About the Book
Brahmä is one of the most important god of the Hindu trinity, the others being Vişņu and Šiva. He is the creator of the universe and possesses the knowledge of the Vedas. Sarasvati happens to be his spouse. He is known as Prajāpati in the Vedic literature while with Puranic literature he is mostly known as Brahmä who emerged from the navel of Vişņu seated over a lotus. He earned a blemish because of his incestuous relationship with his own daughter as a result of which his worship was limited to a few places in India like Puskara and others.
About the Author
Shantilal Nagar, a graduate of the Punjab University. served in the curatorial capacity in the Central Asian Antiquities Museum, New Delhi, the Archaeological Museum. Nalanda, and Archaeological Section of the Indian Museum, Calcutta for a number of years. He has to his credit the scientific documentation of over fifty thousand antiquities, in these museums, representing the rich cultural heritage of the country and comprising of sculptures, bronzes, terracottas, beads, seals and sealing, ancient Indian numismatics, wood work, miniatures and paintings, textiles and Pearce collection of gems, ranging from the earliest times to the late medieval period. He was awarded, in 1987, a fellowship, for his monograph on the Temples of Himachal Pradesh, by the Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi. He has authored more than fifty books.
Introduction
The three Supreme gods Brahmā, Vişņu and Śiva occupy a peculiar position in the Hindu religious thought, highly exalted above the rest of the gods and the divine beings. Brahmä who is believed to be the creator of the world is also known as Prajāpati, Pitāmaha, Hiranyagarbha of the Vedas and Brahmaņas. He had his origin and the basis in speculation rather than in the popular cult and therefore he did not appeal, inspite of his sublime character, to the religions feelings of the masses. Hence, the worship of Brahmä has become all but extinct and the worshippers of Śiva and Vişņu, in whatever from they adore their favourite deity form the overwhelming majority of the Hindus. Not withstanding these sectarian tendencies, the three supreme gods are regarded in principle, as of equal dignity and forming as such a kind of trial, which in the doctrine of Trimūrti has been acknowledged since about the fifth century A.D. There were contradictory elements already in the conception of Prajapati of the Brahmaņas. For sometime he is identified with the Universe and described as the source out of which creation evolved. Sometimes he is regarded as the secondary deity subordinate to Brahman. The same holds good with Brahma of the later mythology. Brahmā proceeded from Brahman, the first cause and on the other hand, he is, vaguely identified with it whence he is called Svayambhū i.e., Self born or (unborn) Aja.
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