Lord Brahma is believed to be the creator of the universe in Hindu mythology.
It is believed in the Hindu mythology that the universe and all the cosmic activities are the work of three fundamental forces which are symbolized by the three gods, who were known as the Trinity.
These gods are Brahma the creator, Vishnu the Sustainer, and Shiva the destroyer.
These three gods are believed to be the ones who maintain the balance of the atmosphere and the universe and have the power and capability of destroying it as and when they want.
History and Folklore
He is mentioned in the Vedic literature as well as the post-Vedic and many Epic Puranas.
One of the earliest mentions of Lord Brahma along with Vishnu and Shiva is present in the Maitrayaniya Upanishad, which was probably composed in the late first millennium BCE.
He is also discussed in verse 5 and then further expounded in verse 5,2. It is believed that he has many qualities out of which the main quality is Rajas.
The following lines tell us about Brahma:
Now then, that part of him which belongs to Tamas, that, O students of sacred knowledge (Brahmacharins), is this Rudra.
That part of him which belongs to Rajas, that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Brahma. That part of him which belongs to Sattva, that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Vishnu.
Verily, that One became threefold, became eightfold, eleven fold, twelvefold, into the infinite fold. This Being (neuter) entered all beings, he became the overlord of all beings.
That is the Atman (Soul, Self) within and without – yea, within and without!
— Maitri Upanishad 5.2
Birth and Lifespan
According to the Vedas and Puranas, he is considered to be the son of god and is often regarded as the Prajapati.
The Shatapatha Brahman has said that Lord Rama was born of the supreme being Brahmin and the female energy which is known as Maya.
As he started to create the universe, he first created the water in which he placed his seed. This particular seed was transformed into a golden egg from which it is believed that the deity appeared.
For this particular reason, he is also known as Hiranya Garbha. A story which was narrated by another legend, he is believed to be the self-born child out of the lotus flower, which grows from the navel of Lord Vishnu.
To help him for creating the universe, Lord Rama gave birth to 11 fore-fathers from the human race, who were called the Prajapati and another 7 great sages or the Saptarishi.
These children are the mindful sons of the deity who are born out of his mind and rather than the normal body and are known as the Manasputras.
Brahma the Creator
Lord Brahma is believed to be the creator of the universe and all beings. He has been depicted in the Hindu cosmology as the one who created all the life forms which are present on earth.
In the Vedas and also in the holiest and the oldest of the Hindu scriptures and literature, Lord Brahma has been mentioned in several instances and thus, is regarded as the father of Dharma.
But one should always keep in mind that Lord Brahma should not be confused with the term Brahman which is a general term used for the supreme being for the almighty god.
He is considered to be one of the Trinity and his popularity is of no match when compared with the other two gods Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
He is found to be existing more in the historical scriptures rather than in the temples and the homes of the devotees.
It is very hard to find a temple that is dedicated solely to Brahma. One such rare temple is located in the Pushkar City present in the state of Rajasthan.
Symbolism
He has a great significance and symbolism in Hindu mythology. He is believed to be the Hindu Pantheon and is commonly represented as having four heads and Four Arms.
It is believed that these four heads and four arms of Lord Brahma depict the four directions of the universe and also the four Varnas of the caste system. He also has red skin.
He is different from all the other Hindu gods as he does not carry any weapon in his hand. He holds a water pot in one hand, spoon in the other hand, a book of prayers in the third hand and a rosary or a lotus in the fourth hand.
He is depicted sitting on a lotus flower in the lotus pose and travels all around the world on a White Swan. He is believed to possess the magical abilities to separate the milk from a mixture of water and milk.
The majority of the times Lord Brahma is depicted having a very long and white beard with each of his heads continuously reciting the four Vedas.
Brahma, Cosmos, Time, and Epoch
It is believed that Lord Brahma is way above from the concepts of Cosmos, time, and epoch. He is believed to preside over the Brahmaloka, which is a universe which contains all the Splendours of the earth and even of all the other Worlds.
It is stated in the Hindu cosmology the universe exists for a single day which is called the Brahma Kalpa.
This particular day is considered equivalent to 4 billion years on earth and at the end of which the whole universe gets dissolved and destroyed.
This particular process is called Pralaya. It repeats after every hundred years which is a period that represents the lifespan of Brahma.
After the death of the deity, the next hundred years must pass until the lord is born again and the whole creation and the cycle begin afresh.
Linga Purana indicates the clear calculations of all the different cycles and the fact that the life of Lord Brahma is divided into the cycle of 1000 years, which is known as Maha-Yugas.
Mention in American Literature
He has been mentioned various times in American literature as well, apart from Hindu mythology and literature.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, who passed away in the year 1882 wrote a very famous poem titled Brahma, which was published in the Atlantic in the year 1857.
This particular fact shows many ideas emerging from Ralph Waldo Emerson’s reading of the Hindu scriptures and also the philosophy.
He interpreted Lord Brahma as an unchanging reality, in contrast to the Maya which has a changing and exclusionary appearance of the world.
He also said that Lord Brahma is serene, invisible, imperishable, formless, infinite and one of his kind. He is eternal which was said by Arthur Christy, who passed away in the year 1946 and was a very famous American author and critic.
Lord Brahma Prayer
The famous prayer and mantras for the worship of Brahma are given below:
ramadi-murtisu kala-niyamena tisthan
nanavataram akarod bhuvanesu kintu
krsnah svayam samabhavat paramah puman yo
govindam adi-pursuant tam aham bhaji
srsti-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-Saktir eka
chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga
icchanurupam api yasya ca cestate sa
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
ksiram yatha dadhi vikara-visesa-yogat
sanjayate na hi tatah prthag asti hetoh
yah Sambhutam api tatha samupaiti karyad
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
bhasvan yathaSma-Sakalesu nijesu tejah
sviyam kiyat prakatayaty api tadvad atra
brahma ya esa jagad-anda-vidhana-karta
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
yat-pada-pallava-yugam vinidhaya kumbha-
dvandve pranama-samaye sa ganadhirajah
vighnan vihantum alam asya jagat-trayasya
govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami
Conclusion
Lord Brahma is considered to be the creator of the universe. He is one of the 3 gods who together are known as the Trinity. He is the one from whom it is believed that all the life forms originated.
He is believed to be the one who maintains the balance and equilibrium of the earth along with Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. Together, they run the universe by creating it, sustaining it, and then destroying it.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Why does Brahma have 4 heads and 4 arms?
It is believed that the 4 heads and the 4 arms of Brahma depict the 4 varnas of the caste system and also the 4 directions of the universe.
What all powers does Brahma possess?
He is believed to have the powers which are greater and much efficient than most of the other gods and deities. His powers are considered equal to that of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. He also has superhuman strength and resistance to fatal injuries.
How was Brahma born?
It is believed by many scholars and is also written in many mythological and historical pieces of evidence that Lord Brahma was born through Lord Vishnu, who in turn was born through Lord Shiva, whose Linga is considered to be the starting and end of everything.