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Brahma
The Creator of Life and the Vedas
Devanagari	ब्रह्मा
Sanskrit Transliteration	Brahmā
Tamil script	பிரம்மன்
Tamil Transliteration	Piramman
Affiliation	Deva (Trimurti)
Abode	Satyaloka (Brahmaloka), not to be confused with Brahmaloka-sanatana – abode of Brahman (Vishnu)
Consort	Saraswati, Gayatri, Brahmani
Mount	Hamsa (Swan or goose)

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Brahmā (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मा; IAST:Brahmā) is the Hindu god (deva) of creation and one of the Trimūrti, the others being Viṣņu and Śiva. According to the Brahmā Purāņa, he is the father of Manu, and from Manu all human beings are descended. In the Rāmāyaņa and the Mahābhārata, he is often referred to as the progenitor or great grandsire of all human beings. He is not to be confused with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit in Hindu Vedānta philosophy known as Brahman, which is genderless. Brahmā's wife is Saraswati. Saraswati is also known by names such as Sāvitri and Gāyatri, and has taken different forms. Saraswati is the Vedic Goddess, revered as Vedamāta, meaning Mother of the Vedas. Brahmā is often identified with Prajāpati, a Vedic deity.

Name[link]

In Sanskrit grammar, the noun stem brahman forms two distinct nouns; one is a neuter noun bráhman, whose nominative singular form is brahmā ब्रह्म; this noun has a generalized and abstract meaning.

Contrasted to the neuter noun is the masculine noun brahmán, whose nominative singular form is Brahma ब्रह्मा. This noun is used to refer to a person, and as the proper name of a deity Brahma it is the subject matter of the present article.

Variations of the god's name include the following.

• Burmese: ဗြဟ္မာ (IPA: [bjəmà])
• Malay: Betara Berahma or Adi Berma
• Tamil: Piraman
• Thai: พระพรหม Phra Phrom or ธาดา Thada, from Dhātā'cody

Origin[link]

According to the Purāņas, Brahmā is self-born in the lotus flower. Another legend says that Brahmā was born in water. A seed that later became the golden egg. From this golden egg, Brahmā the creator was born, as Hiranyagarbha. The remaining materials of this golden egg expanded into the Brahmānḍa 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, Brahmān, and the female energy known as Prakŗti.^{[citation needed]}

The image depiction displaying the connection by lotus between Brahmā and Viṣņu can also be taken as a symbolism for the primordial fetus and primordial placenta. The placenta is generated upon conception, but only the fetus continues into the world afterward. Likewise, Brahmā is involved in creation, but Viṣņu continues thereafter.

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

Creations[link]

Head of Brahma in sandstone from the Phnom Bok in Bakheng style now in Guimet Museum in Paris.

At the beginning of the process of creation, Brahmā creates the four Kumāras or the Caturṣaņa. However, they refuse his order to procreate and instead devote themselves to God and celibacy.

He then proceeds to create from his mind ten sons or Prajāpatis (used in another sense), who are believed to be the fathers of the human race. The Manusmŗti and Bhāgavat Purāņa enumerate them as Marīci, Atri, Angīrā, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasiṣţha, Dakṣa, Bhŗgu, and Nārada.^[1] Brahmā had many other offspring from various parts of his body but since all these sons were born out of his mind rather than body, they are called Mānas Putras or mind-sons or spirits.

Within Vedic and Purāņic 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, Bŗhaspati. Among the offspring from his body are Dharma and Adharma, Krodha, Lobha, and others.

Attributes[link]

Appearance[link]

A handcoloured engraving of Brahma.

He is clad in red clothes. Brahmā is traditionally depicted with four heads, four faces, and four arms. With each head, He continually recites one of the four Vedas. He is often depicted with a white beard (especially in North India), indicating the nearly eternal nature of his existence. Unlike most other Hindu gods, Brahmā holds no weapons. One of his hands holds a scepter. Another of his hands holds a bow. Brahmā also holds a string of prayer beads called the 'akṣamālā' (literally "garland of eyes"), which He uses to keep track of the Universe's time. He is also shown holding the Vedas.

