Vishvakarma

   Vishvakarma, “the one who does all action,” is the architect and artisan among the Vedic gods. He fashions buildings for them and makes their weapons and implements. On Earth he is said to have fashioned the entire world, including men and women. He shares in sacrifices made by people to the other gods. The Ribhus, who make chariots and other objects for the gods, are said to be his pupils.

   Vishvakarma persists in the mythology of the PURANAS, where he maintains his role as divine architect and artisan. There he is the son of BRAHMA and is said to have three eyes, a club, a gold crown, and a gold necklace, though there is no proliferation of iconography of him.

   Further reading: John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, 12th ed. (Ludhiana: Lyall Book Depot, 1974); Alfred Hillebrandt, Vedic Mythology, 2 vols. (Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1990); W. J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic, 2d ed. (Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).