Hindu mythology contains thousands of gods and goddesses, everyone associated with all the living and non-living aspects of the universe. It is always fascinating to think about how it all started. Any questions arise when we think of myths in Hindu Mythology. Surprisingly, almost everyone knows what Hindu Mythology is about, but not everyone knows everything about it, nor is it a compulsion to know everything. But, if you still want to dive deep into the religious roots, this article is for you; it talks about the origin of the said ‘First God Brahma’ and the creation of the universe by him.

1) Who is Brahma?

Brahma is believed to be the first of the Hindu Trimurti. The Trimurti or Triumvirate consists of three gods: Brahma- the creator; Vishnu- the maintainer or the preserver; and Shiva, also known as Mahesh- the destroyer. He is considered one of the supreme gods in the Hindu religion. Although Brahma is a part of the Trinity, he is not widely worshipped by people. Brahma’s four arms, four heads, and a beard are not only mere representations but are associated with different aspects of Hindu Mythology and have philosophical meanings. He is often represented seated on a Lotus alongside goddess Saraswati (daughter of Brahma), who is shown sitting on a Swan.

2) Brahma- the First God in Hindu Trimurti

The Hindu religion regards Brahma as an important god. The three gods in the Hindu Trimurti are to be taken as co-equals, as none of them is superior to the other. On the contrary, the ancient texts dedicated to these gods represent their primary subject god as the first god.

The reason for mistakenly considering Brahma as the First God in the Trimurti may be due to his connection with the creation of the universe.

Some myths that can be considered to support the statement are –

In Hindu cosmology, the concept of time is vast and cyclical, measured according to Brahma’s lifespan as a unit. One day of Brahma’s life, or One Kalpa, consists of 4.32 billion human years. One year of Brahma’s life consists of 360 of these Kalpa, and Brahma’s lifespan is hundreds of these years.

Brahma creates the world after its destruction. The globe takes four yugas to come to an end.

Brahma is also the creator of the Vedas- ancient Hindu texts and the Mind and Intellect.

3) What is the Origin of Brahma?

In Hindu Mythology, Brahma is considered a timeless deity whose origin cannot be traced but can still be interpreted based on his mention in the oldest Hindu texts, the Vedas. The Vedas are believed to date back to 1500-1200 BCE.

Out of all ancient Hindu literature, the Puranas discuss the legends of major gods of Hindu Mythology. Brahma took birth from a “Divine Egg” named “Hiranyagarbha,” translated as a ‘golden embryo’ or ‘golden egg’. The egg is considered the world state’s main symbol, and it comes from the navel of Vishnu, who rests upon the divine waters.

4) How Did Brahma Create the Universe

Brahma then set tasks to organize and separate the fundamental elements of the universe. These include dividing the cosmic egg into the heavens and the earth.

Brahma is also said to have created celestial bodies such as the Sun, Moon, Stars, Planets, and Galaxies. These heavenly bodies are believed to influence the cosmic order and the cycles of time and seasons.

After creating the physical universe, Brahma proceeded to develop the living beings. His stories may vary from text to text; some of the common myths about the creation of living beings are-

• The divine thought of Brahma—It is said that Brahma created beings from his thoughts. These mind children of Brahma came to be known as Manasputras.
• It is said that Brahma created different living beings, such as humans, demons, and animals, from other parts of his body, such as his thighs and skin.
• Prajapatis were considered semi-gods who were assigned the task of populating the universe. They were said to have been created by Brahma.
• In some myths, it is said that Brahma created living beings by chanting sacred mantras.

Brahma assigned specific duties to each created being, establishing the order and functioning of the universe. Manu, the first man, was given the work to spread righteousness and maintain law and order in society. It is believed that Manu wrote ‘Manusmriti,’ translated as ‘Law of Manu,’ the ultimate Sanskrit law code.

5) The Four Heads of Brahma

The depiction of Brahma with Four Heads symbolizes distinctive features associated with Hindu mythology and iconography.