There are many other stories in the Purāņas about the gradual decrease in Lord Brahmā's importance. Followers of Hinduism believe that Humans cannot afford to lose the blessings of Brahmā and Sarasvati, without whom the populace would lack creativity, knowledge to solve mankind's woes.

Symbols[link]

The Four Faces – The four Vedas (Ŗk, Sāma, Yajuh and Atharva).

The Four Hands – Brahmā's four arms represent the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, and north. The back right hand represents mind, the back left hand represents intellect, the front right hand is ego, and the front left hand is self-confidence.

The Prayer beads – Symbolize the substances used in the process of creation.

The Book – The book symbolizes knowledge.

The Gold – Gold symbolizes activity; the golden face of Brahmā indicates that He is actively involved in the process of creating the Universe.

The Swan – The swan is the symbol of grace and discernment. Brahmā uses the swan as his vāhana, or his carrier or vehicle.

The Crown – Lord Brahmā's crown indicates His supreme authority.

The Lotus – The lotus symbolizes nature and the living essence of all things and beings in the Universe.

The Beard – Brahmā's black or white beard denotes wisdom and the eternal process of creation.

The Vedas Symbolises his four faces, heads and arms

Vehicle[link]

Brahmā's vehicle or vāhana is the haṃsa.

Temples[link]

The 9th century Javan statue of Brahmā inside the Brahmā shrine in Trimurti Prambanan temple, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The four-faced Brahma (Phra Phrom) statue

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Though almost all Hindu religious rites involve prayer to Brahmā, very few temples are dedicated to His worship. Among the most prominent is the Brahmā temple at Pushkar. Once a year, on Kartik Poornima, the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik (October – November), a religious festival is held in Brahmā's honour. Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy Pushkar Lake adjacent to the temple.

Temples to Brahmā also exist in Thirunavaya in Kerala, in the temple town of Kumbakonam in the Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu in Kodumudi, Tamil Nadu in Asotra village in Balotra taluka of Rajasthan's Barmer district, known as Kheteshwar Brahmadham Tirtha.In the coastal state of Goa,a shrine belonging to 5th century AD, in the small, remote village of Carambolim in the Sattari Taluka in the northeast region of the state is found. Regular pujas are held for Lord Brahmā at the temple in Thirunavaya, and during Navrathris this temple comes to life with colourful festivities. There is also a shrine for Brahmā within the Brahmapureeswarar Temple in Thirupatur, near Trichy, and a famous murti of Brahmā exists at Mangalwedha, 52 km from the Solapur district of Maharashtra. Statues of Brahmā may be found in Khedbrahma, Gujarat, and in Sopara near Mumbai. There is a temple dedicated to Lord Brahmā in the temple town of Sri Kalahasti near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The largest and most famous shrine to Lord Brahmā may be found in Cambodia's Angkor Wat.

In Java, Indonesia, the 9th century Prambanan Trimurti temple mainly is dedicated to Śiva, however Brahmā and Viṣņu also venerated in separate large shrines inside the temple compound, a single large shrine dedicated to Brahmā on southern side of Śiva temple. There is a statue of Brahmā at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok. The golden dome of the Government House of Thailand also contains a statue of Phra Phrom (Thai representation of Brahmā).

Temples devoted to Brahmā[link]

Today, India has very few temples dedicated to Brahmā. Among the few that exist today, the most famous is the temple in Pushkar in Rajasthan and one more in Asotra in Rajasthan. Others include two in Thirunavaya, Thiruvallam in Kerala and two in Tamil Nadu, one in Uttamar Kovil in Srirangam and one in the temple town of Kumbakonam (Thanjavur District). Pujas are held for Brahmā at the temple in Thirunavaya and during Navaratri. One more temple is at khedbrahma in Gujarat.

