Brahma and Abraham

[Fake Messiah]

Here's a post about comparative mythology.

Was Abraham modeled on Brahma? Or are similarities just coincidences?

Here are few excerpts from a blogpost, for more click on the link below

The similarities between the names of Abraham and Brahma have not gone unnoticed. Abraham is said to be the father of the Jews, and Brahma, as the first created being, is often seen as the father of mankind...’ We might also note that the name of Brahma’s consort Sarasvati seems to resonate with that of Abraham’s wife, Sarah [… each one’s identity as a wife and/or sister]. Also, in India, the Sarasvati River includes a tributary known as the Ghaggar…. According to Jewish tradition, Hagar was Sarah’s maidservant…. Both Brahmins … and Jews see themselves as the ‘chosen people of God.’ The Hebrews began their sojourn through history as a ‘kingdom of priests’ (Exodus 19:6). Likewise, Brahmins are also a community of priests.

Abraham/Sarah and Brahma/Saraswati are not the only overlapping figures between Hindu and Hebrew traditions. Ajit Vadakayil points out that there is also Adam/Eve and Adhama/ Havyavati, along with Noah and Nyuha or Manu (Blogspot.com). As well, the Hebrew religion is one among a group of traditions (including Islam and Christianity) that believe that Abraham is their father. As well, since Brahma has will-born sons, Brahmanaspati (Lord of the Brahman Priests) and Brihaspati (Lord of the Burden Carriers), their relationship with Abraham cannot be answered so simply as the introductory title is asking.

The Ten Common Themes between Brahma (with his wish born sons) and Abraham

1.) Divine Eternal Lineage of Brahma and Abraham

i. Brahma as Father of All (RV7.97b), while Abraham as Father of many nations (Gen 17:5)

ii. Brahma is Creator of Universe (BG14.1-4, AV18.1.47, AV19.22.21), while Abraham’s descendants number as the stars of the sky.

Brahma bore all Gods (CU8.15.1), Celestial Beings and Enlightened Ones out of his body (RV1.40.5,7; MunU1.1.1-2), while God makes Abraham fruitful and the Genesis text literally reads: ‘kings come out from him’ (Gen 17:6).

Brahma and Sarasvati dwelt 100 years together then bore their first son, while Abraham was 100 when Sarah, at 90, bore Isaac

2.) The Priestly Offering of the Son of Brahma and Abraham

i. Brahma’s son (or grandson), Daksha, is killed at the offering sacrifice before all the gods, while Abraham almost offers his son Isaac.

ii. At the pleading of his father, Brihaspati (born from Brahma’s body, RV3.23.1) Daksha is resurrected with the head of a ram, while Abraham finds a ram caught in a bush to sacrifice in place of his son Isaac (Gen 22:1-13).


3.) The Wife and Sister of Brahma and Abraham: Sarasvati and Sarah

i. Brahma’s wife and sister is Sarasvati (SV7.96.2), Her beauty is so great that Brahma grew 4 faces to view her from the every direction (AV19.17; KenU3), while Abraham’s wife, Sarah, is also called his sister (Gen 20:12) and is beautiful (Gen 12:14).

ii. Compared to Brahma with faces of the four directions is Abraham who when called by God was to look North, East, West and South to the promised land, the 4 directions (Gen 13:14).

https://www.boloji.com/articles/15119/ab...hma-part-i

[GrandizerII]

Facepalm

If any atheist is going to fall for this shit, they may as well just think the Bible/Qur'an has scientific miracles and numerological hints that accurately predict the future with such astoundingness. It's basically the same underlying flawed reasoning, focus only on the small sample of hits ignoring the vast sample of misses and exaggerate/add extra made up stuff to the hits to further reinforce one's biases.

[Fake Messiah]

If any atheist is going to fall for this shit, they may as well just think the Bible/Qur'an has scientific miracles and numerological hints that accurately predict the future with such astoundingness.

Why would anyone who thinks that Abraham was modeled on Brahma think that that about Bible and Quran? How does one correlate with other?

[GrandizerII]

If any atheist is going to fall for this shit, they may as well just think the Bible/Qur'an has scientific miracles and numerological hints that accurately predict the future with such astoundingness.

Why would anyone who thinks that Abraham was modeled on Brahma think that that about Bible and Quran? How does one correlate with other?

Read the rest of what I said to see the point I was making. It's basically confirmation bias. Do you not agree this is an issue with the OP itself?

[The Grand Nudger]

Syncretism in the ANE isn't a new phenomena or a radical suggestion, Grand.

[GrandizerII]

Syncretism in the ANE isn't a new phenomena or a radical suggestion, Grand.

Stop. No one is saying otherwise.

When we're discussing specific claims, you don't talk in generalities.

It is a radical idea to say Abraham is based on Brahma.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Syncretism in the ANE isn't a new phenomena or a radical suggestion, Grand.

Stop. No one is saying otherwise.

When we're discussing specific claims, you don't talk in generalities.

It is a radical idea to say Abraham is based on Brahma.

'Based on' and 'modeled on' are probably much too strong, as both imply a level of deliberate action that likely didn't exist.  I would expect it has more to do with cultural diffusion than anything else.

Boru

[GrandizerII]

Stop. No one is saying otherwise.

When we're discussing specific claims, you don't talk in generalities.

It is a radical idea to say Abraham is based on Brahma.

'Based on' and 'modeled on' are probably much too strong, as both imply a level of deliberate action that likely didn't exist.  I would expect it has more to do with cultural diffusion than anything else.

Boru

I would suspect the quote in the OP is very misleading and relies a lot on nitpicking, twisting facts, and seeing things that just aren't really there.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

'Based on' and 'modeled on' are probably much too strong, as both imply a level of deliberate action that likely didn't exist.  I would expect it has more to do with cultural diffusion than anything else.

Boru

I would suspect the quote in the OP is very misleading and relies a lot on nitpicking, twisting facts, and seeing things that just aren't really there.

Yeah, it seems a bit of a stretch to me as well.

Boru

[The Grand Nudger]

Syncretism in the ANE isn't a new phenomena or a radical suggestion, Grand.

Stop. No one is saying otherwise.

When we're discussing specific claims, you don't talk in generalities.

It is a radical idea to say Abraham is based on Brahma.

Not in the slightest.  Whatever radicalness you perceive to the idea comes down to silent negative valuations you have about the myths being based or modeled on each other in syncretic regions like the ANE. Boru mentions one, deliberate action, but all creation of any character is a deliberate act. Deliberate action, itself, is standing in as a euphemism for something else.

Like..knowingly copied another myth as a significant falsehood or deception, for example. Plagiarism.

FWIW, the authors contention is that the characters are based on each other, and others, in effect - based on ideas commonly popular to more than one tradition known in the ANE. Which is....exactly how syncretism works....it's not a unilateral flow of influence, or plagiarism.