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{{short description|Hindu god of Architecture}}
{{about|the Hindu god|the Indian caste|Vishwakarma (caste)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = vishwakarmaji.png
| name = Vishwakarma
| affiliation = [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]
| deity_of = God of Architecture
| abode = Vishwakarma loka
| mantra = Om Vishwakarmane Namah
| weapon = [[Weighing scale|Scale]], [[Kamandalu]], Book
| consort =
| caption = Vishvakarma seated on a throne, surrounded by his devotees
| mount = [[Goose]] <br /> [[Elephant]]
| children = [[Sanjna]], [[Trisiras|Vishvarupa]], Barhismati, Chitrangada, [[Nala (Ramayana)|Nala]]
}}
'''Vishwakarma''' or '''Vishvakarman''' ({{lang-sa|विश्वकर्मा|Viśvakarmā|all maker}}) is a craftsman deity and the divine architect of the gods in contemporary [[Hinduism]]. In the early texts, the craftsman deity was known as [[Tvastar]] and the word "Vishvakarma" was originally used as an epithet for any powerful deity. However, in many later traditions, Vishvakarma became the name of the craftsman god.<ref name = Anc>{{Cite book|last1=Coulter|first1=Charles Russell|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWxekbhM1yEC&q=visvakarma&pg=PT1134|title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities|last2=Turner|first2=Patricia|date=2013-07-04|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-96397-2|language=en}}</ref>

Vishwakarma crafted all of the chariots of the gods and weapons including the ''[[Vajra]]'' of the god [[Indra]].<ref>Coomaraswamy (1979), p. 79.</ref> Vishvakarma was related to the sun god [[Surya]] through his daughter [[Saranyu|Samjna]]. According to the legend, when Samjna left her house due to Surya's energy, Vishvakarma reduced the energy and created various other weapons using it. Vishvakarma also built various cities like [[Lanka]], [[Dwarka]] and [[Indraprastha]].<ref name = Anc /> According to the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', the ''[[vanara]]'' (forest-man or monkey) [[Nala (Ramayana)|Nala]] was the son of Vishvakarma, created to aid the avatar [[Rama]].

==Literature and legends==
===Vedas===
{{See also|Tvastar}}
[[File:Visvakarma.jpg|thumb|left|God Visvakarman]]

{{Hinduism}}

The term Visvakarman was originally used as an epithet for any supreme god<ref>{{cite web|title=Vishvakarman {{!}} Hindu mythology|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vishvakarman|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> and as an attribute of [[Indra]] and the [[Surya|Sun]]. The name Visvakarman occurs five times in the tenth book of the Rigveda. The two hymns of the Rigveda identify Visvakarman as all-seeing, and having eyes, faces, arms and feet on every side and also has wings. [[Brahma]], the later god of creation, who is four-faced and four-armed resembles him in these aspects. He is represented as being the source of all prosperity, swift in his thoughts and titled a seer, priest, and lord of speech.<ref>{{cite book|last=Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|title=Vedic Mythology|date=1898|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-8-12081-113-3|url={{googlebooks|b7Meabtj8mcC|page=41|plainurl=y}}|page=41|language=en}}</ref>

According to some parts of the ''[[Rigveda]]'', Vishwakarma was the personification of ultimate reality, the abstract creative power inherent in deities, living and non-living being in this universe.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Vishvakarman – Oxford Reference|url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803120038316|language=en}}</ref> He is considered to be the fifth monotheistic God concept: He is both The Architect and The Divine Engineer of The Universe from before the advent of time.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sprochi|first=Amanda K.|editor-last=Melton|editor-first=J. Gordon|title=Religious Celebrations: L-Z|date=2011|location=Santa Barbara, CA|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-205-0|url={{googlebooks|KDU30Ae4S4cC|page=908|plainurl=y}}|page=908|language=en}}</ref>

The later parts of the Rigveda reveals efforts to find a satisfactory answer to the mysteries regarding the origin of the universe, the creation hymns present in these parts of the Rigveda mention individual creator gods as opposed to the collection of gods and their chiefs ([[Indra]], [[Varuna]], [[Agni]], etc.) creating the world.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dhavamony|first=Mariasusai|title=Classical Hinduism|date=1982|publisher=Gregorian Biblical BookShop|isbn=978-8-87652-482-0|url={{googlebooks|DD0w_IMFA8gC|page=48|plainurl=y}}|page=48|language=en}}</ref>

