7.1. The Images of various Deities

194 THE IMAGES OF VARIOUS DEITIES The Puranas give details about the construction of the images of various deities, which commanded popular respect. BRAHMA. He is Brahma is not the principal cult deity. He is supposed to be the creator of the universe in Hindu Mythology. described in the vedas as Visvakarman, Brahmanaspati, Hiranyagarbha, Prajapati and Brahma etc. Among the Puranas, the iconographical description of Brahma is found in the Matsya Purana, Agni Purana, Visnu and the Visnudharmottara. The Matsya Purana in chapter 260 gives the prescription for the image of Brahma. Brahma rides on a swan, has four hands with the additional attributes of Sruk and Sruva (sacrificial impliments besides the usual staff and Kamandalu). The Agni Purana in chapter 49, says that Brahma is to be represented as possessing four hands and four faces and riding on the celestial swan, his long beard and clotted hair (Jata) reaching his belley. The Agni Purana also lays down that the images of Sarasvati and Savitri should be at the left and right sides respectively, of the Brahma's image. Like the Agni Purana the Matsya Purana also gives the same 20 19 description. In the Visnudharmottara Purana Ad. 46, Brahma is represented as having four faces, four arms and matted hair (Jata) on his head and wearing the skin of a black antelope as garment. He should be depicted as sitting on a lotus seat (as Dr.Kramrisch translates). Dr. Priyabala Shah describes him

- 195 as sitting in the Padmasana pose in a chariot drawn by seven swans. In one of his hands there is a rosary and in another hand is a Kamandalu. e wears all kinds of ornaments and possesses all auspicious marks and has a tranquil appearance. He looks Saumya (tranquil) and to sya (happy). His eyes are closed in meditation. In Adnyaya 63 he is described as Savitri sitting in his left lap. She has the colour of the sun and carries a rosary in her hand. The iconographical implication of the image of Brahma is given in Adhyaya 46, 6 - 19. Brahma is the rajasi murti Hence his colour is reddish and is described as of Vismu. having the aura of the tip of a lotus petal (Padmagrasamibhah). His four faces represent the four vedas and his four arms represent four directions. The Kamandalu in his hand which carries water suggests the great importance of water from which sprung the whole universe. His antelope skin is the symbol of a Yajna which is performed by two types of ceremoniesSukla and Krsna. The seven swans of his chariot are the symbols of seven lokas (regions) viz. bhuh, bhuvah, svar, mahah, janah, tapas and satya. The medicinal plants are symbolized in his matted hair and his ornaments represent the different Vidyasthanas. He sits in meditation with his eyes closed for visualising his creation. In the Mathura Museum, Brahma (of the Gupta period i. e. 3 rd, 4 th Century A.D.) is depicted with four or three bearded faces, holding his right hand in Abhaya mudra. He is a

- 196 - 21 four-armed, potbellied figure, having a beard and also matted hair. Images of Brahma were also worshipped in the Gupta period and several good specimens have been preserved. In the medieval period his images with Sarasvati became popular and have been found at meny centres. But during the Muslim period the worship of Brahma gradually went out of vogue. The first images of Brahma were formed in the Kusina period with several characteristics such as four faces, RsI (ascetic) with the knowledge of the Vedas, kumbhodara (pot-belley), Yajna with its laddles (Sruk & Sruva), Lotus, Hanse, Kamandalu, with Sarasvati and Savitri. He was given the form of a. Brahmanic ascetic from which were derived his matted g locks, antelope skin and cross-leged seat (padmasana). Brahma is shown in the Buddhist reliefs of Gandhara as having profuse hair, beard and moustache, dressed in the garments of a Brahmana and one of his two hands holding a water Vessel.