It has often been proposed that the Hindu deity Brahma was the same as the Biblical patriarch Abraham. This suggestion primarily arises from the phonetic resemblance between their names. However, the parallels between Abraham and Brahma are minimal. In contrast, there are substantive parallels between Abraham and Ram.
Similarity of names
The name Abraham is phonetically close to Brahma. The letters ‘B’, ‘R’, ‘H,’ and ‘M’ are common to Brahma and Abraham. However, the original name of Abraham was Abram. There was no ‘H.’ That leaves only three letters ‘B’, ‘R’, and ‘M’ as common. Two of these, ‘R’, and ‘M’ consonants are also found in the name “Ram,” suggesting a connection. A thorough investigation reveals significant differences between these two figures, whereas Abraham and Ram share numerous similarities.
Creation and origin of descendants
Brahma is considered to be the creator of the universe, including the sages and the first humans or “Manus.” In the Biblical tradition, it is not Abraham but God who is credited with the creation of humanity, as stated in Genesis 1:27 – “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Thus, if we are to draw parallels in terms of creation, Brahma’s role is more analogous to that of the Biblical God rather than to Abraham.
Abraham could be seen as a “creator” in a metaphorical sense, as he is considered the patriarch of many nations through the covenant made with God. This covenant is described in Genesis 17:4-5 – “As for me, behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.” This notion of Abraham as a progenitor aligns more closely with the role of Ram, who is also regarded as the progenitor of a long lineage of descendants. The genealogical lists of Ram’s descendants, as found in various Hindu texts, bear a strong resemblance to the Biblical genealogies that trace the lineage of Abraham. Therefore, while Brahma’s act of creation is cosmological, the concept of Abraham as a progenitor aligns more closely with Ram, both of whom are depicted as the forefathers of great lineages.
Lineage
According to the Bible, Abraham is a descendant of Noah, tracing his ancestry back through generations that include figures such as Shem, Terah, and ultimately Noah himself. Brahma, on the other hand, is not considered a descendant of any human figures but rather a divine entity with a distinct origin within Hindu cosmology.
In Hindu mythology, the figure analogous to Noah is Manu, specifically Vaivasvata Manu, who is said to have survived a great flood, much like Noah in the Bible. Vaivasvata Manu is a descendant of Brahma, being his “mental son” The genealogical parallels thus align Abraham more closely with Ram, as both are descendants of figures associated with a great deluge—Noah in the Bible and Manu in Hindu mythology. This strengthens the argument that the similarities between Abraham and Ram are more substantial than those between Abraham and Brahma.
Marital Relationships: Sister-Wives and the Parallel Narratives
Both Abraham and Brahma are said to have had a sister-wife. According to Hindu mythology, Brahma once undertook a penance during which his wife Savitri delayed coming to the sacrifice. As a result, someone fetched his daughter Saraswati and Brahma completed the sacrifice with her. Subsequently, Brahma cohabited with Saraswati. Therefore, if Brahma is said to have committed incest, it was with his daughter, not his sister.
It is well-documented in the Bible that Abraham married his half-sister, Sarah, as stated in Genesis 20:12: “But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife.” This unusual marital relationship finds a parallel in the life of Ram. According to the Malayan legend, Ram married Sita, who, according to some interpretations, was his sister. The legend narrates that Sita was born to Mandodari (Ravana’s wife) and Dasharatha, making her Dasharatha’s daughter, but not through Dasharatha’s wife. This mirrors the Biblical narrative where Sarah is both Abraham’s sister and wife. Thus, while Brahma and Abraham do not align, Abraham and Ram both married their half-sisters.
The Sacrifice of the Son
The next point of comparison is that both Abraham and Brahma are said to have attempted to kill their son. Brahma is sometimes compared to Set and Osiris from Egyptian mythology. In that myth, Set kills his brother Osiris, but he does not kill his son. In contrast, the Bible describes Abraham’s attempt to sacrifice his son Isaac or Ishmael.
