Viśvákarma ("all-accomplishing; all-creator", Tamil: Vicuvakaruman, Thai: Witsawakam) is the Hindu presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects.^[1] He is believed by Hindus to be the "Principal Universal Architect", the architect who fabricated and designed the divine architecture of the Universe, the Lord of Creation.

In the Vedas[link]

Pancha Mukha Virt Vishwakarma

Vishwakarma is visualized as the Ultimate reality in the Rig Veda,^{[2][Full citation needed]} from whose navel all visible things emanate. The same imagery is seen in Yajurveda purusha sukta, where the divine smith Tvastar originates from Vishwakarma.^[3] This concept developed later in the puranic period as Padmanabha. As he is invoked as AJA the unborn ^[4], he is the primordial personification of the upanishadic abstract concept Parabrahman.

In the Vedic period the term first appeared as an epithet of Indra, Surya, and Agni. In that time Brahma might have been hidden in the concept of Vastospati or Brahmanaspati.^[5] In the last phase of vedic period and during the growth of monotheism, the top position of God was gradually assigned to Vishwakarma^[6] who was perceived as a hotar, a universal father, the creator and an all seeing god who has faces, eyes and feet on every side; and who produced all the Heavenly, Earthly and other Celestial realms and preserves them through the exercise of his arms and wings. He is the name giver of all later gods. He sacrificed himself to himself for the evolution of this visible world, thus he is Purusha.^[7] His attributes like Vachaspathy^[8] connect him with Brahaspati (the Guru of Gods). Again, Yajurveda pictured him as Prajapati^[9] (the Lord of Creation), and in the Atharva veda he is^[10] Pasupathy. Shwethashwatharopanishad described him as the one who is dwelling in all living forms.^[11] Later in the post vedic period, the term appeared as a Rsi as well as a Silpi. The Rsi Bhuvana Vishwakarma (Atharva/Angirasa Gothra) was the author of Rg 10-81,82 suktha, whereas Silpi Vishwakarma (Prabasa Vishwakarma) was probably the son of Prabhas, the eighth hermit of the legendary Astam vasu and Yogasiddha, sister of Brihaspati. He is said to have revealed the Sthapatyaveda or fourth Upa-veda, and presides over the sixty-four mechanical arts.

Vishvakarma created five Brahmas/prajapathies — from his five faces.^[12] They were Manu, Maya, Twosta, Silpy, Viswajna and their respective Rishis were

1. Sanaga Brahma Rishi
2. Sanaathana Brahma Rishi
3. Abhuvanasa Brahma Rishi
4. Prathnasa Brahma Rishi
5. Suparnasa Brahma Rishi

In later puranas he is sometimes identified with vedic Tvastr.^[13] Silpy Vishwakarma is the designer of all the flying chariots of the gods, and all their weapons and divine attributes. Vishwakarma is also credited with creating the missiles used in the mythological era, including the Vajra, the sacred weapon of Lord Indra, from the bones of sage Dadhichi. He is regarded as the supreme worker, the very essence of excellence and quality in craftsmanship.^[14]

In Mahabharata and Harivamsa, he is a son of the Vasu Prabhasa and Yoga-siddha. The Mahabharata describes him as "The Lord of the Arts, Executor of a thousand Handicrafts, the Carpenter of the Gods, the most eminent of Artisans, the Fashioner of all ornaments ... and a great and immortal God..." He has four hands, wears a crown and a large amount of gold jewelry and holds a water-pot, a book, a noose, and craftsman's tools in his hands.

In some other Puranas he is the father of Barhishmatî and Samjna. The Ramayana represents him as having built the island-city of Lanka for the Rakshasas, and as having generated the ape Nala, who made Rama's bridge from the continent to the island; Actually the name Vishva-karman, meaning, doing all acts", appears to be sometimes applicable as an epithet to any great divinity.

Vishwakarma Puja[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Vishwakarma statue, Mandi, India.

Vishwakarma is known as the divine engineer of the world. As a mark of reverence he is not only worshipped by the engineering and architectural community but also by all professionals. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools in his name.

Like other gods, Vishwakarma is attributed a putative birthday by the Hindu religion. The more philosophical minded argue that it is impossible for the original Creator of everything to be born on a particular day. It is a contradiction in terms since that presupposes another creator for Vishwakarma. The Vishwakarma Puja is celebrated in all parts of India, especially in West Bengal Rajasthan Uttarakhand (Dehardun).

Even among those who believe that there is a birthday there is no agreement as to when it actually occurs. Visvakarma birthday is celebrated on two days under different names:

• Rishi Panchami Dinam. "Rishi Panchami Dinam" literally means ‘the day of the solidarity of five rishis.’ Those who celebrate this day believe that Vishwakarma did not have a birthday like the mortals but only a commemoration day in which his five children (supposedly five rishis) came together to declare their solidarity and pray to their illustrious father. This day follows the rules of the Hindu calendar and changes with every year. The five groups among the Vishwakarma community also celebrate this as an auspicious day in commemoration of their patron god at present.^[15]
• Visvakarma Jayanthi. Vishwakarma Jayanthi is celebrated by all industrial houses, artists, craftsmen, and weavers. The festival is observed on the Kanya Sankranti Day (September 17) which follows the Ganesh Puja. It was on this particular day that the forefathers of the present Visvakarma people invented the plough and gifted it to humanity. The plough represents both the artisan trade as well as agriculture and therefore becomes the representative symbol of the ancient Indian civilisation. It changed the course of human history altogether. This was a change from ‘local mob culture to universal human culture’ and Vishwakarmas of India pioneered it. Coincidentally, this also becomes the birthday of Rsi/Silpi Visvakarma. So Indians in the past celebrated this day of many illustrious conjunctions as an occasion to honor Vishwakarma and his descendants.

