Brahma is one of the most important god of the Hindu trinity, the others being Visnu and Siva. He is the creator of the universe and possesses the knowledge of the Vedas. Sarasvati happens to be his spouse. He is known as Prajapati in the Vedic literature while with Puranic literature he is mostly known as Brahma, who emerged from the navel of Visnu seated over a lotus. He earned a blemish because of his incestuous relationship with his own daughter as a result of which his worship was limited to a few places in India like Puskara and others.
Shantilal Nagar, a graduate of the Punjab University. served in the curatorial capacity in the Central Asian Antiquities Museum, New Delhi, Archaeological Museum. Nalanda, and Archaeological Section of the Indian Museum, Calcutta for a number of years. He has to his credit the scientific documentation of over fifty thousand antiquities, in these museums, representing the rich cultural heritage of the country and comprising of sculptures, bronzes, terracottas, beads, seals and sealing, ancient Indian numismatics, wood work, miniatures and paintings, textiles and Pearce collection of gems, ranging from the earliest times to the late medieval period. He was awarded, in 1987, a fellowship for his monograph on the Temples of Himachal Pradesh by the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi. He has authored more than fifty books.
The three Supreme gods Brahma, Visnu, and Siva occupy a peculiar position in the Hindu religious thought, highly exalted above the rest of the gods and the divine beings. Brahma, who is believed to be the creator of the world is also known as Prajapati, Pitamaha, Hiranyagarbha of the Vedas and Brahmanas. He had his origin and the basis in speculation rather than in the popular cult, and therefore he did not appeal, inspite of his sublime character, to the religions feelings of the masses. Hence, the worship of Brahma has become all but extinct, and the worshippers of Siva and Visnu, in whatever from they adore their favourite deity form the overwhelming majority of the Hindus.
Not withstanding these sectarian tendencies, the three supreme gods are regarded in principle as of equal dignity and forming as such a kind of trial, which in the doctrine of Trimūrti has been acknowledged since about the fifth century A.D. There were contradictory elements already in the conception of Prajapati of the Brahmanas. For sometime he is identified with the Universe and described as the source out of which creation evolved. Sometimes, he is regarded as the secondary deity subordinate to Brahman. The same holds good with Brahma of the later mythology. Brahmā proceeded from Brahman, the first cause, and on the other hand, he is vaguely identified with it whence he is called Svayambhu, Self-born or (unborn) Aja.
Vedas (1216)
Upanishads (507)
Puranas (634)
Ramayana (759)
Mahabharata (372)
Dharmasastras (167)
Goddess (519)
Bhakti (251)
Saints (1558)
Gods (1310)
Shiva (392)
Journal (181)
Fiction (62)
Vedanta (383)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist