Lord Brahma, the Creator
Svayambhu, the self-born; Chaturmukha, the four-faced; Pitamaha, grandfather of all beings.
The first of the Trimurti
In the Hindu understanding of the cosmos, the Divine acts through three great forms: Brahma who creates, Vishnu who preserves, and Shiva who dissolves.
The Puranas describe how, at the beginning of each cosmic cycle, a lotus rises from the navel of Lord Vishnu as he rests upon the cosmic ocean. Seated within it is Brahma, who meditates deeply and then brings forth the worlds, the gods, the sages and every living being.
He is called Hiranyagarbha, the Golden Womb; Prajapati, Lord of creatures; and Vedagarbha, the one from whom the Vedas flow. His day — a kalpa — lasts for 4.32 billion human years.
The Four Faces
Each face gazes in one direction and gives voice to one of the four Vedas — the Creator sees, and speaks to, the whole of existence.
Rig Veda
The Veda of hymns and praise — the oldest voice of creation, offered at sunrise.
Yajur Veda
The Veda of sacrifice, teaching the right performance of yagya and ritual.
Sama Veda
The Veda of melody, from which Indian music itself is said to be born.
Atharva Veda
The Veda of everyday life — healing, protection and the wisdom of the householder.
What the Lord holds, and why
In His four hands and around His form are the tools of creation — each one a lesson for the devotee.
The Vedas
Held in one hand, the scriptures are the blueprint of creation and the source of all knowledge.
Kamandalu
The water-pot represents the cosmic waters from which all life emerges.
Akshamala
The rosary marks the passage of cosmic time and the discipline of japa.
Padma
The lotus seat: purity, unfolding and the birth of creation from Vishnu's navel.
Hamsa Vahana
The swan that separates milk from water — discrimination between the real and unreal.
Saraswati
His Shakti, the goddess of speech and learning, without whom creation cannot begin.
The forms of the Creator in our temple
From the white marble mula-murti to the golden and brass utsav murtis that go out in procession.
Shri Brahma ji with Maa Saraswati and Maa Savitri
Golden four-faced murti
Utsav murti in yellow vastra
Brass utsav murti
Maa Saraswati upon the hamsa
The darbar in flower shringar
ॐ वेदात्मनाय विद्महे
हिरण्यगर्भाय धीमहि
तन्नो ब्रह्मा प्रचोदयात् ॥
“We know Him as the soul of the Vedas; we meditate on the Golden Womb. May Brahma illumine our minds.”
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