Viswakarma Gods Architect |
Viswakarma is the architect and also the workman of the gods. The places in heaven were formed by him and so the wonder weapons. He made the world and all that is in it, and he is also the protector of the creatures he has made. Viswakarma is also known as Tvastri. He is also connected to Ribhus. These were sons of a person named Sudhanvan who owing to their great skill in working got immortality and divine honours. The Ribhus made Lord Indra's chariot and horses. They are spoken of as pupils of Viswakarma. It was through their technique in manking four sacrificial cups out of one their master had fashioned that they became divine. Viswakarma was very angry at their success and ashamed to be seen with them preferred to hid himself. But to another account he admired their skill and was pleased at their success. He is also the father-in-law of the Sun. It has been occassionaly described that Indra is in a state of hostility towards him and his son Viswarupa and ultimately caused death of both. In the Rig veda he is described in two hymns as the one all-seeing god, who has on every side eyes faces arms feet who when producing heaven and earth blows them forth with his arms etc. He is beyond the comprehension of the mortals. In the Epic and Puranic periods Viswakarma is invested with the powers and offices of the Vedic Tvastri and hence is sometimes called as such. It was he who made the Agneyastras or the fiery weapons and it was he who revealed the ' Sthapatya-Veda ' or the science of architecture. The Mahabharata often describes him as the Lord of arts, handicrafts, carpenter of gods, the fashioner of all ornaments the most eminent of artisans who formed the celestial chariots. In Ramayana Viswakarma is said to have built the city of Lanka for the demons and as having generated the ape Nala who constructed the bridge from India to Ceylon. According to the Purana Viswakarma is the son of ' Pravasa ' and his daughter ' Sanjna ' was married to Surya or the Sun. But she was unable to endure the brightness of her husband for which Viswakarma got the brightness reduced by an eighth part. He is also represented as having made the great image of Lord Jagannatha. In some places he is called the son of Brahma. In pictures he is represented as a white man with three eyes. In the right hand he carries a club. He wears a crown and is adorned with a necklace and bracelets made of gold. He is worshipped once twice thrice or even four times in a year according to the devotion of his worshippers. It has been seen in the Vedas that in some hymns he is regarded as the creator and the preserver. Brahma is always the creator and Vishnu the preserver while Lord Viswakarma becomes the valued servant who fulfils the wish of his superiors. Man worships him with the implements of his trade. Like the carpenter bows down to his hammer and saw, the peasant to his plough, the students to his books and so on. When the worship is over the day is spent in enjoying and feasting.