Brahma and the Problem of Popularity

Merrick Hall Room 201

Brahma, the creator god, theoretically occupies a major position in Hinduism but, in practice, receives virtually no bhakti-style devotional worship. The study examines potential causes of Brahma’s lack of popular worship through analysis of existing scholarship, and through in-depth interviews with eight Hindus. These subjects were asked to give their own explanations and evaluate scholarly theories on Brahma’s unpopularity in devotional worship. Among scholarly theories, Km. Rajani Mishra's states that after creation, Brahma has nothing to offer humanity, and argues that Brahma’s character was not compelling enough to retain followers. Alternatively, Greg Bailey suggests that Brahma’s role as creator ties him to pravṛttidharma, a worldly mindset that prevents him from granting salvation. The subject interviews indicate that Brahma is well respected, and the primary cause of his unpopularity remains unclear. Some saw him as subservient to other gods and thus undeserving of worship. Others stated, like Mishra, that Brahma has nothing to offer Hindus after creation. Bailey’s theory of pravṛttidharma was controversial, with some arguing that bhakti deities are based on tradition and not considerations of pravṛttidharma. Most subjects agreed that Brahma once possessed more followers. Some argued Brahma was subject to slander and his appealing characteristics were absorbed by other gods. Others speculated a historical disaster may have caused the cult’s deterioration. Still others argued that Brahma never had a widespread following. When combined with existing scholarship, the interviews suggest that unknown historical factors, along with Brahma’s position in mythology, resulted in his cult’s decline, but indicate that Brahma still enjoys considerable respect among most Hindus.