Architectural wonders[link]

Vishwakarma mandir (temple). Mandi, H.P., India

Vishwakarma poster in Vishwakarma mandir in Mandi, H.P.

Hindu scriptures describe many of Vishwakarma's architectural accomplishments.

Through the four yugas (aeons of Hindu mythology), he had built several towns and palaces for the gods. Among them were, in chronological order, Svarga (Heaven) in the Satya Yuga, Lanka in the Treta Yuga, and Dwarka (Krishna's capital) in the Dwapara Yuga.

The Golden Lanka[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

According to Ramayana, 'Sone ki Lanka' or Golden Lanka was the place where the demon king Ravana dwelled in the "Treta yuga." As we read in the epic story Ramayana, this was also the place where Ravana kept Sita, Lord Ram's wife as a hostage. There is also a story behind the construction of Golden Lanka. When Lord Shiva married Parvati, he asked Viswakarma to build a beautiful palace for them to reside. Vishwakarma put up a palace made of gold. For the housewarming ceremony, Shiva invited the wise Ravana to perform the "Grihapravesh" ritual. After the sacred ceremony when Shiva asked Ravana to ask anything in return as "Dakshina", Ravana, overwhelmed with the beauty and grandeur of the palace, asked Shiva for the golden palace itself. Shiva was obliged to accede to Ravana's wish, and the Golden Lanka became Ravana's palace. Again, the traditional sources point to Mayasura as the architect and his daughter Mandodri married Ravana (Mayan was the son of viswakarama).

Dwarka[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

Viswakarma is also supposed to have built Dwarka, the capital of Lord Krishna. During the time of the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna is said to have lived in Dwarka, and made it his "Karma Bhoomi" or center of operation. That is why this place in western India (today's Gujarat) has become a well known pilgrimage for the Hindus.

Temples[link]

This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability.

• Althan, Surat(Gujarat).
• Chaniya(Punjab).
• Vishwakarma Mandir, Vishwakarma Colony, Bhandari Bagh-1, Dehradun (Uttarakhand).
• Jalandhar(Punjab).
• Banga Road( PhagwaraPunjab.
• Barmer (Rajasthan.)
• Viswakarma Temple, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh.
• Mansarovar(Jaipur).
• Reengus(Sikar).
• Viswakarma Group of Temples at Brahmamgari Matham in Kadapa District.
• Viswakarma Mandir, Nabha Distt: Patiala.Punjab.
• Viswakarma Mandir — Anpuran Road Indore.

See also[link]

• Vishwakarma Day
• Prajapati
• Kumhar
• Great Architect of the Universe
• Vishwakarmas

Notes[link]

1. ^ "Cave Architecture". http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-architecture/ancient-architecture/cave-architecture.html. Retrieved 2007-02-15. 
2. ^ Thamid garbham pradhamam dhadra apo yatra deva samagachanta visvey
3. ^ adbhyassambhoota: prthivyai rasAcca | vishvakarmaNassamavartatAd tasya tvaSHTA vidadhadroopameti | tatpuruSHasya vishvamAjAnamagre ||
4. ^ Aja asya nabha madyekamarpitham yasmin viswani bhuvanai tasthuhu
5. ^ Sadhyo ajanayan brahmadeva vasthoshpathim vrathapannira takshan
6. ^ Sam bahubhyam dhamathy sampatathrair dyavabhoomy janayanth Deva Eka [Rg 10 81,Indian nireeswaravadam by D.B.Chathopadyaya, p43,Hindu civilisation by Radakumar mukhargy p 89
7. ^ Viswakarman havisha vrutharra swayam yajaswa-rig 10-81
8. ^ vagvai ajo vacho vai praja viswakarma jajana -sathapatha bramhmanam
9. ^ Yajur veda 18-43 Prajapathirviswakarma mano gandharvasthasya ....
10. ^ 2-34 Ya eshe pashupathy .......viswakarma prajayam samrarana
11. ^ Yeshadevo viswakarma mahatma.... 4-17
12. ^ TS 4.3.2), as per Vasishtha Purana 3.6.11
13. ^ Monier-Williams (1899) p. 994.
14. ^ Coomaraswamy (1979), p. 79.
15. ^ Achary, Subramanian Matathinkal (1995).

References[link]

• Achary, Subramanian Matathinkal (1995): Visvakarmajar Rigvedathil, Sawraj Printing and Publishing Company, Aluva.
• Coomaraswamy, Ananda K. (1979): Medieval Sinhalese Art, Pantheon Books Inc., New York.
• Monier-Williams (1899). [1]
• Pattanaik, Devdutt (2009). 7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art. Westland, India. ISBN 978-81-89975-67-8.

External links[link]

• www.viswakarmas.com
• www.virat-vishwakarma.com
• Raina, M. K. (1999). "The Divine Creativity: The Mythical Paradigm and Lord Visvakarma". In Stein, M. I.. Creativity's Global Correspondents - 1999. Florida: Winslow Press. pp. 75–82.. http://www.amcreativityassoc.org/ACA%20Press/Global%20Correspondents/Global_1999.pdf