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Brahma hasta-hand gesture for lord Brahma

Brahma:

In Sanskrit the creative principal of the universe is called the ‘Brahma’. As the name suggests he is believed to be the creator of the universe and all beings have evolved out of him. Brahma is depicted as red in color with four heads, bearded faces, and four arms. His hands hold a kamandalu (a pot), his bow or a rosary, a sacrificial ladle, and the Vedas. Brahma is sometimes depicted as sitting on a lotus that emerges out of the navel of a supreme being Narayana. The four Vedas are said to have originated from his heads. Brahma’s vehicle is a divine Swan. This bird is bestowed with a virtue to separate milk and water out their mixture. This can be inferred to the power of discrimination. Brahma’s consort is Devi Saraswati (the goddess of wisdom).

With reference to Dance, Nadikeswara writes

brahmachaturo vame hansasya dakshine karaha

Which means:

He is represented when left hand is held in chatura hasta (inside of the palm facing up) and right hand is held in Hamsasye. The chatura hasta is to show him as holding the vedas and the hamsasye hasta to show the rosary that he holds.

(reference : www.gurjari.net and wikipedia)

2 Comments

  1. Anjali

    @Vennela, Black Lotus(krishna kamal) can be denoted by showing either Black: eyeliner of kajal, then immediately showing lotus. Gajendra can be shown by holding Arala with left hand closer to the left ear and hand in mukula extended forward.

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