Hinduism's "Favourite" Misconceptions..

[Adai]

Are there any temples dedicated to Brahma alone ? As far as i know , i only have seen ONE temple which has a small Brahma deity and only heard of one temple which is built with Brahma as the god in the main shrine somewhere in India.....

If we have temples for all types of god(we do have temples for Shiva the destroyer of evil), then why we dont have or rarely(extremely rare) see Brahma deity in temples or temples dedicated to Brahma who is the creator ?

How come we dont see him around ? I think he is busy writing life scriptures of many thousand life forms that he doesn't have any time to entertain us people.....He is inserting too many sorrows and sufferings into our life, sigh....I wish there was a temple for him, then i can ask him a favour to alter our life story.....(ok a little bit of digression here)..... 

[Madha]

Aaahhh....there is a story to why there aren't any temples for Brahma...

Long long time ago.....hehe just kidding.....I'm just gonna cut and paste here....it was in one of those old tamil movies where you can see the a paper mache GLOBE rotating with funny sounds....anyway this is the story...

The Legend
According to Puranas, once the other two of the triads of Hindu Gods, Brahma and Vishnu were fighting over each other?s prowess. Horrified at the intensity of the battle, the other gods asked Shiva to intervene. To make them realize the futility of their fight, Lord Shiva assumed the form of a flaming Linga in between Brahma and Vishnu and challenged both of them by asking them to measure the gigantic Lingam (symbol of Lord Shiva).

Awestruck by its magnitude, Brahma and Vishnu decided to find one end each to establish supremacy over the other. Lord Brahma took the form of a swan and went upwards while Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Varaha - a boar and went into the earth towards nether land. Both searched for thousands of miles but neither could find the end.

On his journey upward, Brahma came across Ketaki flower. Exhausted and bewildered with his search to find the uppermost limit of fiery column, Brahma made Ketaki assent to lie that he had seen the top of the column where the flower had previously resided. Accompanied by his accomplice, Brahma confronted Vishnu and asserted that he had indeed discovered the origin of the cosmic column.

At this point, the central part of the pillar split open and Shiva revealed himself in his full glory. Overawed, both Brahma and Vishnu bowed before him accepted lord Shiva?s supremacy. Lord Shiva also explained to Brahma and Vishnu that both of them were born out of him and that the three were then separated out into three different aspects of divinity.

However, Lord Shiva was angry with Brahma for making a false claim. The Lord cursed Brahma that no one would ever pray to him. (This legend explains why there is hardly any Brahma temple of significance in India.) Lord Shiva also punished the Ketaki flower for testifying falsely and banned her from being used as an offering for any worship.


Moral of the story, don't lie even if your a GOD....

On a more serious note....yah rite...sorrow and suffering is the basis of our life here....that is a core of Hinduism...the soul is here to learn and its not gonna learn if its getting laddu's and payasam everyday(fat maybe but its not gonna learn anything)...U just have to buck up and face it....

One learns from our experiences and only one can change oneselves life story.(but if anyone finds out any other way....do let me know )

!..!_ Madha

[Shamini]

Hi Madha,

That was really insightful!  ..Plus i jus realise, that i never heard or been to a brahma temple. And if next time, someone ask me why there is no brahma temple, i know at least what to say!


Shamini

[Susanth]

Yeap, Madha, our soul takes on different forms to go thru different stuffs, based on its karma and learns and matures during each of its forms..

And that Puranam story also has its significance in the "Maha Shivarathiri" festival.

Puranams are there for us to learn some moral values from it.
Even though Lord Brahma is one of the Trinity, HE was punished.

Guess the morals of the story are
1. not to lie
2. not to challenge others to see who is better(since we are all unique and there is no way to compare ourselves)
3. and God is beyond everything (signified when both Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were unable to reach their destinations)

Any other lessons that can be learnt there?? Duno, i can't think now..

One interesting thing to note, though we do not worship Lord Brahma,in Thailand HE is worshipped. We have an article on "Hinduism in Thailand" on this website's "Write-Ups section". You guys might wanna check it out..

[arcanecenturi21]

Hey Guyz!

There was a time wen an astrologer told my mum tat i had to visit a bramhan temple at least once in my life.. haha so i kinda did my research.

The ONLY bramhan temple in India is in Pushkar, Rajasthan. Its abt 140KM away from the capital, Jaipur...(140KM is considered a short distance in India haha)

Although ter is onli one temple dedicated to Brahma, i hav seen many idols of Brahman in many temples in India...

Cheers!

[Prakash Rau]

Hi guys and hi manish,

Interesting to hear that Lord Brahma has a temple of His own in India. But is it possible to find out about the creation or existence of the temple?

My reason for asking is that, according to legends, Lord Brahma was cursed not to have even a temple nor any devotee of His own. But the presence of one such temple may contradict the legends presented here.

[Susanth]

Have u guys heard this Mantra?

Guru Brahmaa Guru Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheswara
Guru Saaksaat Param Brahma
Tasmai Shri Guruve Namaha
(Got it from the Internet)

Lord Brahma's name is in this Mantra.
Furthermore, while the Iyer was doing "Vaasthu Shanthi" prayers for a Chariot procession, i heard him chanting Mantras with "Lord Brahma's" name as well.

I also recall seeing the statue of Lord Brahma in one of the Temples in Singapore, but the statue was not for prayers.

