Why Brahma Is Less Worshipped Than Vishnu and Shiva

In Hinduism, three gods form the Trimurti: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. Each represents an important function of the universe. But while Vishnu and Shiva are widely worshipped, Brahma is not. Temples dedicated to him are extremely few, and his name is rarely heard in daily prayers. Why does the Creator receive less devotion than the other two? The reasons are rooted in philosophy, mythology, and religious traditions.

Hindu philosophy teaches that everything created eventually changes and ends. Brahma represents creation, which is only the beginning of the cycle. Vishnu, who sustains, and Shiva, who ends the cycle, are linked with what feels more permanent to human life and spirituality.

The universe is said to be governed by three qualities: sattva (balance), rajas (desire and activity), and tamas (inertia). Brahma is tied to rajas, the force that drives desire and restlessness. Vishnu is linked with sattva, and Shiva with tamas in a way that helps transcend the ego. Since spiritual growth often means rising above desire, Brahma’s association with rajas makes him less central for worshippers.

Puranic texts contain stories that explain why Brahma lost prominence. One tale says Brahma lied about seeing the top of Shiva’s infinite pillar, leading to a curse that he would not be widely worshipped. In another, his attraction toward his own creation, Shatarupa, was criticized. These stories shaped the cultural view of Brahma and justified why his temples are rare.

Unlike Vishnu and Shiva, who are considered eternal, Brahma’s role is finite. Texts say he lives for one hundred Brahma years, an unimaginably long span, but still with an end. Devotees tend to worship gods who are seen as timeless and everlasting, making Vishnu and Shiva more relatable.

Vishnu and Shiva became the center of major traditions: Vaishnavism and Shaivism. These traditions produced scriptures, saints, temples, and festivals that kept their worship strong across India. Brahma never had such a movement, and without it, devotion around him never grew into a major practice.

For most people, creation is not as immediate as daily life or the fear of death. Vishnu is prayed to for protection in life, Shiva for release from suffering and fear. Brahma, representing the act of creation, feels more abstract and less connected to the struggles and hopes of worshippers.

Places of worship keep a tradition alive. There are countless temples for Vishnu and Shiva, but Brahma has only a few, with Pushkar in Rajasthan being the most known. With almost no festivals or rituals centered on him, his presence in religious life became minimal.


The goal in Hinduism is moksha, freedom from the cycle of rebirth. Brahma represents the beginning of that cycle. Vishnu sustains life within it, and Shiva helps end it. Worshippers seeking liberation find Vishnu and Shiva more aligned with their spiritual goals.