Meaning “all creating” in Sanskrit, Viṣvakaman appears in the ṛg Veda (see ṛg Veda) as the creative power that holds the universe together. In the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (see Brāhmaṇas) he sacrifices himself and his sacrifice becomes the model for all order-sustaining sacrifices to follow. It is clear that Viśvakarman, who is later associated with the divine architect TvaṣṠṛ (see TvaṣṠṛ), is also a name for the Vedic (see Vedic entries) creator Prajāpati (see Prajāpati) and the first sacrifice, the primal man, Puruṣa (see Puruṣa).
