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Brahma
is the first of the omnipotent trinity of Hindu Gods and appears
as the great, cosmic creator. In the epic - Puranic times, the Vidic
triad of Indra- Agni- Surya lost their preminence to the all encompassing
resonance of the magnificent trinity of Brahma - Vishnu - Shiva.
And it is these three deities and the mother Goddess Devi who are
still the most pupular gods worshipped today. Shiva, Vishnu and
the Devi have active cults and all the important temples are dedicated
to them. In contrast there is no Brahma cult, no temples to him
and in the popular mind his personality has remained a dim, shadowy
presence, only evoked during sacrifices.
Hindu visualise existence as an endless cycle of creation, destruction,
and creation again that starts with the beginning of time and will
go on till eternity. It all begins when Brahma creates not just
the earth and all its creatures but also the heavens and the gods
and even the demons. Vishnu preserves this creation until its cycle
comes to an end and them Shiva destroys it all so that creation
can begin again. Among the three deities, Brahma somehow possesse
the most amorphouse personality. He replaced the remot and detached
Dyaus the sky father god of the Vedic people but himself did not
a strong identity.
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