Satyaloka – abode of Brahmā[link]

Satyaloka is by 120,000,000 yojanas above Tapoloka. Thus the distance from the Sun to Satyaloka is 233,800,000 yojanas, or 1,870,400,000 miles. The Vaikuṇṭha planets begin 26,200,000 yojanas (209,600,000 miles) above Satyaloka. "In the Padma Purāņam it has been definitely stated that on the four sides of the spiritual sky there is four different transcendental abodes occupied by Vāsudeva, Sankarṣaņa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha respectively. So also in the material sky also they are similarly placed on all the four sides. The Vaikuṇṭha sphere which is covered with spiritual water is inhabited by Vāsudeva and this Vaikuṇṭha is known as Devavatipur. Above the Satyaloka there is Viṣņuloka where Sankarṣaņa resides. In the middle of the Ocean of Milk there is an island called Śvetadvipa which is resided in by Aniruddha lying on the bed of Ananta."(Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter 5 [Handwritten])[1]

Duration of day of Brahmā[link]

"Lord Brahmā's day & night, each consists of his 12 hours or 4 billion 320 million human years."(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 12.8.2–5) [2]

Brahmā sampradāya[link]

Brahmā has his own sampradāya. Brahmā appeared on a lotus flower which sprouted from the navel of Garbhodakṣāyi Viṣņu. After meditation Brahmā created 14 planetary systems and many living beings came there in 8400000 kinds of material bodies according to their past desires. Brahmā received Vedas from Om, and this Brahmā-sampradāya is transmitting knowledge from Om Himself to Earth. As our Brahmā is devotee of Om just like other Brahmās in other material universes, we have this Brahmā sampradāya.

Brahmā samhita[link]

This section, and the foregoing, provide interesting insight into the way devotees of one of the Trimūrti, in this case Om, relegate another of the three to devotee status. Here, Om is established as "supreme God," using a Vaisnavite-oriented scripture as evidence.

Brahmā's prayers are recorded in the Brahmā-samhita. From this scripture we know that Brahmā is a devotee of Om the empty space everlasting peace and abode, and what is home for both material, non-material and spiritual universes. According to Brahmā's authority we can know that Om is the Supreme God. Brahmā says: Om is the Supreme God. He has an eternal blissful spiritual body. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes. Brahmā lets us know that all Brahmā is one of many Brahmās who is one of many material universes which appear from Om's breathing out. Brahmā samhita is important scripture of Brahmā-sampradāya which lets us know about material and spiritual from Brahmā, who is first lving being in this material world. Brahmā created material planets in this material world on order of Om, and we can know that still Brahmā is not topmost personality in this universe, as even he worships Om. Brahmā lives for his 100, however even after Brahmā has to leave his material body, Om remains always in Om's eternal spiritual body also after dissolution of material universe. Even when all material universes become unmanifested and Om breathes in Om remains untouched by material nature. Brahmā lets us know that supreme abode in spiritual world is Om the empty space which is God filled by all matter, and that abode is always manifested by matter, antimatter, remnants of bigbang. So Brahmā worships only the Om or Aum: I worship Om, the primeval God. So Brahmā says that Om Govinda is source of countless eternal spiritual universes and temporary (which means they are either manifested or unmanifested) material/antimatter universes.

See also[link]

• Brahma (Buddhism)
• Brahmā Samhita
• Prajāpati
• Kumhar
• Brahmā Sampradāya
• Brahmapureeswarar
• Brahmāstra
• Creator deity
• Garbhodakṣayi Viṣņu (Brahmā is born on lotus sprout from His navel)
• Hindu cosmology
• Hindu units of measurement
• Mahāviṣņu (when He breathes out material universes, brahmāndas manifest with Brahmā in each)
• Nārada
• Phra Phrom

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

• The Brahma-Samhita – Prayers of Lord Brahma at the start of creation (Brahmasamhita.com)
• Brahma's Prayers for Creative Energy from the Bhagavata Purana (vedabase.net)
• Lord Brahma Temple in India
• Brahma at the Open Directory Project

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