A message about the Indian god Brahma. Brahma is the creator of the Universe

Brahma - origin, images, myths, stories

Meaning of the name: Translated from Sanskrit Brahma-"priest".

Sphere of activity and patronage: Brahma- Creator of the Universe.

Spouse Brahma : Goddess of knowledge and sciences Saraswati.

Position in the hierarchy of deities: Brahma is one of the Trimurti gods.

Mount (vahana): Swan.

Brahma's Habitat: pure lands of Brahmaloka (Satya-loka).

Weapon: Brahmastra.

Name decoding

The word "Brahma" comes from the Sanskrit root "bhrig" - to spread, increase, increase.

He has several interesting and instructive names. Cosmologically, he is the Golden Egg (Hiranyagarbha), fire ball, from which the universe evolves. Since all created beings come from him, he is Prajapati, the lord of descendants, the lord of existence, the first-born, and Pitamaha - the Great Father, the patriarch. In addition, he bears the names Vidhi (manager), Lokesha (lord of the worlds), Dhatri (supporter), Vishwakarma (world architect), Svayambhu (self-born), Tvashtri (creator), Lokaguru (world mentor), Parameshthin (highest) . He is called Kamalasana - since he sits on the lotus growing from Vishnu's navel; Nabhija (born from the navel), Kanja (born in water).

It is curious that the name Narayana (“dwelling in the waters of causality” or “dwelling of man”) first referred to him and only subsequently to Vishnu.

According to some scholars, the cult Brahma was the main one in pre-Vedic Hinduism, but later it was replaced or supplanted by the cults of Vishnu-Shiva. In fact, the development of the concept of shakti - each of the gods, Shiva and Vishnu, has a consort Shakti (Power) - and the idea that creation arises from the union of a god with his shakti, made the very existence of Brahma redundant (see the work of Tarapada Bhattacharya (Tarapada Bhattacarya) “The Cult of Brahma”, pp. 88-89).

In the Vedic period the idea of ​​a creator existed, but the creator was not identified with Brahma. The Rig Veda speaks of Vishvakarman - “the creator of everything.” He is God the Father. He had arms in all four directions. The Vedic Vishvakarman was probably the prototype of the Puranic Brahma.

It is interesting to note that Vishwakarman has been associated with the sun ever since the sun's rays came to be considered as necessary condition For human life and the universe. In one of the hymns, the Rig Veda calls Prajapati the Creator. That is why later, when Brahma became the Creator, he was identified with the Prajapati of the Rig Veda.

In the Sutra literature, Prajapati and Brahma began to be identified.

In the Rig Veda, Hiranya-garbha is mentioned as the cause of Creation. Thus Brahma became Hiranya-garbha.

In Puranic literature, Brahma is the Creator. It is said that he gave birth to the Prajapatyas (their number and names vary in different Puranas) for the purpose of creating living beings. Therefore Brahma was considered as the Forefather (Pitamaha).

He falls in love with one of his daughters, who goes by various names: Savitri, Brahmani, Saraswati, etc., and becomes one with her. In order to constantly look at her, he received four heads in four directions, and a fifth head facing upward. He also had a wife named Gayatri.

Both Saivites and Vaishnavites downplay the importance of Brahma. He appears from Vishnu's navel seated on a lotus. Shiva cuts off his fifth head as punishment for incest.

Until the Middle Ages, Brahma had great importance, but after the advent of Islam it lost its importance. Many legends depict Brahma in an unsightly form. The Puranas falsely accuse him of causing the death of Agnistambha. Another story tells how Brahma, while his wife Savitri was delayed on trips made for the purpose of making sacrifices, Yaksha`s, immediately found new wife. Savitri became furious and cursed him.

But despite this, Brahma enjoyed authority for many centuries after these stories spread.

Iconography and attributes:

Brahma has four faces, four arms, matted hair, often a short pointed beard and the skin of a black antelope as a cape. He sits on the Lotus (Padmasana) or in a chariot drawn by seven swans. In one right hand he holds a rosary (akshamala), in the other - a vessel with water (kamandalu). His look of Saumya and Tashmya is happy and calm.

