Brahma is a creator deity in Hinduism and is part of the trinity of Devas called the Trimurti, alongside Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer.
Overview[]
His vahana (animal mount) is the divine goose Hamsa, and he is responsible for granting many boons to devas, humans, and Asuras alike and for creating many things, even demons being created from his body parts. For instance, according to the Ramayana, the Rakshasa race was created from Brahma's foot.
Strangely, even though he is the creator god and one of the Trimurti, few Hindus actually worship him and there are very few temples dedicated to him today as opposed to the countless temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva, along with their Shakti (consorts).
Description[]
While Brahma is often credited as one of the creators of the prime universe and various beings in it that are associated with him, several scriptures describe him being born from a lotus emerging from the navel of the god Vishnu. Other scriptures suggest that he is born from Shiva or his aspects, or he is a supreme god in diverse versions of Hindu mythology. Brahma, along with all deities, is sometimes viewed as a form (saguna) of the otherwise formless (nirguna) Brahman, the ultimate metaphysical reality and cosmic soul in Advaita philosophy.
Brahma is traditionally depicted with four faces and four arms. Each face of his points to a cardinal direction. His hands hold no weapons, rather symbols of knowledge and creation. In one hand he holds the sacred texts of Vedas, in second he holds mala (rosary beads) symbolizing time, in third he holds a ladle symbolizing means to feed sacrificial fire, and in fourth a utensil with water symbolizing the means where all creation emanates from. His four mouths are credited with creating the four Vedas. He is often depicted with a white beard, implying his sage like experience.