God
Brahma
According
to Purans :
Brahma
is the god, first represented in the Hindu Triad. He is the creator
of the universe and all living beings are said to have evolved from
him.
Brahma is considered having four heads with white beard and four
arms. His hands hold a kamandal, a rosary, a sacrificial ladle and
the Vedas. Brahma is sometimes depicted as sitting on a lotus. The
four Vedas are said to have originated from his head. The four castes
are also believed to have originated from Brahma. The Brahmin's
from his head, the Kshatriyas from his arms, the Vaishyas from his
thighs, and the Shudras from his feet.
Lord
Brahma's one day is called a kalp, the creation of Brahma is called
vikalp and the creation of the total creation is called mahakalp.
In
the Skand Puran, Brahma's thirty days are mentioned :
1.
Svet Varaha Kalp |
11.
Dhyan Kalp |
21.
Som Kalp |
2.
Nilalohit Kalp |
12.
Sarasvat Kalp |
22.
Bhavan Kalp |
3.
Vamadev Kalp |
13.
Udan Kalp |
23.
Supuma Kalp |
4.
Gathantar Kalp |
14.
Garud Kalp |
24.
Vaikunth Kalp |
5.
Raurav Kalp |
15.
Kaurm Kalp |
25.
Arcisa Kalp |
6.
Pran Kalp |
16.
Narasimha Kalp |
26.
Vali Kalp |
7.
Brhat Kalp |
17.
Samadhi Kalp |
27.
Vairaj Kalp |
8.
Kandarp Kalp |
18.
Agneya Kalp |
28.
Gauri Kalp |
9.
Sadyat Kalp |
19.
Visnuj Kalp |
29.
Maheshwar Kalp |
10.
Isan Kalp |
20.
Saur Kalp |
30.
Paitr Kalp |
Each
day of Brahma is a duration of one thousand divya yugs. A divya yug
comprises of one thousand of the four yugas. The same duration comprises
his night.
In
the beginning Brahma created the four Kumars; Sanak, Sanand, Sanatan
and Sanat Kumar.
Brahma
asked his four sons to generate progeny. The Kumars declined so, Brahma
created his 10 mind born sons.
Brahma's
mind born sons are the seers Mareeci, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulah,
Kratu, Pracetas known as Daksh, Vashisht, Bhrgu and Naarad.
From
Brahma's body came his nine sons Daksh, Dharma, Kama, Anger, Greed,
Delusion (Maya), Lust, Joy, Death and Bharat and one daughter called
Angaja.
Some
accounts also say that Agni is the first son of Brahma. Agni was married
to Swaha and has three sons Pavak, Pavaman and Suchi. Swadha was his
second wife. Both his wives are invoked while pouring oblations in
the fire or making offerings in Yagna and other religious rituals.
Brahma
created 1 Prajapati and 9 Brahmins, who are believed to be the fathers
of the human race. Their names, according to the Manusmriti are Marichi,
Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulah, Kratu, Vasishth, Daksh, Bhrigu, and
Narad. These are believed to be born from the mind of Brahma. He is
also believed to have created the Saptarishi or seven great sages
to help him create the universe.
The world is said to exist for one kalp or one day in the life of
Brahma. At the end of a kalp the whole world is destroyed. Brahma
is then believed to go to sleep for one night which is as long as
a kalp. When he awakens he recreates the world. This process (pralaya)
is repeated for 100 years of Brahma which is the life span of one
Brahma. Then everything dissolves into its constituent elements. This
whole process is repeated unendingly.
Brahma's abode is known as Brahmalok, which is said to contain all
the splendors of earth and of the heavens of the other gods. His vehicle
or vahan is a white swan or goose which has magical abilities. The
swan or goose can separate som and milk from water. Therefore this
bird is also a symbol of sifting good from evil. Unlike other deities
Brahma does not have a weapon. Being the lord of sacrifices he is
identified with a scepter in the form of a spoon.
His consort is Sarasvati the goddess of wisdom and science, the mother
of the Veds, and the inventor of the Devanagari script. She is represented
as a fair woman with four arms, dressed in white and seated on a white
lotus. As goddess of the arts she is shown playing or holding a veena.
In one of her right hands she holds a book of palm leaves and in the
other a lotus. In her left hand she has a string of pearls and a damaru.