Understanding the Hindu Trinity

Christians are familiar with their trinity as a three in one concept. As any one in the West knows, the figures that make up the Triune are God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. A Hindu Trinity also exists comprised of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva also exists.

In the Hindu trinity, also called the Sat-Tat-Tum, Brahma takes on the role of Vishnu takes on the role of the cosmic creator, Brhama takes on the role of the cosmic mind and Shiva, perhaps the best known of the trinity, takes on the role of a cosmic destroyer. Each deity has a consort, for Brahma it is Saraswati, the goddess of Knowledge. Vishnu's consort is Laksi, the Goddess of Love and Shiva's consort is Kali, goddess of power destruction and rebirth.

Despite the obvious parallels that early Western students of Hinduism drew with Christian belief, the Hindu Trinity is not all that close in conception to the godhead. More importantly not every modern sect of Hinduism recognize the trimurti, the correct name for what Westerners term. The Hindu Trinity despite being inexact has been described as a framework in which the three primary Hindu deities can be fit in at different levels.

Whether the denomination in question recognizes the Hindu Trinity as a framework or the literal three-in-one concept favored by Christianity in its godhead, the concept did not evolve until 300 years after the Birth of Christ. The idea of a Hindu Trinity arising probably is not the result of exposure to Christianity on the Indian subcontinent, because while the Roman Empire was aware of the existence of India, travel through the mountains that separated the Middle East from India was difficult

For the sects that use the idea of a Hindu Trinity, the three-in-one concept sparks debates that are eerily similar to theologians debating the nature of the Christian Triune. Whether the gods are different individuals or merely aspects of the same one depends on the beliefs of the person arguing the point. Much like their Christian counterparts, the Hindu Trinity each has aspects of its own. If this has left you somewhat confused, do not worry. I have a feeling I've confused the issue and would have an easier time explaining Buddhist concepts of the afterlife, which I understand only slightly better than the Hindu Trinity. Perhaps I should instead stick to discussing Western religious concepts, at least I know about those.

Souces:

http://www.hindunet.org/god/trinity/index.htm

http://www.hindunet.org/god/trinity/index.htm

http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/hindutrinity.asp