God Brahma

Get to know Brahma, the god of creation, and his role in the Hindu pantheon. This article provides a comprehensive overview.

In Hinduism, Brahma is one of the three major Gods known as the Trimurthys. 

The other two Gods are Vishnu and Shiva. 

Brahma is the creator of the universe, while Vishnu is the preserver and Shiva is the destroyer. 

Together, they represent the cycle of birth, life, and death.

Who created Lord Brahma?

Brahma and Ramayana

It was Brahma who encouraged Valmiki to compose the Ramayana. 

Valmiki cursed a hunter who had killed one among a pair of birds.

His curse came out in the form of a poetic stanza.

This was the first ever poem composed.

When Brahma heard this, he encouraged Valmiki to compose the life story of Lord Rama in the same format (poem).

That is Ramayana.

Brahma gives boon to Ravana

Ravana did tapas to propitiate Brahma.

He asked for a boon from Brahma that no Deva, Asura, Gandharwa, or Yaksha should be able to kill him.

Brahma granted him this boon.

But Ravana had forgotten to include 'man' in his list.

That's why Lord Vishnu incarnated in the form of man (Rama) and killed him.

Brahma loses his fifth head

Brahma curses Vijayalakshmi

Vijayalakshmi, the goddess of victory had become negligent in her duties.

Brahma cursed her and she took birth as Lankalakshmi.

She became the guard at the gate of Ravana's palace.

She got relief from the curse when Hanuman struck her when she tried to stop him.

Brahma curses the daughters of Himavan

Himavan had three daughters: Kutila, Ragini, and Parvathy.

All three of them observed tapas together to get Shiva as their husband.

The Devas first took Kutila to Brahma.

Brahma said that she is not strong enough to bear a child from Shiva.

Brahma told her to refrain from further tapas.

She did not agree.

Brahma turned her into water in Satyaloka.

Then the Devas took Ragini to Brahma.

Brahma gave the same verdict about her also.

She also did not obey.

Brahma turned her into the twilight.

Parvathy was the eligible one and she became the wife of Shiva.

Brahma blesses Parvathy with a fair complexion

Devi Parvathy was originally of dark complexion (Kali).

Once, Shiva teased her about this.

She did tapas propitiated Brahma and got a fair complexion (Gowri).

The abode of Brahma

Age of Brahma

Brahma's creation

Brahma's creation are of two types -

Sarga - this creation takes place once in the morning of the very first day of Brahma and lasts till his lifetime (100 years).

Pratisarga - this creation happens at the beginning of each Kalpa and is dissolved at its end.

What is created in Sarga

• Sanakas
• Kardama
• Marichi
• Atri
• Angiras
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu
• Bhrigu
• Vasistha
• Daksh
• Narada
• Dharma
• Adharm
• Nirrti
• Sarasvati
• Kama
• Atharva
• Pitrus
• Agni
• Sthanu
• Svayambhuva

What is created in Pratisarga

• Bhuloka
• Bhuvarloka
• Swarloka
• Plants
• Animals
• Humans
• Minerals

Highlights

• From the passion of Brahma, Sarasvati was born and Brahma married her.
• In the burning of the Tripuras, Brahma was the charioteer of Siva.
• Brahma went to the ashrama of Vyasa, and advised him to compose Mahabharata and to propagate it in the world. 
• It was Brahma who asked Ganapati to act as the scribe of Vyasa. 
• Daksha was born from the right thumb of Brahma and from his left thumb was born the wife of Daksha.
• Dharmadeva incarnated from the right breast of Brahma. 
• Visvakarma created Tilottama according to the instruction of Brahma. 
• When Agni suffered from indigestion, Brahma instructed that he should consume Khandava forest as a cure.
• It was according to the instruction of Brahma that the devas went to Dadhichi and requested for his bone.
• Brahma was the father of Pulastya and the great-grandfather of Ravana. 
• During Ramavatara, Brahma instructed the Devas to take birth as monkeys. 

Names of Brahma

• Brahma -  he who increases.
• Atmabhu -  born of his own accord or born of the Supreme Spirit.
• Surajyestha - he who came into being before all the Suras (Gods).
• Paramesthin-  he who dwells in the world of truth or Parama.
• Pitamaha - grandfather.
• Hiranyagarbha - born from a golden egg.
• Lokesa - the Lord of the worlds.
• Svayambhu - who is born of himself.
• Chaturanana - who has four faces.
• Dhata - who holds or bears everything.
• Abjayoni - born from lotus, 
• Druhina - who hurts the Asuras.
• Viranci - he who creates.
• Kamalasana - who sits on lotus.
• Srishta - he who creates.
• Prajapati - lord of creation.
• Vedha - he who creates.
• Vidhata - who acts.
• Visvasrik - who creates the world.
• Vidhi - he who  decides or judges.
• Nabhijanma - born from the navel of Visnu.
• Andaja - born from an egg.
• Hamsavahana - who has swan as his vehicle.

In conclusion, Brahma is an important God in Hinduism, representing the creator of the universe. 

His role in the creation of the universe, as well as his age and time units, are described in various texts and stories. 

Despite being one of the three major deities in Hinduism, Brahma is not as widely worshiped as Vishnu and Shiva, perhaps due to the belief that his work of creation is completed at the beginning of each kalpa. Nonetheless, his influence on Hindu thought and culture is significant.

What is the relationship between Ravana and Brahma?

Brahma is Ravana's great-grandfather. Ravana's grandfather Pulastya is Brahma's son.

Which place in Uttar Pradesh is known as the birthplace of Ravana?

Bisrakh village in Greater Noida.