Post No. 15,133
Date uploaded in London – 30 October 2025
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Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.
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BRAHMA- First Part
God of creation; one of the Trinity, Brahma Vishnu Shiva.
Temples at Pushkar, Rajasthan, Brahmapureeswar in Tamil Nadu; all South Indian Saivite temples have Brahma’s statues.
No proper worship; like Archana, Sahasranama, Puja etc.
Sung by saints in all Saivite hymns as one searching for Shiva’s head along with Vishnu in Boar form searching for His feet; but both failed.
Brahma lied and so he was cursed that he won’t be worshipped on earth.
His abode is Satya Loka up above the earth. He has an end unlike Shiva and Vishnu. A new Brahma takes over.
But his life span in human years is very huge.
His wife is Sarsvati, Goddess of Wisdom and Education.
Brahma is portrayed as Prajapathi in the Vedas.
Now he is shown with four heads because one of his five heads was chopped off by Lord Shiva according to Tamil verses.
His references are in Tamil Sangam literature, Tirukkural, Tevaram, Tiruvasagam etc.
When he insulted others, Shiva cut off his fifth head. That happened at Tirukkandiyur near Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu according to Sthala Puranas (local temple legends). His beautiful figure is at that place.
When he failed to tell the meaning of Aum- Pranava mantra—he was imprisoned by Skanda, Shiva’s son; later released at the request of Devas.
He created Sapta Rishis from whom humans were created.
Tamil Encyclopaedia Abhidhana Chintamani of Singara velu Mudaliyar gives 67 points about Brahma.
His vehicle is swan (Hamsa);
He came from the belly of Vishnu on top of a lotus flower. In Tamil Tirukkural as Malarmisai ekinaan.
He gave boons to lot of Devas and Demons.
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More about Brahma’s appearance
Brahma , distinct from Brahman, the all pervading Eternal Spirit, is the first member of the Hindu Triad. His principal function is Creation. Independent shrines dedicated to him are rare. Still figures of Brahma are commonly found decorating one of the niches in the north wall of the central shrine in Siva temples. Images of Brahma are sometimes seen on pillars, ceilings and other parts of the temple. But he is not worshipped as a chief deity except one or two temples in India.
According to Maanasaara, one of the standard works on sculpture, Brahma is represented with four hands. He has, however, one body with four heads. The image may be standing or seated. The form of the left lower hand exhibits the posture of conferring boons (Varada Mudra) while the right lower indicates protection (Abhaya mudra). The corresponding upper hands hold the water pot (Kamandalu) and the rosary (Akhsamaalaa) or sometimes the sacrificial ladle (Srik) and spoon (Sruva).
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The following ornaments are seen in the finished picture of Brahma:
Earrings or pendants fashioned like the face of a crocodile.
The sacred thread, Yajnasutra, hanging right across the body from the left shoulder;
The scarf (Uttariiya) thrown round the neck so as to stretch down to the knees;
The utarabandhana, or literally girdle going round the belly;
Necklace and torque;
Armlets, arm-rings, wristlets, anklets, waist zone, finger rings set with gem stones etc.
His hair is made up in the fashion of Jataa-Makuta and he is attended by two goddesses Sarasvati on the right and Saavitri on the left.
Another representation shows Brahma riding a chariot drawn by Seven Swans (hamsa). He is seated on a full blown lotus flower (Tamil Tirukkral refers to it) , his eyes closed in a meditative posture. Goddess Saavitri is seated on his left thigh. There are various other representations of Brahma drawn purely from the imagination of the sculptor or painter, sometimes also based on puranic legends.
To be continued……………
Tags- Brahma, First part, Sarasvati, lotus flower, ornaments, Four heads, Hinduism through 500 Pictures in Tamil and English; படங்கள் மூலம் இந்து மதம் கற்போம் – Part 19
Tamil and Vedas 