Lord Brahma is part of the Hindu Trinity, which includes Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva. Within this trinity, Brahma is the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. Lord Brahma grew in a lotus out of the navel of sleeping Vishnu. The daily alteration of light and dark is attributed to the activity of this God. The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswati is regarded as the wife of Lord Brahma. He has two other wives Savitri and Gayatri and all his three wives are depicted as Mother of Vedas. His consort Goddess Saraswathi manifested out of him and all creatures of the world resulted from their union. It is widely believed that a person can change his fate by seeking the blessings of Lord Brahma.
Origin and Birth of Brahma
As per Hindu mythology Brahma Deva was born from a Kamala or lotus springing from Vishnu’s navel and created the world through Saraswati. According to Manu Smriti, the self existent Lord manifested to dispel darkness surrounding the universe. He created the waters and deposited a seed that became a golden egg from which he was born as Brahma. He divided the egg into two parts to construct the heaven and earth and created ten Prajapatis, mind born sons who completed the work of creation. By a third account, the Lord separated himself into two parts, the male and female after dividing the golden egg. Ramayana says that Brahma sprang from the ether and that sages Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Sanasujata and others are his ‘manasa putras’.
Appearance of Lord Brahma
Brahma is traditionally depicted with four heads, four faces and four arms where his four heads continually recites four Vedas. He is often depicted in white beard, clad in red clothes and he is not seen holding any weapons. One of his hand holds a scepter, the other hand holds a bow, the third hand holds a string of prayer beads called the ‘Akshamala’ and is also seen holding Vedas. His four hands represent four cardinal directions; east, south, west and north. The back right hand represents mind, left hand represents intellect, the front right hand represents ego and the front left hand represent self confidence. The prayer beads represent the substance used in the process of creation whereas the book symbolizes the knowledge. The golden face of Brahma says that he is actively involved in the process of creation and the crown indicates his Supreme Authority. Swan or Hamsa is his vehicle or carrier and his white beard denotes wisdom and the eternal process of creation.
How Brahma is worshipped
There are very few temples dedicated to worship Lord Brahma. There are stories in Hindu mythology that talk about curses that have supposedly prevented Brahma from being worshipped on Earth.
Brahma Temples in India
The Jagatpita Brahma Mandir in Pushkar, Rajasthan is the most famous temple dedicated to Lord Brahma. Other temples that worship Brahma include Thirunavaya Temple in Kerala and Brahma temple in Nerur, Maharashtra and one in Aostra village in Rajasthan. Sree Vedanarayana Perumal is a famous Brahma Temple situated in Kumbakonam near Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. Sri Arulmigu Magudeshwarar and Veeranarayana Perumaal Temple in Kodumudi is a Trimurti temple where Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are worshipped. Brahmapureeswarar Temple in Tirupattur, Tiruchirapalli is an ancient shrine dedicated to the creator of universe, where the idol of Brahma is fully covered with turmeric every day morning.
Origin and Birth of Brahma
As per Hindu mythology Brahma Deva was born from a Kamala or lotus springing from Vishnu’s navel and created the world through Saraswati. According to Manu Smriti, the self existent Lord manifested to dispel darkness surrounding the universe. He created the waters and deposited a seed that became a golden egg from which he was born as Brahma. He divided the egg into two parts to construct the heaven and earth and created ten Prajapatis, mind born sons who completed the work of creation. By a third account, the Lord separated himself into two parts, the male and female after dividing the golden egg. Ramayana says that Brahma sprang from the ether and that sages Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Sanasujata and others are his ‘manasa putras’.
Appearance of Lord Brahma
Brahma is traditionally depicted with four heads, four faces and four arms where his four heads continually recites four Vedas. He is often depicted in white beard, clad in red clothes and he is not seen holding any weapons. One of his hand holds a scepter, the other hand holds a bow, the third hand holds a string of prayer beads called the ‘Akshamala’ and is also seen holding Vedas. His four hands represent four cardinal directions; east, south, west and north. The back right hand represents mind, left hand represents intellect, the front right hand represents ego and the front left hand represent self confidence. The prayer beads represent the substance used in the process of creation whereas the book symbolizes the knowledge. The golden face of Brahma says that he is actively involved in the process of creation and the crown indicates his Supreme Authority. Swan or Hamsa is his vehicle or carrier and his white beard denotes wisdom and the eternal process of creation.
How Brahma is worshipped
There are very few temples dedicated to worship Lord Brahma. There are stories in Hindu mythology that talk about curses that have supposedly prevented Brahma from being worshipped on Earth.
Brahma Temples in India
The Jagatpita Brahma Mandir in Pushkar, Rajasthan is the most famous temple dedicated to Lord Brahma. Other temples that worship Brahma include Thirunavaya Temple in Kerala and Brahma temple in Nerur, Maharashtra and one in Aostra village in Rajasthan. Sree Vedanarayana Perumal is a famous Brahma Temple situated in Kumbakonam near Thanjavur, Tamilnadu. Sri Arulmigu Magudeshwarar and Veeranarayana Perumaal Temple in Kodumudi is a Trimurti temple where Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are worshipped. Brahmapureeswarar Temple in Tirupattur, Tiruchirapalli is an ancient shrine dedicated to the creator of universe, where the idol of Brahma is fully covered with turmeric every day morning.
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