Brahma

According to Hinduism and Hindu mythology, Brahma is one of the three major gods of Hindus. Brahma is said to be the creator of the whole universe. The other two gods are Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer, all three of which make up the Trimurti.

A roundel with depiction of Brahma, 12th century

Hindu tradition states that Brahma originally had five heads. However, the mythological story tells that Shiva ordered Bherav to cut one of the heads of Brahma because Brahma lied, saying that he had found the finite source of the actually infinite Linga of light that was Shiva's manifestation. He had not found it, but had come only to the highest heaven and not to the Transcendent, Shiva. The tradition also states that the remaining four heads of Brahma represent many aspects of Hinduism. The four heads represent four Vedas, which are very important Hindu scriptures. It is said that the four heads of Brahma are eternally reciting the four Vedas in penance for having lied. These four heads also represent four divisions of time of Hinduism, the Yugas. They also represent four divisions of the Hindu society, the four Varnas.

Other websites

• www.gurjari.net
• The Brahma-Samhita Archived 2009-12-10 at the Wayback Machine (Brahmasamhita.com)
• Brahma's Prayers for Creative Energy Archived 2009-11-11 at the Wayback Machine (vedabase.net)
• Brahma: The God with Only Three Temples Archived 2008-01-20 at the Wayback Machine (boloji.com)
• Indian Gods and Goddesses - Brahma Archived 2008-02-02 at the Wayback Machine (indiayogi.com)