Brahma

Introduction

Thus Brahma is the source, the seed, of all that is. He is, as his very name indicates, boundless immensity, from which space, time and causation originate, names and forms spring up. Philosophically, he is the first stage of manifestation of the notion of individual existence (Ahai1kara). Theologically, he is the uncreated creator (Svayambhu), the self-born first Person.

He has several designations which are as instructive as they are interesting. From the cosmological point of view he is the Golden Embryo (Hiranyagarbha), the ball of fire, from which the universe develops. Since all created beings are his progency, he is Prajapati,' the lord of progeny, as also Pitamaha, the patriarch. He is Vidhi, the ordinator, and Lokesa, the master of the worlds, as well as Dhatr, the sustainer. He is also Visvakarma, the architect of the world.

Curiously enough, the name Narayana ('one who dwells in the causal waters' or 'the abode of man') has been applied to him first and only later to Visnu. Brahma, the creator, and Sarasvatl, his consort, are the subject of several tales in our mythological literature.

Brief Summary

They can be summaraised briefly thus:

• Brahma was born out of the golden egg produced in the boundless causal waters. His consort Vac or Sarasvati was manifested out of him. From their union were born all the creatures of the world.

• Brahma represents the Vedas and Sarasvati their spirit and meaning. Hence, all knowledge, sacred and secular, has proceeded from them.

• Once Brahma became the boar and raised the earth from beneath the waters and created the world, the sages and Prajapatis. (This story was later transferred to Visnu).

• The forms of tortoise and fish (later considered as Avataras of Visnu) have been attributed to Brahma also.

• The great sages MarlcI, Atri, Ai1giras and others are his 'mind-born' children. Manu, the Adam of the Aryan race, is his great-grandson.

• He is easily pleased by austerities and bestows boons on the supplicants, be they gods, demons or men.

• He is the inventor of the theatrical art. Music, dance and stagecraft were revealed by him.

• He was the chief priest who performed the marriage of Siva with Parvati.

  
  

In spite of the fact that Brahma is God the Supreme in the creative aspect and is an equally important member of the Hindu Trinity, it is strange that there are no temples dedicated exclusively to him, the one at Puskar being the solitary exception.

Not withstanding the crude reasons given in some of the Purans as for this loss of Brahma's prestige, some scholars opine that the Brahma cult was predominant in the pre-Vedic Hinduism and was superseded or suppressed by the later Siva- Visnu cults.

Evolution of Sakti Concept

In fact, the evolution of the Sakti concept-each of the gods Siva and Visnu having his Sakti or Power as his consort-and the explanation that creation proceeds out of the combination of the god and his Sakti, has made Brahma superfluous.

The icon of Brahma has four heads facing the four quarters; and they represent the four Vedas, the four Yugas (epochs of time), and the four Varnas (divisions of society based on nature, nurture and vocation).

The objects usually shown are: Aksamala (rosary), Kurca (a brush of Kusa grass), Sruk (ladle), Sruva (spoon), Kamandalu (water pot) and Pustaka (book). The combination and arrangement vary from image to image. The rosary represents time, and the water pot, the causal waters, from which all creation has sprung. So, Brahma controls time as well as the principle of causation.

The Kusa grass, the ladle and the spoon being sacrificial implements, represent the system of sacrifices which is the means to be adopted by the various creatures to sustain one another. The book represents knowledge, sacred and secular. He is the giver of all knowledge-arts, sciences and wisdom.

The poses of the hand (Mudras) are Abhaya (assuring protection) and Varada (granting boons).

The icon may be either in standing posture (standing on a lotus) or in sitting posture (sitting on a Harhsa or swan). Harhsa, his vehicle, stands for discrimination and wisdom.

Sometimes, Brahma is shown as riding in a chariot drawn by seven swans, standing for the seven worlds.

Temples

In temples exclusively dedicated to Brahma, his aspect as Visvakarma (the architect of the universe) is adopted. In this form he is shown as having four heads, four arms holding the rosary, the book, the Kusa grass and the water pot, and riding on his swan.

Every temple, be it of Siva, or Visnu, must have a niche in the northern wall for Brahma, and his image must receive worship every day since he is an important Parivaradevata (attendant of the Chief-deity).