Trimurti

The Trimurti (meaning "three forms of God"), also known as the Hindu Trinity, is an iconographic representation of God in Hinduism, which depicts divinity as a three faced human figure. These three faces represent God's roles of creation, preservation and destruction, which are associated with Brahma (the source or creator), Vishnu (the preserver or indwelling-life), and Shiva (the destroyer and transformer) respectively. These three personae are thought to represent different modalities of the one supreme divinity. In this manner, the Trimurti is similar to some interpretations of the Christian Trinity such as Sabellianism. This Trimurti concept is a tenet most strongly held in Hindu denomination of Smartism, though it is largely rejected by other denominations, such as Saivism and Vaishnavism.

Evolution of Trimurti

(Darry, please add to what I have written by providing specific historical dates and details.)

The specific Hindu gods that combined to make the Trimurti (i.e. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) each have their own origins in Hindu mythology, scripture and folklore. However, how they came together in a single icongraphic representation is still a source of scholarly interest. According to scholarship, the origins of the Trimurti can be traced back to —?-- Iconographic representations of the Trimurti first appear around —?--. For example, the famous image of the Trimurti statue found on Elephanta island (near Mumbai, India) was carved during the —?-- century.

it has been suggested that the emergence of the Trimurti was perhaps a deliberate attempt to reconcile the major Hindu deities of the time into one universal Godhead in order to minimize the spiritual competition among devotees, and to promote unity and harmony. From this perspective, the Trimurti, like the Hindu deity Harihara, reflects the deep impetus in Hindu thought towards inclusion and syncretism.

By the time of the original composition of Hindu Epics (500-100 B.C.E.), Shiva and Vishnu had gained a place at the top of the Hindu pantheon. Within the Epics attempts were made to identify Shiva with Agni, the god of fire who is of utmost importance in the Vedas. For instance, in one passage in the Mahabharata it is stated that the Brahmins claimed Agni to be Shiva ¹. In regards to Vishnu, this god already occupied a place in the Vedic mythology ², occassionally being given supremacy as a supreme personal God. His famous appearance in the Bhagavad Gita in the form of Krishna only reinforced this reputation. From the manner in which they are represented in those works, it would appear that both Vishnu and Shiva, especially the former, enjoyed an extensive worship. Due to the fact that several synonyms are attributed to each god, it is not improbable that they were recognized under varying names dependent upon the particular locality in which they were being worshipped. Nor is it improbable that they came to be subsume, through the agency of popular poetry or art, among other things, the names and traits of deities with whom they shared a similar nature. For example, considering several of Vishnu's alternative monikers, such as Vasudeva and Vaikuntha, an attempt may be made to identify Vishnu with Indra, another one of the Vedic gods. As these gods rose to preeminence within the popular traditions in various regions, their attributes became coordinate with the powers which had been atrributed to Brahma, and they too came to represent the Supreme Personal Being in their own right. Therefore, the three deities, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, were to represent a triple impersonation of the divinity, as it manifesting itself in the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe, respectively.

The Three Divinities of the Trimurti

These three forms or faces of the Trimurti represent God's roles of creation, preservation and destruction, which are associated with Brahma (the source or creator), Vishnu (the preserver or indwelling-life), and Shiva (the destroyer and transformer) respectively. Some Hindus use these cosmological functions of the three gods to create an acronym for "GOD"; that is Generator (Brahma), Operator (Vishnu) and Destroyer (Shiva).

Brahma

Brahma is the personification of creative power of the supreme divinity. According to the Puranas, Brahma was self-born (without mother) within the lotus which grew from Vishnu's navel at the beginning of the universe. Alternative stories claim Brahmā to be the progeny of Brahman, the Supreme Being, and his female energy, Maya. Another legend says that Brahmā created himself by first creating water, and then depositing his seed into this water, from which he grew to become a golden egg. From this golden egg, Brahma in his creator form was born as Hiranyagarbha; hence he is also known as Kanja (or "born in water"). The remaining materials of this golden egg expanded into the Universe. Yet another aspect of Brahma's mythology states that at the beginning of the process of creation, Brahmā created ten Prajapatis (the human race, as well as seven great sages).