In the [[historical Vedic religion]], the role of Vishvakarma as the builder of gods is attributed to [[Tvastar]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWxekbhM1yEC&q=visvakarma&pg=PT1134|title = Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities|isbn = 9781135963972|last1 = Coulter|first1 = Charles Russell|last2 = Turner|first2 = Patricia|date = 4 July 2013}}</ref> Vedic Vishvakarman is identified with [[Prajapati]] rather than [[Tvastar|''Tvaṣṭṛ'']].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Monier-Williams|first=Monier|title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary: Etymologically and Philologically Arranged with Special Reference to Cognate Indo-European Languages|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1899|pages=994}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Macdonell|first=Arthur Anthony|title=Vedic Mythology|year=1897|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=118}}</ref> In later mythology, Vishvakarman is sometimes identified with ''Tvaṣṭṛ'' and is a craftsman deity.<ref name=":0">[[Monier-Williams]] (1899) p. 994.</ref>

==Iconography and forms==
{{multiple image
| image1 = Bishowkarma Statue.jpg
| image2 = Biswakarma (crop).jpg
| image3 =
| align = left
| total_width = 350
| footer = Two different depictions of Vishvakarma
}}
Vishvakarma's iconography varies drastically from one region to another, though all picture him with creation tools. In the most popular depiction, he is depicted as an aged and wise man, with four arms. He has white beard and is accompanied by his vahana, ''[[hamsa (bird)|hamsa]]'' (goose or swan), which scholars believe that these suggest his association with the creator god [[Brahma]]. Usually, he is seated on a throne and his sons standing near him. This form of Vishvakarma is mainly found in the Western and North Western parts of India.<ref name="Vishva1">{{Cite book|last1=Jacobsen|first1=Knut A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sPmADwAAQBAJ&q=vishwakarman&pg=PT36|title=Religion and Technology in India: Spaces, Practices and Authorities|last2=Myrvold|first2=Kristina|date=2019-01-15|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-351-20477-4|language=en}}</ref>

Contradictory to the above account, the idols of Vishvakarma in the eastern parts of India depict him as a young muscular man. He has black moustache and is not accompanied by his sons. An elephant is his vahana, suggesting his association with [[Indra]] or [[Brihaspati]].<ref name="Vishva1" />

== Family ==
He is often stated to be the son of [[Brahma]], but it differs in many other texts. In the [[Nirukta]] and [[Brahmana]]s he is stated to be the son of Bhuvana. In the [[Mahabharata]] and [[Harivamsa|Harivansha]], he is the son of Vasu Prabhāsa and Yoga-siddhā. In the [[Puranas]], he is the son of Vāstu. Vishvakarma is the father of three daughters named Barhishmati, [[Saranyu|Samjna]] and Chitrangada.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9v1OAQAAIAAJ&q=vishwakarma+Chitrangada|title=The Sacred Scriptures of India|date=2009|publisher=Anmol Publications|isbn=978-81-261-3630-8|language=en}}</ref> In other texts Vishvakarma is presented as the husband of Gritachi.<ref name=":1" /> When identified with Tvastar, Vishvakarma is also described to be the father of a son named [[Trisiras|Vishvarupa]].<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Debroy|first1=Bibek|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jXoRAQAAIAAJ&q=vishvakarma+vishvarupa|title=The Holy Puranas|last2=Debroy|first2=Dipavali|date=2002|publisher=B.R. Publishing Corporation|isbn=978-81-7646-299-0|language=en}}</ref>

==Vishwakarma Puja==
[[File:Jinjia Temple.jpg|thumb|left|Vishwakarma Temple in [[Jinja, Uganda|Jinja]], [[Uganda]]]]

[[File:Machilipatnam Vishwakarma Temple 9.jpg|thumb|Vishwakarma Temple at Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh]]