His eyes are closed in meditation.

Its four faces represent the four Vedas: eastern - Rig Veda, southern - Yajur Veda, western - Sama Veda, northern - Atharva Veda; four Yugas (time epochs) and four Varnas ( community groups, formed according to the principle natural features, education and vocation). And also the internal action or manifestation of the atman - mind (manas), intellect (buddhi), ego (ahankara) and consciousness (chit), thus this shows the overall picture of functionality inner world or atman, which manifests through thoughts or consciousness.

His four arms represent the four cardinal directions.

The world emerged from water. Therefore Brahma carries water in a vessel (kamandala).

The rosary he touches represents Time.

The seven Lokas, worlds, are represented by seven swans (geese)

The lotus on which Brahma sits arises from Vishnu's navel, representing Mani - the Earth. The lotus represents the Universe or the manifested cosmos, Brahma's sitting on the lotus symbolizes his creation and reign, as well as his eternal essence- “uncontaminated brahmana.”

In ordinary medieval iconography, Brahma has four heads and the same number of arms. His skin color is red or gold, his clothes are white. His vahana is a swan or a goose.

Sculpted figures of Brahma usually have a halo behind the head (siraschakra) in the form of a disk slightly larger than the head, attached to the back of the head with a small bridge and signifying the halo of the glory of the deity.

Other attributes of Brahma are a vessel (kamandalu) for water from the sacred Ganges or for ghee, a rosary (made of beads, akshamala), a bundle of paper made from palm leaves or a handwritten book (pushtaka) with part of the text of the four Vedas, sacred grass (kusha) and a spoon (sruva) for pouring sacrificial oil on the fire.

The combination and arrangement of these items may be different. The rosary symbolizes the eternity of time and the highest aspect of deity. A jug of water is the water of causality, from which the entire created world emerged. Therefore Brahma controls time and cause and effect. The kamandal also symbolizes the path of asceticism and renunciation - sannyas, as well as the fact that you need to turn your gaze from external objects to the eternal essence. The kusha grass, ladle and spoon used in the sacrificial ritual symbolize the sacrificial system itself, which is necessary for all living beings to support each other. The book is a symbol of sacred and secular knowledge, since Brahma is the giver of all knowledge, arts, sciences and wisdom.

As a rule, statues of Brahma represent him in a standing pose. On his head he has a majestic crown-like hairstyle of a being of the highest rank (jata-mukuta), and earrings (ratna-kundala) in his ears. In his upper right hand he holds a rosary, his lower hand is in the abhaya mudra position. He holds the kamandalu vessel in one of his left hands, the other in varada mudra (gesture of bestowing mercy, good deed). Hand gestures (mudras) mean patronage and endowment of gifts.

Brahma is the only Hindu deity depicted as bearded, but not always. If he sits on a blooming lotus flower or on his vahana - a swan, then in the sukh-asana pose (with one leg hanging down). The swan, his mount, symbolizes insight and wisdom, the ability to recognize and separate good from unfavorable, pure from pure. In a mystical sense, it looks like the legend that a swan is able to separate milk from water, thus a person must separate the false from the true, unreality from reality.

The antelope skin on Brahma symbolizes that whoever wants to achieve the Truth must go through many tests and austerities, overcome animal passions in himself and comprehend the truth of the Vedas and thus achieve the Truth.

No incarnations or earthly manifestations are attributed to Brahma, and no lesser deities are associated with him. In his primal form of Narayana, the Lord in the form of a boy reclines on a leaf sacred tree peepal floating in the Primary Waters with lotuses on their surface. He holds thumb feet in mouth. This image of him serves as a symbol of eternity (a closed circle without beginning or end).

He can be depicted in all four states available in the shastric classification, and his appearance and position of the figure do not change. In the yogic state he is shown in his highest spiritual achievements, his face expresses satisfaction and his eyes are closed.

