Unlike Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, who have countless temples across India, Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe and one of the trimurti or triad of principal Hindu deities, has only a few temples dedicated to him.
There are several legends about why this is so. The most-believed version is that Lord Shiva was angry with Lord Brahma, for a lie he told, and cursed him saying no one would worship him on earth. We introduce you to a few of the places where Brahmaji is honoured.
One of the most famous temples in Lord Brahma's name is at scenic Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan, attracting scores of pilgrims all year round, but especially in the Hindu month of Kartik (November), when they take a holy dip and offer prayers to the much revered deity.
Built by the Rajpurohits of Asotra village, near Barmer, this rare Rajasthan shrine dedicated to Lord Brahma, showcases a stunning fusion of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur stone architecture, with a striking marble deity at its heart. The temple is also a paradise for birds and daily 200 kg plus grain is offered to flocks that gather.
Located in the Mandi area of Himachal Pradesh, there is a fascinating back story to this temple. The Aadi Brahma Temple at Khokhan, near Kullu was once revered by folks from both Mandi and Kullu. When the two kingdoms split, a replica of the temple was built in Mandi. The prefix 'Aadi' reflects the strong Buddhist influence.
The legend associated with this central Tamil Nadu mandir is another version of the tale of why Lord Brahma has so few temples in his name. Here the story goes that, Goddess Parvati once mistook Brahma for Shiva, which enraged Shiva. In his fury, Shiva severed one of Lord Brahma’s heads and cursed him to be forgotten by his devotees. It is a place to pray to change the course of one's fate.
Close to Valpoi, and 60 km from Panjim, this is the only shrine to Lord Brahma in Goa. While the temple itself is not very old, its murti dates back to the 11th century making it a much revered north Goan mandir.
Thanjavur district's Brahma Temple does a small, sideways hat tip to Lord Brahma. The shrine is actually dedicated to Lord Vishnu but there is a special temple for Lord Brahma too.
According to historians, the Gujarati temple to Lord Brahma, close to the border of Rajasthan, in Sabarkantha district, was erected in 11th century by Chaulukya king, Karna. The elegantly-clad, four-armed Lord Brahma murti stands 5 ft plus and is flanked by his consorts, Gayatri and Savitri and two geese. His vahan or vehicle is the hamsa (swan or goose).
A gorgeous shrine befitting the majesty of Lord Brahma is located close to Bhubaneshwar. The tale goes: Lord Brahma arrived for the Odisha coronation of Lingaraj Deva, an avatar of Lord Shiva. The folks here asked him to stay on, ideally forever. Lord Brahma promised to return yearly in the Hindu month of Chaitra for the Ashokashtami festival in honour of the deva.
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