Search e-Library

Brahma : the Eternal’s Personality of Existence, the Power of the Divine that stands behind formation & the creation. “Brahmā, Vishnu, & Shiva, are only three Powers & Personalities of the One Cosmic Godhead…. All three are often spoken of as creating the universe – even Shiva who is by tradition the Destroyer.” [SABCL 22:390-91] The Vedas & Brāhmaṇas describe Brahmā as born of Hiraṇyagarbhā, the Golden Egg; they name him variously as Prajāpati, Brāhmaṇaspati etc. The Shatapatha Brāhmaṇa says that Brahma was born of the Supreme Being Brahman & the female energy known as Maya. Wishing to create the universe, Brahman first created the water, in which he placed his seed. This seed transformed into a golden egg, from which Brahma appeared. For this reason, Brahma is also known as ‘Hiraṇyagarbhā’. Later scriptures describe him as self-born out of a lotus that issued from Lord Vishnu’s navel, hence often depict him as seated on a lotus. The Vedas are attributed to Brahmā, & he is thus regarded as the father of Dharma. In order to help him govern the universe he created, he gave birth to his Mānasputras (mind-born sons) – the eleven Prajāpatis (forefathers) & the Saptarishis. Brahmā presides over Brahmalōka. The universe he creates is believed to exist for a single Brahmakalpa (a year equivalent to four billion earth-years) at the end of which it gets dissolved in a Pralaya, 100 such years is said to Brahma’s lifespan. After Brahma’s “death”, it is necessary that another 100 of his years pass until he is reborn & the whole creation begins anew. The Linga Purana says that Brahmā’s life is divided in one thousand cycles or Mahā Yugas. Note: Brahmā, nominative of the masculine noun Brahman, is not to be confused with Brahman, the neuter noun, which is the Ultimate Reality.