In this form, he is revered primarily by ascetics and ascetics. In the second state (bhoga, that is, contentment of a secular nature), Brahma appears in his usual form, with one or more wives and with all the above-mentioned attributes, sometimes with the addition of kusha grass, and then his statues are used for worship mainly by the laity. In his third aspect (vira, that is, military prowess), he is revered by warriors and kings. In the fourth state (abhicharika, that is, formidable and terrifying), he is depicted with a somewhat gloomy face and is intended to be worshiped by those who intend to destroy their enemies.

There are images of a standing four-faced, but two-armed Brahma. The features of his male-type beardless front face appear individualized, the two side ones look more standard, more identical and similar to women's faces. The thin fabric, wrapping around the hips and descending almost to the ankles, is unusually graceful. A voluminous hairstyle with curls (jata), characteristic of an ascetic, emphasizes the smoothness of the body surface.

The gestures of the hands and fingers are exquisite and beautiful. The absence of the other two hands is explained by the fact that here the image of the deity is still close to human. In addition to the usual cord (yajnopavita), necessary for the priestly varna, hanging over the shoulder, a deer skin (ajina) is thrown over Brahma's shoulder, which also serves as a sacred cord (ajina yajnopavita). Since Brahma has only two hands, he holds fewer attributes: in his right hand - a rosary (akshamala), in his left - a vessel (kamandalu). Rarely, Brahma is depicted with two arms and one head.

Brahma's four arms represent the four cardinal directions: east, south, west and north.

Rear right hand ismind, back left hand representsintelligence, front right hand -ego, and front left hand - self-confidence.

The rosary symbolizes the various material substances used in the creation of the Universe.

The book symbolizes the Vedas,knowledge.

Gold is associated with activity; Brahma's golden face indicates that he is actively involved in the process of creation of the Universe.

Crownsymbolizes his supreme power in the Universe.

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

Gray-haired beard points to wisdomand represents the eternal process of creation.

Four heads and arms represent fourVeda: Rig, Samu, Yajur And Atharva.

Esoteric meaning:
Brahma- in Hindu mythology, the highest deity, the creator of the world, who opens the triad of the supreme gods of Hinduism. In the Trimurti, Brahma, as the creator of the universe, is related to Vishnu, who preserves it, and Shiva, who destroys it. But this distribution of functions in mythology is often violated; this suggests that in some scriptural texts Brahma combined all three functions.

From a philosophical point of view, Brahma is the first stage of manifestation of individual existence (ahankara). Theologically speaking, he is the uncreated Creator (Svayambhu), the self-generated first Person.

Family ties

The consort or Shakti of Brahma is Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge and wisdom.

Saraswati is the Indian name given to the female counterpart of the energy of Brahma the Creator. She is always mentioned as the patroness of the sixty-four arts. Feminine energy, or shakti, is the force of the Creative process, without which not a single act of creation occurs. That is why Brahma and Saraswati are a creative cosmic couple, undivided as the creative aspect and creative energy. The unity of these two principles is of particular importance. When one identifies with these high ideals, all the relative aspects of their relationship take on an internal and absolute meaning.

Both Brahma and Saraswati should be imagined as golden and radiant. Like the sun, they emit a creative, uplifting light, initiating growth and development. The support and enormous inner strength of Brahma and Saraswati can help you create a creative prototype of your existence.

Brahma's sons are born through the power of spirit - Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Daksha and Bhrigu. It is they who become the ancestors of gods and people. People also appear as a result of Brahma's incest with his daughter, acting under different names(Vach, Saraswati, Sandhya, Shatarupa, Vrahmani).

An important point is connected with Brahma’s wife - Savitri (“Aranyakaparva”, “Matsya Purana”) - having created sons, Brahma does not receive satisfaction and decides to make his existence easier by giving birth to the goddess Gayatri from half of his body by pronouncing a sacred syllable.

Fascinated by her, Brahma creates four faces for himself so that he can look at Savitri without stopping. Noticing Brahma's passion, she goes to heaven, to her brothers, and Brahma has a fifth face, facing upward. After the incest, Shiva cuts off Brahma's fifth head.

