A person has been determined by faith since ancient times. Religion unites many nations, contributes to their development, becomes the basis of culture, creates moral principles and teachings. Even at the first stages of human existence, faith was inseparable from consciousness. Giving names to the gods, creating the rules by which people should live, conducting rituals and rituals, the first man laid the foundations of religions, which later split into many directions. It cannot be argued that one faith is good, and the second cannot reflect the truth, because everyone sees the world in their own way, and this cannot be a source of condemnation. In India, the divine Trinity is known: the god Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The first one is the creator of the universe. The word "brahma", or "brahma", is translated from Sanskrit as "priest" and carries the beginning of all beginnings.
Brahma - the first Indian god
Many studies show that the cult of Brahma was central to Hinduism only in the pre-Vedic period. It was later replaced by the teachings of Shiva and Vishnu. The reason for this was the popularization of the concept of Shakti. According to her,each god has his own Power or Shakti - the spouse and the main inspirer, and it is the connection with this Shakti that creates the world. In this regard, the god Brahma, which symbolizes the creation of the universe, is not needed.
It is worth noting that the Vedic period is characterized by rethought views on this god. The idea of the creator of all things did not die, because his place was taken by God the Father - Vishvakarman (he has four arms on different sides). It is believed that he is the prototype of Brahma in the Puritan doctrine. The idea of this god has been formed for centuries and has been subject to constant changes. Brahma remained the central god in Hinduism for a long time, which changed only after the advent of Islam.
Iconography
God Brahma, whose description is given precisely by iconography, takes on many forms. He is usually depicted with four faces and four arms. His hair looks sloppy, in some kind of chaos, his beard is pointed. As a cape, the god Brahma uses the skins of a black antelope, which creates a contrast between the white color of his clothes. Depicted on a chariot with seven swans or on a lotus, he holds a vessel of water and a rosary.
He is meditating, so his eyes are closed. At the same time, there are still many different ideas about what this deity looks like. For example, the color of his skin in some images may be golden, in others it may be red, the chariot may be harnessed by geese, not swans. In some of his personifications, you can see a halo. Brahma is almost always depicted as bearded andis the only god in Hinduism with this feature, although there are exceptions to this point.
States of Brahma
There is a classification of states in which Brahma can reside. The first was called yogic, and in it this deity appears in the majesty of his spirit and his achievements. He exudes complete self-satisfaction. It is in the first state that it is valuable for ascetics and ascetics. The second is called bhoga and is more secular.
The usual appearance of Brahma, natural attributes, one or more wives - this is characteristic of the laity. In the third state (vira), this god personifies valor and is revered by kings and warriors. Abhicharika - the fourth type of Brahma - is the image of a solid and awesome god. Such a formidable state is typical for those who want to get rid of their ill-wishers.
Attributes-symbols
Brahma can be recognized by his attributes. The most famous feature is the presence of faces. They designate the cardinal points and have their own names: north - Atharvaveda, west - Samaveda, east - Rigveda, south - Yajurveda. The four hands also symbolize these directions. In one of them, Brahma holds a container of water. This is explained by the fact that the basis of the world is kamandala (water), which is integral to all creations of Brahma.
The rosary in the second hand is time, which cannot be eternal. Swans or geese that move the chariot with Brahma are the personification of the lokas (worlds). The earth is represented by the lotus,who is born from the navel of Vishnu.
Origin of the heads of Brahma
The Indian god Brahma is considered the creator of the material universe, who himself arose from a lotus and has no maternal ties with other deities. After birth, he created eleven ancestors of mankind - Prajapatis. The seven Sapta Rishis, his main assistants in the creation of the earth, were created from the mind and became his sons. From his own body, the god Brahma created a woman, who later became known by many names - Gayatri, Satarupa, Brahmani, etc. He succumbed to a feeling of love and was struck by the beauty of his daughter. When she turned away from him to the left, Brahma could not stop admiring her, and so the second head was born. As she turned away from him again and again, another face appeared. Then she rose up and Brahma created the fifth head.
