by C.V.Rajan

Created on: September 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 19, 2008

In Hinduism, God is the omnipresent and the omnipotent who creates, protects and destroys the worlds and the beings. The Creation function of God is worshiped as Brahma; The Protection/sustenance aspect of God is worshiped as Vishnu and the Destruction aspect of God is worshiped as Siva.

BRAHMA - THE CREATOR:

He is described as four headed, representing the four Vedas. According to mythology, Brahma created out of his mind power eleven male children called prajapatis who in turn fathered the human race. Sage Narada, a very popular figure in most of the mythologies, who lives eternally singing the praise of lord Vishnu is one of the illustrious prajapatis.

Brahma is depicted as having four hands. One hand holds a ladle used for pouring ghee into sacred sacrificial fire; the second hand carries a water pot, depicted to contain ether that forms the basis of creation. The third hand carries a rosary and the forth hand carries the Vedas.

Worshipers of Vishnu treat Brahma as one who was created by Vishnu out from his Navel. In pictures and sculptures, he is normally shown as being seated in a lotus flower that has its stem emanating from the navel of Vishnu. The Female aspect of Brahma (his wife) is Saraswati and she is the Goddess of learning and art. Seeking the blessings of Saraswati is normally practiced for getting success in education and fine arts.

Though Brahma is considered first of the holy trinities, worship of Brahma as a popular deity is not widely in practice in India. There is a popular mythological story among saivaites (those who worship lord Shiva as the prime deity) which gives the reason why Brahma is not worshiped as popular God in temples.

Lord Shiva once took the form of a massive pillar of fire whose bottom and top appeared infinite. Both lord Vishnu and Brahma took it a challenge to find the beginning and end of this fire. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and went downwards digging the earth to find the bottom of the fire. Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and flew higher and higher in search of the top of the fire. Both could not succeed. Lord Vishnu came back and surrendered to Lord Shiva, expressing his inability to grasp the infinite aspect of Lord Shiva.

However, Brahma, on account of his egotism that prevented him from accepting defeat, asked a kaitha flower that was falling from heaven (which he encountered during his upward journey) to go and report to Shiva that Brahma had indeed seen the top of the fire form.

The story goes that the all-knowing lord Shiva cursed Brahma for his falsehood, stating that he would hence forth never be worshiped by any beings.

Thus Brahma remains just a God of the mythologies with no religious followers unlike Vishnu and Shiva who are very widely worshiped as prime Gods.

It must be stated here that one should not confuse Lord Brahma with "Brahman" of the Upanishads. In Upanishads, Brahman represents the all pervading and all encompassing singular God who is beyond name and form.

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