Vishwakarma is the divine engineer/carpenter/mechanic/architect/sculptor of the Gods and Devas. He is worshipped on the first day of the sixth Hindu month as per the Solar calendar.
Vishwakarma is one of the deities who finds a mention in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest spiritual texts. He is hailed as the divine architect/carpenter/engineer and the designer of the Universe. He is worshipped on the first day of the sixth Hindu month (as per Solar calendar) which is also referred to as Kanya Sankranti. Interestingly, Lord Vishwakarma Puja falls on the same date, unlike other festivals that are celebrated on different dates every year.
Significance of Vishwakarma Puja
- Vishwakarma is regarded as the architect of the Gods. The Vishwakarma Puja is celebrated in Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. It is held in factories, mechanics/ artisans/ technicians/sculptors/carpenters’ workshops. People install idols of Lord Vishwakarma and perform Puja to pray for success in their professional/business endeavours.
- On the day of the Puja, technicians/workers worship the deity as well as their tools and equipment.
- People seek the blessings of Lord Vishwakarma for success in their business/establishment.
- Workers pray to him for protecting their workspace from accidents or any untoward incidents.
- The Puja is also conducted annually to ward off negativities or evil energies from the workspace.
Who is Lord Vishwakarma?
Lord Vishwakarma is the divine engineer/carpenter/mechanic/architect/sculptor of the Gods and the Devas. He is believed to have built Lord Krishna’s kingdom of Dwarika, which is now said to be submerged in the Arabian Sea. He had also built Ravana’s kingdom of Lanka. Apart from these, Lord Vishwakarma is also said to have constructed the world-famous Jagannath temple in Puri. Lord Shiva’s Trishul, Lord Vishnu’s Sudarshana Chakra, Ravana’s Pushpak Vimana and Indra’s Vajra (thunderbolt) are also Vishwakarma’s creations.
He is depicted as a heavily bearded wise man with four hands. He holds a measuring tape and a scale in his upper right and left hands and a book and a pot in his lower right and left hands. The arch of his seat has several engineering/architectural tools and equipment attached to it.