Brahma is typically coloured red, symbolizing the creative power of the sun. His physiognomy is marked by four heads, four faces and four arms. Hindu myths explain that he originally had five heads, though the fifth was cut off by Shiva in order to control Brahma's infatuation with Shatarupā, a female deity. Each of Brahma's remaining heads recites one of the four Vedas. He is usually depicted as having a white beard, indicating his status as the elder god. One of his four hands is shown holding a scepter in the form of a spoon, which is associated with the pouring of holy ghee or oil into a sacrificial pyre, indicating that Brahmā is the lord of sacrifice. In another hand, Brahmā holds a mala (string of rosary-like beads) that he uses to keep track of the duration of the universe. He also is shown holding the Vedas, and sometimes, a lotus flower. A fourth hands holds a water-pot (sometimes depicted as a coconut shell containing water). In addition to removing Brahma's head, Shiva also directed that there be no proper worship in India for the "unholy" Brahmā. This imprecation in the myth carried over into the overt tradition, and Brahmā is almost totally ignored by Hindu devotees, while Vishnu and Shiva continue to be worshipped en masse. This seems to be based in a line of thought which interprets creation to have past, at least in this division of time or kalpa, thereby rendering the creative power irrelevant to material existence as we currently experience it. Brahma's decreased importance may also be due to the idea that Shiva's destruction is actually creation in another form. Although Brahmā is prayed to in almost all Hindu religious rites, India today has but two temples dedicated exclusively to Brahma, in contrast to the thousands of temples dedicated to the other two deities in the Trinity. The most famous of the Brahma temples is located at Pushkar in the Rajasthan state. Once a year, on the full moon night of the Hindu lunar month of Kartika (October - November), a religious festival is held in Brahmā's honour. Thousands of pilgrims come to bathe in the holy lake adjacent to the temple. The other temple for Brahma is located in the town of Kumbakonam, (Thanjavur District) Tamil Nadu. Regular pujas are held here for Brahma and during Navrathris (what is that? define), this temple comes to life with colourful festivities. However, Brahma is no longer as relevant as he once was in Hindu writing, as the focus upon other generative deities, such as Shakti, the Divine Mother has replaced focus on Brahma as the Source/Creator.

Iconographic representations of Hindu gods are typically associated with specific animal companions and "vehicles." Brahma's vehicle is the Swan. Brahma is commonly accompanied by his consort Saraswati, the goddess of learning, harmony and artistic endeavour. He is said to live in Brahmapura, a mythical city located on Mt. Meru.

Vishnu

Vishnu represents the active caring side of the supreme divinity. Hindus believe that Vishnu incarnates periodically for the protection of righteousness (dharma) and the destruction of evil, and thus he is most famously identified with his avatars, or incarnations, especially Krishna and Rama. His name literally means "all-pervading one" and likely derives from the story of his measurement of the universe with three strides, described in the 'Vishnu Sukta' of the Rig Veda. Vishnu rose to supremacy in the Hindu pantheon after deferting Indra in mythological lore. The Visvakarma Sukta of Rig Veda (10.82) that tells the story of Brahma's creation, seems to refer to Vishnu indirectly as the Supreme God, since the lotus which spawned Brahma and subsequently the universe originally grew from Vishnu's navel. In the Puranas, this story was reinterpreted to suggest that Brahma merely imagined himself to be the first born, and it is Vishnu who has true authority over creation. Vishnu's rise to supremacy is most apparent in the great Hindu epics. Perhaps there is no more significant an illustration of Vishnu's power as in the Bhagavadgita, a section of the larger Mahabharata epic. Here he appears in the form of Krishna, who serves as charioteer for Arjuna, a conflicted warrior. Vishnu's avatar implores Arjuna to follow the path of righteousness and duty without selfish reasons.

Vishnu is typically depicted as a four-armed male. The four arms indicate his all-powerful and all-pervasive nature, with two arms both on his front and his back representing respectively his precense in the physical world (where he appears as an avatar) and in the spiritual worlds (or Vaikuntha, where he lives in bliss with all other liberated entities). Vishnu is always to be depicted holding four talismanic objects: a conch shell (the sound of which represents the primeval sound of creation), a chakra (a discus-like weapon which symbolizes the mind without ego), a Gada (a mace from which mental and physical strength is derived), and a lotus flower (or padma, which represents liberation through dharma). Vishnu is usually coloured a cloud-like-blue, as blue represents the pervasiveness of both the sky and the ocean. Around his neck, he wears the auspicious "Kaustubha" jewel, and a garland of flowers. A crown adorns his head symbolizing his supreme authority. Vishnu is to shown wearing an earring in each ear which represent the inherent opposites in creation, such as knowledge and ignorance, happiness and unhappiness, and so forth. Vishnu is in possession of six divine glories, namely omniscience, sovereignty, strength, vigour, splendour (in the way of his self-sufficiency) and shakti, a form of energy which makes all things possible. These represent Vishnu's most important qualities; the actual number of auspicious qualities attributed to him is countless. Sri or Lakshmi, the goddess representing beauty and fortune, is the consort of of Vishnu.

