Indian festival – Vishwakarma Jayanthi

Every year, on 17^th September date, no matter in which day it falls, we Indians celebrate Vishwakarma Jayanthi… Happy wishes to you and your family. Do you know?

Why to worship Vishwakarma?

This entire universe was composed by the hands of Vishwakarma. On this day worship is done in different states of the countries, Indian states such as Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Tripura. The festival is observed primarily in factories and industrial areas, often on the shop floor. As a mark of reverence the day of worship is marked not only by the engineering and architectural community but by artisans, craftsmen, mechanics, smiths, welders, industrial workers, factory workers and others. They pray for a better future, safe working conditions and, above all, success in their respective fields. Workers also pray for the smooth functioning of various machines. It is customary for craftsmen to worship their tools in his name, refraining from using the tools while doing so. Modern electronic servers are also worshipped for their smooth functioning.

Special statues and pictures of Vishwakarma are normally installed in every workplace and factory. All workers gather in one common place and perform the puja (reverence).

Who is Vishwakarma?

Vishwakarma is the son of Kasyapa and Aditi and is said to have made the three worlds with pieces of the Sun god, Surya. It was also mentioned that he born to Yogasiddha (mother) and Prabhas (father), one of the noted eight Vasus.

Vishwakarma is the deity of the creative power that holds the universe together according to the Rigveda and is considered to be the original creator, architect, divine engineer of the universe from before the advent of time, also the root concept of the later Upanishadic figures of Brahman and Purusha in the historical Vedic religion. It is believed that God Vishwakarma had only made the weapons and palaces of the gods in mythological times. Lord Vishwakarma is considered the God of creation and creation.

The name Vishvakarman occurs five times in the tenth book of the Rigveda. The two hymns of the Rigveda identify Vishvakarman as all-seeing, and having eyes, faces, arms and feet on every side and also has wings.

Yajurveda pictured him as the Prajapati and in the Atharva veda he is mentioned as Pashupati.

Shwethashwatharopanishad described him as Rudrasiva, the one who is dwelling in all living forms.

From Moolastambha purana which is something similar to Nasadeeya suktha, it/He was the one who created himself from himself when there was no earth, water, light, air and akasha, and even the Thrimurthies Later in the post vedic and brahmanic period, the term Vishwakarma is appeared both as the Rsi and the Silpi.

In yajurveda the term is seen as one of names of pancha risis. Though the term is an epithet of suryanarayana, one of the seven rays of Surya is also known as Viswakarma. Bhauvana Vishwakarma (Atharva/Angirasa Gothra) is a vedic Rsi who was the author of Rg 10–81,82 suktha, (Prabasa Vishwakarma) was probably a silpi and the son of Prabhas, the eighth hermit of the legendary Astam vasu and Yogasiddha, sister of Brihaspati. He is said to have revealed the Sthapatya Veda / Vastu Shastra or fourth Upa-veda, and presides over the sixty-four mechanical arts.

Vishvakarma created five prajapathies – from his five faces such as Sadyojāta, Vāmadeva, Aghora, Tatpuruṣha, Īsāna. They are Manu, Maya, Twosta, Silpy, Viswajna and their respective Rishis.

1. Sānaga Brahma Rishi
2. Sanāthana Brahma Rishi
3. Ahabhuna Brahma Rishi
4. Prathna Brahma Rishi
5. Suparna Brahma Rishi

When is Vishwakarma Jayanthi?

Every year, on 17^th  September, the birth anniversary of Lord Vishwakarma will be celebrated. In any case, every Hindu festival is celebrated according to the festival and the date of fast, but every year for Vishwakarma worship there is a fixed date i.e., 17 September. According to some astrologers, Lord Vishwakarma was born on the date of Ashwin Krishnapaksa, and is best to worship God Vishwakarma on the last date of Bhadrapad / Indian Bhado month.

Vishwakarma puja is also celebrated a day after Diwali, along with Govardhan Puja in October–November

Who is the father of Architecture? What Vishwakarma built / constructed?

Hindu scriptures describe many of Vishwakarma's architectural accomplishments.

1. Jagannath temple, puri: The Lord of Architecture is also supposed to built the three deities Lord jagannath, Lord Balabhadra , Lord Subhadra along with Sudarshana Chakra in the Shreekshretra jagannath temple.

