KarmaVaani
Vedic tradition
ब्रह्माBrahma
Prajapati · Svayambhu · Chaturmukha · Pitamaha
The creator within the trimurti, born from the lotus of Vishnu's navel.
- Abode
- Brahmaloka (Satyaloka)
- Consort
- Saraswati
- Vahana
- Hamsa (swan)
- Colour
- Red-gold
- Arms
- 4
Brahma is the creator of the trimurti, who shapes the worlds and all beings at the start of each cycle of time. Born on a lotus rising from Vishnu's navel, he has four faces that look in every direction and recite the four Vedas. He is rarely worshipped in temples of his own; Pushkar in Rajasthan is the best known.
Mantra
ॐ ब्रह्मणे नमः
Om Brahmane Namaha
Salutations to Brahma, the creator.
How Brahma is shown
A bearded elder with four faces, seated on a lotus, in white or red cloth.
- The Vedas (a book)
- Knowledge as the blueprint of creation.
- Kamandalu (water pot)
- The waters from which all life begins.
- Akshamala (rosary)
- Time, counted bead by bead.
- Sruk (ladle)
- Sacrifice, through which the world is sustained.
Stories
The pillar of fire
Brahma and Vishnu once argued over who was greater. A pillar of fire appeared between them, without beginning or end. Vishnu dived to find its base and Brahma flew to find its top; neither could. Shiva emerged from the pillar, the first linga.