Origin of Brahma heads

According to Puranam, Brahma is self-born, motherless, born from a flowerlotus, grown from the navelVishnuat the very beginning of the process of creation of the material Universe.

Soon after the creation of the Universe, Brahma created elevenPrajapatiwho are considered the ancestors of humanity. He also created seven great sagesSapta Rishi, who helped him in the creation of the Universe. All seven sages were born from the mind of Brahma. Therefore they are called Manasa-putra, or « sons born from the mind » .

From his own immaculate substance Brahma created a woman who is glorified by the names of Satarupa, Savitri, Saraswati, Gayatri and Brahmani. Seeing his daughter born from his own body, Brahma was stung by the arrows of love and exclaimed: “How exceptionally beautiful she is!” Satarupa turned to the right from his gaze, but because Brahma wanted to contemplate her, a second head grew from his body. When she turned first to the left and then back to hide from his loving gaze, two more heads appeared one after another. In the end, she rose into the sky, but since Brahma passionately wanted to see her there too, he immediately developed a fifth head.

How Saraswati became Brahma's second wife

Although Gayatri is considered synonymous with Saraswati, there is a myth that calls her the second wife of Brahma. Being a married god, Brahma, when performing sacrifices, had to perform certain rituals along with his wife, but it turned out that Saraswati was absent.

A messenger was sent for her, but she replied that she was very busy with her outfit, and Brahma could well wait. The messenger conveyed Saraswati's message to him, then the angry Brahma asked the assembled gods to find him another wife. They brought Gayatri, the sage's daughter, to him and Brahma married her and performed the rituals. When Saraswati finally appeared, very late, a terrible scandal broke out. However, Gayatri pacified her with her eloquence, as well as by agreeing to take a secondary position in relation to her.

The myth of the appearance of death

The myth about the appearance of death is associated with Brahma. In Kritayuga people were immortal and filled the earth, steadily increasing in number; Finally, the earth, no longer able to bear the oppression, prayed to Brahma.

He became lost in thought and became angry. The flames of his anger burst out from all the pores of his body, the countries of the world burned, fear seized all living things, and the world was threatened with destruction. Only the intervention of Shiva, who advised making sure that people were born and died, consoled Brahma’s anger. A woman with a wreath of lotuses on her head emerged from the body of the god; Having learned why she was created, she tried to object, but Brahma was adamant. From the tears shed by death, diseases were born that kill people, and in order for death to be impartial, Brahma made her the mistress of justice.

Origin History

According to the Manu-smriti, Puranas, Mahabharata (XII), Brahma is born in an egg floating in the primeval waters in the form of a golden embryo - Hiranyagarbha; After spending a year in the egg, he divides the egg into two halves with the power of thought; from one the sky is created, from the other the earth; an air space appears between them.

Then the five elements appear (water, fire, earth, air, ether), thought, and even later - the gods. In addition, there appear - sacrifice, three Vedas, stars, time, mountains, plains, seas, rivers, finally, people, speech, passion, anger, joy, repentance, a set of oppositions (heat - cold, dryness - moisture, grief - joy and so on.).

Brahma himself is further divided into two parts - male and female. After this, plants, animals, birds, insects, and asuras are created. All living things, the entire world order is controlled, controlled and directed by Brahma. He, in fact, is the embodiment of the creative principle of existence, the personification of the Absolute as the Highest objective principle.

Brahma not only creates the world: his life, which exceeds the life of all other gods (he is “eternally ancient”), determines the chronological framework of the universe. The universe lives for one hundred “own” years (“one hundred years of Brahma”), equal to 311,040,000,000,000 “human” years.

Place in the Universal Hierarchy of Deities

Brahma is the source and seed of all things. He is the cause of creation and, at the same time, the creator. He is the infinity and infinity from which space, time and causality originate, from which names and forms arise.

Meaning in Laya Yoga

Brahma is the creative manifestation of the Supreme Brahman.

Brahma, according to the Puranas, is that aspect of the Divine Unity, or God, which is responsible for the acts of creation, in the sense of regeneration and preservation of the material side of all things; it can also be called a substance-force, including matter, energy and the laws of nature.

