Brahma
The Creator
Brahma emerges into being at the moment when the universe is born. Rooted in the navel of Vishnu, a beautiful lotus flower grew and blossomed revealing Brahma in its center. Brahma used Prakriti (matter) and Purusha (soul) to create our wide diversity of living creatures. To each, he instilled both good and evil, material and spiritual, along with its own beginning and end. The Creator, Brahma, is traditionally depicted with four faces, each facing one of the four cardinal directions. He often has a white beard, alluding to his timeless and sage-like perspective. His four mouths are credited with creating the four Vedas. In addition, he has four arms each carrying a symbol dear to him. One of his hands holds the sacred texts of Vedas (knowledge). The second hand holds a mala made from the seeds of the Rudraksha fruit representing the material substances that grew the world. Brahma uses this mala also to mark time. A small pot called a kamandalu made of a coconut shell, clay, the wood of the Kamandalataru tree, or from metal is usually held by another hand. Yogis often use this vessel for drinking water, and it has come to represent a simple and self-contained life with water symbolizing the origin of the world. Finally, Brahma is often depicted holding a lotus flower. Although he is not popular as a figure of worship in contemporary Hinduism, he is revered in the ancient texts. Brahma is the consort of Saraswati and he is the father of the Four Sages (Kumaras), Narada, and Daksha.
Magic of Brahma
General
Chakra:
Element: Water
Color:
Day:
Herb: Fig, Saffron, Lotus, Marigold
Totem: Swan, Goose
Stone: Rudraksha Seeds
Offering: Meditation
Power
Create
Begin
End
Wisdom
Bless
Aromatherapy
Patchouli
Benzoin
Jasmine
Glossary
Vedas
Originating in India, the Vedas are a body of ancient Sanskrit texts. They are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism and are sometimes called śruti, or the literature that was heard, as opposed to smṛti, the literature that was remembered. Brahma is said to have created the four Vedas, the Rigveda, the Yajurveda, the Samaveda, and the Atharvaveda.
Hamsa
Brahma is often depicted riding upon a swan or a swan-like creature. A symbol of grace, this regal bird is also associated with great knowledge and love. The hamsa is such an aquatic bird and may reference a mythical bird lost to history. In Indian philosophical literature, hamsa is a metaphor for the Universal Soul, while the flight of the swan illustrates moksha (release from the cycle of death and rebirth, aka samsara).
Japamala
A mala is a string of prayer beads usually made from 108 seeds or beads with knots tied between each one. Used for the spiritual practice called japa (repetition of a mantra), the beads are sometimes referred to as japamala. There is an extra bead (109) called sumeru which is the head bead. One repetition of the mantra is chanted for each bead beginning with the bead next ot the sumeru. When completing the circle of 108 beads, one changes directions upon reaching the sumeru to avoid crossing it.
Lotus
The task of Brahma was to create the universe following the great flood. To do this, he took inspiration from the lotus plant. From the mud and water, the lotus stands tall with a simple beauty. So too can humans reach this exalted state with a head held high illuminated by the sun, while feet are rooted without attachment in the world of experience. The lotus is a symbol of eternity, purity, and divinity.