Vaishnavites (those who worship Vishnu as the superior deity), often claim that nothing is actually destroyed, but rather, the operation of destructive power attributed to Shiva is simply a transformation of matter. Matter, therefore, is never actually annhihilated, hence Vishnu's preservative ability is proclaimed to be the ultimate power in the universe. Vaishnavism is the division of Hinduism which formally worships Vishnu as the supreme deity. He is also worshiped in the forms of his avatars. Vaishnavism is very popular in contemporary India, particularly in the northern regions, and has also spread beyond India in the form of diasporic Hinduism and Gaudiya Vaishnavism, which came to North America and Europe by way of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the 1960s.

Shiva

A large statue in Bangalore depicting Lord Shiva meditating.

Shiva is the personification of the destructive power of the supreme divinity. This destructive element seems to have been inherited from Shiva's precursor Rudra, the Vedic god of death and the wastelands. Despite this characterization as an annihilator, Shiva is viewed as a positive force in nature since creation necessarily follows annihilation. In this way, many Shaivites (followers of Shiva) have nuanced the traditional understanding of Shiva, reconfiguring him as the personification of God's reproductive power, an understanding which seems to have supplanted Brahma's imporatance as the creator. According to devotees, Shiva is not merely a destroyer but performs the functions of creator, preserver, and destroyer, while also concealing the sins of humanity and performing blessings upon worshippers. Just as Vaishnavas see Vishnu as the Ultimate Reality, so too do Shaivites speak of Shiva. Extrapolating upon these abilities to both destroy and create, Shavite mythology portrays Shiva as the entity which reconciles all polarities observed in the physical world. Hence, Shiva is both static and dynamic, oldest and youngest, virile and celibate, gentle and fierce, and so on. He even reconciles the duality of men and women, taking the form of Ardhanarishwara ("half woman, half man") in order to assert the equality of men and women. In addition, he is said to be omnipresent, residing in every living being as pure consciousness.

Like Vishnu, Shiva is not limited to personal characteristics and can transcend all attributes and iconographic representations. With this in mind, Hindus typically depict and worship Shiva in an abstract manner, often in the form of the Shiva linga (or lingam), a clay mound bearing three horizontal stripes. This phallic form symbolizes the masculine characteristics which Shiva exemplifies in mythology and folklore, such as virility, aggression and resolve. Alternatively, he is visualized as a blazing pillar. Despite his purported shapelessness, countless anthropomorphised images of Shiva exist, illustrating him with numerous telltale attributes, so many so that only a few can be discussed here. Shiva is commonly pictured in deep meditation upon Mount Kailash, his traditional abode located in the south of Tibet. Shiva's body is smeared with cemetery ashes representing the fact that death is the ultimate reality of the life. For this reason Shiva is typically coloured white. A third eye on his forehead represents his ability to look beyond the obvious, as well as his untamed energy which destroys evil doers and their sins. Shiva also bears on his head the crescent of the fifth day (panchami) moon. This represents the power of the sacrificial offering, as well as his control over time. Shiva wears tiger, deer and elephant skins to indicate his control over lust, pride and the mind, respectively. Further, a deadly cobra worn around Shiva's neck illustrates that he has conquered death. Shiva also carries a trident, an instrument which metes out punishment to evil-doers on the spiritual, subtle and physical planes. The three prongs also represent the creative, preservative, and destructive functions of the divine triad, while the Trident itself in the hand of Shiva affirms that all three aspects are ultimately under his control. Shiva is inseparable from his consort Parvati (who is also referred to as Shakti), as the two are considereed to be one within the absolute state of being. Thus, Shiva is said to share half of his body with Shakti in his form as Ardhanarishwara.

