To many Westerners, Hinduism looks like a religion filled with countless gods, goddesses, avatars, and mythic stories.
But the foundation of Hindu thought rests on something far deeper:
> Monism — the idea that all reality is One.
According to the ancient scriptures, there is only one ultimate principle, one Divine essence:
Brahman has no form, no limit, no beginning and no end.
It is not “one god among many,” but the ultimate reality — the source of the universe, the light behind all forms, the consciousness within every living being.
The thousands of deities in the Hindu tradition are not separate gods. They are expressions, manifestations, or energies of this one Brahman. Among these expressions, three major forms are recognized:
the Trimurti, representing the three fundamental functions of the universe.
(The manifestation of beginnings and emergence)
Role within the Trimurti
Brahma embodies the creative principle of existence. He represents:
* the emergence of matter
* the birth of worlds
* the appearance of life
* the initial breath of creation
Mythologically, Brahma is said to have arisen from a lotus blooming from Vishnu’s navel — a poetic way of saying that creation arises from the infinite field of consciousness.
Iconography
Brahma is depicted with:
* four faces, facing the four directions (total knowledge)
* four arms holding the Vedas (primordial wisdom)
* a lotus seat (pure origin)
Why are there so few temples dedicated to Brahma?
A legend says he lied out of pride and lost his place in daily worship.
Philosophically, creation is viewed as a momentary act — the creative energy exists, but it is not the force that sustains life day after day.
(The manifestation of order, harmony, and continuity)
Role within the Trimurti
Vishnu is the sustaining force of the universe — the energy that preserves life and maintains balance.
He represents dharma, compassion, and cosmic order.
When chaos threatens the world, Vishnu incarnates on Earth as an avatar. The most well-known include:
* Rama – hero of the Ramayana
* Krishna – spiritual guide of the Mahabharata
* Narasimha, Kurma, Vamana, and others
Each avatar appears to restore harmony among beings.
Iconography
Vishnu is often shown:
* resting on the cosmic serpent Ananta
* floating on the infinite ocean of consciousness
* with blue skin — symbol of infinity (like the sky and ocean)
* holding four objects: chakra (intellect, cosmic mind), conch (primordial sound), lotus (purity), mace (inner strength)
Vishnu is the benevolent presence that protects, guides, and keeps life aligned.
(The manifestation of dissolution, renewal, and inner consciousness)
Role within the Trimurti
Shiva is not the “destroyer” in a negative sense. He is the force of transformation. For something new to be born, something must end. Shiva represents this sacred cycle — endings that allow new beginnings.
He embodies:
* deep meditation
* inner knowledge
* detachment
* absolute freedom
* the cosmic dance of change (Nataraja)
Iconography
Shiva is depicted:
* covered in ash (impermanence of the world)
* with a serpent (life-force, kundalini)
* with the Ganges flowing from his hair (purity, wisdom)
* with a third eye (inner vision beyond duality)
* holding a trident (transcending the three mental states: sattva, rajas, tamas)
Shiva is the call toward silence, depth, awakening — the aspect of Brahman that dissolves illusion and reveals truth.
The Trimurti is not a “trio of gods.”
It is one single Divine energy — Brahman — expressed through three complementary functions:
* Brahma — that which begins
* Vishnu — that which sustains
* Shiva — that which transforms
Creation, preservation, transformation — the fundamental rhythm of the universe.
The breath of life.
The cycle.
The pulse of existence.
Few spiritual traditions express this so clearly: “All is One.”
Multiplicity is only appearance. All beings, all worlds, all energies are expressions of the same Absolute. This is why Hinduism is profoundly inclusive, fluid, and poetic — a worldview where the infinite diversity of forms reveals a single underlying unity.
Why does this vision still fascinate today?
Because it bridges science, philosophy, and spirituality:
* cosmic expansion → creation
* forces that stabilize systems → preservation
* entropy and transformation → dissolution
The Trimurti is an ancient way of understanding the laws of existence. But more than that, it reminds us that diversity arises from unity, that each being carries a spark of the Divine, and all of life’s cycles are part of a sacred dance, that keeps on going again and again, until we reach Moksha. The liberation of this dance. The liberation of the cycles of life.