Also referred to as Tri Murti or Trimurati, Trimurti is a concept in the religion of Hinduism, which focuses on the three major cosmic aspects of creation, and connects such functions to three Supreme Beings, which is referred to as the Hindu Triad, commonly expressed as Brahma-Vishnu-Maheshwara (Gibson, 2002). The Hindu Triad consists of the three gods – Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This paper briefly discusses their basic identities and their main roles.
Brahma
Undoubtedly the most powerful god in the triad, Brahma, the husband to Saraswati, is considered the father to human kind. Brahma is known as The Creator. At the beginning of the process of creation, Brahma created four being that defied his orders to procreate. Brahma took it upon himself to create ten other human beings –nine sons and a daughter, out of his own body parts (Gibson, 2002). For this reason, Brahma is also referred to as the great grandsire of the human race. He is usually depicted as a being with four heads, four forearms and four feet clad in red clothes.
Vishnu
Also known as Narayana, Vishnu is the god representing the cosmic function of maintenance. For this reason, he is referred to as The Maintainer. The Hindu religion uses the term Paramatman (Supreme Soul) and Parameshwara (supreme god), to address Vishnu. This god is associated with the past, the present and the times to come. According to Gibson (2002), Vishnu preserves, develops, originates, supports and sustains elements within the universe. In the Hindu religion, Vishnu is always presented as a being with four arms – a symbol of the strength and power to maintain balance within the universe.
Shiva
Arguably the fiercest of all the three gods, Shiva is associated with destruction or transformation. For this reason, he is referred to as The Destroyer or The Transformer. Shiva means the Auspicious Being. Shiva is prominently associated with Shaivism – arguably the most influential Hinduism denomination. The worship of Shiva is associated with the beginning of idol worship. According to Gibson (2002), Shiva is formless; hence no human idols are used in his worship. He is associated with the role of killing and eliminating demons. Prominently associated with yoga practices, Shiva is usually depicted in the form of a man in a deep meditation mood. Shiva is a symbol of cultural and religious rites.
References
Gibson, L. (2002). Hinduism. Oxford: Heinemann Educational.