Modern authors define this source of force, substance, as the energy that embodies the past in the present, or the universal law of inertia (both inertia of rest and inertia of motion). This integral and stable image of the world is an area undergoing continuous change under the influence of all incarnate intelligences (which relate to Vishnu), and the new emerging picture of the world again becomes the concern and stimulus of Brahma's existence.

Thus, the world is a state of “purposeful perception of ideas,” and the stability and constancy of the world is ensured by the ever-manifested power and activity of Brahma.

According to some legends, Brahma emerged from a world egg laid by the highest first cause; according to other legends, attested in the Mahabharata and Ramayana, Brahma emerged from the navel or from a lotus that grew from the navel of Vishnu. Immediately at his birth, Brahma from his breath creates the Vedas and the entire world, which remains unchanged during one day of Brahma.

After one day of Brahma visible world dies from fire, only the divine sages and gods remain alive. The next day Brahma resumes his creation and this process of final creation and destruction lasts 100 years of Brahma. After this period, Brahma himself, all the gods and sages perish along with the entire universe, which disintegrates into its basic elements.

According to the Indian legendary calculation of time, a day of Brahma is equal to a kalpa or 2,000 Mahayugas, that is, 43,200 * 2,000 = 8,640,000,000 earthly years.

Symbolically, Brahma is depicted sitting on a fully opened lotus flower, the long stem of which grows from the navel of the Great Deity, its source. Thus, it is believed that Brahma, this basis or God, and the results of his activities (the material side of things) are invested with power and are subject to the task assigned by the Great Deity, who is the unconditioned cause and primary basis of all things. The word "Brahma" comes from a root meaning "to expand, to spread."

From this follows the connection of this force with the material side of the existing, which is characterized by the attributes of extension and space.

The attitude of the yogi to this aspect or power of the Divine is one of opposition, for the yogi strives to overcome in himself any tendency to submit to the past, and must learn to control his body, emotions and lower mind (chitta), and all these phenomena represent the characteristic properties of the material. In general, this idea is very closely consistent with the concept of the Three Logoi, which arose in the Gnostic movements of Greece, the Middle East and the early Christian Gnostics.

Brahma, in Hindu mythology, the creator and ruler of the world, the father of gods and people; in classical Hinduism he is part of the triad of supreme gods along with Vishnu and Shiva. The creator of the universe, he opposes Vishnu, who preserves it, and Shiva, who destroys it. According to one myth, Brahma created the goddess Satarupa from his body. She was so beautiful that he could not take his eyes off her. When Satarupa moved aside, avoiding his gaze, a new head appeared, turned in her direction. Finally Brahma convinced the beauty to become his wife. They spent a hundred sacred years, at the end of which Many, the first man, was born.

Another myth tells how the universe was first plunged into darkness. A seed wandering in the cosmic ocean gave birth to a golden egg: “Brahma spent a year in this egg, then with the power of thought he divided the egg in half.” From one half he created the sky, the divine sphere, from the other - the earth, the material sphere, and between them he placed the air space; then five elements appeared - water, fire, earth, air, ether - then thought, gods, stars, time, mountains, plains, seas, rivers, people, speech, passion, anger, etc. Finally, the god Brahma emerged from the egg and divided into two parts - female and male. These beings gave birth to everything else.

According to another version, Brahma emerged from the egg in the form of the primal being Purusha. He had a thousand legs, a thousand feet, a thousand arms, a thousand eyes, a thousand faces and a thousand heads. The ancients believed that Brahma lived for one hundred “own” years, equal to 311,040,000,000,000 “human” years. Then the fire escaping from the bottom of the ocean destroys the universe and Brahma himself, and after one hundred divine years of chaos, a new Brahma is born. In some sources, Brahma is called Narayana, or “emerging from the waters.” In this form, he lay on a lotus leaf floating on the primordial waters and sucked his toe - a symbol of eternity. The fall of Brahma's greatness is explained in the myth of the origin of Shiva.

