Mahamrityunjaya666
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About Hindu Gods-Brahma
Brahma (ब्रह्मा) is part of the Hindu trinity of gods - the Trimurti, in which he appears in a scattering with Shiva the destroyer, and Vishnu, the maintainer.
Brahma is traditionally depicted as having four arms (holding a lotus flower, vedas, a mala rosary and a water storage vessel, all referring to spiritual practice and wisdom), four faces (representing the four elements, thus also the four cardinal points and even the four yuga) and four mouths ( allegorical for creation and the vibration of mantras), sitting on a lotus flower ( probably referring to the lotus of Sahasrara Chakra, relating to the fact that it was represented as emerging from Shiva's head ) in a chariot (in Sanskrit Vahana, which is emblematic of the god it represents. A good example would be in the case of the Nandi bull, Shiva's Vahana, representing virility and strength) pulled by divine swans (literally called Hamsa/Haum-Saum; Hāum corresponding to Shiva and ether and find placed in Sahasrara, while Sāum is the bija mantra of Shakti, in this case Chandra or Soma and find placed in Ajna Chakra. Note that there is also a symbol called Hamsa and it comprises the five elements that come together in the third eye. )
In some depictions he appears as having seven swans just like Varuna.
He is usually dressed in white, with a long white beard, denoting wisdom and knowledge but also the importance of purifying the soul of negative energy.
Brahma is depicted alongside Saraswati, who is his female energy ( shakti ) and is associated with the planet Mercury ( Buddha ) and governs awareness and higher intellect.
Brahma is the creative will and Saraswati is the intelligence (buddhi) that executes Brahma's will. Together they constitute the evolved human consciousness.
The Hindu books say that the world was destroyed by a terrible cataclysm and that Brahma had to recreate it. It is probably an allegory for the kundalini snake that has fallen from the Upper Chakras and Brahma (meaning spiritual practice) is the one who can raise it (hence the myth of its birth from a golden egg, denoting the raising of the kundalini snake back to the state before the ''cataclysm'').
There are some Hindu concepts that Brahma ''emerged'' from Vishnu's navel, referring to the lower Dantien ( and perhaps also to the step in MerKaBa Meditation where you have to place the energy in the navel area ) which is the giver of life and energy, as well as the solar plexus-the source of all existence.
In Hindu cosmology, the time of creation is recorded in the days and years of life of Brahma, who is the personified god of the Universe/Brahman ( note that Brahma and Brahman are written very similarly. In the Upanishads, Brahman is portrayed as eternal, self-existent, indestructible, undefinable, undeviating, omnipresent, supreme, pure. He is the source of all, the Creator. The word Brahman comes from the word 'brah' - which translates as 'to expand', referring to its infinite power and endless manifestations. )
A day in the life of Brahma is called Kalpa. Kalpa lasts for 4,320 million human years. One year of his life lasts 360 such days and nights. Brahma's life lasts 100 such years.
Another interesting version says that in reality, the world was born out of Brahma's exhalation ( allegorical for the vibration of words of power that open/ bring to life the chakras ), who stopped his dream for a day, but this day is definitely not the day we know. Brahma's day lasts two billion years on Earth.
Brahma is known as Kanja or born of water and Hiranyagarbha or the universal germ, because at the beginning of creation, he was born from the golden egg that emerged from the primordial waters. After manifesting, he created ''Vac'' (speech or sound), also called Saraswati. The goddess was so beautiful and graceful that he decided to make her his consort.
In the Upanishade, Brahma is identified with the qualities of the psyche ( Gunas )
These state that the universe arose out of darkness ( tamas ), first as passion characterized by innate quality ( rajas ), which then refined and differentiated into purity ( sattva ).
''Now then, that part of him which belongs to tamas, that, O students of sacred knowledge (Brahmacharins), is this Rudra.
That part of him which belongs to rajas, that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Brahma.
That part of him which belongs to sattva, that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Vishnu.
Verily, that One became threefold, became eightfold, elevenfold, twelvefold, into infinite fold.
This Being (neuter) entered all beings, he became the overlord of all beings.
That is the Atman (Soul, Self) within and without – yea, within and without! ''
— Maitri Upanishad 5.2
I also noticed that Brahma corresponds to the runes Mannaz (note the connection between Manas and Mannaz) and Kenaz (Brahma is a god of awareness).
Hindu gods often have more than one name to designate their qualities or characteristics or to refer to a particular episode in mythology.
Brahma is also known as Vedantha , which means the god of the Vedas (which he holds in his hand). At other times he is referred to as Brahmanarayan (represented as half Brahma and half Vishnu, i.e. the balance of the feminine and masculine part of the soul). He can also be the god of knowledge, Gyanishwar, or the god of the four faces, Chaturmukha. Finally, he is called Swayambhu, which means the one who is born alone, because in his creative act he generates himself, just as the pineal gland secretes amrita and brings youth.
In conclusion, the symbolism of Brahma defines many spiritual concepts hidden in descriptions and accounts of him. Brahma does not represent a particular god of ours. He embodies both certain spiritual concepts and the Universe itself.
Resources:
_____________________
1. The Upanishads
2. Brahmanda Purana
3. Brahma Purana
4. 27 Stars, 27 Gods: The Astrological Mythology of Ancient India-Vic Dicara.