Shaivism is the most popular branch of Hinduism practiced in South India today. In Northern India, Shiva, Vishnu and their respective avatars are worshipped equally. Nayanars (or Nayanmars), saints from Southern India, were mostly responsible for the promulgation of Shaivism in that region during the first millennium CE. Of the Shaivite schools in existence today, many are in Kashmir and Northern India, along with Lingayats and Virasaivas from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Southern India. The Saiva Siddhanta is a another major Śaivite tradition developed in Southern India. Apart from Shaivism proper, Shiva has also inspired Shaktism, another major branch of contemporary Hinduism which is particularly popular the eastern states of Assam and West Bengal. Here, the bond of absolute love, devotion and passion which embodies the existence of Shiva and Shakti, is considered the Ultimate Godhead form in itself. Even Vaishnavism acknowledges Shiva with high regard. In the tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, for example, Shiva is considered the most apt devotee of Vishnu as well as an important aspect of Vishnu's divinity.

Meaning and Significance

The doctrine of the Trimurti has been interpreted in many different ways, particularly in relation to cosmology. A widely accepted belief is that the three gods represent earth, water, and fire. The earth is seen as the originator of all life and hence is regarded as Brahma. Water is seen as the sustainer of life and is represented as Vishnu. Fire consumes or transforms life and is therefore considered to be Shiva. Alternatively, the three members of the Trimurti are conceived to be analogous with the three planes of consciousness. On the spiritual plane, the spiritual element is represented by Brahma, the psychic element by Vishnu, and the physical element by Shiva. On the psychic plane, Brahma epitomizes intuitive and creative thought, Vishnu is intelligence, and Shiva represents emotion. On the physical plane, the sky is Brahma, the Sun is Vishnu and the Moon is Shiva. The philosopher Shankara (c. 788–820 C.E.) provided another cosmological interpretation of Trimurti. In his view, Shiva represents the Nirguna Brahman (or Brahman without features), Vishnu the Saguna Brahman (Brahman with features) and Brahma the Cosmic Mind. In more philosophical terms, Brahma is associated with Divinity's Creative Ground of Being, while Vishnu is said to be associated with Divinity's Emanated Idea (Logos, Wisdom, or Word), and Shiva is said to be associated with Divinity's Transformative Energy (Flame, Breath, or Spirit).

Various phases of an individual’s life are said to be emblamatized by the Trimurti. The first of these phases, that of celibacy and studentship, (or Brahmacharya Ashram) is represented by Brahma. During this phase, knowledge, represented by Brahma's consort Saraswati, is the individual’s constant companion. The second phase of adulthood and householdership (Grihastha Ashram) is represented by Vishnu. During this phase, the individual fulfills all religious and family obligations by becoming involved in generating wealth, which is then used to sustain the family. During this phase wealth is the individual’s companion and is represented by Vishnu’s consort, Goddess Lakshmi. The third phase is that of old age (Vanaprastha Ashram) and is represented by Shiva. This phase marks the renunciation of the material world for an austere life dedicated to the pursuit of true knowledge. In ancient days, this typically marked the time when a householder, along with his wife, left his worldly belongings to live in a forest with only essential belongings, just like Lord Shiva. In the final phase (Sanyasa Ashram) the individual seeks merger with the Supreme power (Isvara). One completes the process of renunciation once he along with his wife come to live a life completely untouched by attachments. The only occupation becomes deep meditation, leading to the merger of the individual with Isvara Himself, with his wife as Ishwara’s consort becoming the Universal Mother. The three phases of life, then, just like the trimurti, culminate into a transcendent One, bolstering the idea that the three gods are in reality one and the same Isvara.

Trimurti Today

The concept of Trimurti is most strongly held in Smartism, a contemporary denomination of Hinduism. Smartas, who follow Advaita philosophy, believe that deities such as Vishnu or Shiva are various forms of one ultimate higher power ("Brahman"), which has no specific form, name, or features. The forms of the deity serve a heuristic purpose in that they provide a physical form for the supreme divinity which is inconceivable. These conceivable forms of divinity allow Smarta followers to narrow their focus during worship and meditation, thereby assisting their spiritual progression toward the great, ineffable divinity.