2. Sri Lanka of gold: According to Ramayana, 'Swarnalanka' or Golden Lanka was ruled by Ravana during the treta yuga. This is also the city where Ravana held Sita hostage. It is said that when Lord Shiva married Parvati, he asked Viswakarma to build a beautiful palace for them to reside in. Vishwakarma built a palace made of gold. For the housewarming ceremony, Shiva invited the wise Pulastya rishi (The Grandfather of Kubera and also Ravana) to perform the "Grihapravesh" ritual. After the sacred ceremony when Shiva asked Pulastya rishi to ask anything in return as "Dakshina", Pulastya, overwhelmed with the beauty and grandeur of the palace, asked Shiva for the golden palace itself. Shiva was obliged to accede to Pulastya's wish, and the Golden Lanka became his grandson Kubera's palace. The city of gold is said to have fallen into Ravana's hands when he overthrew his half brother Kubera.

3. Dwarka: Viswakarma is also supposed to have built Dwarka overnight. During the time of the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna is said to have lived in Dwarka, and made it his "Karma Bhumi" (center of operation). This land now located in today's Gujarat has become a well known pilgrimage for the Hindus.

4. Pushpak airplane: Pushpaka Vimana was originally build by Vishwakarma for Lord Brahma (the creator). But Brahma afterwards gave it to   Kuber (God of wealth). But later his step brother Ravana stole it from Kuber along with Lanka.

5. Indraprastha for Pandavas

Vishwakarma also built the town of Indraprastha for the Pandavas. The Mahabharata has it that King

Dhritarashtra oered a piece of land called ‘Khaandavprastha’ to the Pandavas for living. Yudhishtir obeyed his uncle’s order and went to live in Khaandavprastha with the Pandava brothers. Later, Lord Krishna invited Vishwakarma to build a capital for the Pandavas on this land, which he renamed ‘Indraprastha’.

6. Weapons for Gods:

It is believed that God Vishwakarma had only made the weapons and some are as follows:

        1.       Trishula: Trishula is a three spear headed weapon carried by Lord Shiva himself and is considered the most powerful weapon that upon unleashed can be heavily destructive and cannot be stopped or controlled by any means except for Shiva himself. The Trishula can nullify any supernatural weapons existed.

         2.       Sudharshana Chakra: Sudharshana Chakra is a spinning disc-like weapon with 108 serrated edges seen on the index finger of Lord Vishnu. It was gifted by Lord Shiva to Vishnu that was formed from the dust of the sun and scraps taken from the trident of Shiva and made by the architect of Gods – Vishwakarma.

       3.       Pashupatastra: According to Hindu theory Pashupatastra is the most powerful weapon after the weapons of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. It is the most irresistible and destructive weapon that is discharged by the mind, the eyes, the words, or a bow. In Mahabharata epic, Arjuna received it from Lord Shiva but never came into use.

        4.       Brahmanda Astra: Brahmanda is believed to manifest the 4 heads of Brahma, which can nullify most of all the powerful weapons released at it. This weapon can even swallow Brahmastra and neutralize it. It was created by Saptarishis to counter any weapon ever created. Brahmarishi Vashistha used it in defense to Vishwamitra’s attack of all divine weapons.

       5.       Brahmashira: Brahmashira is considered 4 times more powerful weapon than Brahmastra. When used, it can devastate the place to such great deal leaving it infertile for decades. Indrajit (Meghanada) used it in Ramayana epic killing 670 million Vanaras. In Mahabharata, Aswasthama used it to finish the dynasty of Pandavas.

       6.       Narayanastra: Narayanastra, when used, would create millions of arrows and a disc-like weapon that is considered very destructive. It is one of the weapons that had to be obtained from Lord Vishnu in the form of Narayana which can be used only once in a lifetime.

      7.       Bhargavastra: Bhargavastra is a weapon of Parashurama given to Karna which when used inflicts more powerful weapons, powerful than the Indrastra. It can destroy the whole planet if not retracted.

       8.       Vajrayudha: Vajra in short. It is the weapon of Indra, King of devas, It released bolts of powerful lightning making it one of the most powerful weapons known.

     9.       Teen Baan: Teen Baan is a weapon of Barbarika in Mahabharata Epic that he received as a boon from Devi Siddhidatri. It is believed if Barbarika participated in the Mahabharata war, he could finish the war in 30 seconds with the use of Teen Baan. The weapon is an arrow used 3 times, one to choose the target, other to choose the target to be saved and third to destroy all the targets not chosen.

      10.   Brahmastra: Brahmastra is the most popular and known weapon in Hindu stories and it’s very destructive considered as powerful as nuclear weapons today. When released could be very disastrous as well as it can counter other supernatural weapons in defence

Etc……

Many thanks to google.com, en.wikipedia.org…etc…. from where the data has been collected.