According to legend, Brahma and Vishnu argued which of them was more powerful. At the height of the dispute, a huge phallus, the symbol of Shiva, rose from the world ocean, engulfed in flames. When Brahma and Vishnu began to examine the phallus, it opened. The gods discovered Shiva in him and were forced to recognize his superiority. Brahma is often depicted with four heads and arms in which he holds the Vedas, sacred Indian treatises, a staff, a vessel with water from the Ganges and a garland of roses, seated on a goose or swan. His wife is the beautiful Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the patroness of the arts, sciences and eloquence. In the above image, Brahma is the creator and ruler of the world, the father of gods and people, he opposes Vishnu, who preserves the universe, and Shiva, who destroys it.

- in Hindu mythology supreme god the main triad of gods along with Vishnu and Shiva. He is revered as the creator of the Universe, in contrast to Vishnu, its preserver, and Shiva the destroyer.

According to legends, Brahma is born from an egg floating in the primeval ocean. He divides the egg into two halves, from which heaven and earth arise, and then the entire visible world and living beings: gods, people, animals and plants. The days and nights of Brahma's life determine the rhythm of life of the entire Universe.

The sons of Brahma (among whom Angiras, Daksha, Bhrigu should be noted) become the ancestors of gods and people. Admired by the beauty of the goddess Savitri (Gayatri) created from his body, Brahma acquires four faces in order to constantly see her. In the form of a fish, Brahma saves the first man Manu from the flood, and from the thigh of Brahma the famous sage Narada is born.

Appearance and Attributes

Brahma's skin color is described to be reddish and he is dressed in red clothes. Brahma has four heads, four faces and four arms. It is said that each of his four heads continuously recites one of the four Vedas. Brahma is often depicted with a white beard (especially in Northern India), symbolizing the almost eternal nature of his existence.

Unlike most other Hindu deities, Brahma does not hold any weapons in his hands. In one of his hands he holds a scepter in the shape of a ladle or a large spoon, which is associated with the pouring of ghee on the sacred fire of Vedic sacrifices and symbolizes that Brahma is the lord of the yajnas. In the other of his hands he holds a kamandalu, a vessel of water made of metal or even a coconut shell. The water in this vessel symbolizes the primordial, all-absorbing ether, from which the first elements of creation emerged. In another of his hands, Brahma holds prayer beads called akshamala, which he uses to count universal time. In his fourth hand, Brahma usually holds the books of the Vedas, but sometimes a lotus flower. Four arms - Brahma's four arms represent the four cardinal directions: east, south, west and north. The back right hand represents the mind, the back left hand represents the mind, the front right hand the ego, and the front left hand self-confidence. Rosary beads symbolize various material substances used in the creation of the Universe.

Book— the book of the Vedas in one of Brahma’s hands symbolizes knowledge. Gold- associated with activity; Brahma's golden face indicates that he is actively involved in the process of creation of the Universe. Swan- symbolizes mercy and the ability to distinguish between good and bad. Brahma uses the swan Hamsa as his vehicle, vahana. Crown- Brahma's crown symbolizes his supreme power in the Universe. Lotus- The lotus flower symbolizes the nature and essence of all things and living beings in the Universe. Beard- Brahma's black or gray beard indicates wisdom and personifies the eternal process of creation. Four faces- four faces, heads and hands represent the four Vedas: Rig, Samu, Yajur and Atharva. The vehicle or vahana of Brahma is the divine swan. The swan is respected in Indian culture because of its special quality, called nira-kshira-viveka, or the ability to separate milk from a mixture of milk and water. The swan represents that all living beings in the universe deserve justice, no matter what situation they find themselves in. Also, this ability of the swan indicates that the individual must be able to separate good from bad, accepting what has spiritual value and rejecting what does not.

