Brahma,+The+God+Of+Creation

Brahma – The God Of Creation This image depicts Siva (Mahesvara) not Brahma!!

This photo is selected for Google Earth [|[?]] - ID: 579187 [|http://www.panoramio.com/photo/579187]

Location: Elephanta caves, Mumbai, India Culture: Hindu art Artist: unknown Period: estimated to be 4th to 5th century
 * Identification **

In modern day Brahma is rarely worshiped or celebrated even within the Hindu community. There are only two widely known temples dedicated to the god Brahma, and there are rare artworks of Brhama while he is mostly present in scriptures. This is mainly due to the conflict between the Shiva and Vishnu competing for power, where Brahma is neutral.
 * Introduction **

This carving is located on the Elephanta island about six miles of the Mumbai shore. The three dimensional rock shrine has been sculpted out of basalt rock placed in one of the caves. There are three faces of Brahma that are present one facing the observer, the other two are on the side facing the opposite directions, were each face is decorated with a head dress and jewelery. The facial features appear to be proportional and atomically correct. The most detail is with the design of the head dress on the front face.
 * Descriptive Analysis **

Brahma is one of the Trimurti, the other two being Shiva, the destroyer and Vishnu, the preserver. The Trimurti are the three main gods in the Hindu religion. Brahma is known as the creator of the universe and all beings. It is also believed that Brahma was self created through water and Brahman's seed where the seed had spread into a lotus flower and Brahma was born. Brahman is known as the supreme creator of the universe, and was known to have provided the water for the Brahma's birth. Brahma and Brahman share a dualistic relationship according to the Puranas, Brahman came before Brahma and yet Brahma is a personalized form of Brahma. The name Brahman is referred to the sacred power inherent within sacrifice, but was later came to be known as absolute power. Brahma is often shown with four heads face all directions to represent his omniscient powers. The god is also shown carrying a jar of water to represent his ascetic lifestyle dedicated to a humility and poverty.
 * Formal and Contextual Analysis **

 You should have researched about the Elephanta site, which is dedicated to Siva.

The idea of self creation and dualism of the universe is a difficult concept to grasp and wold be an interesting subject of philosophy. I believe that it is odd that Brahma unpopular within the Hindu tradition, Brahma being the creator of all things while being all seeing and all knowing. The Hindu god Brahma resembles god in many popular polytheistic religions.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Personal Interpretation **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Barron, Stephanie, et al. Los Angeles County Museum of Art; New York: Thames and Hudson Inc., 2003, http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=113276;type=101
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">References **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Sanyal, Sumanta."Brahma" created on 26 August 1997 http://www.pantheon.org/articles/b/brahma.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">http://www.panoramio.com/photo/579187

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Kashmiri Overseas Association http://www.koausa.org/Gods/God12.html