Who is Vishwakarma?

Vishwakarma is the Hindu God of architecture, considered to have constructed the universe. He is called the 'Principal Universal Architect' according to Hinduism and so the divine architect or 'Devasilpi'

He is depicted with four heads, a club in his right hand, his tools in his left hand, wearing a crown and decked in gold ornaments.

Vishwakarma is also identified with Lord Brahma (Prajapati) or the Lord of creation. Hence he is considered as the universal father who is capable of revealing much in advance the direction from which the creation is bound to move. He is considered the all seeing, all knowing and ever present God and his many faces and arms depicts his multifaceted creative power and supreme strength.

Vishwakarma's Architectural creations

Vishwakarma is said to have created the Swarglok (Heaven) in Satya Yuga, Lanka in Treta Yuga, Dwarka (Krishna's capital) in the Dwapar Yuga and Hastinapur and Indraprastha in the Kali Yuga.

The architectural creations of Vishwakarma include places for Gods, towns, cities, temples etc. His architectural wonders find place in the Indian epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

The cities of Dwarka, which mythology states as Lord Krishna's capital, Hastinapur, the capital of the Pandavas, which they won over from the Kauravas in the battle, Indraprashtha, the town in Mahabharata etc were all built by Vishwakarma.

It is also believed that Sone Ki Lanka was created by Vishwakarma. This is supposed to be the place where Ravana held Sita as a hostage in the Ramayana.

The Jagannath temple of Puri however is a surviving epitome of Vishwakarma's architectural creations. The captivating enormous forms of Lord Jagannath, Subadhra and Balaram are said to have been sculpted according to the creative skills of the divine artisan.