Brahma- omniscient, many-sided, looking in all directions, creator, giver of power,
the four-armed world Creator, whose hands point to all directions of the world. Hindu beliefs claim that at the moment of Brahma's awakening, the Universe arose; if he covers his eyes, the Universe will disappear without a trace. But Kalpa - the length of Brahma's day - is equal to 4,320,000,000 human years.
Brahma in a large-scale sense, these are deeply meditating gods, standing outside the sphere of sensuality, and in a narrower sense, these are spirits, belonging to the World Brahma.

The cult of Brahma, part of the triad of Trimurti deities, is not very widespread. Compared to the temples of Vishnu and Shiv, there are very few temples dedicated to Brahma, since there was very little worship of him on the planet, due to the numerous curses sent to him. This is confirmed by various scriptures of Hinduism. For example, the Shiva Purana describes how Vishnu, in the form of a boar, at the beginning of creation, began searching for the beginning of the huge Shiva Lingam, and Brahma, in the form of a swan, began searching for its end. Vishnu, digging up the ground, could not find the beginning of the lingam and honestly confessed this to Shiva, paying homage to the Great, and Brahma, rising up and seeing ketaki (Shiva’s favorite flower), asked him to confirm that the end had been found. But Shiva recognized the lie and, becoming very angry, cursed Brahma that no one in the three worlds would ever honor him.
According to another story, Brahma was cursed by the greatest sage Bhrigu, who was conducting a Vedic sacrifice on earth, which was to be led by the highest of the gods. Brahma, to whom Bhrigu appeared, deep in the music performed by Saraswati (the wife of Brahma - the goddess of knowledge and learning), did not even see the wise husband. The Rishi became angry and cursed Brahma that no one would ever speak his name or worship him.
However, prayers to Brahma are present in all Hindu rituals, but the number of Brahma temples can be counted on one hand. Brahmas, found in the sources of Buddhism, and, from the point of view of cosmology, evoke associations of the highest power or an excessive sense of divine pride.
Brahma-Sahampati, most revered in Thailand and Buddhist China, has 4 heads, symbolizing the mind in 4 gross components. Sometimes we hear the wrong name for Brahma - Buddha with four faces. In Pushkara, India, there is the largest famous temple Brahma - Brahmaji Mandir, which houses the four-faced Brahma Murti. They say that Brahma has four faces in order to continuously monitor the created world in all directions. Another version also has the right to exist. According to it, Brahma created from his body flawlessly the ideal woman, with whom he immediately fell madly in love, unable to take his eyes off her. And to constantly observe the charming one, Brahma appeared four heads, and then a fifth, when his wife flew up. But the fifth head was soon cut off by Shiva for incest with his daughter. The irresistible daughter of Brahma, who became his wife, was called by different names: Satarupa, Savitri, Saraswati, Gayatri and Brahmani.
Brahma-Sahampati brings prosperity, development and good luck. Shrines dedicated to him are located in many places. For example, the Bangkok idol Yerawan. Brahma-Sahampati is closest to the Buddha, invisibly helping him in the process of meditation and enlightenment, and calls to bring the dharma to humanity.
Depict Brahma always with four heads, each reciting its own Veda, four faces and four hands, personifying the east, south, west and north, with a white beard (wisdom and the eternal process of creation), in red clothes, with a reddish skin color and unarmed.
According to the most ancient scriptures, the following symbols are associated with it:
- vase with water (creation of the Universe),
- rosary (passage of time),
- sacrificial spoon (sacrificial offerings),
- books of the Vedas (knowledge),
- lotus flower (the nature and essence of all living things),
- gold (activity),
- crown (highest power),
- swan (mercy and the ability to distinguish bad from good).
Brahma figurine, placed in your home, will help in all good deeds, bring prosperity, success, development, luck, peace and health.

Trimurti unites the faces of the creator, preserver and destroyer in their images. Brahma is considered the creator god of the Universe. Translated from Sanskrit, his name means “priest.” In India, Brahma is believed to represent the beginning of beginnings.

Character history

The name Brahma comes from the word “bhrig”, translated as growth, increase. Buddhism tells us that God had several names. He was the Golden Egg - a ball of fire that gave rise to the universe, and Prajapati - the ruler of the descendants and the ruler of the world. Other names elevated him as patriarch and creator, creator of the world and the highest of deities.

