Brahma is the embodiment
or personification of creative energy and figures in many myths as the creator
of the world.
He is usually shown with
four heads and four arms, symbolizing the four cardinal directions, the four
ages or yugas, and the four Vedas, or sacred books. He is seated on the lotus
of creativity and holds attributes that refer to his role as priest of the
gods: a portion of the Vedas, for as the Creator he makes possible all
knowledge – Brahma, in fact, is sometimes equated with the human mind and the
power of thought – a spoon for lustration, for it is by sacrifice that the
world came into being, a vessel of holy water – since water, being formless,
symbolizes the potential for creation – and a rosary (rudraksha), signifying
meditation. His color is red or pink, and he is often shown as bearded, to
indicate his wisdom.
Saraswati
The consort of Brahma is
the goddess Saraswati, “the flowing one.” She is the beautiful goddess of Vac
or speech with its immense power, and the bestower of intelligence who protects
all the arts and sciences. She represents the union of power and intelligence
from which organized creation arises. She plays the vina, from whose notes the
sounds of the Sanskrit alphabet flow. As the patron deity of the “Word” or
creative logos, she revealed language and writing to man.
Saraswati is the
patroness of learning, eloquence, music, the arts, and all forms of cultural
refinement. She is the mother of poetry. She is depicted as white in color,
seated on the swan, and with two or sometimes eight arms. She can be shown
holding a variety of objects, including the vina, a book, a rosary, and an
elephant hook, with which she catches and hold her devotees. As befits her role
of patroness of refinement, Sarasvati is always most graceful. She is the deity
of students, artists, and intellectuals. On her annual festival none of her
devotees is allowed to read books or play an instrument. These are cleaned,
placed on the family altar, and worshiped as the abodes of the goddess.
Brahma and Saraswati’s
vamana or bearer is a hamsa, the swan, symbol of the freedom gained through
knowledge and representing the seeker’s soul which will one day take flight to
its true home.
Brahma furnishes an
example of the processes of change in the Hindu way of life. In all of India
only two major temples remain dedicated to this once great god. Two
developments have brought this about. First, a wide, but not universal,
acceptance of the idea that the world we experience has only a provisional
reality and so is not created in any absolute sense. Second, once a cycle of
manifestation has been set in motion, he becomes redundant. Largely ignored by
human beings, he is, however, worshiped by angels and seers. And third, the
belief that the supreme God (especially when thought of as Shiva) has a feminine
counterpart, his Shakti or power, through which all activity takes place. The
worship of Shakti – or Mahadevi, the Great Goddess – as the creative principle
bringing the universe into being, has made Brahma unnecessary.
The Story of Indian Art
There is an interesting
story regarding the creation of Indian art and culture that involves Brahma and
Saraswati. Brahma created a variety of wonderfully beautiful and enchanting
things. He created the majestic mountain ranges, the thundering waterfalls and
the giant forest trees, as also the nimble deer, the colorful peacock and the
exquisite flowers. He filled his creation with beauty and splendor. But he was
sad!
Saraswati found him in
that mood and asked him the reason for it. Brahma said, “It is true I have
created all this wonder and charm and showered beauty everywhere. But what is
the use? My children, the human souls, simply pass them by; they do not seem to
be sensitive to all the beauty around. All this seems to have been wasted on
them; their creation seems to be purposeless.”
Saraswati took the hint
and told him, “Well, let me do my share in the great work. You have created all
this beauty and splendor. I shall create in our children the power to respond
to, appreciate and get uplifted by them. I shall give them music and other arts
which will draw out of them the capacity which lies deep in them to respond to
the majestic splendor and exquisite charm and wondrous beauty of all creation.”
So saying, the great Muse
gave us the fine arts, in the hope that through the love of music and other
fine arts man would understand something of the Divine in his manifestation.
Courtesy-www.allaboutbharat.org
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