Hiranyagarbha (हिरण्यगर्भ)
Meaning: "Golden Womb" or "Golden Egg."
Represents the cosmic seed or the primordial source of creation from which the universe emerged.
Meaning: "Lord of Progeny" or "Lord of Creatures."
Denotes Brahma as the progenitor of all beings.
Vishwakarma (विश्वकर्मा)
Meaning: "The Creator of the Universe" or "The Architect of the World."
Highlights his role in designing and manifesting the cosmos.
Svayambhu (स्वयम्भू)
Meaning: "Self-Born" or "Self-Manifested."
Indicates Brahma's emergence without external cause.
Chaturmukha (चतुर्मुख)
Meaning: "Four-Faced One."
Refers to his depiction with four heads, symbolizing his all-encompassing knowledge and the four Vedas.
Vedgarbha (वेदगर्भ)
Meaning: "Womb of the Vedas."
Suggests that the Vedas originated from Brahma.
Dhatri (धातृ)
Meaning: "Supporter" or "Sustainer."
Emphasizes Brahma's role in sustaining creation.
Vidhata (विधाता)
Meaning: "Ordinator" or "Dispenser of Destiny."
Refers to his role in determining the fates of beings.
Ka (क)
Meaning: A mystical or symbolic name for Brahma, meaning "Who?"
Used in hymns like the "Nasadiya Sukta" (Rigveda 10.129) to pose questions about creation.
Pitamaha (पितामह)
Meaning: "Grandfather."
Refers to his position as the progenitor of gods and humans.
Hiranyagarbha (हिरण्यगर्भ)
Meaning: Golden Womb
Represents the cosmic seed or the primordial source of all creation.
"Hiranya" means "gold," and "garbha" means "womb," symbolizing purity and potentiality.
It depicts Brahma as the first manifestation of the universe, emerging from the "golden egg."
Nabhija (नाभिज)
Meaning: born from the Navel
Refers to Brahma's origin from the navel of Lord Vishnu as described in the Puranas.
Symbolizes the interconnectedness of creation, with Vishnu as the sustainer and Brahma as the creator.
Kanja (कंज)
Meaning: Born in Water
"Kan" means water, and "ja" means born.
Brahma's birth in water signifies the primordial waters from which creation began. Water is often depicted as the cosmic medium for creation in Hindu cosmology.
Chaturbuja (चतुर्बुज)
Meaning: Four-Armed
Brahma is sometimes depicted with four arms, each holding symbolic items: a water pot, a scepter, a Vedas manuscript, and a rosary.
The four arms represent his dominion over the four directions and his mastery of knowledge and creation.
Padma-ja (पद्मज)
Meaning: born from the Lotus Flower
Brahma is often portrayed seated on or emerging from a lotus flower growing from Vishnu’s navel.
The lotus symbolizes purity and detachment, growing untainted even in muddy waters.
Aja (अज)
Meaning: unborn
Denotes that Brahma, as a cosmic principle, is not born in the conventional sense but emerges eternally.
Reflects the idea of Brahma as an aspect of the eternal and infinite Brahman (ultimate reality).
Svayambhu (स्वयम्भू)
Meaning: Self-Existing
Signifies that Brahma came into existence without any external cause or creator.
He is self-manifested, representing the principle of spontaneous creation.
Caturmukha (चतुर्मुख)
Meaning: Four-Faced
Refers to Brahma's depiction with four faces, each reciting one of the four Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda.
The four faces symbolize his omniscience and mastery over all directions.
Caturanana (चतुर्नान)
Meaning: With Four Faces
Similar to "Caturmukha," emphasizing Brahma's ability to observe and comprehend the entirety of creation from all angles.
Prajapati (प्रजापति)
Meaning: Father of the Clan
Means "Lord of Beings" or "Lord of Progeny."
Highlights his role as the progenitor of all living beings and the creator of the universe.
Ashta-karna (अष्टकर्ण)
Meaning: With Eight Ears
This epithet refers to Brahma's symbolic ability to hear from all directions and perceive universal truths.
The eight ears align with his four faces, each having two ears, symbolizing his receptiveness to the Vedas and cosmic sounds.
Hamsa-vahana (हंसवाहन)
Meaning: One Who Rides the Swan
Brahma’s mount (vahana) is the swan, a bird revered for its wisdom and purity.
The swan is believed to have the ability to separate milk from water, symbolizing discernment (viveka) and the ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
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