Vaishnavism and Shaivism, however, believe respectively that Vishnu (and/or his avatars) and Shiva are the superior, personalistic forms of god, with all other representations paling in comparison. Whether it be Shiva or Vishnu that they worship in personalized form, the one god is seen in both traditions to ultimately transcend all personal characteristics, essentially embodying the monistic essence of the universe like the classical conception of Brahman. Since these traditions are monotheistic, they view the concept of Trimurti as a falsehood, since it detracts from the worship of what they believe to be the one true divine essence. Although Vishnu and Shiva as have each spawned their own monotheistic devotional tradition, Brahma still remains in relative obscurity.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Moor, Edward. The Hindu Pantheon. New Delhi: Cosmo Publications, 2000. ISBN 81-7755-029-2
• Tapasyananda, Swami. Bhakti Schools of Vedanta. Hollywood, CA: Vedanta Press and Catalog, 1991. ISBN 81-7120-226-8

Footnotes

1. ^  Although such attempts at an identification of the two gods remained isolated, they would suggest that, in adapting their speculations to the actual state of popular worship, the Brahmans kept the older Vedic triad of Soma, Agni and Vayu distinctly in view, endeavouring to bring their new structure into harmony with the ancient Vedic beliefs.

2. ^  Vishnu's place in Vedic mythology is by no means one of such prominence as would entitle him to the degree of exaltation he received as one of the three hypostases of the divine. There is also some question as to the links between the Vedic Vishnu and Vishnu as he has been commonly known within the Trimurti. Although his general nature within the Vedas as a benevolent, genial being corresponds on the whole to the later Vishnu, the later Vishnu exhibits many important features which are not found within his prototype, and were most likely attributed to him from an amalgamation with regional deities. However, there are several Vedic verses that do utter the view that Vishnu does indeed have supremacy as a personal God.

See also

• Brahma
• Hindu deities
• Saivism
• Shiva
• Rudra
• Vishnu

External links

Vishnu:

• Vishnu, is the second god of the Hindu triad
• Parasara Bhattar and Vishnu Sahasranama
• www.akumar.com/thesis - Animation Project based on Vishnu's Ten Incarnations
• http://www.vaishnava.com/aboutvaishnavism.htm
• http://www.rudraksha-ratna.com/hindu_trinity.php
• Who is Vishnu? and the Nature of him and other facts.
• Vishnu - the Cosmic Protector by Madhuri Guin (the contents of this link cannot be viewed in India), use Google Cache
• - A vishnu/hanuman Shrine
• Ramayana Site contains info about the Ramayana
• omnamovenkatesaya.com This site contains Tirumala Tirupati Devastanams News and stories in Teligu & English
• Devotional hymns and eulogies on Lord Vishnu.
• Weekly podcast on Vedic Chanting and Vedic Mythology
• Discussions on Dharma - includes a discussion of the nature of God in Hinduism

Shiva:

• Lord Shiva Darshan Video*
• Lord Shiva Online Darshan and pilgrimage*
• Lord Shiva in Indian Art
• Madai Sree Vadukunda Shiva Temple
• names of lord shiva
• SHIVA.NET - Offers online darshan
• Lord Shiva - God of God's
• The official site of Sri Kalahasthi Temple
• A Divine Life Society book on Shaivism
• Characteristics of Shiva and Shaivism
• Sroutasaivasiddhanta.org
• Meanings for some of the names of Shiva
• Shiva saves British devotee in the nineteenth century
• Contemplation of Shiva - The lord of the dance of the universe
• Shiva easily pleased, His Greatness and Sivaratri
• Greatness of worshipping Shiva
• The famous Shiva temples
• Shiva and Durga, a Vaishnava view
• Shiva Puja and Advanced Yajna
• books on Siva (and other forms of the Divine) in the Bhakti tradition and originally written in English

General:

• Practices in Hindu temples in US, and the problems of having both Vishnu/Shiva temples, which portrays to outsiders inaccurate perceptions about polytheism when, in fact, what is practiced is Monism.
• Hindu Trinity
• Saivite guru Bodhinatha, states that Vishnu and Siva are different aspects of the one and same God.
• Brahma - the Creator Amongst the Hindu Trinity by Madhuri Guin (the contents of this link cannot be viewed in India)
• Contemplation of Brahma - The creative power of the Infinite
• Lord Brahma - The first member of the Hindu Trinity
• Brahma - the Creator Amongst the Hindu Trinity
• Weekly podcast on Vedic Chanting and Vedic Mythology

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