Brahmá

Also known as: Brahma / Eternal Sire / Lord Brahmá / Lord Most High / Sire whom all obey · Family: Gods · Role: god · First appears: Book I, Canto 1 · Nárad

In Book I, Canto 2, Brahmá commanded Válmíki to compose Ráma’s life in verse and promised that “No word of falsehood shall have place.” He is named as the father of Kuśa and Maríchi, and in Book I, Canto 10 Vaśishṭha is called his son. In Canto 14, he granted Rávaṇ protection from gods and demons, while revealing that only a human could slay him. He also bestowed boons on Táḍaká and Suketu, promised Kuśanábha a son like himself, and addressed Gangá about descending only when Śiva could bear her torrents.

In Book I, Cantos 57 and 63, Brahmá assigned Viśvámitra the ranks of royal saint and saint, then Mighty Saint, before withholding the title of Bráhman saint. In Canto 65, he and the Gods granted Viśvámitra that rank and long life. Book II, Canto 110 tells how Brahmá raised the earth from the deep and made the world. In Book III, he granted Virádha a body no weapon could pierce and sent Indra to bring heavenly food to Sítá.

In Book IV, Brahmá granted boons to Maya and Hanumán, and gave the treasures of an abode to Hemá. In Book V, a prophecy attributed to him foretold that a Vánar would overcome the Guardian Goddess. In Book VI, he cursed Rávaṇ for a second assault and, in the tale told by Vibhishaṇ, cursed Kumbhakarṇa to sleep; after Rávaṇ pleaded, he decreed six months asleep followed by a day awake. He also bestowed a dart on Indrajít and gave Indra the arrow with which he rode to fight.