In the Valmiki Ramayana, there is no description of Ram attempting to kill his son. The narrative of Ram’s life ends after he leaves Ayodhya. In the Uttara Kand section of the Valmiki Ramayana, it is described that Lakshman takes Jal Samadhi (a form of ritualistic death by water) in the Sarayu River, followed by Ram, who also goes into the water of the Sarayu. Ultimately, the Sarayu River is portrayed as the path for Ram to reach Vaikuntha. According to Monier-Williams’ dictionary, Vaikuntha is described as Vishnu’s heaven, situated in the sky or a celestial city. If we interpret Vaikuntha as a different city, it is possible that Ram could have gone to another location after entering the Sarayu River and may have attempted to kill his son at this time though we have no evidence of the same. According to the Bible, Abraham attempted to kill his son, but there is no such description in the Indian literature, which ends its account after Ram departs from Ayodhya. Therefore, the absence of such a story in Indian literature could be considered a silence rather than a denial.
In summary, while Abraham’s attempted sacrifice of his child is well-documented, there is no such description regarding Brahma or Ram. However, the absence of such a narrative in Indian literature does not necessarily negate it but may reflect a lack of information rather than a refutation.
Timelines of Brahma, Abraham, and Ram
According to my study, the time of Abraham is estimated to be around 2000 BCE in the Bible. Vaivasvata Manu, an ancestor of Ram, is descended from Swayambhu Manu, who in turn is descended from Brahma. Therefore, Brahma’s time would be before that of Swayambhu Manu. I have estimated Swayambhu Manu’s time to be around 4000 BCE, so Brahma would have lived even earlier. This timeline indicates that Abraham’s time does not align with Brahma’s, whereas Abraham’s time does correspond with that of Ram, both of whom would have lived around 2000 BCE.
The Nature of the Figures: Mortality vs. Immortality
The nature of Brahma as a deity also contrasts sharply with the mortal lives of Abraham and Ram. Brahma, as a god, is immortal and unchanging, existing across cosmic cycles. Abraham and Ram on the other hand are both depicted as mortal beings who live, act, and eventually die. Abraham’s death is documented in Genesis, while Ram’s departure from the world is described in the Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana. The mortal nature of Abraham and Ram further differentiates them from Brahma, aligning them more closely with each other.
The Journeys to the South: Abraham and Ram’s Parallel Exiles
The life journeys of Abraham and Ram offer another point of similarity. Both figures undertake journeys to the South with their wives. Abraham, along with his wife Sarah and his nephew Lot, travels south, where Sarah is taken by the Pharaoh. Similarly, Ram, along with his wife Sita and his brother Lakshman, travels south, where Sita is abducted by Ravana and taken to Lanka. The narrative of the wife being taken by a ruler in the south is strikingly similar in both stories.
Number of Wives
The number of wives attributed to these figures also offers an interesting point of comparison. Abraham is known to have had three wives: Sarah, Hagar, and Keturah. In the traditional Valmiki Ramayana, Ram is depicted as having only one wife, Sita. However, the Jain version of the Ramayana, ‘Paumacariyam’, mentions that Ram had four chief queens after Sita: Mandavi, Prabhavati, Ratinibha, and Sridama. This multiplicity of wives aligns more closely with Abraham’s three wives, whereas Brahma is traditionally depicted as having two wives, Saraswati and Savitri.
Conclusion: Abraham and Ram, A Closer Parallel
In conclusion, while the names of Brahma, Abraham, and Ram suggest a connection, a deeper analysis reveals that the parallels between Abraham and Ram are far more substantial and meaningful. The similarities in their roles as progenitors of great lineages, their sister-wife marital relationships, their journeys to the South, and their shared narrative of sacrifice, all point to a closer connection between Abraham and Ram. In contrast, Brahma, with his role as a creator deity, his divine nature, and his distinct mythological context, does not align closely with Abraham. Therefore, the argument that Abraham is more closely related to Ram, rather than Brahma, is compelling and supported by a comprehensive examination of the relevant mythological narratives and historical contexts.
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