Brahma (ब्रह्मा) is part of the Hindu trinity of gods - the Trimurti, in which he appears in a scattering with Shiva the destroyer, and Vishnu, the maintainer.
Brahma is traditionally depicted as having four arms (holding a lotus flower, vedas, a mala rosary and a water storage vessel, all referring to spiritual practice and wisdom), four faces (representing the four elements, thus also the four cardinal points and even the four yuga) and four mouths ( allegorical for creation and the vibration of mantras), sitting on a lotus flower ( probably referring to the lotus of Sahasrara Chakra, relating to the fact that it was represented as emerging from Shiva's head ) in a chariot (in Sanskrit Vahana, which is emblematic of the god it represents. A good example would be in the case of the Nandi bull, Shiva's Vahana, representing virility and strength) pulled by divine swans (literally called Hamsa/Haum-Saum; Hāum corresponding to Shiva and ether and find placed in Sahasrara, while Sāum is the bija mantra of Shakti, in this case Chandra or Soma and find placed in Ajna Chakra. Note that there is also a symbol called Hamsa and it comprises the five elements that come together in the third eye. )
In some depictions he appears as having seven swans just like Varuna.
He is usually dressed in white, with a long white beard, denoting wisdom and knowledge but also the importance of purifying the soul of negative energy.
Brahma is depicted alongside Saraswati, who is his female energy ( shakti ) and is associated with the planet Mercury ( Buddha ) and governs awareness and higher intellect.
Brahma is the creative will and Saraswati is the intelligence (buddhi) that executes Brahma's will. Together they constitute the evolved human consciousness.
The Hindu books say that the world was destroyed by a terrible cataclysm and that Brahma had to recreate it. It is probably an allegory for the kundalini snake that has fallen from the Upper Chakras and Brahma (meaning spiritual practice) is the one who can raise it (hence the myth of its birth from a golden egg, denoting the raising of the kundalini snake back to the state before the ''cataclysm'').
There are some Hindu concepts that Brahma ''emerged'' from Vishnu's navel, referring to the lower Dantien ( and perhaps also to the step in MerKaBa Meditation where you have to place the energy in the navel area ) which is the giver of life and energy, as well as the solar plexus-the source of all existence.
In Hindu cosmology, the time of creation is recorded in the days and years of life of Brahma, who is the personified god of the Universe/Brahman ( note that Brahma and Brahman are written very similarly. In the Upanishads, Brahman is portrayed as eternal, self-existent, indestructible, undefinable, undeviating, omnipresent, supreme, pure. He is the source of all, the Creator. The word Brahman comes from the word 'brah' - which translates as 'to expand', referring to its infinite power and endless manifestations. )
A day in the life of Brahma is called Kalpa. Kalpa lasts for 4,320 million human years. One year of his life lasts 360 such days and nights. Brahma's life lasts 100 such years.
Another interesting version says that in reality, the world was born out of Brahma's exhalation ( allegorical for the vibration of words of power that open/ bring to life the chakras ), who stopped his dream for a day, but this day is definitely not the day we know. Brahma's day lasts two billion years on Earth.
Brahma is known as Kanja or born of water and Hiranyagarbha or the universal germ, because at the beginning of creation, he was born from the golden egg that emerged from the primordial waters. After manifesting, he created ''Vac'' (speech or sound), also called Saraswati. The goddess was so beautiful and graceful that he decided to make her his consort.
In the Upanishade, Brahma is identified with the qualities of the psyche ( Gunas )
These state that the universe arose out of darkness ( tamas ), first as passion characterized by innate quality ( rajas ), which then refined and differentiated into purity ( sattva ).
''Now then, that part of him which belongs to tamas, that, O students of sacred knowledge (Brahmacharins), is this Rudra.
That part of him which belongs to rajas, that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Brahma.
That part of him which belongs to sattva, that O students of sacred knowledge, is this Vishnu.
Verily, that One became threefold, became eightfold, elevenfold, twelvefold, into infinite fold.
This Being (neuter) entered all beings, he became the overlord of all beings.
That is the Atman (Soul, Self) within and without – yea, within and without! ''
— Maitri Upanishad 5.2
I also noticed that Brahma corresponds to the runes Mannaz (note the connection between Manas and Mannaz) and Kenaz (Brahma is a god of awareness).
Hindu gods often have more than one name to designate their qualities or characteristics or to refer to a particular episode in mythology.
Brahma is also known as Vedantha , which means the god of the Vedas (which he holds in his hand). At other times he is referred to as Brahmanarayan (represented as half Brahma and half Vishnu, i.e. the balance of the feminine and masculine part of the soul). He can also be the god of knowledge, Gyanishwar, or the god of the four faces, Chaturmukha. Finally, he is called Swayambhu, which means the one who is born alone, because in his creative act he generates himself, just as the pineal gland secretes amrita and brings youth.
In conclusion, the symbolism of Brahma defines many spiritual concepts hidden in descriptions and accounts of him. Brahma does not represent a particular god of ours. He embodies both certain spiritual concepts and the Universe itself.
Resources:
_____________________
1. The Upanishads
2. Brahmanda Purana
3. Brahma Purana
4. 27 Stars, 27 Gods: The Astrological Mythology of Ancient India-Vic Dicara.
