Visvakarman (architect of the universe) is described as the the architect and workman of the gods . He evolved, as the son of Prabhasa and Yogasiddha, into an occasional consort of the mother goddess Sarasvati.[1] In the Puranas, Visvakarma is also known as Tvashtri. In other places, he is called as son of Brahma.
In the pictures he is represented as a white man with three eyes. In his right hand he carries a club. He wears a crown, and is adorned with a neck- lace and bracelets of gold. [2]
Mention in Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads
"The one all-seeing god, who, when producing heaven and earth, blows them forth (or shapes them) with his arms and wings ; the father, generator, disposer, who knows all worlds, gives the gods their names, and is beyond the comprehension of mortals."
- In the "Vishnu Purana" [2]
"The author of a thousand arts, the mechanist of the gods, the fabricator of ornaments, the chief of artists, the constructor of the self-moving chariots of the deities, by whose skill men obtain subsistence."
"The lord of the arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, the carpenter of the gods, the fashioner of all ornaments, the most eminent of artisans on whose craft men subsist and whom, as a great and immortal god, they continually worship."
God of Architecture
He formed the heavenly places, flying chariots and weapons for which the warlike gods are indebted to him.[2]
He also built the the golden city of Lanka, the city of Dwaraka, Indraprastha and the Sri vigraha city of Jagannatha.[3]
Amaravati: Realm of Indra and the capital city of Swarga
- The home of Indra is situated on Mount Meru.
- It has beautiful houses for its inhabitants ; and the splendor of its capital is unequaled in the universe.
- Its gardens are stocked with trees that provide shade, fruits, and are adorned with beautiful and fragrant flowers.[2] For instance, the Nandana Gardens housed an evergreen grove.[5]
- The city was built by Visvakarma.
- It is 800 miles (1287 kilometres) in circumference, and 40 miles (64 kilometres) high.
- Its pillars are composed of diamonds whereas the palaces, thrones, and furniture are made of pure gold.[2]
Lanka: Capital of King Ravana
- Lanka was situated on the summit of Trikuta Mountain and resembled Amravati.
- The beautiful stronghold, encircled by battlements with golden ramparts and gates of emerald, was a city of dreams.
- It was embellished by gardens planted with diverse trees such as Champakas, Ashokas, Bakulas, Salas, Talas, Tamalas, Hintalas, Arjunas, Nipas, Saptapamas, Nagas, Tilakas, Karnikaras and Patalas.
- The trees with their flowering crests, round which magnificent creepers twined, gave Lanka a brilliant appearance
- The borders planted with diverse flowers acted as shady avenues.
- Palaces and temples were the splendid decoration of that city.[7]
Dwaraka: Capital of Lord Krishna
- Dvaraka boasted 900,000 crystal and silver royal palaces decorated with huge emeralds.
- The City was decorated with parks, gardens, boulevards, roads, intersections and marketplaces whereas the lakes were crowded with blooming indivara, ambhoja, kahlara, kumuda, and utpala lotuses.
- Assembly houses and temples of demigods graced the charming city.
- The roads, courtyards, commercial streets, and residential patios were all sprinkled with water and shaded from the sun’s heat by banners waving from flagpoles.
The residential area of Lord Hari Krishna was gorgeously decorated by the 16,000 palaces of his queens.
- The coral pillars supporting the palace were inlaid with vaidurya gems.
- Sapphires bedecked the walls.
- The floors glowed with perpetual brilliance.
- Roof with Ornate ridges.
- Latticed windows.
- The palace had canopies with hanging strands of pearls.
- Seats and beds fashioned of ivory and precious jewels.
- Remaining furnishings were bedecked with gold and jewels.
- The glow of numerous jewel-studded lamps dispelled all darkness in the palace. [6]
Indraprastha: City of the Pandavas
- The city had a moat encircling it, which was as wide as a sea.
- It has tall outer walls that touch the sky, walls white as rainless clouds or rays of the moon. A
- It had palatial mansions with wide gates.
- The walls were stocked with myriad weapons such as arrows, missiles and fork-tongued serpents to avoid enemy army from breaching.
- Great iron wheels deck the ramparts.
- Within the walls, there are wide and excellently laid streets.
- Since the homes and mansions resembled another Amaravati on Earth, hence its name Indraprastha.
- Around the city are many forests and enchanting gardens filled with countless fruit and flowering trees such as amras, amaratakas, amalakas, kadambas, asokas, lodhras, akolas, champakas, punnagas, nagas, kakuchas, panasas, salas, tola palms, tamalas, bakulas, jambus, pastalas, kunjakas, atimuktas, karaviras, parijatas, ketakas.
- Water bodies such as crystalline pools, lakes, tanks perfumed by lotuses and lilies, small and large pools were of great beauty.[5]
Shri Jagannath Temple
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Balaram, Subhadra and Krishna
Photo by: ID 73798812 © Gaurav Masand | Dreamstime.com
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King Indradhumna was directed to form an image with the assurance that he would afterwards obtain a rich reward for his religious deeds. Following this advice, he prayed to Visvakarma to assist him by making the image. The architect of the gods consented to do this, but explained that if any one looked at him, or in any way disturbed him whilst he was at work, he would immediately desist, and leave the image in an unfinished state. The king promised to observe this condition and Visvakarma commenced his work.
In one night he raised a grand temple in the blue mountains of Orissa, and then began to make the image. For fifteen days the king managed to restrain his impatience, but then foolishly tried to see the god at work. The angry deity at once ceased, as he had threatened, and the image was left with a most ugly face, and without hands or feet.
The king, exceedingly grieved as he saw the result of his curiosity and went in his distress to Brahma, who comforted him with the promise that he would render the image famous in its present form. The king invited the gods to be present at its inauguration. Several accepted the invitation, Brahma himself officiated as priest, and gave eyes and a soul to the god.
Thus the fame of Jagannath was completely established with an image of Krishna's favorite brother Balarama, and his sister Subhadra.[2]
Vishwakarma Puja
Currently, he is worshiped once, twice, thrice, or four times each year (depending upon the devotees).
Nowadays, no images of him are set up which means that each man worships the implements of his trade as representatives. For instance, the carpenter bows down to his hammer, saw, etc., the bricklayer to his trowel ; the peasant to his plough ; the student to his books ; the clerk to his pen. When the worship is over, the day is spent in feasting and enjoyment. [2]
The worship of Vilvakarman is now more especially observed in Bengal.[3]
Source:
- DICTIONARY OF GODS AND GODDESSES Second Edition by Michael Jordan
- HINDU MYTHOLOGY Vedic and Puranic by W J Wilkins
- The Myths And Gods Of India The Classic Work On Hindu Polytheism by Alain Daniélou
- The gods of India, a brief description of their history, character & worship by Edward Osborn Martin
- The Complete Mahabharata Volume 1 to 12 by Ramesh Menon
- Dvārakā - Wikipedia
- The Ramayana of Valmiki translated by Hari Prasad Shastri
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