Theme 2A : Trimurti Flashcards
Who are the 3 members of the trimurti?
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.
Who is Brahma?
Brahma is the God of creation. He is depicted to have 4 heads. He had 5 heads to see a female deity he had created, called Sandhya, everywhere at all times. Shiva cut one of these heads off and told him it was wrong. After that Shiva ordered no proper worship of Brahma.
The 4 heads are also said to represent the 4 divisions of time, the Yugas.
Who is Vishnu?
Vishnu is the God of preservation. His role is to return to earth in times of trouble & restore he balance of good and evil. So far he has been incarnated 9 times and it is thought that he will incarnate once more before the end of the world. He is represented by a human body but with blue skin and 4 arms. Each arm holds a symbolic item.
1) Conch - produces ‘om’ sound represents the primeval sound of creation.
2) Chakra - symbolises the mind.
3) Lotus Flower - example of glorious existence and liberation.
4) Mace - represents mental and physical strength.
Who is Shiva?
Shiva is the God of destruction. He is one of the oldest Gods in Hinduism and is thought to have been worshipped during Indus Valley Civilisation period. While he is the God of destruction, he isn’t particularly evil, he is seen as an essential part of Hindu life as death is an important in the cycle of life. Shiva is often referred to as the creator following destruction.
However he is most commonly thought of as the God of reproduction, worshipped in the form of Lingam. he is often seen sitting on Tiger skin showing hes above force. Wears crescent on his forehead symbolising the 5th day moon showing the power of offering sacrifices. He also has a 3rd eye showing his omniscient nature.
What is Vaishnavism?
Vaishnavism worships Vishnu as the Supreme God or one of his avatars. Worship of Vishnu dates back to the Vedic times, around half all Hindus are Vaishnavites. They are often very devotional and stress the personal aspects of God. Their worship is full of ecstatic dancing and chanting of Holy names. They often worship in temples and festivals. They believe that God and the soul are distinct from one another. They see Bhakti yoga as the highest path to liberation and the Puranas and the Vedas are the most important scriptures.
What is Shaivism?
Shaivism worships Shiva as the supreme God and is particularly popular in South India and Sri Lanka. They acknowledge the existence of other Gods but as expressions of the supreme God. They believe that God cannot be limited to any form of a linga symbolising the entire universe. It is a very broad religion with diverse ideas, rituals & traditions. Their ultimate aim is to break the cycle of samsara. There are many temples dedicated to Shiva however worship can take place at home. They place great emphasis on certain parts of the Vedas and sacred ash is an important part or worship.
