Brahma is the first god of the Trinity, the other two being Shiva and Vishnu. Lord Brahma is considered to be the creator of the Universe, regarded as the Supreme Being. Lord Brahma is seated on a lotus and has four heads and hands. Originally, Brahma was believed to have five heads but one of them was cut down by Shiva in a fit of rage.

The heads represent the four Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva), the four yugas (krita, treta, dwapara, kali) (epochs of time), the four varnas (brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya, sudra).Each hand holds a sacrificial tool (sruva), the Vedas (knowledge), a water pot (kamandalu) and a rosary respectively.

He rides on a swan and his consort is Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. He is Prajapati, since all creatures are his progeny. Lord Brahma is also considered pitamaha (patriarch), vidhi (ordinator), Lokesha (master of the universe), dhatru (sustainer) and Viswakarma (architect of the world).

The origin of Brahma has many stories. According to Hindu mythology, Brahma was born out of a lotus from Vishnu’s navel and created the universe with Saraswati’s knowledge and wisdom.

According to Manu Smriti, the self- existent Lord dispelled the darkness covering the universe. He made the waters and deposited a seed that became a golden egg from which he was born as Brahma. He then divided the egg into two parts to create the heaven and earth. He also created the ten Prajapatis, mind-born sons, who finished the work of creation.

A third account states that the Lord separated himself into two parts, the male and the female after dividing the golden egg. Ramayana states that Brahma sprang from the ether and that sages Atri, Sanatkumara, Angiras, Marichi, Sanaka, Narada, Sanandana, Sanasujata and others are his manasa putras (mentally conceived sons).

From Marichi Kashyapa was created from whom sprang Vishwavata who in turn made Manu, the procreator of all human beings. Thus, Manu is Brahma's great grandson.

Though Brahma is one of the trimurtis, yet there are hardly any temples dedicated to him except Pushkar in Ajmer.

इस आर्टिकल को हिंदी में पढ़ने के लिए यहां क्लिक करें

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