[[File:Vishwakarma Temple, Lohgarh, Zirakpur (Near Chandigarh).jpeg|thumb|Vishwakarma Temple, Lohgarh, Zirakpur (Near Chandigarh)]]

Even among those who believe that there is a birthday there is no agreement as to when it actually occurs. Vishwakarma birthday is celebrated on two days under different names:
* ''Vishwakarma Puja''. "Vishwakarma Puja" always celebrated in India on the 17/18 September of every Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.calendarlabs.com/holidays/hindu/vishwakarma-puja.php|title=Vishwakarma Puja in Hindu Calendar}}</ref>
* ''Rishi Panchami Dinam''. "Rishi Panchami Dinam" literally means ‘the day of the solidarity of five rishis.’ Those who celebrate this day believe that Vishwakarma did not have a birthday like the mortals but only a commemoration day in which his five children (supposedly five ''rishis'') came together to declare their solidarity and pray to their illustrious father. This day follows the rules of the [[Hindu calendar]] and changes with every year. The five groups among the [[Vishwakarma (caste)|Vishwakarma community]] also celebrate this as an auspicious day in commemoration of their patron god at present.<ref>Achary, Subramanian Matathinkal (1995).</ref>

==See also==
*[[Vishwakarma Day]]
*[[Suthar]]
*Rajgir karigar
*[[Acharya]]
*[[Barhai]]
*[[Vishwakarma (caste)]]
*[[Tarkhan]]
*[[Lohar]]
*[[Daksha]]
*[[Kami (caste)]]
*[[Jangid]]
*[[Shilpa Shastras]]
*[[Great Architect of the Universe]]
*[[Tvastar|Tvas]]
*[[Tvastar|tar]]
*[[Vishwakarmas]]

==Bibliography==
* Achary, Subramanian Matathinkal (1995): ''Visvakarmajar Rigvedathil'', Sawraj Printing and Publishing Company, Aluva.
* Coomaraswamy, Ananda K. [[Ananda Coomaraswamy]] (1979): ''Medieval Sinhalese Art'', Pantheon Books Inc., New York.
* [[Monier-Williams]] (1899): [https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw0994-vizvavyApti.jpg]
* Pattanaik, Devdutt [[Devdutt Pattanaik]] (2009): ''7 Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art''. Westland, India. {{ISBN|978-81-89975-67-8}}.
* Padhi, Bibhu & Padhi, Minakshi [[Bibhu Padhi]] (1998): ''Indian Philosophy and Religion: A Reader's Guide'' (3rd ed.). D.K. Printworld. {{ISBN|978-8-12460-116-7}}.
* Borad, Siddharth & Om, Dr. Jayshree (2020): ''The Ancient Science of Vastu''. BlueRose. {{ISBN|978-93-90030-07-1}}.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Dr G Gnanananda, "Vishwakarma Darshana-Vishawakarma Volume-1 (2008), "Sanskriti Sahithya Pratisthana, Bangalore Publications"
* Dr G Gnanananda, "Vishwakarma Darshana-Hiranyagarbha Volume-2 (2009), "Sanskriti Sahithya Pratisthana, Bangalore Publications"
* Dr G Gnanananda, "Vishwakarma Darshana-Rhubugalu Volume-3 (2010), "Sanskriti Sahithya Pratisthana, Bangalore Publications"
* {{cite book|last=Raina|first=M. K.|year=1999|contribution=The Divine Creativity: The Mythical Paradigm and Lord Visvakarma|editor-last=Stein|editor-first=M. I.|title=Creativity's Global Correspondents – 1999|publisher=Winslow Press|place=Florida|pages=75–82|url=http://www.amcreativityassoc.org/ACA%20Press/Global%20Correspondents/Global_1999.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226165221/http://www.amcreativityassoc.org/ACA%20Press/Global%20Correspondents/Global_1999.pdf|archive-date=26 February 2007}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.vishwakarmasamaj.com Vishwakarma Samaj]

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[[Category:Crafts gods]]
[[Category:Creator gods]]
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Buddhist gods]]
[[Category:Rigvedic deities]]
[[Category:Smithing gods]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vishwakarma}}

Vishvakarma - Revision history

Hiya singh: minor improve details for consistency additionally and updated info for accuracy

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