Brahmā: Difference between revisions

From Theosophy Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Redirected page to Brahma)
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Brahmā''' (devanāgarī: ब्रह्मा) is the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god of creation and one of the [[Trimūrti]], the others being [[Viṣṇu]] and [[Śiva]]. This [[Sanskrit]] word derives from the verbal root ''bṛh'' "to expand, grow, fructify", because "Brahma ‘expands’ and becomes the Universe woven out of his own substance".<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'', vol. 1 (London: The Theosohpical Publishing House, 1978), 83.</ref> Brahmā is a male creative principle which should not be confused with the neuter [[Brahman]].
#REDIRECT [[Brahma]]
 
== Theosophical view ==
 
In one of his [[Mahatma Letter No. 44|letters]], [[Morya|Mahatma M.]] says it is "the vivifying expansive force of nature in its eternal evolution." <ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in Chronological Sequence'', no. 44 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 118.</ref>
 
In [[The Theosophical Glossary (book)|''The Theosophical Glossary'']] [[H. P. Blavatsky]] says:
 
<blockquote>The student must distinguish between Brahma the neuter, and Brahmâ, the male creator of the Indian Pantheon. The former, Brahma or Brahman, is the impersonal, supreme and uncognizable Principle of the Universe from the essence of which all emanates, and into which all returns, which is incorporeal, immaterial, unborn, eternal, beginningless and endless. It is all-pervading, animating the highest god as well as the smallest mineral atom. Brahmâ on the other hand, the male and the alleged Creator, exists periodically in his manifestation only, and then again goes into pralaya, i.e., disappears and is annihilated.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Theosophical Glossary'' (Krotona, CA: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973), 62.</ref></blockquote>
 
In [[Theosophy|Theosophical]] literature Brahmā is usually identified with the [[third Logos|manifested Logos]].
 
== In Hinduism ==
 
Brahmā is the first member of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] triad; the supreme spirit manifested as the active creator of the universe. He sprang from the [[mundane egg]] deposited by the supreme first cause, and is the Prajāpati, or Lord and father of all creatures, and in the first place of the Rishis or [[Prajāpati]]s.<ref>John Dowson, ''A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology'', (London, Routedge & Kegan Paul Ltd, 1968), 56.</ref>
[[File:Brahma on hamsa.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Brahmā on his vehicle the Haṃsa]]
Brahmā is depicted as red in color, with four bearded faces and four arms, each holding a sacred object. His vāhana or vehicle on which he rides is a milk-white swan or goose, the Haṃsa.
 
== Notes ==
 
<references/>
 
==Further reading==
 
*[http://www.theosophy.ph/encyclo/index.php?title=Brahm%C4%81# Brahmā] at Theosopedia
 
[[Category:Sanskrit terms]]
[[Category:Theosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Concepts in The Secret Doctrine]]
[[Category:Hindu concepts]]
[[Category:Hindu mythology]]

Latest revision as of 19:09, 5 July 2017

Redirect to:

Retrieved from "https://theosophy.wiki/w-en/index.php?title=Brahmā&oldid=32974"