According to the plot of the works “Manu-smitri” and “Mahabharata”, God originated from an egg that floated in primeval waters. After living in the egg for a year, he mentally divided it into two entities. One became the earth, and the other became the sky. The gap between them was filled with air.

Legend has it that this was followed by the appearance of fire and water, earth, air and ether. The gods appeared in the finale. They were followed by landscapes and bodies of water, stars, Vedas and people. Brahma was divided into two incarnations: male and female. Then animals, birds and other representatives of the living world appeared in the world. Everything was subject to Brahma, who contained the absolute objective principle.

God controlled the universe and time. He was the source of everything that came into being and represented the infinity from which time and forms flow.

Brahma in culture

Studies of the philosophy and biography of Brahma based on literary sources show that the pre-Vedic period of Hinduism was famous for the cult of this deity. Then it was replaced by the teachings of Vishnu and Shiva. According to legend, each god has his own power - Shakti. She is depicted as a wife, and with her help the creator creates the world.

For a long time, the god Brahma was the central figure in Hinduism. He was usually depicted with four faces and four arms. The beard was drawn pointed and the hair shaggy. On the hero's shoulders was a cape made of antelope skin, and his body was covered with snow-white clothes. Images of Brahma described him as seated on a lotus or driving a chariot drawn by swans. God had a golden complexion. While in meditation, he remained with his eyes half-closed. Some paintings depicted him with a halo above his head. Sharp, fast arrows - brahmastra - were in his hands.

Hinduism says that Brahma changes states. There is even a classification that characterizes them. The yogic mood emphasizes the greatness and tranquility of the spirit, self-satisfaction. The state of bhog implies a secular attitude. Usually in this form the god is accompanied by his spouse. Vira is the state in which Brahma becomes a symbol of valor. The fourth state is the image of an unapproachable and stern god. It is preferred when wanting to get rid of opponents.

Hindus build temples to worship the god Brahma. When gathering in them for prayer, they recite mantras and chant Samhita, in which the word “om” is used instead of the word “Amen”. A drawn-out pronunciation of this word allows you to easily enter a meditative state and tune into harmony with yourself. Hindus believe in the beneficial influence of Brahm-Mukhorta. This is a 48 minute wake up window.

Fans of Brahma's teachings are reviewing with interest documentaries about your idol. In 1994, Indian cinema appeared Feature Film"Brahma".

Myths and legends

Brahma has traditional attributes. The four faces correspond to the four cardinal directions. Four arms also characterize these directions. One palm holds a bowl of water, reminding that water is the sign and source of all living things. The second hand holds a rosary, symbolizing time, which is not endless. The swans pulling the chariot of the god are the worlds.

According to legend, Brahma emerged from a lotus without any connection with other gods. He created eleven human ancestors. The seven assistant creators were created from his mind and became the sons of Brahma. From the body he created a woman. Having fallen in love with his own daughter, Brahma was riveted on her, and when the girl turned away from him, a second head appeared and continued to admire her. Every time the girl turned, a new head appeared. The fifth occurred when Brahma's daughter flew up.

Brahma had two wives. The first was known under the name Saraswati. Brahma attracted her to perform rituals. One day she was not there. When the messenger called, the woman replied that she was busy getting dressed, and her husband’s question could wait. In anger, Brahma threatened Saraswati that he would find himself a new wife. She became Gayatri, the daughter of a sage. Saraswati learned about this event belatedly. There was a scandal, which was calmed down by Brahma's young wife. The girl accepted the second role and persuaded Saraswati to be lenient.

The legend about the appearance of death is associated with the name of Brahma. Immortal people overflowed the earth, and it was unable to accommodate everyone. Having called out to Brahma, the earth asked for help. Brahma became angry and his body caught fire, creating fires. Shiva suggested that Brahma solve the problem. We had to invent death so that people would be born and die. She appeared in the form of a woman from the body of Brahma. Her tears became diseases that brought death. The impartiality of death was reinforced by the fact that she became the mistress of justice.