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Orissa Review * July - 2005
The Holy Trinity
Mahimohan Tripathy
The concept of a Holy Trinity, i.e. one God
manifested in triple form, exists in Hindu religious
doctrines since the vedic time. In vedic philosophy,
the core of modern Hinduism, Brahman or the Prime
Soul is described as Sat (existence), Chit
(awareness) and Ananda (bliss absolute).
is Trinity (called Triratna) represented by Buddha,
Dharma and Sangha. In Christian theology, there
is a Holy Trinity as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The ancient Egyptians of early dynasties conceived
their Prime Trinity of a Sun-God, Earth-Mother and
(a combined) Sun-over-Earth Son.
In the Svetasvatara Upanisad, the Prime
Soul (Brahman) is conceived as a Triad (Trinity).
In the seventh 'mantra' it is said 'Tasmin trayam
supratistha' which means in the Supreme Brahman
there is the Triad. As interpreted by Swami
Tyagisananda, "the expression (Triad) signifies the
world of multiplicity, which is conceived as different
series of three like time, space and causation;
waking, dream and sleep etc. The world of
multiplicity may be said to exist in Brahman either
in reality as the theists would have it, or by way of
super impositions as the Advaitins would prefer".
In a place Bodh-Kharbu in Tibet, there is a
'Triratna' or 'Parameshra'. 'Parameshra' is a variant
of the word 'Parameshwar'. The Triratna means
three small brick built temples painted black, yellow
and white, symbolizing Buddha, Dharma and
Sangha respectively. If eyes are added to these
temples at the top, the black one would come to
represent Jagannath, the yellow Subhadra and the
white one Balaram or Balabhadra. Swami
Abhedananda who visited this place has said
"Although Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra in the
temple at Puri symbolise, Buddha, Dharma and
Sangha, the whole thing has come to assume a
different meaning in course of time". (vide 'Swami
Abhedananda's journey into Kashmir and Tibet',
published by Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, Calcutta,
May,-2002).
Later on, the concept of Hindu Trinity of
Brahma, Vishnu and Siva is said to have developed
during the medieval period. They are the three
cardinal Gods of Hinduism who represent 'Srusti'
(creation), 'Sthiti' (preservation) and 'pralaya'
(destruction) respectively. The process of creation,
preservation and destruction continues perpetually
in a cyclic order. But from the point of view of
religious worship, Hindus can be divided in three
main groups as Saiva (who worship Siva), Sakta
(who worship Sakti) and Vaishnava (who worship
Vishnu or Krishna). Brahman is seldom
worshipped.
In the Puri Sri Jagannath temple, the Triad
on the ratnavedi, Jagannath, Balabhadra and
Subhadra are worshipped as Krishna-Vasudev,
Balaram or Balabhadra and Subhadra, because of
vaishnavite preponderance.
The Hindu Trimurti (Triad or Trinity) have
parallels in some other religions. In Buddhism, there
Mahimohan Tripathy lives at 56, Suryanagar,
Bhubaneswar - 3.
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