golden egg. From this golden egg, Brahma the creator was born, as Hiranyagarbha. Hiranyagarbha, meaning the "golden fetus" or "golden womb" in one hymn of the Rigveda ( RV 10. The remaining materials of this golden egg expanded into the Brahm-anda or Universe. Being born in water, Brahmā is also called Kanja (born in water). Brahmā is said also to be the son of the Supreme Being, Brahman and the female energy known as Prakrti or Maya. Prakrti or Prakriti (from Sanskrit language प्रकृ्रति prakṛti is according to Vedanta philosophy the basic matter of which the Maya ( Sanskrit sa माया māyā) in Indian religions, has multiple meanings

Vishnu with Lakshmi, on the serpent Ananta Shesha, as Brahma emerges from a lotus risen from Vishnu's navel

Lack of Brahma worship in India

Although Brahma is one of the major gods in Hinduism, few Hindus actually worship him. Lakshmi or Mahalakshmi (pronunciation; Sanskrit: लक्ष्मी lakṣmī) is the Hindu Goddess of Wealth In Hindu ( Vedic) tradition Shesha (Śeṣa in IAST transliteration Devanagari: शेष is the king of all nagas, one of the primal India today has very few temples dedicated to Brahma alone as opposed to the thousands of temples dedicated to the other deities in the Trimurti: Shiva and Vishnu. Shiva:(pronunciation; Sanskrit: शिव Śiva, lit "Auspicious one" One of the Trimurtis Shiva is the supreme God in the Shaiva For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific However, among those that are, the most famous is in Pushkar in Rajasthan. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Pushkar ( Hindi: पुष्कर is a town in the state of Rajasthan in India Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Others include one in Brahma-Karmali village in Sattari Taluka in Goa, one in Khedbrahma in Gujarat and one in the village of Khokhan in the Kullu Valley, 4 km from Bhuntar. Sattari, devnagari (सत्त्री is a Taluka on North East side of Goa known for its greenary and dense forest A tehsil ( Urdu: تحصیل) (or tahsil, tahasil, taluka, taluk, taluq, mandal) is an Administrative division Goa ( Konkani: गोंय /ɡɔ̃j/ is India 's smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Khedbrahma is a city and a Municipality in Sabarkantha district in the Indian Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Kullu is the capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bhuntar is a town and a Nagar panchayat in Kullu district in the state of Himachal Pradesh

There are various stories in Hindu mythology that talk of the curse that has prevented Brahma from being worshipped on Earth.

At the beginning of time in Cosmos, Vishnu and Brahmā approached a huge Shiva linga and set out to find its beginning and end. According to Hindu mythology and Cosmology, the universe is cyclically created and destroyed Vishnu was appointed the end, and Brahma the beginning. Each took their journey, Vishnu took the form of a boar and began digging downwards into the earth while Brahma took on the shape of a swan began flying upwards. But neither could find their appointed destination. Vishnu, satisfied, came up to Shiva and bowed down to him as a swarupa of Brahman. Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. Brahmā did not give up so easily. As he was going up, he saw a kaitha flower, dear to Shiva. Screw Pine ( Pandanus fascicularis, syn P odoratissimus, nom illeg His ego forced him to ask the flower to bear false witness of Brahmā's finding Shiva's beginning. When Brahmā told his tale, Shiva, the all-knowing, was angered by the former's ego. Shiva thus cursed him that no being in the three worlds will worship him.

A depiction of Khambhavati Ragini, A lady worshiping Brahma

According to another legend, Brahmā is not worshiped because of a curse by the great sage Brahmarishi Bhrigu. In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi ( Sanskrit brahmarṣi, a Tatpurusha compound of Brahma and ṛṣi) is Maharishi Bhrigu was one of the seven great sages one of the Saptarshis in ancient India one of many Prajapatis (the facilitators of Creation created by Brahma Once a great fire-sacrifice (yajna) was being organised on Earth with Bhrigu being the high priest. In Hinduism, Yajna ( Devanagari यज्ञ IAST yajña; also anglicized as Yagna, Yagya or Yadnya It was decided that the greatest among all Gods would be made the presiding deity. Bhrigu then set off to find the greatest among the Trinity. When he went to Brahmā, he was so immersed in the music played by Saraswati that he could hardly hear Bhrigu's calls. Saraswati (pronounced as; Sanskrit: sa सरस्वती sarasvatī; Malay: Saraswati Thai: สุรัสวดี is the The enraged Bhrigu then cursed Brahmā that no person on Earth would ever invoke him or worship him again.

According to Brahma Purana and Hindu cosmology, Brahmā is the creator but not necessarily regarded as God in Hinduism. Brahma Purana, one of the major eighteen Puranas, is a Hindu religious text He is mostly regarded as a creation of God / Brahman. Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. The lifespan of Brahmā is 100 Brahmā years or 311 trillion,40 billion human years. At the end of his lifespan, there is a gap of 100 Brahmā years after which another Brahmā or creator begins anew and the process is repeated forever. For this reason, Brahmā might be considered only as a creator who is the executor of the order from the Supreme being - The Brahman.

Appearance

A handcoloured engraving of Brahma.

Brahma is traditionally depicted with four heads and four faces and four arms. With each head he continually recites one of the four Vedas. "Veda" redirects here For other uses see Veda (disambiguation. He is often depicted with a white beard (especially in North India), indicating the near eternal nature of his existence. He is shown as having four arms, with none holding a weapon, unlike most other Hindu Gods. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical One of his hands is shown holding a scepter in the form of a spoon, which is associated with the pouring of holy ghee or oil into a sacrificial pyre, indicating that Brahma is the lord of sacrifices. Another of his hands holds a water-pot (sometimes depicted as a coconut shell containing water). The significance of the water is that it is the initial, all-encompassing ether in which the first element of creation evolved. Brahma also holds a string of prayer beads that he uses to keep track of the Universe's time. He also is shown holding the Vedas, and sometimes, a lotus flower.

