# ब्रह्मा (brahmā) Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/brahma ब्रह्मा (brahmā) is a Sanskrit word meaning a division of the night, son of Brahmadana, one of the sixteen officiating priests for a sacrifice, issued from the mouth of Narayana, one of the authors on architecture. Its 6 recorded definitions are grouped into 4 contexts, among them Other Meanings or Individuals Named Brahmā, Brahmā as a Ritual Priest (Ṛtvik), Brahmā, the Creator Deity. - **SLP1:** `brahmA` **IAST:** brahmā **Devanagari:** ब्रह्मा - **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/brahma/declensions.md ## Meanings by context ### Other Meanings or Individuals Named Brahmā (3 definitions) - a division of the night *The Purana Index* > [Printed book page 2-516 ] Brahmā (II) — a division of the night. Vā. 66. 44. [ ID=9303 ] - son of Brahmadana *The Purana Index* > Brahmā (III) — son of Brahmadana. Vā. 69. 132. [ ID=9304 ] - one of the authors on architecture *The Purana Index* > Brahmā (V) — one of the authors on architecture. M. 252. 3. [ ID=9306 ] ### Brahmā as a Ritual Priest (Ṛtvik) (1 definition) - 1. One of the sixteen officiating priests for a sacrifice. 2. Issued from the mouth of Narayana. *The Purana Index* > [Printed book page 2-517 ] Brahmā (IV) — one of the 16 Ṛtviks for a yajña; issued from the mouth of Nārāyaṇa. M. 167. 7. [ ID=9305 ] ### Brahmā, the Creator Deity (1 definition) - 1. The four-faced creator god who emerged from the lotus at the navel of Hari, born from his grace as an expression of rajas. 2. The author of the Vedas and creator of society, whose day equals a thousand cycles of the four yugas, and whose life spans two parardhas. 3. A resident of Gayā and Meru who guides Benares, creates through nine-fold Prakrti, and interacts with various deities, sages, and avatars like Krishna and Vamana. *The Purana Index* > ब्रह्मा (brahmā) [Printed book page 2-514 ] Brahmā (I) — Pitāmaha, (Lokapitāmaha) — appeared on the lotus from the navel of Hari at the end of the Kalpa; the Lord with four faces: origin of five faces connected with his daughter and wife Śatarūpā; 1 Born of Hari's grace: expression of rajas: By Yoga saw the one Puruṣa lying on Śeṣa: Praised Him, who instructed him in the art of creation: nine-fold creation from Prakṛti; created the Vedas and human society: created also a mind-born son to Śambhu who attained Brahmalokam: a second son of his, was Bhuva, who was sent to the mother — earth: the third son Bhūrbhuva and his son became Gopati. From his body was created Gāyatrī, who became his wife: then came Prajā- patis, oceans. etc. 2 Page2-515+ 68 Known for impartiality, Parīkṣit compared to him; 3 obliged to Viṣṇu; 4 knew the dharma of Hari; a Parameṣṭhin; 5 resident at Gayā and guards Benares; 6 his golden city being in Meru; 7 his curses and blessings moderate. 8 A day of, is a thousand cycles of the 4 yugas; Pralaya, the night of Brahmā; period of his life is dvīparārdha. All the fourteen Manus flourish during his day. 9 Author of the Atharva mantras; learnt the Veda from Hari and taught it to Manu; 10 his sons were Marīci and Atri whose son was Soma. The last was made the lord of Brahmanas, stars, etc. Influenced Soma to restore Tārā to Bṛhaspati. Found out that Budha was Soma's son. Punished Soma as a sinful planet for enjoying Tārā. 11 Made Dakṣa the overlord of the Prajāpatis; 12 called on Kailāsa. 13 Presented Pṛthu with armour and prevented him from slaying Indra. 14 Visited Manu and Priyavrata and addressed her on home life. 15 gifts to Māya. 16 Did not help Durvāsa pursued by the cakra of Viṣṇu; 17 was unable to answer the question of his son, Sanaka and others on the subtlety of yoga; remembered Hari who explain- ed it in the form of a Hamsa. 18 Praised Viṣṇu for killing Kāla- nemi. 19 Met Hari-Ajita to restore the fortune of Indra; cursed by Durvāsa and his prayer. 