Brahma
- Brahma is the Hindu god most associated with creation.
- Brahma is usually described as the one who brings the universe and living beings into existence at the start of a cosmic cycle
- Brahma is commonly shown with four faces and four arms. The four faces represent looking in all directions, or completeness
- Brahma is linked to the four Vedas (the foundational sacred texts)
What I’ve Learned
In many Hindu traditions, creation is cyclical rather than a one-time event, meaning the universe is continually created, sustained, dissolved, and then reformed over vast cosmic ages. This rhythm is sometimes described as Brahma’s day and night, where the worlds appear during the day and withdraw into a resting, unmanifest state during the night. A well-known creation story says Brahma emerges on a lotus that grows from Vishnu, who rests on the cosmic waters, symbolizing order arising from formless potential. In this view, Vishnu provides the sustaining foundation, while Brahma organizes the manifested universe into realms, beings, time, and cosmic law.