Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana
by Chaitali Kadia | 2021 | 91,183 words
This page relates ‘Religion and Rituals: Brahma’ of the study on the historical elements of the Matsya-purana: one of the eighteen Mahapuranas which are Sanskrit texts that have preserved the cultural heritage, philosophy, religion, geography, etc of ancient India. This Matsyapurana was originally written in 20,000 verses and deals with topics such as architecture, ancient history, polity, religion and philosophy.
Religion and Rituals: Brahmā
In the Ṛgveda , the Prajāpati was a secondary deity. In the Brāhmaṇical texts he is known as the chief deity and in the Sūtras he is known as Brahmā. In the post brahmanical period the excess of Brahmā pujā began to decrease. But the Matsya Purāṇa gives some examples of Brahmā worship.
Brahmā is involved in the creation of movable and immovable things. Viṣṇu is the source of creation, and Rudra is the source of destruction (MP-111/3). And Brahmā is the protector. Creation of Brahmā from Viṣṇu’s Nābhipadma . That is why Viṣṇu is called Padmanābha and Brahmā is Padmasambhava (MP-129/34). Brahmā had five heads of which Śiva cut off one head (MP-183/86). There are some words mentioned in the Matsya Purāṇa . Such as–Śivabhakta, Suryabhakta, Vaiṣṇava and Brāhmanya (MP-16/9, 10). Now by the word ‘Brāhmanya ’ it is considered that this word means worshiper of Brahmā. The idol of Brahmā is used for worship in the Acaladāna ritual (MP-83/952). This proves that Brahmā was worshiped at that time. Brahmā puja was also performed according to the rules of other Mahādānas (MP-274/30, 277/6, 286/6, 287/7). Even the quality of a priest has been mentioned as a word ‘Brahmopendraharapriya ’ (MP-265/4). It is also said in the Matsya Purāṇa that Brahma mantra is required for Brahmāpuja (MP-266/39). All these examples show that the rules of worship of Brahmā were in vogue at that time.