20 Performed yajña in Janaloka; 21 was displeased at Bhṛgu's behaviour; 22 went with Bhṛgu and Dakṣa to Hiraṇyakaśipu engaged in austerities; granted boons to him and disappeared. Was present at Prahlāda's coronation; 23 when petitioned by the gods to show a way to get rid of Hiraṇyakaśipu, suggested Hari for it. Took the form of a calf, 24 when Hari in the guise of a cow went to drink the immortalising fluid in Śrīpura; praised Śiva who burnt the Tripura; 25 charioteer of Tripurāri. 26 Came to see Vāmana measuring the world with his two steps; washed his feet with waters; and with other Gods worshipped Him with tributes; addressed Vāmana-Hari; with his approval Vāmana was taken to Indra's capital; praised Vāmana's deeds and also Aditi. 27 Page2-516+ 31 On an appeal from Mother-Earth that she had to bear a heavy burden of the Asuras, Brahmā went with Śiva to the shore of the milk ocean and eulogised Hari by Puru- ṣasūkta; they were told of the incarnation of Kṛṣṇa at Vasu- deva's residence; encouraged Devakī on the eve of Kṛṣṇa's birth; came to see Hari at Bṛndāvan; was staggered at the potency of his māyā and praised the Lord. 28 Suggested to Raivata that Balarāma was a suitable husband for Revatī and asked him to give his daughter in marriage to him; 29 attended the sacrifices of Varuṇa and Yudhiṣṭhira. 30 Went with all the Devas to Dvārakā first to remind Kṛṣṇa to go back to his eternal abode; addressed the Lord on the purpose and fulfilment of the avatār. 31 Wondered at Mārkaṇḍeya's vrata; 32 heard the Bhā- gavata Purāṇa from Hari. 33 narrated to Nārada the legend of the creation of the universe; 34 allusion to his fear of Rudra; 35 worshipped by Vāli with fire rite. [ Footnote: 1) Bhā. I. 3. 2; III. 8. 13-16; IX. 1. 8-10; XI. 4. 5; XII. 5. 1; M. 1. 14; 2. 36; 3. 1, 37, 40.] [ Footnote: 2) Bhā. I. 18. 14. III. 8. 22-32; 9. 1-24, 29-44; 10. 3-6, 8, 13-26; 12. 37-56.] [ Footnote: 3) M. 171. 8-14, 17, 21; 183. 84.] [ Footnote: 4) Bhā. III. 12. 23.] [ Footnote: 5) Ib. IV. 21. 29; 29. 42.] [ Footnote: 6) Ib. VI. 3. 20.] [ Footnote: 7) Ib. IV. 8. 20.] [ Footnote: 8) M. 22. 4; 184. 28.] [ Footnote: 9) Bhā. V. 16. 28.] [ Footnote: 10) Ib. X. 88. 12.] [ Footnote: 11) Ib. XII. 4. 2-5; Vi. I. 3. 15-24; IV. 1. 5; VI. 3. 11-12.] [ Footnote: 12) Bhā. XI. 14. 3-4; Vi. III. 4. 12.] [ Footnote: 13) Bhā. IX. 1. 8-10; 14. 2-3, 8, 12 [1] and 13. XII. 8. 12; M. 23. 10, 44-6.] [ Footnote: 14) M. 201. 17; 225. 12; 249. 13, 58.] [ Footnote: 15) Bhā. IV. 3. 2.] [ Footnote: 16) Ib. IV. 6. 2.] [ Footnote: 17) Ib. XI. 13. 16-41.] [ Footnote: 18) M. 178. 56, 64, 79.] [ Footnote: 19) Bhā. VIII. 5. 18-50; 6. 1-15.] [ Footnote: 20) Ib. X. 87. 9.] [ Footnote: 21) Ib. X. 89. 3-4.] [ Footnote: 22) Ib. VII. 3. 14-38; 4. 2-3; 8. 40; 10. 26-29, 33; M. 161. 17.] [ Footnote: 23) Ib. 161. 18-23.] [ Footnote: 24) Bhā. VII. 10. 62, 70.] [ Footnote: 25) M. 133. 52.] [ Footnote: 26) Bhā. VIII. 21. 1, 3 and 5; 22. 21-3; 23. 24, 26-7.] [ Footnote: 27) Ib. X. 1. 17-35; 2. 25-42; 13. 40-64; 14. 1-40.] [ Footnote: 28) Ib. IX. 3. 33-4; X. 52. 15 [3-11].] [ Footnote: 29) Ib. X. 74. 13.] [ Footnote: 30) Ib. XI. 6. 1, 21-27; 7. 1-2.] [ Footnote: 31) Ib. XII. 8. 12.] [ Footnote: 32) Ib. XII. 13. 10 and 19.] [ Footnote: 33) Ib. II. 5. 9 to the end.] [ Footnote: 34) Ib. I. 7. 18.] [ Footnote: 35) Br. III. 7. 270; 24. 4.] [ ID=9302 ] ### Iconography of Brahmā (1 definition) - 1. Depicted with four faces, sitting on a lotus or a swan, and flanked by Savitri and Sarasvati. *The Purana Index* > Brahmā (VI) — image of; four faces and sitting on a lotus; on the swan; on either side Sāvitrī and Sarasvatī. M. 260. 40; 266. 42; 285. 6. [ ID=9307 ] ## Sources Definitions from The Purana Index. Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne. The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546