Another story in connection with Brahma's four heads is that when Brahmā was creating the universe, he made a female deity known as Shatarupā (one with a hundred beautiful forms). In Hindu mythology when Brahma was creating the universe he made a female deity known as Shatarupa ( one with a hundred beautiful forms) Brahmā became immediately infatuated. Shatarupā moved in various directions to avoid the gaze of Brahmā. But wherever she went, Brahmā developed a head. Thus, Brahmā developed five heads, one on each side and one above the others. In order to control Brahmā, Shiva cut off the top head. Also, Shiva felt that Shatarupā was Brahmā's daughter, being created by him. Therefore, Shiva determined, it was wrong for Brahmā to become obsessed with her. He directed that there be no proper worship on earth for the "unholy" Brahmā. Thus, only Vishnu and Shiva continue to be worshipped, while Brahmā is almost totally ignored. Ever since the incident, Brahmā has been reciting the four Vedas in his attempt at repentance.

Symbols

The Four Hands - The four arms represent the four directions north, east, west and south. They describe the mind (back right hand), intellect (back left hand), ego (front right hand), and the self confidence (front left hand).

The Rosary - Symbolizes the substances used in the progress of creation. The Rosary (from Latin rosarium, meaning "rose garden" or "garland of roses" is a popular traditional Roman Catholic devotion.

The Book - Symbolizing knowledge

The Gold - symbolizes activity in the universe and the golden face of Brahma indicates that the Lord is active when involved in the process of creation.

The Swan - The Swan symbolizes the power of discrimination. Brahma uses the swan as a vehicle.

The Crown - The crown on the head implies that the Brahma has supreme authority.

The Lotus - Lotus symbolizes the nature and living essence of all things and beings in the universe.

The Beard - The black or white beard denotes wisdom and a longer beard denotes eternal process.

Vehicle

Brahma's vehicle is a divine Swan. Swans are Birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and Ducks Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in This divine bird is bestowed with a virtue called Neera-Ksheera Viveka or the ability to separate milk and water from a mixture of the two. The significance of this is that justice should be dispensed to all creatures, however entwined it might be in a situation. Also, this virtue indicates that one should learn to separate the good from the evil and then accept that which is valuable and discard that which is worthless or evil.

Temples

The four-faced Brahma (Phra Phrom) statue

Although Brahmā is prayed to in almost all Hindu religious rites, there are very few temples dedicated to him in India, the more prominent of which is at Pushkar, close to Ajmer. Phra Phrom is the Thai representation of the Hindu god Brahma. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Pushkar ( Hindi: पुष्कर is a town in the state of Rajasthan in India This article is about a city in central Rajasthan, for the historical region see Ajmer region. Once a year, on the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Kartika (October - November), a religious festival is held in Brahmā's honour. Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy lake adjacent to the temple.

There are also temples in Goa, (in the small, remote village of Carambolim in the Sattari taluka in the northeast region of the state); in the temple town of Kumbakonam, (Thanjavur District) in Tamil Nadu; and in Thirunavaya in Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Regular pujas are held for Brahma and during Navrathris, this temple comes to life with colourful festivities. This article is about Hinduism. Puja or "pooja" may also refer to certain devotional practices performed by Balmikis Buddhists (see There is also a shrine for Brahma within the Bramhapureeshwarar temple in Thirupattur, near Trichy and a famous murti of Brahmā at Mangalwedha, 52 km from Solapur district in Maharashtra, the largest of which is in Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The Thirupattur Brammapuiswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located near Trichinopoly (or Trichy Tamil Nadu, India. In Hinduism, a murti ( Devanagari: मूर्ति typically refers to an image a deity in which the Divine Spirit is expressed ( murta) WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Solapur is a city and a Municipal corporation in south eastern Maharashtra, India Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. Angkor Wat (or Angkor Vat) (អង្គរវត្ត is a Temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for King Suryavarman II In Khedbrhama, Gujarat, there is a statue of Brahma. Gujarat (ગુજરાત Gujǎrāt, pronounced) is a state in western India. A six feet tall statue was also discovered at Sopara near Mumbai. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Sopara ( Sanskrit: Śūrpāraka (mentioned in the Hebrew texts as Ophir) was Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial

See also

• Brahma (Buddhism)
• Brahma sampradaya
• Phra Phrom
• God of Creation
• Brahmastra
• Demiurge
• Narada
• Abraham

External links

• The Brahma-Samhita - Prayers of Lord Brahma at the start of creation (Brahmasamhita. A Brahmā in Buddhism is the name for a type of exalted passionless deity ( deva) of which there are multiple in Buddhist cosmology. The Brahma Sampradaya (Brahma-sampradāya refers to the disciplic succession ( Sampradaya) of Gurus starting with Brahma in Hinduism Phra Phrom is the Thai representation of the Hindu god Brahma. A creator deity is a Deity in a Creation myth responsible for the creation of the World (or Universe) In Hindu scriptures a Brahmastra ( IAST: Brahmāstra Sanskrit: ब्रह्‍मास्‍त्र is a Weapon created by Brahma Demiurge (the Latinized form of Greek demiourgos, δημιουργός, literally "public or skilled worker" from demos Narad redirects here for the village in Slovakia see Ňárad. Abraham ( Ashkenazi   Avrohom or Avruhom; ابراهيم, {{Unicode|Ibrāhīm}}; Ge'ez: com)
• Brahma's Prayers for Creative Energy from the Bhagavata Purana (vedabase. net)
• Brahma at the Open Directory Project
• Indian Gods and Goddesses - Brahma (indiayogi. The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory com)