Vishvakarma, aka: Viśvakarmā, Viśvakarma; 9 Definition(s)

Introduction

Vishvakarma means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

The Sanskrit terms Viśvakarmā and Viśvakarma can be transliterated into English as Visvakarma or Vishvakarma, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—The architect of the Devas. Birth. Viśvakarmā is the son of Prabhāsa, the eighth of the Eight Vasus. Varastrī, the sister of Bṛhaspati, a celibate woman who had attained Yogasiddhi (union with the Universal Soul) and travelled all over the world was the wife of Prabhāsa. Prajāpati Viśvakarmā was born to Prabhāsa by Varastrī. This Viśvakarmā was the inventor of innumerable kinds of handicrafts, the architect of the gods, maker of all kinds of ornaments, and the most famous sculptor. He was the maker of all the aerial chariots of the Devas. (Viṣṇu Purāṇa, Aṃśa 1, Chapter 15). (See full article at Story of Viśvakarmā from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

1a) Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—A Prajāpati. His daughter Barhiṣmatī was the wife of Priyavrata.¹ A son of Vāstu and Āṅgirasī; wife was Kṛti (Akṛti, Bhāgavata-purāṇa). Father of Manu Cākṣuṣa.² The divine architect skilled in making weapons. Made vajra of Dadhīci's body and built Indra's abode and erected Sutalam.³ Fought with Maya in Devāsura war. Two more daughters of his were Samjñā and Chāyā who were married to the Sun god.⁴ Was ordered by Kṛṣṇa to build a city for the Pāṇḍavas;⁵ built Garuḍa's abode;⁶ an author on architecture;⁷ father of four sons; originator of all śilpas, arts and crafts;⁸ presented Śrī with jewels.⁹

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 1. 24.
• 2) Ib. VI. 6. 15.
• 3) Ib. VI. 9. 54: 10. 13. VII. 4. 8; VIII. 15. 15; 22. 32. Matsya-purāṇa 5. 27-8; 58. 33.
• 4) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 10. 29; 13. 8. Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 2. 2, 8, 10-12.
• 5) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 58. 24.
• 6) Matsya-purāṇa 163. 68: 203. 7.
• 7) Ib. 252. 2; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 31. 6-7.
• 8) Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 119-20; III. 2. 11.
• 9) Ib. I. 9. 104; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 9. 81; 14. 4; 15. 20; 20. 46; 29. 84.

1b) A son of Tvaṣṭā and Yaśodharā; father of Maya, and his daughter was Sureṇu; originator of arts and crafts.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 2. 19; 5. 27. III. 1. 87. 7. 195; 32. 7: 59. 17-21: Vāyu-purāṇa 65. 85.

1c) Divided the earth into seven islands, oceans and hills, bhūḥ and other worlds; created the people as in the previous kalpas; but the whole was clouded in smoke, in five forms like a light enveloped by a pot; finding no light and all in their place (Nyāsa) was pondering over when a cross current passed that way and resulted in a second universe.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 6. 33-45. 109. 4.

1d) One of the seven important rays of the sun on the south; helps the growth of the Budha planet.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 24. 66-69.

1e) A Vaṃśavartin god; a son of Prabhāta and Bhuvanā; Lord of Prajāpatis.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 29; III. 3. 29.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

General definition (in Hinduism)

One of the 108 names of Krishna; Meaning: "Creator Of The Universe"

Vishwakarma is the architect of the Devas. His chief rival in architectural prowess is Maya the architect of the Asuras. He has a daughter named Sangya, who is married to Surya.

1) Viśwákarma is the personified Omnipotence and the abstract form of the creator God according to the Rigveda. He is the presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects. He is believed to be the "Principal Architect of the Universe ", and the root concept of the later Upanishadic Brahman / Purusha.

2) Viśvákarma is the Hindu presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects. He is believed by Hindus to be the "Principal Universal Architect", the architect who fabricated and designed the divine architecture of the Universe, the Lord of Creation. Vishwakarma is known as the divine engineer of the world. As a mark of reverence he is not only worshipped by the engineering and architectural community but also by all professionals. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools in his name.

Through the four yugas (aeons of Hindu mythology), he had built several towns and palaces for the gods. Among them were, in chronological order,

• Svarga (Heaven) in the Satya Yuga,
• Lanka in the Treta Yuga,
• and Dwarka (Krishna's capital) in the Dwapara Yuga.

Viswakarma is also supposed to have built Dwarka, the capital of Lord Krishna. During the time of the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna is said to have lived in Dwarka, and made it his "Karma Bhoomi" or center of operation. That is why this place in western India (today's Gujarat) has become a well known pilgrimage for the Hindus.

etymology: Viśwákarma (Sanskrit: विश्वकर्मा "all-accomplishing, maker of all," "all doer"; Tamil: (விசுவகர்மன்) Vicuvakaruman; Thai: Witsawakam ;Telugu: విశ్వకర్మ ; Kannada: ವಿಶ್ವಕರ್ಮ )

Viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—The architect of the devas or demigods. He built the city of Indraprastha for the Pāṇḍavas at the request of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

India history and geogprahy

Vishvakarma of Pulastya gotra was the earliest civil engineer of Rig Vedic period. His descendants were also known as Vishvakarma. They were also great scientists. Vishvakarma, the contemporary of Vaishravana and Ravana made a flying chariot named as Pushpaka Vimana. In all probability, Pushpaka Vimana was like a hot air balloon carrying a specially designed chariot. Rama along with Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman boarded the Pushpaka Vimana and returned to Ayodhya from Sri Lanka.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

viśvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा).—m (S) The son of Brahma and the artist of the gods. 2 Applied, appellatively, to an ingenious mechanic or artist.

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