Brahma
Brahma
Name used in two senses in Hindu mythology. The Sanskrit noun stem brahman in its neuter form means the power resulting from prayer or prayer in the abstract, and in the masculine form means the one who possesses this power, hence also the priestly caste. Brahma is the nominative of brahman. It refers (neuter) to Atman, creator and world spirit, and also (masculine) to the personal aspect of that divinity, the creative activity, forming with Vishnu and Shiva the Hindu Trimurti or trinity. The god is represented as bearded with four heads, each crowned with a pointed tiara, and with a scepter. His temple is at Pushkar, Rajputana. See also: Brahmanism .
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Brahma
is the first manifestation of Brahm, and represents the creative power which created the world and man, and is the first lawgiver and teacher of the Indians (therefore the author of the Vedas). According to the book of Manu, God’s will first created the fluids, and in them was contained an egg shiling like gold (Brahmanda), from which Brahm himself was born as Brahma. His will broke the shell of the egg, and from it he created all other things, men, spirits, and gods, after which he retired again into identity with Brahm. He lived 100 years of 365 days and as many nights, each of 1000 sadriyugams; but every four jugas are equivalent to 4,320,000 human years, consequently his life lasted 315,360,000,000,000 of our years. The destruction and reconstruction of the world are connected with his loss of activity at the end of his period of life and his awakening hereafter. Finally, his death will result in universal destruction, until a new Brahma will be created, who, in his turn shall create another universe. Thus far Brahma has died and come to life again 1001 times. Brahmi is his daughter and mate, Brahma is represented with four heads and the same number of arms, each bearing a different symbol, as those of his immortality, omnipotence, and law-giving power. The swan is consecrated to him, and is his usual steed. His Paradise (Brahmaloga) is on Mount Moru; here he receives his true followers, and they bathe in the sea of Behra, whose waters. endow them with perpetual youth. It is also the site of the city of Brahma, Brahmapatnam, out of the four doors of which flow the streams Sadalam, Sadasson, Patram, and Acaguey. Brahma is also called Attimaboh (the good spirit), Bisheshrik (flower of creation), Kamalasana (sitting under the lotus), Widhada (father of fate), etc. For a fuller treatment of the subject, SEE HINDUISM; SEE INDIA.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Brahma (2)
is the first manifestation of Brahm, and represents the creative power which created the world and man, and is the first lawgiver and teacher of the Indians (therefore the author of the Vedas). According to the book of Manu, God’s will first created the fluids, and in them was contained an egg shiling like gold (Brahmanda), from which Brahm himself was born as Brahma. His will broke the shell of the egg, and from it he created all other things, men, spirits, and gods, after which he retired again into identity with Brahm. He lived 100 years of 365 days and as many nights, each of 1000 sadriyugams; but every four jugas are equivalent to 4,320,000 human years, consequently his life lasted 315,360,000,000,000 of our years. The destruction and reconstruction of the world are connected with his loss of activity at the end of his period of life and his awakening hereafter. Finally, his death will result in universal destruction, until a new Brahma will be created, who, in his turn shall create another universe. Thus far Brahma has died and come to life again 1001 times. Brahmi is his daughter and mate, Brahma is represented with four heads and the same number of arms, each bearing a different symbol, as those of his immortality, omnipotence, and law-giving power. The swan is consecrated to him, and is his usual steed. His Paradise (Brahmaloga) is on Mount Moru; here he receives his true followers, and they bathe in the sea of Behra, whose waters. endow them with perpetual youth. It is also the site of the city of Brahma, Brahmapatnam, out of the four doors of which flow the streams Sadalam, Sadasson, Patram, and Acaguey. Brahma is also called Attimaboh (the good spirit), Bisheshrik (flower of creation), Kamalasana (sitting under the lotus), Widhada (father of fate), etc. For a fuller treatment of the subject, SEE HINDUISM; SEE INDIA.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Brahma (2)
in Hindu mythology, must be carefully distinguished from Brahm, which is the name of the supreme being, the only one god, as all others are only manifestations of one or more of his attributes. The high idea which the Hindls connect with Brahm arises from the surnames which they give him the supremely perfect, the one without beginning and end, the indescribable, the omniscient, the prime soul of the world. Brahm is the sole existence. The world as it stands is only the reflection of his majestic being, only a revelation of his might, and when it ceases it will return to him whose emanation it was. But he and the world are nevertheless not one. The latter is entirely separate from him. He created a being full of beauty and love, who is called Maja. With this being Brahm had intercourse, and there resulted three of his most pre-eminent powers Brahma, the creator of all living; Vishnu, the preserver; and Siva, the destroyer. They all three are substantially one, and form the Trimurti, or trinity, and are not essentially different from each other or from the god whose powers they are.
Brahma is thus the creative god, a mighty person in the trinity of India. The same name also signifies the science of laws, because Brahma ordered nature according to eternal laws, by which he is also the guide of fate, designating time and duration of existence, and thus not only gives life, but also death. He is the revealer of the Vedas, and his worship is the oldest cult of India. It is fabled that a giant tore off one of Brahma’s four heads in a combat and placed it on his own head; since then time has only three periods or directions past, present, and future. Another fable says that Brahma’s sister and beautiful wife fled from him, and in order to follow her in all directions he made himself five heads, one of which Siva tore off to punish his fleshly lust, and placed the same as a trophy on his tiara. From this head the Brahmins sprung. Brahma’s birth or production is variously related: according to one myth, he is a son of Brahm and Maja, as above; according to another, he is a creation of Brahm out of himself, who, with him, created the higher and lower gods; another myth takes him spring from an egg, which, shining, floated on the surface of the deep, and out of which Brahma, directly after birth, formed the earth, heaven, the sea, and the ether; a fourth fable says he grew in a lotus-flower which came from the navel of the sleeping Vishnu. SEE BRAHM.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Brahma (3)
in the Buddhist system, is also an inhabitant of a Brahma-loka (q.v.).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Brahma
(Skr.) The creator or creative principle of the universe, main figure of the Hindu trinity (see Trimurti). — K.F.L.