One head of Brahma denotes his role in knowledge and wisdom. He created the “Vedas,” ancient Hindu scriptures that are the most reliable source of Hindu philosophy, ritual, and culture.

The other head of Brahma depicts the creation of the universe. The head represents Brahma as the creator of the universe, including the celestial bodies, all physical elements, and living beings.

The Third head represents Brahma’s association with time. In Hindu cosmology, time is cyclic and periodic, with a continuous wheel of creation and Preservation. Brahma controls the cosmic cycle.

The fourth head is symbolic of the creation of the mind and intellect.

6) Titles of Brahma

Various Hindu scriptures account for the gods in the triumvirate, such as the Vedas (Rig Veda specifically), Puranas ( Shiva Purana, Vishnu Purana, Brahma Purana), Tantric texts like Agama literature, Dharmashashtras, and many other philosophical works. These texts provide information about the titles associated with the gods.

Some titles relating to Brahma are-

• Hiranyagarbha– This epithet represents his birth from the cosmic egg, namely Hiranyagarbha.
• Svayambhu means self-born, meaning no one creates Brahma but has self-emerged.
• Prajapati– Brahma is the father of all living beings.
• Chaturmukha– This epithet represents Brahma as a Four-Headed being.
• Vedanatha– Brahma is considered the “Lord of the Vedas”.
• Brahmanaspati—Brahma is often associated with various hymns, rituals, and worship. Hence, he is considered the lord of sacred mantras or prayers.

7) Are there any Temples Dedicated to Brahma?

Although Brahma is not considered the first deity, nor is he widely worshipped in Hinduism, he receives importance as the creator of the universe. Therefore, there are very few temples that are specifically dedicated to him-

Brahma temple in Pushkar, Rajasthan, attracts worshippers annually. The temple was constructed based on information related to Lord Brahma, which was mentioned in the Padma Purana.

The Brahma Temple in Khokhan, Himachal Pradesh, is known as the Adi Brahma Temple, which is said to have been built by Raja Ban Sen of Mandi.

The temple of Vishnu in Kerala, where Lord Brahma is believed to have performed a sacrifice ritual, is the construction of a small shrine dedicated to him on the premises of Thirunavaya Temple.

8) Other Gods in the Trimurti

Among the three gods in the Trimurti, Vishu is known for the Preservation of the universe. Its central role is maintaining and preserving the cosmic cycle—Vishnu’s significant role in upholding the dharma and balancing the universe. Lord Vishnu is known for the avatars he has taken to establish dharma and protect righteousness. He is believed to have taken fourteen prominent incarnations till now. Some of his famous avatars are Rama and Krishna, which played a significant role in harmony. Vishnu is often depicted wielding various weapons, which shows his role as a protector of the universe and righteousness.

He is also depicted reclining on a Serpent, Sesha, floating on cosmic waters with his consort, Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and fortune, symbolizing omnipresence. Vishnu is known for his goal of directing people toward the path of liberation.

Along with Brahma and Vishnu, Shiva or Mahesh is also responsible for maintaining the universe. However, Shiva is associated with the universe’s destruction at the end of the divine cycle. Shiva’s role as the destroyer is a necessary change for regeneration or recreation. Destruction is a central aspect of Shiva’s role, which is also about transformation and renovation. He destroys old things and aspects of existence to create a space for new and better things.

Shiva is depicted as an ascetic yogi who meditates deeply in the Himalayas. The meditative state symbolizes the transcendent aspects of consciousness to attain spiritual liberation. Shiva is always shown with his consort, Parvati. The union of Parvati and Shiva denotes fertility and creation. Shiva is also associated with a cosmic dance of creation and destruction, Tandava. Shiva is the Lord of Time, hence, named- Mahakala. His represents the cyclic nature of existence.

9) Conclusion

The Hindu Trimurti consists of the three great gods: Brahma, the creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Mahesh, the destroyer. One is considered superior or inferior to the other or the ‘First’ god. Instead, they are given equal significance in Hindu Mythology as the maintainers of the universe’s cosmic cycle.

Last Updated on April 6, 2024 by AnoushkaRoy