Brahma: Creator of the Universe (2024)

The Vedas believe in a formless Supreme God. It is difficult for an average devotee to understand and imagine a formless God. So, a concept of God with form—Ishvara—developed. This concept further developed into a trinity of gods; Brahma—the creator, Vishnu—the preserver, and Shiva—the destroyer.
The most important function of Brahma is creating the universe. One of the popular creation myths says that the universe is created, destroyed and then recreated in an endless series of cycles.

At the dawn of Brahma’s day, a hum of Om starts in the ocean of milk on which Vishnu is resting in celestial sleep. A lotus grows out of his navel from which emerges Brahma. Brahma stretches the three petals of the lotus into earth, sky and heaven. He also creates all life on earth. Some versions say that Brahma is swayambhu (self-born) or that he hatched from the hiranyagarbha (golden cosmic egg) that floated on the primal waters.

The universe endures for the length of Brahma’s day which is 4.32 billion earth years. At the end of the day, the universe is destroyed. This is called pralaya. Brahma rests for a night which is as long as his day. Then he recreates the world. This repeats every day for the entire life span of Brahma which is hundred Brahma years or 311,040 billion earth years. After the death of Brahma, a hundred Brahma years must elapse before a new Brahma is born and the cycle repeats itself.

Brahma is said to be the source of all the knowledge that exists in this world. He has four faces, one pointing in each of the major directions. His vehicle is swan which is said to have the power to separate milk from water. Unlike Vishnu or Shiva, Brahma carries no weapons. Instead, he holds in his hands a lotus flower, symbolising the lotus from which Brahma himself evolved, a kamandala (water pot), signifying water’s role in creating life, the Vedas, representing knowledge and a string of rosary beads, symbolising the cycle of time.

Despite Brahma’s important role in creation, he is much less popular today than the other two gods of the trinity. There are very few temples devoted to Brahma eg, Pushkar (Rajasthan), Tirunavaya (Kerala), Bangkok (Thailand), Prambanan (Java) and Angkor Vat (Cambodia). While there are mythological stories that say it is due to a curse, perhaps some reason is to be found in human psychology. It is possible that our sense of gratitude for the act of creation in the past is not as strong as the hope of advancement to be gained by worshipping Vishnu or the fear of destruction at the hands of Shiva!

Brahma: Creator of the Universe (2024)

FAQs

Is it true that Brahma created the universe? ›

Early texts like Brahmananda Purana describe that there was nothing but an eternal ocean. From this, a golden egg called Hiranyagarbha, emerged. The egg broke open and Brahma, who had created himself within it, came into existence (gaining the name Svayambhu). Then, he created the universe, the earth, and other things.

What was Brahma the creator of? ›

Brahma the creator

In the beginning, Brahma sprang from the cosmic golden egg and he then created good and evil and light and dark from his own person. He also created the four types: gods, demons, ancestors and men, the first of whom was Manu. Brahma then made all the other living creatures upon the earth.

Was created by Brahma the creator who made the universe out of himself? ›

For Hindus the universe was created by Brahma, the creator who made the universe out of himself. After Brahma created the world, it is the power of Vishnu which preserves the world and human beings. As part of the cycle of birth, life and death it is Shiva who will ultimately destroy the universe.

Which god is the father of the universe? ›

Father of Universe in Hindu Mythology – Lord Shiva

Lord Shiva is considered to be the Father of Universe because of His pivotal role as the creator and regenerator of the universe according to Hindu scriptures. He is seen as the primordial cosmic dancer whose divine rhythmic movements gave birth to creation itself.

Who is the real creator of the world? ›

God is often believed to be the cause of all things and so is seen as the creator, sustainer, and ruler of the universe. God is often thought of as incorporeal and independent of the material creation, while pantheism holds that God is the universe itself.

What will happen after 100 years of Brahma? ›

This repeats every day for the entire life span of Brahma which is hundred Brahma years or 311,040 billion earth years. After the death of Brahma, a hundred Brahma years must elapse before a new Brahma is born and the cycle repeats itself. Brahma is said to be the source of all the knowledge that exists in this world.

Which God created the world? ›

Vishnu is the primary creator. According to Vaishnava belief Vishnu creates the basic universal shell and provides all the raw materials and also places the living entities within the material world, fulfilling their own independent will.

Which God came first in the world? ›

Brahma is the Hindu creator god. He is also known as the Grandfather and as a later equivalent of Prajapati, the primeval first god. In early Hindu sources such as the Mahabharata, Brahma is supreme in the triad of great Hindu gods which includes Shiva and Vishnu.

Who were the first humans created by Brahma? ›

According to the Matsya Purana, sage Manu was the first man (and the first human) created by God. In the above Purana it was mentioned that Lord Brahma created, using his divine powers, the Goddess Shatrupa (as Saraswati was first called) and out of the union of Brahma and Shatrupa was born Manu.

Which God is the only true god? ›

Jesus upheld Biblical monotheism when he prayed to his Father, “This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Who created God? ›

We ask, "If all things have a creator, then who created God?" Actually, only created things have a creator, so it's improper to lump God with his creation. God has revealed himself to us in the Bible as having always existed. Ray Comfort, author and evangelist, writes: No person or thing created God.

Who is the creator of Jesus? ›

Christian theology includes the beliefs that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born of a virgin named Mary, performed miracles, founded the Christian Church, died by crucifixion as a sacrifice to achieve atonement for sin, rose from the dead, and ascended into Heaven, from where he will return.

Who is the 1 God in universe? ›

Brahman [21], the main God of Hindu governs the whole the universe and keep it together. All good people will eventually join Brahman. Other Gods, each one has a specific power, for example, Brahman (creator) is viewed as the God of creation in Hinduism.

Who is God the true Father? ›

In much of modern Christianity, God is addressed as the Father, in part because of his active interest in human affairs on the earth, in the way that a father would take an interest in his children who are dependent on him and as a father, he will respond to humanity, his children, acting in their best interests.

How old is Brahma God? ›

Age of Brahma is 100 years. Each year of Brahma has 360 days and same number of nights. Thus, total age of Brahma is 360 * 100 * 8.64 billion = 311,040 billion human years. i.e. 311.04 trillion years.

Is Brahman the source of the universe? ›

The universe and the Self inside each being is Brahman, and the universe and the Self outside each being is Brahman. Brahman is the origin and end of all things, material and spiritual.

Who created the universe? ›

According to the Book of Genesis, God created the universe - and all the heavenly bodies, the sun, the moon, and the stars - in six days. But according to contemporary cosmologists the universe began with a great explosion known as the Big Bang, after which the stars and galaxies slowly formed over billions of years.

Who created the whole universe in Hinduism? ›

Traditionally, Brahma is the creator, from whom the universe and the four Vedas emerge.

Who is the mother of the universe? ›

Goddess Mangala is worshipped as one of the incarnations or manifestations of Devi Shakti who is the source of energy for all life forms on earth. Hence, the goddess is worshipped as the mother of the universe.

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