As such, now it gets confusing.
Was HE not supposed to have a Temple but still is to be worshipped?
And like what Prakash asked, how do we explain the existence of Temples then?

[Shamini]

Hey Guys,

From my Opinion, i think he is not suppose to have his own temple, in the sense that as the main deity for prayers.

Example if you see temples, example Sri Murugan Hill Temple, the main deity there is Murugan. So for Brahman, he should not have his 'own' temple.


CheeRs,
Shamini

[arcanecenturi21]

Hey GuyZ!


Hmm, let me try to clear the confusion with what i know..

this is how the story of the Pushkar Brahma Temple goes: Lord Brahma wanted to find a suitable place to perform his yagna.. To determine this place, Lord Brahma dropped a lotus onto earth, turning the area into a huge, beautiful lake. This lake was later named 'Pushkar' literally meaning a 'flower lake'.

Having decided upon the place, Lord Brahama set out to prepare for his yagna. But, has the stipulated auspicious time grew nearer, Savitri, his consort, was nowhere to be found. Angry, Lord Brahma married a milkmaid and installed her as his consort for the yagna instead. 

Meanwhile, news of Lord Brahma's marriage reached the ears of Savitri. Infuriated, she cursed that no mortal man will ever worship Lord Brahma ever again. Later however, due to the pleas of the Gods, Savitri relented and declared that Lord Brahma will ONLY be worshipped in Pushkar.

This is why, for the purpose of worshipping Lord Brahama, a sole temple was built in Pushkar.

Cheers!

[arcanecenturi21]

Hi Susanth and gang!

With regards to the mantra Susanth posted, 

'Guru Brahmaa Guru Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheswara'

As we know, he words Brahama, Vishnu and Maheshwara are refering to the trinity of Gods with the stipulated duties of Creation, Preservation and Destruction.
This line actualli means: The teacher(Guru) being the start, middle and end of our Universe.

'Guru Saaksaat Param Brahma
Tasmai Shri Guruve Namaha'

Unlike the words Vishnu and Shiva, which refer to the Gods of the Trinity, the word Brahma does not always refer to Lord Brahma per se. Here, Parambrahma refers to God, the Supreme Brahma from whom all life emanates.
This line actualli means this: The Guru is our true God; salutations to you, o Guru

The mantra is usually recited before every class...at least in a few places in India i think haha.

Cheers!

[rajeshc84]

Since you didnt specify the location- the answer is an emphatic yes. Not in India - there are lots of them in Thailand. I wouldn't call them temple - shrines would be a better word. Had been to Bangkok last month and saw hundreds of Brahma statues there... The most popular shrine in Bangkok, "Erawan shrine" (just do a google search), is dedicated to Brahma. Paying a dancing girl to dance for Brahma is a very popular offering... It was an amazing sight..

The buddhist temple in Pulau Ubin has a shrine with a beautiful statue of Brahma. Well, even the independent villa dear dadi's (below Eusoff hall) has a Brahma shrine..

I just wonder why Thailand is called a Buddhist country, as I found it more Hindu than Buddhist.. Ganesh, Brahma, Indra are all found everywhere, and Thais are very devoted to them. Bkk Suvarnabhumi airport has a huge statue of palazhi madhanam. Even in the royal museum, almost all exhibits had some connections to Hindu mythology - so beautiful that I almost cried. Most exhibits were crafted post 2000s, and Thai royal family promotes them in a big way - unimaginable in a country like India with >80% Hindus.. Seems like after few decades we will have to take a trip to Thailand to see what was Hinduism..

[Susanth]

In-relation to this topic, there was this write-up in our annual magazine, "Pranav", by one member who visted Thailand about 3years ago.

I have included the softcopy version of the write-up for fellow forumers' benefit..

Enjoy!

[mohanram]

There is one temple called 'Vedha Narayanan Temple" in
Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu.
'You may visit www.kumbakonam.com and learn about it.
I had been there in 1998 or so, soon after Kumbabishekam.

There is  another temple Called NAVA BRAHMA temple near Kurnoor, Andhra Pradesh.

 Mohanram

[trishul14]

The one and only temple dedicated to Brahma is located in Pushkar, Rajasthan.

JAGAT PITA SHRI BRAHMA MANDIR: --------The famous Brahma Temple, is said to be the only temple in the world dedicated to this deity of Lord Brahma (the god of Creation) which stands on a high plinth with the Marble steps leading up to it along with a silver turtle on the floor facing the Sanctum-Sanctorum or Girbha-griha. Around the turtle the Marble floor is inset with hundreds of silver coins. Peacocks adorn the temple walls as they are supposed to be the vehicle of lord Brahma's consort Saraswati. A small image of the milkmaid Gayatri, flanks the four-faced image of lord Brahma and is called Chaumurti The sanctuary has silver doors inside a carved marble gateway.   



SAVITRI TEMPLE: ----- Savitri Temple in one of the most renowned in Pushkar. According to the Hindu mythology Savitri is the first wife of Lord Brahma. When He was all set to start a Yagna on earth in the place of Pushkar (determined by drooping a lotus flower), Savitri's presence was the prerequisite. But She had kept Him waiting. Lord Brahma, irritated at this, married Gayatri the milkmaid to start the yagna on the most auspicious moment. This temple stands just behind the temple of Lord Brahma. A long series of steps lead to the shrine. From the temple you can get a panoramic view of the Pushkar lake.