The Hindu Trinity

Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara (siva) form the trinity of Hinduism. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver and Siva is the destroyer. Their wives help them in their duties, who are goddesses called, Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi. Saraswathi is the goddess of knowledge while Lakshmi, is the godess of wealth and Parvathi is called the Mother Goddess. All three gods rule three different worlds. Bramha rules Brahmalok, Vishnu rules Vaikunth and Siva rules Kailash.

Actually in the Vedas there is no reference to the concept of Trinity. During the Rigvedic though, Vishnu was known as a solar deity, Siva was unknown. The concept of Trinity is thus not a Vedic concept but a native Indian concept.

Thus the roles of Brahma and Vishnu were assimilated into the Indian religious tradition. Quite different from the popular opinion, Hindu religious tradition assimilated the Vedic religion much in the same way as it absorbed many other foreign traditions subsequently.

Significance of Hindu Trinity:

The gods of the Trinity are not different; they are manifestations of a single Supreme Being called "Ishwara". These concepts have been brought about because it was believed that ordinary human minds couldn't comprehend the oneness of the universe. God is believed to exist in innumerable planes simultaneously in the same way as Trinity appear in three different roles at the same time. The difference is only in appearance, which is part of the illusion that god weaves around us.

Brahma:

Brahma is said to have born from the navel of Vishnu as he was lying on the great serpent (Ananta) in the milky ocean. He is the creator. The description of Brahma bears a mystic symbolism. The lotus represents Reality. The four faces of Brahma represent the four Vedas.

The animal hide worn by Brahma stands for austerity. He also holds the Vedas in one hand. Thus having all the knowledge of scriptures he works in the world without ego and personal desires. His mind is free from all other preoccupations from the world of objectivity. Such a mind is called as uparati, this is symbolized by Brahma holding the kamandalu in one of his hands.

The rosary (mala) in the fourth hand is used for chanting and meditation. Meditation is said to be the final gateway to Realisation. A swan is described in Hindu mysticism as possessing the unique faculty of separating pure milk from a mixture of milk and water. Which in other words has to do with purity.

Vishnu:

Lord Vishnu is popularly known as the preserver of the universe. He is usually depicted in a human form, sleeping on the great serpent called Shesha in floating waters. It is believed that: humans can attain salvation by following their paths of duty. Good and evil powers (gods and demons) contend for domination over the world.

Sometimes, the balance of power is upset by evil, and then Lord Vishnu descends onto the earth in a mortal form (avatar) to save humankind.Lord Vishnu is usually picturized as dark blue or black. He has four arms: One hand holds a lotus; a second holds a conch; a third holds a discus and the fourth carries a mace. He rides a creature, which is half bird and half man, called Gandara. His home is a heaven called. This god has a thousand names, chanting of which is regarded as an act of devotion.

Shiva:

Shiva is said to be the god of destruction. He sits in meditation near the snow-capped Mountains at Kailas. He is said to have a third eye known as gyana chakshu. Gyana chakshu means eye of wisdom. The eyes whose vision goes beyond the two mortal eyes. His posture shows perfect harmony and poise, experienced usually by a man of Realization. He is rooted in God- consciousness.

Nothing seems to disturb him. Neither the vicissitudes of nature, nor the challenges of life affect him at all. The snow in the background symbolizes the purity of mind. Shiva is also known as "Gangadhar" which means "the carrier of Ganga" (River Ganges). He carries the Ganges in his locks. Lord Shiva symbolizes victory over ego and the attainment of perfection.