It is said that lord Vishwakarma is the architect engineer of the abodes of Gods–Indrapuri, Yampuri, Varupuri, Kubarpuri, Pandavpuri, Sudamapuri, Shivananda Puri. The vehicles and articles used by the ‘Devas’ like Pushpak Viman was also made by VIshwakarma. Apart from this the designer earrings worn by the rain God Indra, the Sudarshan chakra of lord Vishnu, trident of Shiva were also crafted in the hands of Vishwakarma. Vishwakarma is hailed as constructor of ‘Maya Nagri Dwarika’ in Gujarat where lord Krishna ruled.
Not only in the sphere of deities but for humans as well there is a tradition of worshipping the tools and instruments with which one works. Vishwakarma day was celebrated on Saturday in the manufacturing industrial units, factories of SIDCUl and Haridwar industrial area. The engineers and workers organized worship of their tools, conducted yajna and decorated their work areas with glittery funky wall hangings and paper craft material. Some industrial units had announced no work for the day after the puja.
Speaking to the Pioneer, head of a pharmaceutical unit Prabhat said, “Our workforce in the administration and information technology sections worshipped their pens and computers while the shop floor made offerings before their machining tools and other spare parts. The machine operators offered incense sticks to the heavy machineries seeking blessings from the deity for safe handling of equipments.
Artisans, weavers, craftsmen and industrial houses also performed the rituals. Telling the significance of the day, city based astrologer Prateek Mishrapuri said, Mythology says that lord Vishwakarma created the entire universe, heaven and earth. He is credited for creating weapons and tools used by deities in mythological era. He is picturised as having four hands, carrying book, a water pot, a noose and craftsman’s tools.”
At Vishwakarma ghat of ganga canal on National Highway opposite to Yadav Dharamshala, pilgrims coming from other cities for holy dip also performed the worshipping of the lord idol mounted on a platform.
A worker from a automotive industry in SIDCUl said, “I prayed with my colleagues for safe working conditions, better future and smooth functioning of deadly fast functioning machines which if accidentally mishandled can lead to injuries and even death of a person.”
Notably reference of Vishwakarma also comes in the Vedas especially Rig Veda and is credited with Sthapatya Veda, the science of mechanics and architecture.